Articles

IMPD officers sued for destroying homeless camp

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed a lawsuit Wednesday against two as yet unidentified Indianapolis police officers, alleging they unlawfully seized and destroyed the belongings of five homeless individuals who had been living under a railroad bridge.  

Read More

Federal court rebuffs latest Monarch-linked liquor law challenge

An Indiana motor carrier’s attempt to transport liquor for a Michigan City wholesaler has been blocked by the Southern Indiana District Court, which found the proposed arrangement could potentially circumvent Indiana’s three-tiered alcohol distribution and sales system.

Read More

Scotty’s Brewhouse founder sued over Carmel restaurant deal

Scotty’s Brewhouse founder Scott M. Wise, along with Indianapolis-based Scotty’s Holdings LLC and two Arizona-based parties, are facing a lawsuit from a former business partner of Wise’s who claims he was defrauded out of his $300,000 investment in the restaurant chain.

Read More

Judge threatens sanctions in DOC suit; attorneys claim honest mistakes

Two Indianapolis attorneys accused of filing false declarations on behalf of their state clients in an inmate’s excessive force lawsuit are facing federal court sanctions for the alleged misconduct, though the attorneys claim the issues giving rise to the court’s concerns were the result of honest mistakes.

Read More

Lawyer doesn’t help his own cause in federal court discipline matter

A Merrillville lawyer who asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana to reconsider discipline imposed on him drew a harsh reply from the court, which said his conduct “lends further support to … concerns about his competence as a lawyer.” The district court denied John H. Davis' motion to reconsider his removal from the court's Roll of Attorneys last week. 

Read More

Judge’s rebuke of Flynn upends sentencing, prolongs case

A federal judge who described himself as disgusted by Michael Flynn’s behavior upended a straightforward sentencing hearing Tuesday, postponing punishment for President Donald Trump’s first national security adviser and telling him in a stinging rebuke, “Arguably you sold your country out.”

Read More

15-month prison term for Porter Co. cop who stole from police group

The former treasurer of a Valparaiso police organization has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for stealing nearly $190,000. Lawrence LaFlower told a federal judge Monday that “everything revolved around gambling,” which is why he began embezzling money from Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 165 in Valparaiso.

Read More

NW Indiana scrap dealer convicted of razing historic bridge

A federal jury has convicted a northwestern Indiana scrap-metal dealer of interstate transportation of stolen goods for allegedly demolishing a historic railroad bridge and selling the metal. Prosecutors said Kenneth Morrison and a work crew cut up the unused Monon Bridge that spanned the Grand Calumet River near downtown Hammond and sold it to Illinois scrapyards for $18,000. He also allegedly sold parts to an East Chicago scrap dealer.

Read More

‘Dirty deeds’: Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen gets 3 years in prison

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s one-time fixer, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to conceal his boss’ alleged sexual affairs, telling a judge that he agreed time and again to cover up Trump’s “dirty deeds” out of “blind loyalty.”

Read More

Habeas petition granted, credit time restored for federal inmate

A federal prisoner has successfully argued for his lost credit time to be restored after the Indiana Northern District Court granted his habeas petition, finding the man was entitled to notice of the factual allegations of a new charge against him at least 24 hours before a hearing, but did not receive it.

Read More
rainbow-121218-450bp

Rent-to-own lawsuits rise in federal, state courts

Katrina Carter and Quentin Lintner are continuing to fight for their piece of the American dream even after the Indiana Court of Appeals closed the door on their attempt to get restitution from the company that put them in an uninhabitable home under a rent-to-own contract. They are not alone in litigation arising from such arrangements.

Read More
voting-121218-450bp.jpg

Multiple Indiana voting laws on trial in federal court

Indiana, like many states, has been amending and enacting new voting laws in the name of stamping out voter fraud. Lawyers and civic organizations are challenging laws and regulations that they believe are restricting the right to vote.

Read More

Prosecutors recommend no jail time for cooperative Flynn

President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser provided so much information to the special counsel’s Russia investigation that prosecutors say he shouldn’t do any prison time, according to a court filing that describes Michael Flynn’s cooperation as “substantial.”

Read More