Quality of Life: Volunteer to live a longer and healthier life
Not only do the recipients of the volunteers’ time and effort benefit, but studies have shown that the volunteers themselves benefit as well.
Opinion
Articles
Leonard: Proposed rule expands safe harbors under federal Anti-Kickback Statute
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General recently published a proposed rule seeking to add new safe harbors to the Anti-Kickback Statute, as well as amend certain existing safe harbors within the rule.
Dean’s Desk: Truly integrated experiential education
Legal education has lost its way. While many law schools seek to update and modernize their approach through the adoption of some required skills instruction and the addition of clinical experiences for more of their students, a significantly more aggressive approach is necessary to reform legal education fully and prepare law students to enter the practice of law today.
Sidebars: Detour from courthouse for impressive pizza and soda combo
Rare is the restaurant that impresses with every dish. I mean every aspect of every dish, including, believe it or not, the fountain soda drinks. At least on one glorious September evening with my family, Coalition Pizza was that restaurant.
A View from Gitmo: An update on USS Cole case and other proceedings
Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Riley offers an update on proceedings happening at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Finney: Top 5 Word tips every legal professional should know
Regardless of practice area, Microsoft Word is an application that most of us spend significant time utilizing. Unfortunately, it is often amidst looming deadlines, preventing us from having time to truly explore features that could ultimately make us more efficient.
Dean’s Desk: Partnerships prep students for Indiana legal careers
A growing economy needs all kinds of professional support – including leaders who have been trained in law and know how to problem-solve. That’s why we have developed several new programs at the IU Maurer School of Law designed to attract the best and brightest students to our school, introduce them to the growing global economy – and, we hope, keep them in the Hoosier State.
Hammerle On… ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘The Judge’
Bob Hammerle says “The Judge” can’t be saved by the appearance of brilliant actors Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall and Vera Farmiga.
Start Page: Take a few (more) steps toward a ‘paper-less’ office
Law firms will likely never be completely paperless (i.e., completely electronic). A good goal for firms, courts and attorneys is to use less paper and be more “paper-less.” This article presents four steps you can take to reduce the use of, and reliance on, paper in practice.
Living Fit: Sitting is killing you, so get moving
How is a chair like a cigarette? They can both kill us.
DTCI: Proceed with caution and civility during depositions
As a young lawyer, I have quickly learned that this friction between our duties to our clients and our duty to behave civilly becomes overly apparent at depositions. Without a doubt, depositions are an extremely effective and widely used discovery tool. They present great opportunity to gain valuable facts that can be used against an opponent. That being said, they also present great opportunity for incivility, especially because depositions are generally held outside a judge’s supervision.
Singer/Jones: A survival guide for zombie construction projects
In real estate and construction, zombies really are all around us. Structures with no life inside scar the real estate landscape in every major city – the abandoned automobile-parts manufacturing facility; the half-completed condo building; the vacant video store with its giant, empty parking lot; the literal hole in the ground surrounded by rusted construction fencing and graffiti – all threatening the health and safety of the structures and inhabitants around them.
Laurin: Well-crafted contracts can avoid subrogation disputes
Most Indiana construction law practitioners would probably agree that Indiana caselaw on construction issues is hardly robust. One exception is cases that address the enforceability of waiver of subrogation provisions (usually under AIA contracts) to prevent claims for damage to the “Work” (again usually as defined by AIA contracts) when a builder’s risk policy should or does cover the damage.
Federal Bar Update: Minor rule changes and attorney-client privilege
Any amendments to various federal rules always take effect Dec. 1. Some years there are significant changes, other years few or no amendments are in play. This December is very modest in terms of federal rule amendments.
Inside the Criminal Case: Contempt, punctuality and expressing yourself to a court
We advise our clients that unfortunately, delays can be part of the court experience. However, one thing we have never advised our clients to do is “tell the court how you really feel.” Or, as Dave Chappelle would say, we have never advised our clients to “keep it real” with the court.
Making Rain: I’m pretty sure my clients love me
Most small to mid-sized companies use on average three to five law firms. Larger companies use even more. So, each and every day you are being compared to your competitors. Knowing how you compare to them in terms of your service and client satisfaction is good to know. You can get this information in a variety of ways and use it to bring in even more business from the client.
Hammerle on … ‘The Skeleton Twins,’ ‘The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them’
Bob Hammerle says “The Skeleton Twins,” which stars two people know for their comedy work, derives its strength not from comedy but the emotional connection of disturbed twins.
Smith: What to do when the EPA sends an Information Request
Even the best companies occasionally attract the attention of regulators. Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will be focusing on addressing noncompliance issues and vigorous enforcement. EPA commonly investigates compliance and potential enforcement with an “Information Request.”
INBOX: Keep Marion County Small Claims out of Superior Court
A reader believes the rational solution to issues in Marion County Small Claims Courts is to keep the system as it is and not move it to Marion Superior Court.
Indiana Judges Association: Judges struggle with ‘rule of law’ questions daily
As judges, we struggle with “rule of law” questions every day. The gray areas between a fact and a supposition dog our paths. The tension between the letter of the law and the conscience of the community complicate our considerations. In some cases, the rule of law just seems to be unjust. But overall, the true meaning of “rule of law” should not be a barrier.