Transgender student seeks injunction in bathrooms lawsuit
A federal judge is weighing whether to grant a preliminary injunction to allow an Evansville transgender student to use male bathrooms.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
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Driver wins $500K judgment in Gibson County truck crash
A motorist injured when his vehicle was struck by a semi-truck whose driver was distracted by a dropped cellphone was awarded a $500,000 damages verdict in federal court in Evansville last week. Magistrate Judge Matthew Brookman entered judgment in favor of motorist Michael J. Smith and his wife, Marcia Smith, and against defendants Gregory Peterson and Triple B Trucking.
Floyd County officials reach tentative settlement in jail death
A sheriff’s department in southern Indiana has reached a tentative settlement with the father of a woman who died in detention.
Muncie’s former building commissioner admits corruption
Muncie’s former building commissioner has agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges. In an agreement filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, Craig Nichols pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and money laundering. Nichols faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
Federal judge admonishes attorney after jailhouse ‘ruckus’
Plaintiffs’ counsel who took selfies with inmates and acknowledged causing a “bit of a ruckus” during a jail inspection got handed a protective order as well as a sharp rebuke from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Barnes partner tapped to fill last Indiana vacancy in federal judiciary
Damon R. Leichty, partner in the South Bend office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP, has been nominated to serve as a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, potentially filling the last empty seat in the federal judiciary in Indiana. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Leichty will fill the vacancy created when Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr., took senior status in January 2016.
Consent decree gives Marion County more early voting sites
The Marion County Election Board has agreed to open five additional satellite locations for early in-person voting starting with the 2018 general election, settling a lawsuit brought in 2017 by Common Cause Indiana and the NAACP. Senior judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana signed on Tuesday a consent decree offered by the plaintiffs and defendants.
Excessive force claim to proceed against IMPD SWAT officer
A Fourth Amendment excessive force claim against an Indianapolis police officer will continue after a federal judge denied the officer’s motion for summary judgment on Tuesday. The SWAT officer is accused of assaulting a suspected drug dealer in his home after executing a no-knock warrant.
Judge awards $219K in housing discrimination lawsuit
The estate of a woman who was confined to a hospital bed and harassed by her landlord won a major victory last week in federal court that provided some rare Indiana case law on housing discrimination and, according to a fair housing advocate, will impact Hoosiers for years to come.
Nursing home fraud scheme’s ‘CFO’ gets 5 years in prison; lesser player gets 4 months
A federal judge on Monday sentenced Steven Ganote, a key player in the massive American Senior Communities overbilling and and kickback scheme, to five years in prison and ordered him to pay $7 million in restitution. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt also doled out punishment to Joshua Burkhart, sentencing him to four months in prison and ordering him to pay $420,000 in restitution for his role in the scheme.
Judge blocks latest Indiana abortion restriction
For the third consecutive year, an Indiana law that would have raised restrictions on abortion rights was blocked by a federal judge. Abortion rights supporters say they expect more such attempts in the future, while the continuity of those federal rights has suddenly become an open question.
Former nursing home executive handed 57-month prison sentence
Daniel Benson, the former chief operating officer of American Senior Communities, was sentenced Friday to nearly five years in federal prison for his role in a massive kickback scheme at Indiana’s largest chain of nursing homes. Indiana Southern District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Benson to a 57-month sentence as part of a plea agreement.
Carmel swim coach faces federal charges for child porn, sexual exploitation of a minor
A suburban Indianapolis swim coach is facing federal charges alleging he shot video of himself having sex with one of his athletes. Prosecutors said Thursday that 29-year-old John C. Goelz has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.
Conour agrees to dismiss third appeal of wire fraud conviction
Convicted fraudster and former Indianapolis attorney William Conour has agreed to dismiss a third appeal of his 10-year federal prison sentence stemming from a 2012 wire fraud conviction for stealing more than $6 million from his personal-injury and wrongful-death clients.
ACLU, PPINK expect Indiana to keep passing abortion laws
Speaking at a press conference about Thursday’s federal court order stopping another abortion law passed by the Indiana Legislature, ACLU of Indiana legal director Ken Falk noted this is not the first time the Statehouse has passed a bill attempting to limit abortions.
Nursing home exec Burkhart handed stiff sentence for kickback scheme
James Burkhart's hopes for a light sentence were dashed Friday afternoon when a federal judge handed down a 9-1/2-year sentence for his role in leading a massive kickback scheme as CEO of Indiana’s largest chain of nursing homes.
For third straight year, judge blocks an Indiana abortion restriction
Following a familiar pattern of recent years, a federal judge Thursday halted an abortion restriction passed by the Indiana General Assembly just days before the law was to take effect. Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry on Thursday in essence said he and others tried to warn the state.
Indiana nominees Brady, Hanlon join others awaiting confirmation
After receiving approval Thursday from the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the pair of nominees to Indiana’s two district courts are now advancing to the floor of Senate, but when they will be called for a confirmation vote is uncertain.
Federal judge blocks latest Indiana abortion law
A federal judge on Thursday blocked an Indiana abortion law that was set to take effect July 1 that would have required the reporting of complications arising from abortions to the state.
7th Circuit begins search for bankruptcy judge ahead of Lorch retirement
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has begun the search for the next Indiana Southern District Bankruptcy Court judge as a current judge prepares to retire.Judge Basil J. Lorch III will soon vacate his position at the Southern District Bankruptcy Court after announcing his retirement in 2016.