Rule change redefines service animals, bars those for emotional support
A new rule introduced by the U.S. Department of Transportation in December has revised the Air Carrier Access Act, redefining what constitutes a service animal on airplanes.
Transportation
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Barkdull, Egan and Rivin: Utilizing P3s to finance transportation projects
How can Indiana fund much-needed infrastructure improvements? Governmental entities across the country have endorsed the idea of combining the resources of the public and private sectors through “public-private partnerships” (P3s) to finance and manage America’s crumbling infrastructure.
Groth: Insurance strategies for transportation companies
Steve Groth offers some suggestions that might help transportation companies lower their overall risk management costs.
Judge dismisses criminal counts in Missouri duck boat deaths
A federal judge has dismissed neglect and misconduct charges against three employees of a tourist boat that sank on a Missouri lake in 2018, killing 17 people, including nine members of an Indianapolis family.
DTCI: Flipping the Paradigm: Presenting Subsequent Remedial Measures as a Defense to Punitive Damage Claims against Motor Carriers
The legendary Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi, is credited with saying, “Hope is not a strategy.” The trucking industry and those who defend it need to move beyond merely hoping that the jury will be convinced that the plaintiffs have failed to carry their burden of proof on punitives. Recent verdict history shows that arguing that the conduct at issue “wasn’t that bad” often fails.
Indiana scraps plans to buy land for Ohio River port site
Indiana has scrapped plans to buy land at an Ohio River site under consideration for the state’s newest shipping port, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday.
Justices uphold $40K damages verdict despite challenged jury instruction
A man awarded $40,000 after a crash involving an 18-wheeler will not get a second damages trial after the Indiana Supreme Court rejected his challenge to a damages-mitigation jury instruction.
Judge recommends criminal count dismissal in duck boat case
A federal magistrate judge has recommended that criminal charges be dismissed against three men indicted over a duck boat sinking on a Missouri lake that killed 17 people two summers ago, including nine members of an Indianapolis family.
Federal judge rejects indicted ex-Celadon exec’s vacation plans
A federal judge has denied a request by a former executive of now-defunct Celadon Group Inc. to travel to a Mexican resort for a birthday celebration while he is awaiting trial on multiple fraud charges.
COA: Good Samaritan Law shields trucker who stopped on foggy road to call 911
The Indiana Court of Appeals has partially reversed the denial of summary judgment to a truck driver involved in a car accident after finding both he and his employer are entitled to protection under the Good Samaritan Law. The case attracted an amicus brief from the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association.
Fishers couple injured in Florida boat crash sue Zionsville CEO they say was driving unsafely
Two Fishers residents severely injured in a south Florida powerboat crash late last year are suing the CEO of Indianapolis-based insurance holding company Group1001 for allegedly driving the 425-horsepower boat recklessly after drinking, although he has not been criminally charged.
Unanimous US Supreme Court throws out ‘Bridgegate’ convictions
A unanimous United States Supreme Court on Thursday threw out the convictions of two political insiders involved in the “Bridgegate” scandal that ultimately derailed the 2016 presidential bid of then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The justices found evidence of deception, corruption and abuse of power in the scheme, but said “not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime.”
Indiana BMV announces branch visits by appointment only
Some of Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles license branches will reopen with an appointment-only service format beginning Monday.
Reversal: Landowners, not county, responsible for fixing failing dams near Peru
Reversing a trial court that determined Miami County was responsible for fixing six crumbling dams in a lake community housing addition, the Indiana Court of Appeals found the county was responsible only for the roads that crossed the tops of the embankments.
NTSB: Schools share blame for Rochester crash that killed 3 children
The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that a northern Indiana school district is partially to blame for a 2018 crash that killed three siblings crossing a rural highway to reach their stopped school bus.
Lawmakers considering central Indiana regionalism legislation
Indiana lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow the communities in central Indiana to create a regional development authority, but the framework isn’t exactly what advocates initially proposed.
Justices to consider attorney fees arguments in Ohio River-area billboard dispute
Parties disputing an award of attorney fees in a dispute over a billboard installation near the Ohio River will have the chance to state their case before members of the Indiana Supreme Court this week.
Indiana House panel endorses ban on drivers using handheld phones
A push to combat distracted driving with a ban on driver using handheld cellphones has cleared its first hurdle toward becoming the law in Indiana.
Celadon selling Andy Warhol prints as part of bankruptcy
Indianapolis-based Celadon Group Inc., which is auctioning off its assets in bankruptcy, isn’t just shedding trucks and real estate — it’s also selling Andy Warhol artworks.
New track to arrive at ‘reasonable’ rail rates?
The next time you’re stuck in your car watching a train amble across an intersection, think about this: Deregulation is credited with preventing the railroad industry from being run over by truckers, but in places where the rails are the only means of transportation, what should be done to ensure the prices charged by the railroads to the companies shipping products are reasonable?