‘Factually inaccurate’ disability denial over migraines remanded
A northern Indiana woman may find some relief after the Northern District Court reversed and remanded the denial of her appeal for supplemental security income.
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AG Hill moves to dismiss sexual harassment, retaliation lawsuit
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is urging a federal judge to throw out the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him and the State of Indiana, filing separate motions — one to dismiss claims brought against him individually, and another to toss those brought against him officially and against the state.
Judgment for ex-Notre Dame prof who stole grant funds reversed
A fired Notre Dame professor convicted of a felony for theft of grant money and found to have possessed pornographic images on university computers lost on appeal a judgment in his favor of more than $500,000 in a breach of contract lawsuit against the university.
Fired Cathedral High School teacher sues archdiocese
The teacher fired from Cathedral High School for being in a same-sex marriage sued the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in Marion Superior Court on Wednesday, alleging the church leadership illegally interfered with his contractual and employment relationship with the high school, which led to his termination June 23.
Health care headache: Ruling bars ISBA from offering insurance to solos, but leaders seek options
When the federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled in a dispute over the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), Indiana State Bar Association president Todd Spurgeon heard the screech of a locomotive coming to sudden stop.
Big business to Supreme Court: Defend LGBTQ people from bias
More than 200 corporations, including many of America’s best-known companies, are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that federal civil rights law bans job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
7th Circuit reverses ruling for insurer over ‘blown deadlines’
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated judgment for a plan administrator after concluding insurers will not receive deferential authority if they fail to meet regulatory deadlines under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
AG Hill accusers file harassment, retaliation lawsuit against him, state
Another chapter has been opened in the ongoing saga surrounding allegations that Attorney General Curtis Hill drunkenly groped four women at a bar more than a year ago. The four women, who up to this point have pursued action within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, have now taken their complaint to the Southern Indiana District Court.
Brebeuf, Cathedral take opposing stances over gay teachers
Leaders at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School say the school will no longer be recognized by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis as a Catholic school after Brebeuf refused to fire a “highly capable and qualified teacher” who is married to a same-sex partner. Meanwhile, Cathedral High School took the opposite position.
Lawsuit: School’s transgender policy violated teacher’s religious beliefs
A Brownsburg music teacher who claims he lost his job because he refused to address transgender students by the first names of their choice has filed a federal lawsuit against the Brownsburg Community School Corporation for violating his First Amendment religious freedom and free speech rights.
IPS pays $600K to settle counselor sex abuse lawsuits
Indianapolis Public Schools paid almost $600,000 to settle three lawsuits in a case involving a former school counselor who was accused of having sex with students.
Justices: Trucking contract jurisdiction dispute may yield new rules
The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a Hoosier trucking company’s amended complaint regarding a clause in a driver’s contract, although it found error with the dismissal’s basis on lack of personal jurisdiction. Justices also said this case will prompt consideration of rules so litigants can move to enforce contractual forum-selection clauses.
7th Circuit vacates ruling in light of new uniform-rental law
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated in part a Southern District Court’s decision, asking it to reconsider whether an amended Indiana wage-deduction law could be retroactively applied to claims made against a former employer for withholding employee wages to rent work uniforms.
Ex-Vanderburgh prosecutor employee files bias complaint
A former employee alleges Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Nick Hermann fired her unfairly after she rejected his romantic advances. Hermann denied the allegations but acknowledged the former employee had told him he had made her uncomfortable.
Steak n Shake in growing legal battle over overtime pay
Steak n Shake is on the hook for a $7.7 million judgment after a jury found the Indianapolis-based burger chain improperly failed to pay overtime to 286 restaurant managers in the St. Louis market.
Survey: Global legal profession “rife” with bullying, sexual harassment
The legal profession has a problem, according to the International Bar Association. The largest survey of its kind found sexual harassment and bullying endemic in the legal profession in the United States and around the world.
Pilot commercial courts to become permanent
Indiana’s pilot commercial courts will become a permanent part of the Hoosier judiciary next month. The six specialized dockets around the state will remain where they are, with some rule amendments.
Fired whistleblower’s case against IDEM reinstated, remanded
A long-running dispute between the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and a terminated employee has been partially revived after a panel of appellate judges agreed the former worker could have been held personally liable for misuse of state funds.
AG Hill defends pay hikes for top aides
Some top aides to Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill have seen recent pay hikes of $9,000 or more, but Hill contends they are not rewards for sticking with him as he faces allegations of drunkenly groping four women during a party last year.
AG Hill using tax dollars for groping legal woes?
The Office of the Indiana Attorney General has paid more than $29,000 for outside legal ethics counsel, and public records indicate thousands of dollars in tax money may have paid for legal services related to the fallout from the sexual misconduct accusations against Attorney General Curtis Hill.