Ex-Dow Agro scientist set to be sentenced in espionage case
Federal prosecutors are recommending that a former Dow AgroSciences researcher be sentenced to more than seven years in prison for sending trade secrets worth millions to China and Germany.
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District Courts revise local rules
The U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana will be changing the style of Local Rules beginning Jan.1.
Grand jury indicts 2 attorneys, real estate broker
A grand jury in South Bend has returned a 14-count criminal indictment against two attorneys and a real estate broker from central Indiana over a state lease deal in Elkhart.
Judge won’t allow auto-dialer statute enforcement during appeal
Balancing free speech rights with the public interest in preventing automated political calls from out-of-state entities, U.S. Judge William Lawrence in Indianapolis denied the state’s request to continue enforcing Indiana’s auto-dialer statute while a higher court is considering his ruling from two months ago that blocked enforcement.
Bankruptcy judge applications being accepted
The Judicial Council of the 7th Circuit is seeking applications for bankruptcy judge to fill a new position in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Man gets 326 months imprisonment, lifetime supervision for child pornography
U.S. Judge Robert Miller Jr. sentenced an Elkhart man to 326 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after his guilty plea to sexually exploiting children.
Former city-county councilor sentenced to 40 months
U.S. Senior Judge Larry McKinney on Thursday sentenced former Indianapolis City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman to 40 months in federal prison for attempted extortion and bribery.
Court seeks comment on changes to civil local rules
The U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, is seeking comment on proposed amendments to dozens of its local rules. If adopted, the amendments will become effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Changes to federal courts effective Thursday
Several changes are coming to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana and the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Indiana Thursday.
Application process open for federal defense panel
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana is accepting applications from attorneys interested in serving on the court’s Criminal Justice Act panel for the Indianapolis and Terre Haute divisions.
Judge grants limited class certification in stage collapse lawsuit
While she said she doubts the plaintiffs can win their case, U.S. Judge Sarah Evans Barker is allowing limited class certification in a lawsuit challenging the state’s $5 million damage liability cap. Plaintiffs incurred injuries in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse Aug. 13.
Holiday court closures, bankruptcy court changes
Indiana’s courts will be closed Thursday in honor of Thanksgiving. However, some court offices will be available to handle emergencies on Friday.
South Bend attorney sentenced for fraud
Thomas F. “Chip” Lewis III will spend more than three years in prison following his guilty plea to aiding and abetting wire fraud stemming from an advance fee scam.
Indiana bankruptcy filings decrease in 2011
Indiana saw fewer bankruptcies for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2011, than it did the year before, with the state improving its national ranking based on case filings.
4th annual symposium to look at civil rights
Civil rights in the Southern District will be the topic of the fourth annual Court History Symposium presented by the Historical Society for the Southern District of Indiana Nov. 18.
Federal Bar Update: Comments sought for changes to local rules
John Maley writes about changes coming to local rules in each District Court.
Northern District seeks comment on revising, restyling rules
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana is now taking comments on proposed changes to its local rules.
Bankruptcy courts amend local rules
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana has adopted revisions to Local Rule B-1009-1. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana has amended its Local Rule B-3007-1.
Brief filed in NCAA scholarship appeal
Two former college athletes who lost their scholarships because of injuries are now arguing to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that they would have received multi-year athletic scholarships covering the costs of their bachelor’s degrees if it wasn’t for the “anti-competitive” National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I bylaws.