Maley: Senior status for Springmann, Flaum creates vacancies
Rules governing divisional jurisdiction vary in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, as illustrated by some recent rulings.
Opinion
Articles
Mizzell: You can’t ignore texts and chat messages in e-discovery
Texts and chat messages are informal and fragmented forms of communication that can be hard to address in both written discovery and the technical collection of documents. So here are a few suggestions to help attorneys who are just starting to grapple with this developing area of electronic discovery.
Analysis: Trump abdicating in the job he fought to retain
President Donald Trump’s days in office are numbered. But he’s already stopped doing much of his job. Two months after his election defeat, aides are still struggling to convince him to make an effort to showcase and salvage his achievements in office, with limited success.
Academic analysis: Fired for storming the Capitol? Of course
Can you be fired for joining a violent mob that storms the Capitol? Of course you can. Based on my experience as a law professor and lawyer specializing in employment law, I doubt that most employers are losing sleep over whether such decisions are legally justified.
Hammerle on… “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “The Midnight Sky”
Movie reviewer Robert Hammerle has warm words for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and finds deep meaning in “The Midnight Sky.”
Hull: Trump election suits pose challenge for legal profession, bar
On Dec. 3, 2020, the group Lawyers Defending American Democracy issued a “Call for Bar Condemnation and Investigation of President Trump’s Campaign Lawyers for Subverting American Democracy.” I am one of the hundreds of lawyers who signed. I did so not only because of the present constitutional crisis, but for an additional individual reason: to personally honor the valiant work of the lawyers in the NAACP Legal and Education Fund Inc. and to mark a distinction between their achievements and the damage to our profession inflicted by these recent worthless cases.
Applegate: What to do after an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis
The diagnosis is in. Unfortunately, you or a loved one is diagnosed with the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Obviously, the first step is to work with your doctor to slow the progression. However, there are legal steps you need to take as quickly as possible.
Stafford: American legacies, for good or ill, now forming
A few lawyers have gone to court since Donald Trump lost, attempting a legal coup arguing that 74 million is greater than 81 million. By no coincidence, the votes these lawyers seek to disqualify — to vilify — are almost without exception those cast by Black voters. I take comfort, though, knowing the American rule of law, such as it is, stands because men and women of goodwill guard it.
Soshnick: The income conundrum in Indiana divorce law
One of the perplexing areas of Indiana divorce law is “income.” At first blush, that vexation seems out of place. Upon closer inspection, the confusion is understandable. Why? The reason is that there frequently are disputes as to whether payments are income or property in divorce cases.
Makris: Review of notable Indiana property division cases in 2020
In 2020, the Indiana Court of Appeals issued three notable decisions relating to the division of property in dissolution of marriage cases. From the interpretation of asset appreciation in premarital agreements to the admissibility of mediation evidence in actions to avoid or enforce a settlement agreement, the following are three cases that provide valuable takeaways for family law practitioners.
Morris: It’s time for my first retirement
In just a few short days, Dec. 31, 2020, will mark my last official day with IBJ Media. I’m calling this occasion my “first retirement.” Nate Feltman, president, CEO and co-owner, will pick up publisher duties upon my departure.
IndyBar: Fifty Years of Leadership with IndyBar
Nearly 50 past presidents came together to celebrate the IndyBar’s history and accomplishments. What was astounding was that we had past presidents spanning five decades. Indeed, the past presidents from 1970 (Skip Kappes), 1980 (Ray Good), 1990 (Don Buttrey) and 2000 (Karen Turner) all joined the numerous other presidents from years past.
Bell and Grass: Confidentiality clauses, contraband and the duty to report
The Indiana Supreme Court recently issued a disciplinary opinion that addressed the issues of confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements, a lawyer’s handling of contraband, and the tension between a lawyer’s duty to report child abuse and the lawyer’s duty of confidentiality.
DTCI: Life lesson from a year in prison: Don’t take it personally
Nearly 30 years ago, between college and law school, I spent a year of my life in prison — working that is — as a correctional officer for the Indiana Department of Correction. While the work was anything but glamorous, I have always appreciated that experience, where I learned more than a couple of important lessons.
Hammerle on… “The Prom,” Christmas 2020
Movie reviewer Robert Hammerle observes that the roller coaster ride of Netflix’s “The Prom” might not be too popular in its setting of the Hoosier State and shares memories of Christmases past.
Young: Grand jury reforms needed to restore public confidence
Inserting race elevates the question of the efficacy of grand juries, whether they can truly be a fair process that seeks to evaluate the weight of evidence or whether it is simply a prosecutor’s tool to advance or diminish a case before it can take on a life of its own.
Bont: White collar update: Sacklers, Flynn elude criminal charges
In the current administration, it is somewhat unusual for the government to prosecute corporate wrongdoing using every weapon in its arsenal. Particularly given the Department of Justice’s recent practice of publicly announcing decisions not to prosecute corporations that have been under criminal investigation, the recent announcement of resolved criminal charges against Purdue Pharma is unique.
Start Page: Apple M1 plus Big Sur equal big changes for computers
Apple recently updated its operating systems for Mac and iOS (iPhone and iPad). Apple also announced a new line of computers built with its own processors. While this development is largely under the hood, these new chips represent some new potential for computing.
Dreyer: Lawyers must treasure the currency of character
Character is not an aspiration for lawyers, it is a requirement. It is not an exception, it is the rule. No other profession in the world carries such a heavy obligation because the consequences are so great if we fail.
JLAP: Grief is more than just the ‘holiday blues’
There is more in the air than holiday cheer. It feels heavy and different, the kind of energy you can’t put your finger on. David Kessler, renowned grief expert, issued a wake-up call: “We are all dealing with the collective loss of the world we knew. The world we knew is now gone forever.” If you feel like singing the blues, you are not alone.