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

Prosecutors cite ethics rules to Hill in abortion lawsuit

August 17, 2018

Three Indiana prosecutors are renewing their calls for Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill to concede on their behalf the merits of lawsuit that blocked a 2018 abortion law and told the AG's staff in an email that Hill is obligated under the Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct to follow their directive as his clients. Hill, however, maintains he is authorized to defend the statute on behalf of his "ultimate client:" the people of Indiana.

Judge lets Marion County inmate suicide suit proceed

August 16, 2018

A lawsuit claiming the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and one of its deputies violated an inmate’s constitutional rights by leaving him unattended long enough for the inmate to kill himself will continue after a district court judge declined to fully grant summary judgment to the county.

7th Circuit remands mandatory-minimum drug case for resentencing

August 16, 2018

A “dangerous drug” conviction in Arizona is not considered a felony drug offense qualifying for particular federal mandatory minimum sentencing in Indiana under because of differences in definitions, the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals determined.

Federal courts propose broad evidence, civil, bankruptcy rule changes

August 15, 2018

Proposed federal court rule changes released for public comment Wednesday would impose new duties on prosecutors who seek to introduce evidence of a criminal defendant’s prior crimes and on lawyers involved in depositions, among other changes.

Judge: IPS leader may be named in firing suits in student sex case

August 10, 2018

A federal judge has ruled that Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee and other high-ranking IPS officials may be named as defendants in lawsuits by two former school employees. The employees claim they were wrongly fired after IPS botched a response to reports of a sexual relationship between a student and a school counselor.

AG Hill appeals Marion County early voting plan to 7th Circuit

August 10, 2018

After Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker on Thursday afternoon rejected his motion objecting to Marion County’s plan for early voting, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill turned to the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Hill is proceeding over the objection of Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson, whose office is charged by law with election oversight.

AG Hill moves to block Marion County early voting sites

August 8, 2018

Marion County’s decision to open additional voting centers is being contested by Attorney General Curtis Hill, but the Marion County Election Board disputes his assertion that the agreement to offer more early voting sites is contrary to Indiana law or that the board lacked a unanimous vote.

7th Circuit upholds brother’s liability for $7 million judgment

August 6, 2018

A caustic business dispute between brothers has resulted in one brother being held personally liable for a $7 million judgment after the 7th Court of Appeals found his conduct supported a piercing the corporate veil judgment against him.

Marion County Jail beating lawsuit proceeds

August 2, 2018

A judge has refused to dismiss a federal lawsuit in which a man claims guards at the Marion County Jail stomped and beat him, leaving him with broken ribs, then refused to allow him to file a grievance.

Reversal: Plasterer union’s ‘alter ego’ lawsuit reinstated

August 1, 2018

A union lawsuit alleging that a family plastering business invented an “alter ego” to dodge a judgment against it of nearly $200,000 was reinstated Tuesday by the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Attorney awarded $150K for infringement of Indy photo

August 1, 2018

An Indiana attorney and hobbyist photographer who has sued dozens of people for the unauthorized use of a copyrighted image has been awarded more than $150,000 for the willful infringement of his photo of the Indianapolis skyline.

Man convicted of bogus liens on judges loses appeal

July 31, 2018

A man who used the sovereign citizen tactic of filing phony liens against multiple Indiana federal judges lost his appeal Monday. The 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Brent A. Swallers' conviction of filing a false lien and encumbrance against a federal judge

Appeal rejected in plot targeting Noblesville lawyer

July 31, 2018

A woman's appeal of her federal guilty plea in a murder-for-hire case targeting a Noblesville attorney was dismissed by the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals in a case the panel said resembled “the plot of a mediocre novel.”

Drug dealer who kidnapped stripper’s siblings loses appeal of life sentence

July 27, 2018

A Detroit drug dealer who orchestrated the Indianapolis kidnapping of the minor brother and sister of a stripper who stole from him will spend the rest of his life in prison, the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday.

Challenge to Indy panhandling code proceeds in federal court

July 27, 2018

A federal lawsuit against the Indianapolis police chief will continue after a district court judge declined to abstain from hearing the case alleging a local ordinance restricting panhandling is unconstitutional.

Advocates: Abortion ruling continues unconstitutional trend

July 26, 2018

As the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky marked yet another legal victory in a challenge to an Indiana abortion law, the leaders of the organizations say they hope state lawmakers will begin to see what they say is the futility of the annual passage of abortion-restricting legislation.

7th Circuit strikes down Indiana abortion ultrasound law

July 26, 2018

A 2016 law requiring Indiana women who choose to have an abortion to first view an ultrasound of the fetus at least 18 hours in advance was struck down Wednesday by the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Marion County 2018 satellite voting sites approved

July 25, 2018

Marion County voters will be able to vote in one of six satellite voting locations in the 2018 general election, officials announced Wednesday in response to a federal court order. A consent decree entered earlier this month required the county to establish at least five early-voting locations.

Lawyer’s Indy skyline photo on trial in infringement case

July 25, 2018

More than 18 years ago, an attorney with a photography hobby took a photo of the Indianapolis skyline that would later become the subject of dozens of copyright infringement lawsuits he filed against defendants across the country. One of those cases came to trial Tuesday in a contentious, seven-hour hearing that also put the photo itself on trial.

Barnes & Thornburg lawyers filling Indiana federal judiciary

July 24, 2018

When the White House nominated Hoosier Damon Leichty to a federal district judgeship, it was the second time the Trump Administration has chosen an attorney working at Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Indiana to fill a judicial vacancy.

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