Articles

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Caseworker vs. DCS

Despite a caseworker’s lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Child Services, her employer says she’s right: There aren’t enough caseworkers to handle the exploding growth in cases of Indiana children and families in crisis. But that’s where the agreement ends.

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DCS agrees more caseworkers needed, argues against suit

Indiana’s Legislature and governor have failed to provide resources to ensure sufficient case managers to protect children and families, a lawyer representing the Department of Child Services told the Indiana Court of Appeals Wednesday. But she argued a caseworker’s lawsuit against the agency was the wrong way to enforce state law requiring those workers have no more than 17 cases each.

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Supreme Court hears arguments in threat case

The Indiana Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday morning on whether to grant transfer in a case on the question of whether an arrestee’s statement could be considered a true threat because there is no evidence that the officer felt threatened by it.

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Are old convictions still relevant?

A man who admitted fault and negligence for a Lake County drunken-driving crash is appealing damages of $2 million awarded in the case, claiming the jury was wrongly provided evidence of his prior alcohol-related driving convictions that were 17 and 30 years old.

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Justices weigh duty of care for house party hosts

Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steven David posed a graphic hypothetical to an attorney defending a liability suit against a homeowner who hosted a party where a guest died after a fight. David’s scenario encapsulated the justices’ apparent concern over a trial court’s grant of summary judgment in the homeowner’s favor.

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Dickson hears final argument in historic Corydon courthouse

The Indiana Supreme Court’s five justices traveled to Corydon Wednesday to hear arguments in a modern case presented in the original Supreme Court courtroom built for just three justices. The event was part of the celebration of the state’s bicentennial and also was Justice Brent Dickson’s final oral argument.

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DNA result shielded from rape trial jury

A man convicted of rape wasn’t permitted at his trial to introduce DNA evidence collected from the victim when she sought medical attention. The DNA was from another man who also was at the party attended by several other people who testified the crime took place.

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Conour victims ask 7th Circuit for fees awarded to creditor

Judges on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals appeared sympathetic to victims of former attorney William Conour during oral arguments Wednesday over legal fees that a District Court judge ordered paid to a Conour creditor rather than to defrauded clients who were shut out of the case.

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Dickson saluted after final Statehouse argument

Retiring Indiana Supreme Court Justice Brent Dickson heard his final argument at the Statehouse courtroom Thursday, where his fellow justices and those arguing and attending saluted him with a standing ovation.

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ESPN makes appeal for Notre Dame police records

ESPN Inc. argued public policy, legislative intent and precedent in Indiana and other states favor a Court of Appeals order for University of Notre Dame police to release records of incidents involving student athletes.

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Rush: Dickson’s last argument to be where Supreme Court began

Chief Justice Loretta Rush announced Wednesday in her State of the Judiciary address that the court will hear a case in the historic southern Indiana building at a date to be determined in April. The case will be the final matter Dickson hears before his retirement on April 29.

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