Federal judge lets suit alleging DCS failed to protect children proceed
A lawsuit alleging harm and constitutional violations by the Indiana Department of Child Services has survived a motion to dismiss.
Marilyn Odendahl / The Indiana Lawyer
Articles
Total Wine & More wins round in court fight to open in Indiana
A national alcohol retailer with more than 200 stores in 24 states is a step closer to doing business in Indiana after a federal court temporarily barred Indiana from enforcing a prohibition that keeps out-of-state businesses from holding liquor permits.
Indiana Supreme Court partially shields COVID-19 stimulus checks from debt collection
Indiana Legal Services, Prosperity Indiana, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic and Indiana Institute for Working Families petitioned the court to protect the payments issued as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
Indiana law schools all decline in latest U.S. News rankings
Indiana University’s two law schools posted the biggest declines in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report rankings, while Notre Dame Law School slipped but was still within the range established in the previous few years.
Entrepreneurial endeavor: New Indianapolis law firm thinks like startup
Like the entrepreneurs they represent, the three lawyers who recently formed JBJ Legal got restless working for someone else. Befitting their entrepreneurial spirit, the three have leveraged technology and capitalized on modern-day office concepts in starting their firm.
Indiana sues distributors in opioid epidemic
One day after three opioid distributors reached a $260 million tentative settlement with two Ohio counties, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the same three companies.
Bingham merging with Dentons, bringing biggest global law firm to Indiana
In a move that’s expected to transform the Indiana legal landscape, Bingham Greenebaum Doll has announced it will be combining with Dentons, the world’s largest law firm.
UPDATE: Prosecutor Terry Curry emotional about decision to step down as he battles cancer
He notified Gov. Eric Holcomb of his resignation Monday morning. Chief trial deputy Ryan Mears will immediately become acting prosecutor and a caucus of Marion County Democratic precinct committeepersons will be called within 30 days to elect an individual to fulfill the remainder of Curry’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022.
Indiana joins states seeking to settle with Purdue Pharma
Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is among the 29 attorneys general across the country backing a proposed settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, calling the agreement a “significant breakthrough in our important fight against the opioid crisis.”
Taft announces merger, expansion into Minnesota market
Once the combination is completed Jan. 1, Taft will grow to more than 600 lawyers spread across 12 offices located primarily in the Midwest.
Attorney on probation for public indecency charged with theft from client
An Indianapolis attorney who pleaded guilty to public indecency last year after being accused of exposing himself to two busloads of high school girls basketball players is facing new charges of stealing more than $53,000 from a client.
Appeals court says Gary’s lawsuit against gun makers can proceed
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday revived the city of Gary’s lawsuit against 10 handgun manufacturers, thwarting the Indiana General Assembly’s attempt to derail the legal action in 2015.
Two Indiana law schools slip, one climbs in latest U.S. News rankings
The magazine’s report also found that at least 65 percent of graduates at Indiana’s top three law schools leave with debt, and that the average debt is greater than $90,000.
Indiana Supreme Court calls for review of state’s bar exam
In an order issued Tuesday, the Supreme Court noted the decision to form the commission was driven by Indiana’s falling bar passage rates. The overall pass rate for the July exam fell from 82 percent in 2008 to 65 percent in 2018.
Indiana sues Purdue Pharma for role in opioid crisis
The lawsuit is the culmination of two-year investigation that included depositions of former employees, interviews with prescribers across the state and a review of Purdue Pharma’s profits, Attorney General Curtis Hill said.
Students accused of sexual misconduct suing colleges, universities
In recent years, colleges have been getting tougher on the accused when it comes to handling reports of sexual misconduct. The result is a rising number of lawsuits from students who feel their due-process rights are being violated, including several suits against schools in Indiana.
Regulators reject Valparaiso law school’s move to Tennessee
Valparaiso University and Middle Tennessee State University had approved transferring the struggling law school to the Volunteer State, but higher-education officials objected.
Holcomb’s office ordered to hand over Pence’s Carrier emails
Marion Superior Judge Heather Welch issued an order this week forcing Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office to disclose communications from November 2016 between former Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trump and Carrier Corp.
Attorney General Hill moves to block Marion County early-voting sites
Attorney General Curtis Hill, on behalf of the state, is challenging a judge’s decree that opens additional satellite voting centers in Marion County for the 2018 general election. He filed a motion Tuesday asking the federal court to withdraw the agreement.
Indiana’s Barrett a top contender in brewing Supreme Court battle
Notre Dame Law School professor and 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett is on President Trump’s list of 25 Supreme Court-worthy nominees, but she is now seen as being on a much shorter list.