Indiana Southern District to resume in-person jury trials in April
Previously, Southern District Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson issued orders suspending in-person jury trials through March 1, then extended the suspension to April 5.
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Drug companies seek billion-dollar tax deductions from opioid settlement
Four companies that agreed to pay a combined $26 billion to settle claims about their roles in the opioid crisis plan to deduct some of those costs from their taxes and recoup around $1 billion apiece.
Taft builds new lobby group with Ice Miller transplants
The former Ice Miller employees—including Lacy Johnson and John Hammond III—will form the core of Taft’s new 14-member Public Affairs Strategies Group, 11 professionals plus three support staffers.
Splenda maker sues Speedway chain over knockoff sweetener
Carmel-based Heartland Consumer Products says Speedway offers knockoff sweetener in packets that are too similar to Splenda’s packaging, which could confuse customers.
Indiana Senate votes to override Holcomb’s veto of landlord-tenant bill
If it becomes law, Senate Enrolled Act 148 would prevent all local governments from regulating any aspect of landlord-tenant relationships and would block tenant protections that the city of Indianapolis had put in place last spring.
Roche Diagnostics whistleblower wins $3.6M in settlement agreement
Crystal Derrick, who was a national account manager in Roche’s diabetes division, had accused the company of illegally paying insurance company Humana Inc. for access to certain formularies.
Indiana to receive $12.6M as part of $573M opioid crisis settlement
The global business consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to a $573 million settlement with 49 states over its role in advising companies on how to “supercharge” opioid sales amid an overdose crisis.
Emmis, Colts, Staysniak off hook in Derek Daly’s defamation lawsuit
A Marion Superior Court Judge on Tuesday dismissed all counts against three of the four defendants in the defamation lawsuit involving a racial slur, but threw out only one of six counts against former Colts game announcer Bob Lamey.
Law enforcement reform bill advances with bipartisan support
A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing police accountability and enacting criminal justice reform advanced to the Indiana Senate after lawmakers unanimously approved the measure in a House vote Tuesday.
Gaming Commission files petition to permanently revoke Ratcliff’s gaming license
The Indiana Gaming Commission alleges longtime casino executive Rod Ratcliff funneled money from his former company into a personal gambling account and repeatedly concealed financial information from the commission that should have been disclosed.
Lawmakers consider eliminating requirement to publish public notices in newspapers
House Bill 1498 would allow local governments and other public bodies, such as school boards, airport authorities and local commissions, to publish legal notices online instead of in local newspapers, which is currently required by law.
EA revives college football game as courts mull NCAA stance on amateurism
EA Sports announced Tuesday that it is bringing back its college football video game series, a beloved franchise that was discontinued in 2013 after EA and the Indianapolis-based NCAA were taken to court over the unpaid use of player likenesses.
City’s former deputy mayor joins law firm Bose McKinney
The Indianapolis-based law firm said Thomas Cook will join its Site Selection & Economic Incentives Group, where he’ll assist clients with economic development deals, among other duties.
Anthem paying $594M to settle antitrust litigation, but deal terms might fuel growth
Paying a half-billion-dollar settlement might seem painful, but health care observers say resulting changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield rules are so favorable to Anthem’s growth prospects that the deal is a huge win.
Indiana Gaming Commission asks court to dismiss Ratcliff lawsuit
The Indiana Gaming Commission is arguing that longtime casino executive Rod Ratcliff’s lawsuit should be dismissed because he has not exhausted all of his administrative appeal options.
State lawmakers add $70M to bill to upgrade police training academy
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday amended House Bill 1006 to add the funding to the legislation before unanimously voting to send it to the full House for consideration.
Fiat Chrysler agrees to plead guilty, pay $30M in UAW probe
Company representatives gave more than $3.5 million in cash and other things of value to senior officials at the United Auto Workers, federal prosecutors in Detroit said as they charged FCA with conspiracy from 2009 to 2016.
GOP largely votes against holding Trump impeachment trial
The support of 45 Republicans for declaring the trial invalid indicates that there are long odds for Donald Trump’s conviction, which would require the support of all Democrats and 17 Republicans, or two-thirds of the Senate.
Family can pursue discrimination lawsuit against homeowners association, court rules
Members of a family who claim to have been subjected to race-based harassment, taunts and threats from a neighbor in their Indianapolis subdivision can move forward with their lawsuit after a federal judge denied the homeowners association’s request to toss the case.
Trump impeachment goes to Senate, testing his sway over GOP
Mounting Republican opposition to the proceedings indicates that many GOP senators will eventually vote to acquit Trump. Democrats would need the support of 17 Republicans—a high bar—to convict him.