Indiana lawmakers look to update ‘Do Not Call’ law
Indiana lawmakers are looking for new ways to address illegal and unwanted telephone calls as telemarketers use technological advances to skirt the state’s telemarketing law.
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Dyer man pleads guilty in electronic waste scheme
A 46-year-old Dyer man has pleaded guilty in Chicago federal court to an alleged scheme that involved his recycling firms reselling hazardous electronic waste.
Bar pass rate, e-filing completion among justices’ top priorities
Indiana Supreme Court justices gathered Tuesday morning to answer questions about e-filing goals, bar exam concerns and increased rates of self-reported lawyer and judge wellbeing, among other highlights of the court’s 2017-2018 annual report.
Indianapolis police chief says body cameras a top goal
The chief of police in Indianapolis says getting body cameras for his officers is a top goal.
Legal analytics help lawyers respond to client questions
in an age of technology, new legal tech tools are being designed to provide attorneys with more specific answers for clients’ numerous questions about expected case outcomes. Legal analytics tools provide data on how a judge typically rules on summary judgment motions, how long a particular judge generally takes to decide a case or how often opposing counsel chooses to settle.
Smartphone privacy ruling tests how technology affects rights
A consequential Indiana Court of Appeals ruling on an issue of first impression last month marked one of the first times state courts have been asked to reconcile civil rights with advancing technology. The question: considering the personal nature of the contents of a person’s smartphone, can an individual be forced to unlock a smartphone without violating the Fifth Amendment?
Smartphone privacy first impression case splits COA
Law enforcement cannot force a Hamilton County woman to unlock her smartphone as part of criminal investigation because doing so would violate Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, a divided panel of the Indiana Court of Appeals held on an issue of first impression that combined constitutional law with technological advancements.
Attorneys must be mindful of how they discard digital technology
Just as an attorney would shred outdated paper documents, contacts stored in a cellphone and files on a hard drive must be kept private when the old devices are discarded.
Cloud storage foreshadows upgraded standards, security for small firms
Advances in technology have led the world into an era of easy accessibility, something that attorney Bryan Stoffel is grateful for. His solo practice is one of many that rely heavily on the cloud for everyday functions, such as billing, law practice management and filing client paperwork.
Rules amendments making attorney cell numbers public not approved
The Indiana Supreme Court has approved a series of amendments to multiple state rules, but one that did not make the cut was an amendment that would have required attorneys to include their cellphone numbers on appearance filings.
Snapchat images are probative evidence, COA rules
The ability to take a screenshot and save images on Snapchat is probative evidence in charging a man with child pornography, the Indiana Court of appeals ruled in affirming a Henry County man’s conviction Tuesday.
Indiana online sales tax can take effect after SCOTUS ruling
By putting an end to the bright line rule allowing the collection of sales tax only from companies with a physical presence in a state, the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, et al. created a new task for states: setting a threshold that online retailers must meet before a sales tax can be imposed. In Indiana, that task is already complete thanks to a 2017 law intentionally passed to spur SCOTUS action.
Public gets access to more trial court case documents Aug.1
Increased public access to court records will begin August 1, the Indiana Supreme Court said in an order Friday, after hearing recommendations from an advisory task force on remote access to and privacy of electronic court records.
Start Page: Don’t take the click-bait, watch out for phishing attacks
Here are some reminders to help you avoid taking the bait and getting hooked by an email phishing attempt.
7th Circuit reinstates pain clinic’s claim against billing provider
A chronic pain clinic that lost more than a year’s worth of insurance claims through its billing software had its potentially multi-million-dollar breach of contract claim against the provider reinstated Wednesday by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Supreme Court to take up iPhone app lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether the purchasers of iPhone apps can sue Apple over allegations it has an illegal monopoly on the sale of the apps. The court said Monday it will take a case from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled in January that the purchasers of iPhone apps could sue Apple.
Judge: Flashing GIF sent to provoke seizure may be battery
An epileptic seizure suffered by a journalist that was caused by a flashing strobe-like animated GIF sent on Twitter with the message “You deserve a seizure for your posts” may constitute battery, a federal judge in Texas ruled.
E-filing for Jay County now available, mandatory August 6
Electronic filing is now available in more than 40 civil and criminal case types in the Jay Circuit and Superior courts. By August 6, E-filing will be mandatory for attorneys in these courts for all subsequent and initial filings in case types that allow it.
Changing times: Fewer call for laws on the books
With the Indiana Code accessible and searchable online, fewer and fewer volumes of the printed versions are being produced each year, and DVDs once supplied to county clerks around the state to update their statute records have gone the way of the floppy disc.
New law allows for electronic signing of wills, trusts, powers of attorney
Though the law has a reputation for being resistant to change, new legislation that will take effect this summer is designed to give estate planning attorneys the opportunity to embrace technology when advising clients about probate documents while allowing more traditional lawyers to conduct business as usual.