Probate question to come before Supreme Court
Oral arguments before the Indiana Supreme Court this week will focus on the question of when family members can enter into settlement agreements regarding the distribution of an estate’s assets.
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COA grants summary judgment to teacher, school corporation
A Fort Wayne mother’s claims of battery and constitutional violations against her daughter, a first-grader, will not proceed after the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled the teacher and school corporation were entitled to summary judgment on those claims.
Excessive force case will proceed against officer who shot unarmed robbery suspect
An excessive force claim against a Fort Wayne police officer who shot an unarmed robber will continue after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana denied the officer’s motion for summary judgment.
ADA complaint against IPS will continue
A federal lawsuit alleging Indianapolis Public Schools failed to accommodate a former employee’s disability will proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana after a judge partially denied IPS’ motion to dismiss.
Citing intentional delay, COA tosses med-mal complaint
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a medical malpractice complaint after determining the plaintiff engaged in intentional conduct over six years that delayed the panel’s proceedings.
Centier Bank denied rehearing, cautioned in fraud appeal
A bank that lost its appeal of a trial court judgment against it failed to advance its cause with a petition for the Indiana Court of Appeals to rehear its case. The court cited an intervening Indiana Supreme Court decision in opting to dismiss the bank’s appeal while also cautioning counsel for the tone of the bank’s arguments.
Civil forfeiture reform bill passes Senate
A bill that would overhaul Indiana’s civil forfeiture framework has passed the Indiana Senate. The legislation is in response to a federal court ruling that struck down part of Indiana’s civil forfeiture statute as unconstitutional.
Lawsuit claims Charlestown pressured sale of rental houses
Property owners are suing Charlestown city officials, alleging that they used fines to pressure them to sell their properties at prices well under market value for a planned redevelopment project.
Marion County to expand early voting, switch to vote centers in 2019
Voters in Marion County will have more options starting with the 2019 elections due to long-debated changes approved Wednesday that expand early voting and create vote centers in the county.
COA upholds $9 million judgment for man injured in crash
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a $9 million verdict in favor of a man injured in a motorcycle crash after determining a proffered jury instruction on damages was not erroneous.
7th Circuit affirms judgment in favor of IU Health
A former Indiana University Health doctor who sued IU Health North for failing to stop alleged racial discrimination has lost his appeal before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, with the federal panel finding the district court did not abuse its discretion during the trial, so the verdict in favor of the hospital was valid.
NCAA scores victory in trademark infringement case
A Las Vegas-based fantasy sports sweepstakes company can no longer use the phrases “Final 3” and “April Madness” in its events related to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship after a district court judge granted the NCAA’s request for a permanent injunction in a trademark infringement case.
Trademark dispute between Splenda, Applebees and IHOP to continue
A trademark dispute between the owners of the Splenda sweetener brand and the Applebee’s and IHOP franchises will continue after a district court judge denied the restaurants’ motion to dismiss on Thursday.
Workplace rights lawyers racing against shifting legal landscape
While employers across America paid a record amount in settlements for workplace violations last year, don’t expect it to be the beginning of a trend. Think of it more as the storm before the calm, as labor lawyers rush to lock in payouts ahead of a shifting legal landscape.
Trump lawyer sues BuzzFeed for publishing Russia dossier
The longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against BuzzFeed for publishing an unverified dossier of allegations about Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.
Nearly a dozen Indiana communities sue opioid industry in new flurry of suits
Nearly a dozen Indiana cities and counties have filed lawsuits in recent days against opioid makers and distributors, claiming the companies have flooded their communities with the addictive painkillers and engaged in deceptive marketing campaigns that helped lead to a growing crisis.
Law offers varied answers to sexual harassment questions
Employment law and sexual harassment attorneys say the law provides answers for when conduct crosses the line from objectionable to actionable, though sometimes those answers can be hard to prove. That’s why they say it’s important from both an employer and employee perspective to take steps to protect yourself from ending up in a compromising situation.
7th Circuit reinstates Monarch-linked liquor distribution suit
The legal battle over an Indiana law that prohibits companies from holding permits for both beer and liquor wholesaling will continue after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of a federal case that challenges the enforcement of Indiana’s prohibited-interest statute.
Ruling: Menards founder’s ex-fiancee doesn’t deserve ownership
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Friday that the founder of the Menards building supply stores doesn’t owe his former fiancee an ownership interest in the company.
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.