Judge dismisses part of Charlestown lawsuit tied to redevelopment plans
A federal judge has dismissed a portion of a lawsuit brought by landlords that alleged racketeering by Charlestown officials related to a planned redevelopment project.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
Articles
Web Exclusive: Litigation continues over PACER fees
A group of retired federal judges has learned life after the bench comes with PACER fees, and they are lending their voice to those questioning fees for public access to online federal court records.
Southern District case challenges reduction of U.S. Social Security benefits for Canadians
A Canadian woman with careers in both Canada and the United States has experienced those complications firsthand and is seeking legal redress for what she says are wrongly withheld benefits. Lorraine Beeler has sued the Social Security Administration in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleging her U.S. retirement benefits were wrongly reduced based on similar benefits she receives from Canada.
Southern Indiana District Court to offer CLE on black history
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will celebrate Black History Month by welcoming Marcia M. Anderson, the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of Major General in the U.S. Army and an attorney who spent more than 25 years as the clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Divided 7th Circuit lifts injunction against Indiana fetal-tissue research ban
An Indianapolis judge’s ruling that blocked an Indiana law effectively banning stem cell research derived from aborted fetal tissue was reversed by a divided 7th Circuit Court of Appeals panel Thursday. The 2-1 decision is a defeat for Indiana University researchers challenging the ban, and a dissenting judge questioned the state’s motivation and intent behind a law he said threatens IU research into potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders.
U.S. Courts report immigration cases soar, district court filings rise
Immigration prosecutions increased 37 percent last year while overall filings in federal district courts rose 7 percent, according to the United States Courts’ 2018 Annual Report and Court Statistics. The report released Tuesday also found that filings in federal courts of appeal declined 2 percent in 2018.
Ex-Hamilton County addiction doctor loses suit against DEA, Carmel
Law enforcement officials who unsuccessfully brought charges against a Hamilton County addiction treatment doctor accused of overprescribing opiates have been cleared in a civil lawsuit the doctor filed against them.
Judge sanctions lawyer, ex-DOC nurse in inmate abuse case
After declaring her trust in the statements submitted by defendants in prisoner litigation cases “shattered,” a federal judge imposed sanctions — some as as severe as default judgment — on a former prison nurse and her attorney accused of misconduct as serious as perjury.
Judgment awarded to Southport, police officials in legal feud with city councilwoman
The curtains have closed, at least for now, on a longstanding political battle between Southport law enforcement, a city council member and her ex-boyfriend now that a district court has awarded judgment in favor of the city, its police chief and a former detective on their motions for summary judgment on the council members remaining claims.
7th Circuit remands Indiana civil forfeiture case
In another dispute in an Indiana civil forfeiture case, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied issuing an opinion on a district court ruling that found parts of the state statute unconstitutional, finding the lower court was not given a chance to address the state’s effort to fix the problem.
Indiana agrees to provide Hepatitis C drugs to more Medicaid recipients
An agreement reached in federal court in February will allow Indiana Medicaid recipients infected with Hepatitis C to receive direct-acting antiviral medications, or DAAs, sooner rather than having to wait until the disease has significantly damaged their livers.
Judge allows ‘extremely narrow’ failure to accommodate claim to proceed against IPS
A disability discrimination claim brought against Indianapolis Public Schools by a former bus attendant who says the school district failed to accommodate her medical conditions will continue on “extremely narrow” grounds, a federal judge has ruled.
Family, colleagues celebrate Hanlon at public investiture
Tilting the microphone down from the podium, the youngest daughter of new Southern District Judge James Patrick Hanlon drew smiles from his investiture crowd as she characterized her father as a hardworking man who always makes time for his kids.
Suit: Kids in CHINS cases need attorneys
A nonprofit that gave Indiana an F grade in how the state provides for minors in child in need of services and termination of parental rights hearings asserts in a new lawsuit that children a have right to counsel so their voices be heard in court.
DOC cannot make Muslim inmate pay for religious diet, divided 7th Circuit says
The Indiana Department of Correction must provide a Muslim inmate housed at the Indiana State Prison with a meat-based diet in accordance with his religious beliefs, a divided panel of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday in a decision upholding a lower court.
7th Circuit: Damages proper in contract dispute between welding company, supplier
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed an award of damages to a welding company after finding language in an agreement with a welding supplies distributor did not entitle the latter to deferred payment.
7th Circuit reverses decertification of used car dealer class
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a district court’s decision decertifying a class in a used auto dealership’s case when it found the stark change of mind lacked sufficient reasoning.
Former powerhouse investment broker Buck sentenced to more than 3 years in prison
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced former powerhouse Merrill Lynch broker Thomas Buck to three years and four months in prison.
Nexlink must face fired worker’s sex harassment retaliation claim
Nexlink, a “solutions provider” for AT&T, has lost its bid for summary judgment and must face a former employee’s claims that she was terminated in fired for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a former supervisor when she previously worked at AT&T.
7th Circuit dismisses ex-bank worker’s appeal of district court remand to state court
A former bank employee lost his appeal of a remand order that moved his lawsuit from federal to state court and imposed sanctions for wrongful removal, with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals finding there was no abuse of discretion and that the untimeliness of the initial removal to federal court was not made in ignorance.