Attorney asks judge to reverse life with no parole
An attorney for a southwestern Indiana man found guilty of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend's father is asking a judge to reverse the most serious conviction against him.
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JQC issues advisory opinion to judges with family members running for office
Judges who have a family member running for elected office may appear in campaign materials as long as the judge’s title or position isn’t mentioned, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications decided in an advisory opinion released Friday.
Woman’s suit against hospital for disparaging comments revived by COA
A trial court erred when it dismissed a woman’s intentional infliction of emotional distress claim filed against Community Hospital after she says staff made derogatory comments regarding her situation after she was brought in unconscious and under the influence of a date rape drug.
Court: Father’s failure to timely register implies consent to adoption
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the adoption of a child by the maternal grandfather after finding the purported father irrevocably implied consent after failing to timely register with the Indiana Putative Father Registry.
COA: Letter satisfied notice requirements after city damages pipeline
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the denial of the city of Plymouth’s motion to dismiss an administrative action against it stemming from damages it caused to an underground natural gas pipeline. The appeals court found the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission satisfied the statutory and administrative requirements concerning notice of the violation and recommended penalties.
Access counselor doubts city’s need for secrecy on justice center RFP
Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt told the city of Indianapolis that he wasn’t swayed by its reasons for withholding its request for proposals for a new $500 million criminal justice complex.
COA orders trial over whether trucking company must pay for highway damage
The crash report prepared after a fatal trucking accident on Interstate 70 that resulted in damage to the highway should not have been included as evidence in the state’s lawsuit seeking recovery of the money it spent repairing the highway, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Thursday. As a result, the judges reversed summary judgment in favor of the state and ordered the matter proceed to trial.
Justices affirm adoption despite father’s untimely appeal
The Indiana Supreme Court in its decision affirming the adoption of a girl first tackled the issue of appellate jurisdiction to entertain the biological father’s appeal.
1,291-day delay in holding trial requires reversing conviction
The “unduly long delay” in bringing a man to trial on a charge of child molesting – 1,291 days – violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial and requires reversing his conviction, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
Child services investigators claim unpaid overtime
Two Indiana Department of Child Services investigators say in a lawsuit that they've had to work extensive overtime without receiving required overtime pay.
Second suit filed over Wal-Mart PCB contamination
A second lawsuit has been filed as a result of toxic contamination discovered at an Indianapolis Wal-Mart return center.
Former sheriff’s deputies lose suit challenging promotion process
Because the phrase “shall endeavor” should be read to mean one shall try, the Indiana Court of Appeals rejected two Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers' arguments that they should have been promoted to captain. The two claimed because they were former sheriff’s deputies, the consolidation of the sheriff’s and city police departments in 2006 required their promotions to maintain proportional representation.
Bankruptcy Court to hold ceremony for retiring judge
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana is hosting a private retirement ceremony Thursday in honor of Judge James K. Coachys, who is retiring Sept. 30.
State’s way of paying public defenders debated
The state pays the salaries of its judges and prosecutors, but public defenders are paid by counties that are only partially reimbursed for their costs — an approach that some including the executive director of the Indiana Public Defender Council want to see changed.
Tenant who trashed house loses appeal, owes attorney fees
A former babysitter entrusted to live in a family’s home while they were away for a year and care for their pet dog in exchange for paying $300 monthly rent instead trashed the place. The ex-tenant appealed an $85,889 judgment against her but now has more bills to pay.
Attorney wins summary judgment appeal
An Indianapolis attorney ensnared in a dispute between a land developer and a creditor was successful at convincing the Indiana Court of Appeals he is identical to the other defendants and should be granted summary judgment.
Despite erroneous findings, termination of parental rights affirmed
A trial court entered erroneous findings in terminating the parental rights of a mother and father concerning two minor children, but the mistakes weren’t significant enough to reverse in a case where the state presented enough evidence to warrant the decision.
Meth dealing conviction affirmed, restitution required
Convictions for dealing methamphetamine and two counts of neglect of a dependent were affirmed on appeal Tuesday, as was an order that the offender pay restitution to the state for the costs of cleaning up the meth lab.
Angie’s List to pay $2.8M in membership-fee settlement
Indianapolis-based Angie's List Inc. will pay $2.8 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that it automatically renewed members at a higher rate than they were led to believe.
Reversal of PACER decision restores access
The Administrative Office of the United States Courts is showing what technology has taken away, technology can restore. The federal judiciary is reversing an earlier decision to delete hundreds of thousands of older case files from the federal courts’ electronic system, PACER.