Pence ‘loser pays’ tort-reform bill withdrawn from Senate
A tort reform measure from Gov. Mike Pence's first-year agenda has gone down in defeat amid opposition in a key Senate committee.
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Former Venture employee turns on Bales during testimony
An 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.
Defense attorneys in Bales case trash former co-defendant
Attorney 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.
Judge clears two horsemen from defamation suit
A federal judge has released two Indiana horsemen from the ongoing defamation and conspiracy case brought by Ed Martin Jr., a former car dealer and thoroughbred breeder.
Bales defense: Elkhart deal was a ‘scheme to help’
Facing 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.
Sale of family-owned business leads to lawsuit
Deborah Ecksten, a former shareholder of Indianapolis-based Createc Corp., is suing her brother and mother, claiming they earned multimillion-dollar profits at her expense by selling the company without her knowledge.
Fraud trial for broker Bales begins in South Bend
The federal fraud trial of Indianapolis real estate broker John M. Bales and a partner began Monday morning in South Bend with a jury-selection process that may not have run as smoothly if it took place in central Indiana.
NFL harpoons Pendleton man’s trademark application
Thinking that brothers Jim and John Harbaugh might go head to head in this year’s Super Bowl, Roy Fox last year filed applications to register “Harbowl” and “Harbaugh Bowl” as U.S. trademarks.
Michigan lawyer claims Indiana prosecution was political
A Michigan attorney claims in a lawsuit that former Indianapolis prosecutor Carl Brizzi and former Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita used unwarranted charges against her in a cemetery theft scheme to enhance their political reputations.
Trial date set for local attorney facing fraud charges
William Conour is accused of engaging in a scheme to defraud clients by keeping settlement proceeds for his own use. A new trial date has been set for Sept. 9.
Bales’ trial could turn on definition of ownership
The 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.
Ex-councilor Bateman agrees to plead guilty to fraud charges
Paul C. Bateman Jr., a former Democrat city-county councilor, agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to 13 counts of money laundering and wire fraud for his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
Lampoon paid for Durham’s defense, trustee alleges
Fair Finance bankruptcy trustee Brian Bash, charged with recovering funds for Fair investors, alleges in a court filing that National Lampoon funded convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham’s defense. Durham is a former CEO of the film company.
Judge dismisses Indiana right-to-work law challenge
U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon in Hammond ruled that none of the union's arguments against the law could succeed in federal court, although a challenge could still be made in state courts.
Leader of fraud scheme pleads guilty to 20 counts
Michael Russell faces between 57 and 71 months in prison for defrauding an Indianapolis investor of $1.7 million. Two associates, Paul Bateman, a former City-County councilor, and Manuel Gonzalez, have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial Feb. 11.
NCAA says Penn State fine money in special account
The NCAA said Thursday it has no immediate plans to spend the $12 million already paid to it as part of the sanctions against Penn State University over its handling of child sex abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
Indiana House panel backs sentencing-laws overhaul
A sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana's criminal sentencing laws cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday with the support of law-enforcement groups that had scuttled similar efforts the past two years.
Foul odor spurs Oliver Winery hard-cider lawsuit
The Bloomington-based winery claims in a federal lawsuit that it was forced to recall its hard apple cider due to defective cans provided by Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.
Developer settles suit with Hudson condo residents
The complaint alleged that Hudson residents in 2011 began noticing cracks in the first-floor walls and ceiling of the downtown condominium, in addition to noticing a slope in the floor.
Vectren digs in to fight gas plant
A 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.