Bankruptcy filings down in 2011
Attorneys says the drop in mortgage foreclosures and sales impacted filings.
District Courts
Articles
U.S. District Court maintenance Jan. 7
Due to scheduled maintenance, e-filing and PACER access to case information for the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 7.
7th Circuit to hear arguments in NCAA price-fixing lawsuit
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments Monday in a case brought by two former NCAA athletes whose scholarships were revoked after injuries. The litigants claim that they were wrongly denied multi-year scholarships that would have covered the cost of their bachelor’s degrees.
State Supreme Court’s robo-calls ruling carries over to federal lawsuit
A ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court upholding the state’s automated phone call ban has found its way into the briefing of a federal appeal challenging the same statute, and the attorneys disagree on whether the state justices adequately addressed a First Amendment issue.
Justices to consider certified question on municipal reorganization
The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted a certified question from a federal judge in Indianapolis that asks whether a township can reorganize into a city in a way that deprives some residents of their statutory rights to vote for mayor and city council.
ACLU says DOC should be held in contempt over kosher meals
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is asking a federal judge to hold the state’s Department of Correction in contempt for not offering inmates kosher meals as it had been ordered to do a year ago.
Ex-Dow Agro scientist receives 7 years for economic espionage
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a former Dow AgroSciences researcher to more than seven years in prison for sending trade secrets worth millions of dollars to China and Germany.
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.
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.
