Justices publicly reprimand Greenfield, Indianapolis lawyers
The Indiana Supreme Court has handed down public reprimands against two Indianapolis-area attorneys, including an action against a partner at a major law firm.
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Justices to hear in-person arguments next week
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear arguments in person next week in three cases, including a dispute over a missed hepatitis diagnosis and allegations of a breached settlement agreement.
COA upholds admission of medical bills in $0 pain-and-suffering verdict
Evidentiary rulings that led to a $0 jury verdict for a man who was injured in a car crash were upheld Wednesday by the Indiana Court of Appeals. The case drew participation from the Indiana plaintiff and defense bars.
Judge limits evidence, refuses to move trial in Floyd death
A judge on Friday denied a defense request to delay or move the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death after the announcement of a $27 million settlement for Floyd’s family raised concern about a tainted jury.
Fired atheist teacher loses appeal alleging school broke confidentiality
A middle-school German teacher who settled a lawsuit claiming he was fired because he was an atheist failed to prove Middlebury Community Schools violated confidentiality terms of the settlement, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
Ex-wife loses appeal in property, contempt dispute
A woman who sought to hold her ex-husband in contempt for failing to sell or refinance their family home has lost her appeal of the contempt denial, with the Indiana Court of Appeals noting the woman repeatedly “thwarted” the man’s attempts to comply with their dissolution agreement.
COA splits on whether email was contract between apartment owner, vendor
A settlement offer received via email between a former apartment owner and a service vendor was an enforceable contract, a majority of the Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed. A dissenting judge, however, would reverse the order requiring the parties to be bound by the terms of a March 2016 email exchange.
Insurer must pay malpractice settlement, 7th Circuit affirms
Judgment against an insurer in the most recent decision involving a nearly 20-year-old medical malpractice case was affirmed Tuesday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Developer may water ski but not build dock on lakefront property, COA rules
A developer who sold his property in the lakefront subdivision he developed cannot now build a dock on that lake, even though he has lifetime rights to ski there, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed in a Tuesday opinion.
Agreement could free LOVE sculptor Robert Indiana’s estate from lawsuit
A New York-based copyright holder that sued the late Hoosier artist Robert Indiana a day before his death has reached a settlement with his estate and the foundation set up to transform the artist’s home into museum.
Casino exec Ratcliff permanently banned from Indiana gambling industry
Longtime Indiana casino executive Rod Ratcliff has been permanently banned from the state’s gambling industry. Ratcliff, who previously served as chairman and CEO of Centaur Gaming and as CEO and chairman of Spectacle Entertainment, has been entangled in a battle with the Indiana Gaming Commission for months, as the state agency has been investigating Ratcliff and his companies.
Indiana woman who gave birth alone in cell secures $200k settlement
An Indiana woman who gave birth alone in a Kentucky jail will receive a $200,000 settlement after arguing that correction staffers were deliberately indifferent to her medical needs, according to a news report.
Justices take up disputes over teachers contracts, online user data
Members of the state’s highest court last week turned away nine cases on petition for transfer but agreed to hear arguments in three cases, including disputes over the legality of teacher contracts and two media companies’ litigation over the use of consumer data.
Roche Diagnostics whistleblower wins $3.6M in settlement agreement
A former manager at Roche Diagnostics Corp. who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the Indianapolis-based company two years ago has won $3.625 million as her reward in a $12.5 million settlement agreement.
Indiana gets $12.5 million in opioid settlement with McKinsey & Co.
The Hoosier state will bring home $12.5 million in a multistate settlement with a consulting firm that played a major role working for opioid companies accused of profiting from the opioid epidemic, including Purdue Pharma, the Indiana Attorney General’s office announced Thursday.
Anthem paying $594M to settle antitrust litigation, but deal terms might fuel growth
Some investment analysts and health care observers say changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield rules that are stipulated in a half-billion-dollar settlement are so favorable to Indianapolis-based Anthem’s growth prospects that they view the deal as a huge win for the company.
Conseco settles life insurance class action for $27M
A nationwide class action against an Indiana insurer that alleged more than 3,600 policyholders were overcharged for premiums has been resolved through a $27 million settlement, plaintiffs’ attorneys said Friday. The settlement provides that each class member will receive at least $500, but most will receive $1,000 or more.
New American Bar Foundation study details decline of jury trials
Fewer than one in 100 civil matters are decided by juries and less than 4% of criminal cases are, a new study from the American Bar Foundation reports, even as lawyers and judges agree that jury trials tend to be fairer than many alternatives.
Charlestown, residents reach agreement in Pleasant Ridge code enforcement lawsuit
The nearly four-year legal battle over allegations that the southern Indiana city of Charlestown used unconstitutional code enforcement tactics to force a group of neighborhood residents out of their homes has been resolved with a settlement agreement requiring the city to act “reasonably” in its enforcement of local codes.
Justices reprimand lawyer for trying to ‘silence’ student in Park Tudor scandal
The prominent Indianapolis employment law attorney who faced professional discipline charges related to his handling of a former high school basketball coach’s student sexting scandal has received a public reprimand from the Indiana Supreme Court. A dissenting judge, however, would not impose any sanction on Ice Miller partner Michael Blickman.