Articles

Trial allowed in school mental-health test case

A federal judge in South Bend is allowing a civil suit to proceed to trial in a case involving a once-controversial school mental-health screening where parents weren’t informed.U.S. District Judge James Moody for the Northern District of Indiana issued a 45-page ruling Tuesday in Teresa and Michael Rhoades v. Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, et al., No. 3:05-CV-586. The case dates to a St. Joseph County student’s suicide in 2003, which spawned the creation of a suicide-prevention pilot program the following year involving…

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Southern District amends Local Rule

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana has amended its Local Rule 65.2 – Motions for Preliminary Injunctions and Temporary Restraining Orders.

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New chief public defender? Not yet

Nine people will soon decide whom they want to see as the next chief public defender for Indiana’s largest county.The Marion County Public Defender Agency’s board of directors conducted second interviews March 4 with two applicants who want to succeed Chief Public Defender David E. Cook when he leaves the agency. A third had withdrawn his name prior to those interviews, according to board chairman Jimmie McMillian.He declined to release any names and would only say the second interviews “went well.” The board…

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Court agrees with IDEM on ‘public water system’

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management was correct in interpreting a federal safe drinking water act to mean that a public water system can be composed of separate, unconnected wells serving a larger area together, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.In IDEM v. Construction Management Associates L.L.C. and Hilltop Farms, No. 52A02-0711-CV-994, a three-judge panel reversed a Miami Circuit judge’s ruling that the state agency had incorrectly determined that separate, unconnected wells constituted a public water system and required the apartment…

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Juvenile facility seeking new superintendent

The Marion County juvenile detention facility is conducting a nationwide search to find a new superintendent to replace Richard L. Curry, who will join the Indiana Department of Correction at the beginning of September.Earlier this month, Curry was named Indiana Department of Correction director of staff development and training. Curry was appointed the superintendent of the Marion County juvenile detention center in 2007. Curry took over as superintendent at a time when the juvenile detention center experienced numerous issues highlighted in…

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COA: Insurance policy not contrary to code

A minimum-coverage insurance company’s policy language that excludes coverage for leased vehicles in certain circumstances isn’t contrary to Indiana Code, the Court of Appeals ruled today. In the appeal of Safe Auto Insurance Co. v. Enterprise Leasing Company of Indianapolis, et al., No. 01A02-0712-CV-1120, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Enterprise Leasing on Safe Auto Insurance’s complaint for declaratory judgment. Safe Auto filed the complaint arguing its policyholder, Jeffrey Harrison, was not…

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Rhode Island CJ to give Lincoln lecture

The Indiana Supreme Court is sponsoring a lecture by the chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, titled "Abraham Lincoln: Lawyer in the White House." Chief Justice Frank Williams is a scholar and major collector of Lincoln paraphernalia.

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COA: Laser hair removal not ‘health care’

Laser hair removal isn’t considered “health care” within the meaning of the state’s Medical Malpractice Act, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today.A unanimous ruling today affirmed a trial court decision in OB-GYN Associates of Northern Indiana P.C. v. Tammy Ransbottom, No. 71A03-0711-CV-503, which involved a St. Joseph County case and the denial of a motion to dismiss a negligence action. In January 2006, Ransbottom had gone to a Mishawaka OB-GYN’s office and underwent the cosmetic laser hair removal treatment. She went…

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High court welcomes Australian, Ukraine jurists

The Indiana Supreme Court is welcoming some of its colleagues from other countries this month, first an Australian justice and then a group of jurists from the Ukraine.Justice Marcia Neave of the Australian Supreme Court of Victoria, Court of Appeals division, is visiting Indiana this week as part of a lecture at Valparaiso Law School. She was slated to meet today with Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and Justices Ted Boehm and Robert Rucker; they were to take an afternoon…

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7th Circuit cautions about propensity inference

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed a man's drug convictions with intent to distribute, but questioned how
a previous drug conviction showed the man had intent or absence of mistake in the instant case.

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Adult son could file paternity, support petition

A retroactive child support action brought by an adult child presented an issue of first impression for the Indiana Court of Appeals, which ruled the adult child could bring the action, but his mother would be the proper recipient of the retroactive payments.

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Supreme Court arguments Wednesday

The Indiana Supreme Court will have a busy Wednesday morning as it hears arguments scheduled for three cases on appeal. First up is Ronald Mayes v. Second Injury Fund, No. 93A02-0702-EX-162, in which Mayes petitioned the Supreme Court to accept jurisdiction over his appeal. The Worker’s Compensation Board denied Mayes’ disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund, ruling Mayes’ settlement of his claim against third-party tortfeasors precluded those benefits from the fund. The Court of Appeals affirmed finding Mayes failed to prove…

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Court rules marriage not valid, affirms sentence

A woman who helped her husband flee from police after committing three murders in southern Indiana can be convicted of assisting a criminal because her marriage is void in Indiana, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled today. In Misty D. Davis v. State of Indiana, No. 63A01-0712-CR-605, the Court of Appeals today upheld Misty Davis’ convictions of and sentence for assisting a criminal in murder and giving a false statement to law enforcement. Davis’ husband, Nick Harbison, attacked four people, resulting in…

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Asian American Alliance to host reception

The Asian American Alliance Inc. will host a reception to celebrate its professional leadership program, cAtAlyst, and the organization’s efforts to inspire Asian Americans to lead and serve. The reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. March 12 at Indianapolis law firm Bingham McHale. To attend, contact Pam Dove at (317) 968-5352 or [email protected] by March 10. For more information about the organization, visit AAAI’s Web site.

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Boone County courts seek rule comments

Boone Circuit and Superior courts are seeking comments to proposed local rule changes, including altering jury trial procedures, financial declarations, workshops about how children cope with divorce, and family court rules. To view the proposed changes, click here. Comments may be made until Aug. 9 to Judge Matthew Kincaid at [email protected].

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