Local attorney sentenced to six years in prison for immigration fraud
An Indianapolis-area attorney who pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft was sentenced Friday to more than six years in federal prison.
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Self-promoting ‘Pharma Bro’ sentenced to prison in fraud
Martin Shrkeli, the smirking “Pharma Bro” vilified for jacking up the price of a lifesaving drug, was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for defrauding investors in two failed hedge funds.
District judge dismisses attorney’s copyright infringement claim on photo
A retired attorney with an extensive history of filing copyright infringement complaints related to a photo of the Indianapolis skyline can no longer pursue one of those complaints after the Indiana Southern District Court granted his defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings on Friday.
7th Circuit upholds resentencing in mortgage fraud scheme
A northern Indiana couple convicted in a mortgage fraud scheme has lost its second appeal of the spouses’ sentences, with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in its second opinion in the case that the district court did not err in calculating loss or imposing time served.
7th Circuit grants summary judgment to IMPD officer who fatally shot agitated man
The Indiana Southern District Court must enter judgment in favor of an Indianapolis police officer who fatally shot a man while on duty after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined the officer acted reasonably and is entitled to qualified immunity.
South Bend settles excessive force lawsuit for $15K
The city of South Bend agreed to pay a man $15,000 to end a federal lawsuit alleging that a police officer used excessive force while arresting him during a 2014 traffic stop.
7th Circuit: District courts can order federal, state sentences to run concurrently
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated an Indiana man’s enhanced sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm after finding the district court erred in not recognizing its discretion to require the man’s federal sentence to run concurrent to his unrelated state court sentence.
Wiretapping complaint involving Pittsboro, Plainfield police will continue
A wiretapping complaint against a Plainfield police captain will continue after a district court judge partially denied the captain’s motion to dismiss.
COA sends environmental contamination case to Vanderburgh County
An environmental contamination complaint originally filed in Warrick County must be transferred to Vanderburgh County after the Indiana Court of Appeals found no statutory basis to deny a motion to transfer venue.
Conour still seeking counsel, may proceed pro se at resentencing
Convicted fraudster and former attorney William Conour may be forced to proceed pro se at his second resentencing later this month if his continued search for legal representation is unsuccessful.
Hill joins AGs supporting child pornography victims law
Curtis Hill — along with 54 other state and territorial attorneys general — has co-signed a letter calling on Congress to approve the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2017.
Indiana law school deans part of effort to revamp clerkship hiring
The deans of Indiana’s four law schools were part of the successful push to change hiring practices for federal judicial clerkship and allow first year students to concentrate on “learning for its own sake.”
Timeliness hurdle blocks attempt to intervene in consent decree
Although a federal judge sympathized the with East Chicago residents who have been waiting years for their neighborhoods to be decontaminated, he ultimately held that their quest to intervene in a consent decree was untimely.
Pryor joins Southern District as magistrate judge
A new magistrate judge has begun her duties in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, filling a vacancy created by the August death of Magistrate Judge Denise K. LaRue.
20 charged in Fort Wayne tuition reimbursement scam
Five more people are facing charges in connection with a tuition reimbursement scam allegedly conducted by former employees of a defense contractor with operations in Indiana.
Indiana joins new effort to end Obamacare
Indiana has joined a 20-state coalition in a renewed attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act, arguing the changes to the individual mandate brought by the 2017 tax reform render the entire healthcare law unconstitutional.
Civil forfeiture reform passes General Assembly
A bill to reform many aspects of Indiana’s civil forfeiture proceedings is headed to Gov. Eric Holcomb after receiving unanimous support on final passage from the House of Representatives on Monday. The legislation increases due process protections in such cases.
2nd Circuit joins 7th in extending Title VII protections
About 11 months after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its landmark ruling which found Title VII does prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has reached the same conclusion.
Retired attorney survives motion to dismiss copyright claim
A retired Indiana attorney has survived a motion to dismiss a copyright infringement claim against a fellow Indiana lawyer regarding a photo of the Indianapolis skyline, the most recent decision in a long line of copyright claims stemming from the disputed photo.
Judge certifies class in Hepatitis C case against DOC
A district court judge has certified a class action against the Indiana Department of Correction and various medical providers, alleging the defendants fail to provide adequate treatment for the class members’ Hepatitis C diagnoses.