More than 10 years after criminal code reform, Indiana piles on new penalties
Meanwhile, Indiana prisons are near or over capacity, and areas of the state face an attorney shortage.
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Jack’s Donuts corporate turmoil affecting some local franchisees
Since last fall, four creditors have sued Jack’s Donuts of Indiana Commissary LLC for money they say they’re owed. Of those four cases, two have resulted in judgments against Jack’s totaling just over $888,000.
Supreme Court OKs fee that subsidizes phone, internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas
The justices, by a 6-3 vote, reversed an appeals court ruling that had struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the charge that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years.
11 Eastern Europeans charged in $10.6B Medicare fraud scheme
Prosecutors say the organization bought more than 30 previously legitimate U.S. companies and turned them from lawful businesses into consistent vehicles for fraud.
States can cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, Supreme Court rules
While Medicaid law allows people to choose their own provider, it doesn’t make that a right enforceable in court, the justices found.
Judge dismisses authors’ copyright lawsuit against Meta over AI training
Although Meta prevailed, the judge repeatedly indicated reasons to believe that Meta and other AI companies have turned into serial copyright infringers as they train their technology on books and other works created by humans.
Motorsports teams fear ‘catastrophic’ impact of disclosing financial records during court fight
Attorneys for 12 of NASCAR’s 15 race teams argued in federal court Tuesday that disclosing their financial records would ruin the competitive balance and warned that making such details public would put them all in danger.
Hoosier can’t sue BMV for damages related to agency error, Indiana Supreme Court rules
Justices said they didn’t “condone the BMV’s alleged failings in this case,” but said there was no remedy for the Marion County resident who claimed the bureau’s error cost him a job opportunity and more than $1,000 in fines.
Second Broad Ripple bar owner charged with underreporting millions in sales
The owner of Rock Lobster and other bars is the second owner charged as a result of an investigation that began with 10 Broad Ripple establishments.
Compass files lawsuit against Zillow over private home listings policy
Compass alleges that the ‘Zillow Ban’ was enacted to prevent rivals from competing against it and reduces homeowner choice.
Purdue Pharma’s $7B opioid settlement plan in judge’s hands
Most of the money would go to state and local governments to address the nation’s addiction and overdose crisis, but potentially more than $850 million would go directly to individual victims.
ESOP attorneys see steady work, more M&A deals
Deals involving employee stock ownership plans have become more desirable in recent years, with ESOP-owned companies representing a growing market opportunity.
Judge orders NIH to restore research grants related to diversity
An analysis by the American Association of Medical Colleges found that as of this month, the Trump administration had cut nearly $3.8 billion in NIH funding overall.
Indiana to receive up to $100M as part of $7.4B opioid settlement
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said the agreement addresses the devastating impact of Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of opioid products under the Sackler family’s ownership, which “fueled the worst drug crisis in U.S. history.”
Owner of Broad Ripple bar charged with underreporting more than $4.5M in sales
John Yaggi also faces a misdemeanor charge related to allegations that he offered an employee higher-paying shifts in exchange for sexual favors.
Attorneys in NCAA antitrust case to share up to $725M in fees
The request for plaintiff legal fees in the House vs. NCAA case, approved Friday night, struck experts in class-action litigation as reasonable.
Former Indiana virtual charter school official to plead guilty in $44M fraud case
Percy Clark, 82, of Carmel, who helped oversee Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy, admitted to participating in a plan to inflate student enrollment numbers to obtain tens of millions of dollars in state education funding.
Supreme Court sides with Catholic Charities in religious-rights case over unemployment taxes
Wisconsin argues the organization doesn’t qualify for an exemption because its day-to-day work doesn’t involve religious teachings.
Supreme Court sides with woman claiming anti-straight job discrimination
Corporations and employment lawyers were closely watching the case because many think the ruling could result in more workplace discrimination claims by members of majority groups.
Pure Development co-founder starts new company following dissolution order
Pure Development, one of central Indiana’s largest commercial development firms, last month was ordered to wind down operations by a judge following a months-long lawsuit between its co-founders.