U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana

2 recent cases in federal court showcase trademark treachery

December 15, 2015

A steel giant’s trade name was used to misrepresent business deals with the intent to procure millions of dollars worth of machinery and financing, and an Amish-country spice maker alleges a local rival is ripping off its registered trademark. These two recent cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana illustrate the difficulties in policing registered marks on intellectual property, but the cases also show the means of recovery at rights holders’ disposal when their IP marks are violated.

Banned live Nativity goes on with mannequins

December 14, 2015

School officials say a federal judge’s injunction only applied to a live scene and that they complied with the order.

City workers lose challenge to law, must quit to take office

December 4, 2015

Five Lake County civil servants lost their lawsuit challenging a state law that forbids them from serving in elected office in the same city that employs them.

District will comply with court order on Christmas show

December 4, 2015

A northern Indiana school district banned by a federal judge from including a live Nativity scene as part of its annual Christmas show says the show will go on without it.

Judge grants preliminary injunction banning Nativity scene

December 2, 2015

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction banning a northern Indiana school district from including a live Nativity scene as part of its annual Christmas show.

Judge: Nativity lawsuit plaintiffs can remain anonymous

December 1, 2015

A federal judge has ruled that a high school student and a parent can remain anonymous as they sue over a live Nativity scene that’s part of a northern Indiana school district’s annual Christmas show.

Judge issues $50M judgment against Elkhart environmental nuisance

November 25, 2015

Residents who live near a waste dump and wood-waste processing facility in Elkhart won a default judgment of more than $50 million against the former owners. The sum appears largely a symbolic figure, however.

Teacher, diocese file motions to dismiss discrimination suit

November 11, 2015

Both the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and a former teacher who was fired after undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments have filed motions to dismiss a lawsuit.

New judge assigned to 2nd trial of former Lake Station mayor

October 9, 2015

A judge accused of falling asleep during the trial of the former Lake Station mayor and his wife has recused himself from a second trial involving them.

Northern Indiana school district sued over Nativity scene

October 8, 2015

A high school student and a parent are challenging the constitutionality of a live Nativity scene that's been included in a northern Indiana school district's annual Christmas show for decades.

Federal jury rules against DCS, awards family $31.3 million

October 7, 2015

The family of a 14-year-old Pulaski County girl who died as a result of prescription error has been awarded $31.3 million in a judgment against state agents who wrongly removed the couple’s children from their home and prosecuted the parents for their daughter’s death.

Ex-Lake Station mayor wants delay in 2nd criminal trial

September 29, 2015

The former mayor of Lake Station and his wife have asked for a delay in their second criminal trial and for a federal judge to recuse himself.

Gary airport tenant sues airport authority, private operator

September 28, 2015

A tenant at the Gary/Chicago International Airport is suing the airport authority and its private operator, alleging that they "unilaterally" quadrupled its rent.

Firefighter allegedly targeted with noose sues ex-official

July 2, 2015

A black Marion firefighter whose wife belongs to the family of a lynching victim has filed a federal lawsuit against an assistant fire chief who allegedly tied a rope into a noose.

Indiana federal wiretaps plunge in 2014

July 1, 2015

Wiretaps authorized by federal judges in Indiana fell by 70 percent in 2014, according to court statistics released Wednesday.

Judge slams city with default sanction in wrongful arrest case

June 17, 2015

A federal judge threw the gavel at the city of Gary for ignoring court orders to respond to discovery in a social worker’s wrongful arrest suit against the city, Gary Community School Corp, and two Gary police officers who worked for the schools.

Certified question regarding Patient’s Compensation Fund dismissed

May 21, 2015

The Indiana Supreme Court has dismissed as moot a certified question sent to it from the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Indiana regarding a claim the Patient’s Compensation Fund sought to pursue against an insurer.

Indiana senator calls for judicial nominating commission

May 13, 2015

Sen. Dan Coats is calling for the appointment of a commission to assist in finding and nominating candidates for the vacancies on the federal bench.

Court seeks comment on reappointment of federal magistrate

May 8, 2015

The U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Indiana wants to hear from the bar and public as to whether a current magistrate judge should be recommended for reappointment.

Ex-Valpo attorney pleads guilty to wire fraud, money laundering

April 24, 2015

Former Valparaiso lawyer Clark Holesinger will plead guilty to federal wire fraud and money-laundering charges accusing him of stealing $2 million, according to an information announced Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

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