May 21, 2013
Cory SchoutenA federal public-corruption task force used a wire tap and an undercover FBI agent to unravel a fraud scheme authorities say
was orchestrated by two city employees and three co-conspirators.
More
May 16, 2013
Associated PressThe Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the state law limiting punitive damages awarded in civil lawsuits and directs most of
that money to a state victims fund.
More
May 14, 2013
IBJ StaffMichael Russell, 54, pleaded guilty in January to 20 counts of wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme involving former
Indianapolis City-County Councilor Paul Bateman.
More
May 13, 2013
Associated PressThe Supreme Court has sustained Monsanto Co.'s claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company's patents on soybean
seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer.
More
May 6, 2013
Associated PressAs many as 4 million Indiana drivers could become plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has
overcharged for driver's licenses since 2007.
More
May 3, 2013
Dave StaffordAfter being charged with defrauding clients, Indianapolis attorney William Conour was ordered not to dispose of his personal
property. But much of it is now missing, including art, furniture, sports memorabilia and bottles of expensive champagne,
according to court filings.
More
April 26, 2013
Associated PressThe Senate voted 34-15 on Friday in favor of the bill aimed at sending fewer nonviolent offenders to prison.
More
March 28, 2013
Associated PressU.S. District Judge Mark Bennett issued the 97-month prison term to Lowell Hancher of Hamilton County. The Sheridan businessman
pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud.
More
March 21, 2013
Associated PressFormer Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White said in court documents Thursday that his attorney didn't mount any defense
to protect him from the conviction that forced him from office.
More
February 15, 2013
Scott Olson, Cory SchoutenA company lawyer itemized the expenses Marsh Supermarkets believes it is owed during closing arguments Friday. A lawyer for
Don Marsh argued that he neither committed fraud nor breached his contract.
More
February 15, 2013
Scott OlsonThe panel of nine will begin closed-door discussions Friday afternoon following closing arguments from attorneys representing
Marsh Supermarkets Inc. and the former CEO of the company accused of spending $3.3 million of company funds on personal expenses.
More
February 14, 2013
Scott Olson
Lawyers for the former CEO of Marsh Supermarkets on Thursday hammered home their claims his expenses were widely accepted
in the company as normal business costs, while witness testimony revealed a corporate culture that passed the buck on evaluating
those costs.
More
February 7, 2013
Scott OlsonThe disclosure came during the fourth day of Don Marsh's civil trial. The locally based supermarket chain is alleging he used
company funds to pay more than $3 million in personal expenses.
More
February 7, 2013
Cory SchoutenDuring three hours of closing arguments Wednesday in the federal fraud trial of real estate broker John M. Bales and William
E. Spencer, a federal prosecutor and two top-tier Indianapolis defense attorneys delivered a series of memorable one-liners
and rhetorical flourishes designed to stick with jurors.
More
February 6, 2013
Cory SchoutenClosing arguments are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon in the federal fraud trial of Indianapolis real estate broker
John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer after the defense raced through seven witnesses Tuesday and early Wednesday.
More
February 5, 2013
Scott OlsonIn a day on the witness stand, former Marsh Supermarkets Inc. CEO Don Marsh told jurors during his fraud trial Tuesday that
he's not proud of his extramarital affairs, but he insisted the private jet trips he took to visit his mistresses were business-related.
More
February 5, 2013
Cory SchoutenFederal prosecutors rested their fraud case against John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer on Monday after a full day
of testimony from FBI Special Agent Brian Percival that included several references to former Marion County Prosecutor Carl
Brizzi.
More
February 4, 2013
Scott OlsonThe lead lawyer for Marsh Supermarkets Inc. expects to call Don Marsh as its first witness when the civil trial against him
reconvenes Tuesday. The grocery chain alleges that the former CEO used company funds to pay more than $3 million in personal
expenses.
More
February 1, 2013
Cory SchoutenThe legal team representing real estate broker John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer haven't called their first
witness and already they're putting up a spirited fight as federal prosecutors seek to prove 13 charges including bank,
mail and wire fraud.
More
January 31, 2013
Cory SchoutenAn FBI investigation into Venture Real Estate Services and principals John Bales and Bill Spencer had already begun when Matthew
Dyer signed on as the company's controller in December 2009. Bales told him the company had done nothing illegal, Dyer
testified Wednesday.
