Judge blocks Bartholomew court policy barring political activity
A federal judge Friday blocked a Bartholomew County policy that broadly barred court services employees from political activity.
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Settlement conference set in bungled Evansville SWAT raid
A federal court has scheduled a settlement conference later this month in the case of an Evansville woman who sued the city after her home was violently raided by an armored phalanx of SWAT officers who found no evidence of a crime.
St. Joe Circuit judge named as new federal magistrate
St. Joseph Circuit Judge Michael G. Gotsch is moving from one court to another this year. The judge, who decided not to run for re-election, has been selected to serve as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Investiture ceremony set for Magistrate Judge Matthew Brookman
The investiture ceremony for the newest magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will take place this week in Evansville.
Women allege gender, race discrimination at Salesforce
Two women employed in the Indianapolis offices of Salesforce.com Inc. have filed federal discrimination lawsuits against the cloud-software giant, claiming the company passed them over for promotions on multiple occasions because of their race and gender.
Planned Parenthood files suit challenging new Indiana abortion law
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky challenging the recently enacted legislation that does not allow women to get abortions if the fetus may have a disability or potential diagnosis of a disability.
Bagel company sues gas station over trademark infringement
The Great American Bagel Enterprises Inc. has filed suit in federal court against The Great American Eagle after Great American Eagle recycled an old sign of the bagel company and used it on the front of its store.
Southern District launches initiative to help pro se litigants
In response to a series of cases remanded from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Southern District of Indiana is attempting to recruit more volunteer attorneys and, in what one observer called a “very progressive” approach, enlist medical professionals to offer expert testimony.
Conour resentenced to 10 years, minus supervised release
A federal judge rejected ex-attorney and convicted fraudster William Conour’s bid to reduce his prison sentence Wednesday but lifted the condition of supervised release after he serves his time.
Northern District case filings plummet, federal courts report shows
Case filings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana fell 43.9 percent between 2014 and 2015, according to statistics released Tuesday in the 2015 Judicial Business of the United States Courts report.
Judge blocks Indiana’s Syrian refugee order
A federal judge in Indianapolis on Monday blocked Republican Gov. Mike Pence's order that barred state agencies from helping Syrian refugees resettle in Indiana, saying the governor's directive "clearly discriminates" against refugees from the war-torn country.
Floyd County faces class action over ‘stripping’ jail inmates
Floyd County jail inmates who claim they and more than 160 inmates were sometimes forcibly stripped of their clothes and placed in padded cells with little apparent cause may pursue a class-action civil-rights lawsuit against the county, sheriff and jail staff.
US joins Syrian refugee case against Pence
A federal judge had tough questions Friday for the lawyer representing Gov. Mike Pence as he tried to make a case for state sovereignty in attempting to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana. Oral arguments came on the heels of the U.S. Justice Department entering the case, claiming Pence’s actions discriminated on the basis of national origin.
New Southern District magistrate sworn in
Matthew P. Brookman was sworn in Monday as the newest magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. He is filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Magistrate Judge William G. Hussmann, whose last day was Friday.
District Court in New Albany closes early
Snow has shut down the New Albany division of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Anthem workers target high 401(k) fees
Anthem Inc.’s retirement plan is accused in a lawsuit of forcing about 60,000 workers and retirees to pay excessive fees by having to invest in Vanguard Group funds billed as low-cost options.
Donnelly hopeful Indiana’s federal court vacancies will be filled soon
With U.S. District Judge Robert Miller Jr. preparing to take senior status in January, Indiana will have three judicial vacancies to fill on the federal bench.
7th Circuit rejects Conour’s bid to remove judge
Convicted fraudster and former Indianapolis attorney William Conour won’t get to represent himself for now, nor will he succeed in getting the federal judge he claims is biased thrown off his case.
Judge puts brakes on California Uber drivers’ suit outcome
Uber Technologies Inc. won a ruling that may put off the outcome of a bid by California drivers to be treated as employees in a lawsuit that has grown dramatically both in size and potential liability.
Caterpillar loses $74.6M verdict over trade secret theft
Caterpillar Inc. was ordered by a jury to pay $74.6 million for theft of trade secrets from a British maker of earth-moving equipment.