Huntington chief deputy prosecutor appointed to Circuit Court bench
The Huntington County chief deputy prosecutor will soon transition to a judicial role on the Circuit Court bench.
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Bankruptcy court amendment protects against misuse of filing fee
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has amended language governing the payment of filing fees to the court, a change prompted by recent concerns about attorneys using clients’ filing fee payments for other purposes.
Ruling: Lids store managers may proceed with pay class-action
Indianapolis-based Lids store managers who claim they were denied overtime pay in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act cleared the first hurdle Tuesday in a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Hamilton to lead 7th Circuit review of harassment policies
Judge David Hamilton of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has been appointed to chair a committee to review policies for reporting and handling harassment within the federal jurisdiction.
Chief Justice Roberts addresses sexual harassment in judiciary
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts used his end-of-the-year report to highlight the “new challenge” of sexual harassment coming in 2018.
Judge: Kentucky lawyer who fled must forfeit bond
A federal judge in Lexington, Kentucky has ruled that a lawyer in that state who went on the run in a more than $500 million Social Security fraud case must forfeit property put up for bond.
Government seeks change to order lifting Trump refugee ban
Lawyers with the Department of Justice have asked a federal judge to change his order that partially lifted a Trump administration refugee ban.
Two ex-nursing home execs to plead guilty in kickback scheme
Two former executives with a company that operates dozens of Indiana nursing homes have agreed to plead guilty in a kickback scheme involving millions of dollars. Court documents unsealed this week show that former American Senior Communities CEO James Burkhart and former Chief Operating Officer Daniel Benson, both 52, have reached plea deals.
IU wins after sued by fired director accused of sexual harassment
A district court judge has granted summary judgment to Indiana University’s School of Dentistry and high-ranking members of its faculty after finding the school did not violate a former clinic director’s rights by firing him for alleged sexual harassment of students.
7th Circuit affirms ruling for employer on discrimination claims
Indiana’s Southern District Court properly granted summary judgment to a black man on a discrimination case against his former employer after finding the man failed to prove his termination was based on discriminatory practices, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.
District court rules language in Indiana abortion statute void for vagueness
In the most recent decision in a lengthy legal battle over the constitutionality of Indiana’s abortion laws, a district court judge has struck down language that would prohibit the receipt, sale, transfer or acquiring of aborted fetal tissue.
Top 10 legal stories of 2017 focus on law schools, court changes
The closing of 4-year-old Indiana Tech Law School in Fort Wayne, and the revelation that 138-year-old Valparaiso University Law School faced an uncertain future, made law school troubles the top legal news story of 2017, as determined by the staff of Indiana Lawyer. Changes on the federal and state bench also were among the year’s top stories.
Judge’s bid to seal exhibits denied in sex-based harassment case
A district court judge has struck down most aspects of a Huntington Circuit Court judge’s request to seal exhibits submitted as part of a sex-based harassment claim against him, finding the majority of the exhibits in question contain personal content not eligible to be kept from public view.
Amended Southern District rules to take effect Jan. 1
The Indiana Southern District Court will implement new rules relating to Social Security appeals and indigent defense fee agreements when two amendments take effect on Jan. 1.
Gay inmate loses medical care, punitive segregation suit
A gay inmate who uses a man’s name but identifies as a woman has lost a summary judgment challenge in Indiana’s Northern District Court, where the inmate alleged she was intentionally assigned to medical segregation as a punitive measure.
School district cleared after teacher convicted of child seduction
A northern Indiana school corporation has been cleared of legal wrongdoing in the events leading up to the arrest of a high school teacher who was having a sexual relationship with a student. A district court judge granted the school district’s motions for summary judgment on Thursday.
Northern District Bankruptcy Court amends two local rules
The Indiana Northern District Bankruptcy Court has amended two of its local rules relating to costs and pre-trial procedures.
Ex-Vigo school administrator convicted in kickback scheme
A former Vigo County school district administrator has been convicted in a multi-year kickback scheme that federal authorities say cost the district more than $100,000.
Attorney sanctioned $500 for ‘frivolous and misleading motion’
The most recent development in copyright litigation challenging the use of a retired attorney’s copyrighted photo of the Indianapolis skyline has resulted in another Indianapolis attorney being sanctioned in federal court for filing a frivolous and misleading motion.
Judge gives Fogle another avenue to challenge sentence
A federal judge is giving former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle another chance to seek relief from his 15-year prison sentence after striking down the most recent of his objections to his sentence on Wednesday.