More
January 30, 2013
Cory SchoutenAttorney and developer Paul J. Page is no longer a co-defendant in the fraud trial of real estate broker John M. Bales and
partner Bill Spencer. But you wouldn't know it from the action Tuesday in U.S. District Court. Only now, rather than federal
prosecutors, it's defense attorneys for Bales and Spencer who are targeting Page.
More
January 29, 2013
Cory SchoutenFacing a looming deadline to find suitable office space for the state Department of Child Services, Indianapolis real estate
broker John M. Bales and partner Bill Spencer in 2008 dipped into their own pockets to help close a difficult lease deal,
their defense attorneys contend.
More
January 26, 2013
Cory SchoutenThe jury trial in South Bend for real estate developer John Bales and his general counsel, William E. Spencer, is scheduled
to begin Jan. 28 and last up to two weeks. Bales and Spencer, both 45, are facing 13 counts, including wire and mail fraud.
More
January 12, 2013
Chris O'MalleyA synthetic natural gas plant proposed downstate need only tweak its contract with would-be gas purchaser Indiana Finance
Authority to comply with an October court ruling and to proceed with the project, Indiana Gasification said in a recent filing
with the Indiana Court of Appeals. But opponents of the plant, led by Evansville-based gas and electric utility Vectren, immediately
objected.
More
December 10, 2012
Associated PressThe Indiana Supreme Court on Monday let stand a ruling saying blood was drawn properly from an allegedly intoxicated Indianapolis
police officer after a 2010 fatal crash. But the officer's attorney said it's uncertain whether the evidence can be
introduced at trial.
More
So the Mayor adds another non value added layer to having a vehicle towed? Whereby the City Government RECIEVES AN ILLEGAL KICKBACK FROM A LGOISTICS COMPANY THAT SUBS THE WORK TO LOCAL TOW COMPANIES? What is the service the City performs for receiving the "tribute"? This is RICO!!!!! What a corrupt and unnecessary layer. What a dirtbag Mayor and his cronies.
Owner occupied housing. Clear enough?
So people think I am paranoid. It's from experience in dealing with puds requested by developers who make major donations themselves to representatives, have nice fund raisers for those running for office and hide through pac's. then there are the public relation firms. You will note some pr comments below. You there Clyde Lee? My opinion. Commercial along 421, great. Multifamily housing, terrible idea that will change the town. Senior condos or zero lot line homes west, great. I suggest keeping all entries to commercial areas at 421. All entries to owner occupied on sycamore. Will keep the traffic on sycamore down some. Two other things. You can't trust what will be there in 10 years. Steve builds quality stuff, but areas change over time. Look at the changes at the wall mart center at 86th and 421 over the last 10 years. Look at the apartments and neighborhoods behind St Vincent's. Raintree properties WILL decrease in value if commercial and multifamily goes in near. It has already been happening around the bridges area. The houses that have been sold recently are way below market. Several deals not closed due to the Illinois construction and the whole unsurety of the bridges. It's pretty simple, Zionsville will approve the whole thing because the city council has been groomed over a LONG period of time for this. I might even suggest some are in their position as a result of this.
Esta, do you have a dog in this fight? You seem to really want to knock anyone against this project. No, I didn't move to Indiana for the architecture. I moved here for that red barn in the field. The horses and fields of corn. A place that is NOT overdeveloped. There are plenty of nearby places in Indianapolis that could be REDEVELOPED instead.
RKW - OK, we get it, you're paranoid. The question is, are you paranoid enough? Greg - Yes, Pittman(s) is (are) at it again. They are developers, they build things. It's what they do. So when you go to work tomorrow, Greg, you're at it again too. Cliff - Really? You moved to Indiana for its progressive architecture? That's like moving to England for the cuisine. Zionsvillain - The house you moved to was once a field or woods. I'm willing to bet folks were upset when that ground was plowed under and a house was built. But I guess now that you are in, everything should stop? "My house was OK, but the next one is sprawl." SE Guy - Please don't paint us with such a wide brush. Most reasonable Zionsville residents welcome planned, measured development.