Prosecutor uncertain whether he’ll move offices to Community Justice Campus
Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said his hesitancy arises from concerns over how such a move could increase the prosecutor’s operating costs.
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Indianapolis man sentenced in romance fraud scheme that targeted elderly
Prosecutors said Ismaila Fafunmi was involved in a network of scammers preying on the elderly, including impersonating romantic companions eager to forge relationships on dating websites.
Boy Scouts get conditional approval of $850M bankruptcy deal
A bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved a proposal by the Boy Scouts of America to enter into an agreement that includes a fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by Scout leaders and others.
Democrats face new hurdles in legal fight over redistricting
The fight over redrawing political maps is just ramping up in state legislatures and nonpartisan commissions around the country. But both Republicans and Democrats already are planning for major showdowns in the courts.
Facebook hit by new U.S. antitrust case as FTC seeks do-over
The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday filed the new complaint in federal court in Washington, alleging that Facebook violated antitrust laws by buying Instagram and WhatsApp in order to eliminate them as competitors.
Appeals court says state can halt enhanced unemployment benefits
A decision issued Tuesday by the Indiana Court of Appeals is allowing the state to again stop the federal enhanced unemployment benefits that Gov. Eric Holcomb had tried to end in June because he thought the extra money encouraged workers to stay out of the job market.
Facemasks mandatory again at City-County Building, local courts
The judges said rising COVID-19 case numbers and a positivity rate that has risen to 10.5% have created a need for the order.
Federal judge leaves CDC evictions moratorium in place
U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich has refused landlords’ request to put the Biden administration’s new eviction moratorium on hold, though she made clear she thinks it’s illegal.
Supreme Court justice won’t block Indiana University vaccine mandate
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s action came in response to an emergency request from eight students, and it marked the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate.
Federal judge rules against several Indiana abortion laws
The anti-abortion group Indiana Right to Life denounced the decision as “judicial activism at its absolute worst.”
Indianapolis man alleges van ride to jail left him paralyzed
The lawsuit names the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and some of its employees, as well as Indianapolis police officers and some city officials.
Carmel-based firm uncovers three separate cases of employee fraud
Maria Caceres, a former employee of Seven Corners Inc., stands accused of defrauding the travel insurer by submitting false claims—the third employee to face such charges within two years in separate cases.
Students challenging IU vaccine mandate file for U.S. Supreme Court review
The students-plaintiffs have challenged the mandate in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana and at the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, but so far their efforts have been unsuccessful.
Indiana records nearly 500 eviction petitions filed at start of August
In the window between the end of the previous moratorium on evictions and the issuance of the current ban, 486 eviction cases were filed in Indiana from Aug. 1 through midday Aug. 4, according to data from the Indiana Supreme Court.
Defendants found guilty on all charges in Banc-Serv fraud trial
The five former directors and employees of the now-defunct Westfield firm were found guilty on fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say the five submitted false information in order to get more than $10 million in ineligible loans approved by the Small Business Administration.
Rokita loses first attempt at state high court to stop governor’s suit against General Assembly
The Indiana Supreme Court has denied Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita’s emergency petition to halt a trial court from continuing proceedings in the governor’s lawsuit against the Legislature.
Carmel council’s harassment investigation won’t include details of city settlement
The Carmel City Council voted Monday to continue its investigation into allegations that former city attorney Doug Haney harassed a city employee without including detailed information from the city’s settlement with the complainant.
Southern, Northern District courts reinstate mask, social distancing mandates
Starting Tuesday, anyone coming in or occupying public areas of the four courthouses of the Southern District of Indiana must wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing in all public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
Explainer: How Indiana evictions might surge post-moratorium
More than 51,000 eviction filings have been made in Indiana during the pandemic, including nearly 16,000 in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, according to Indiana Legal Services.
Police say Indianapolis FedEx shooter not motivated by race, ethnicity
Four of the eight people killed by Brandon Scott Hole on April 15 were members of the city’s Sikh community, but investigators said Wednesday he did not appear to be motivated by bias. Rather, Hole was suicidal and wanted to “demonstrate his masculinity.”