Indiana ACLU starts 3-year fundraising drive
The group is locked in two high-profile battles with the state seeking to invalidate new laws barring Planned Parenthood of Indiana from receiving Medicaid funds and cracking down on illegal immigration.
Legal Issues
Articles
Judge denies Plowman request to overturn convictions
Former City-County Councilor Lincoln Plowman had asked a judge to overturn his attempted extortion and bribery convictions after a jury found him guilty of the charges Sept. 15.
State receives 24 more tort claims for stage collapse
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office said the new notices boost to 45 the total number of tort claims received to date from victims of the deadly state fair stage collapse.
Former Hoosier pleads guilty in Florida Ponzi case
Former Indianapolis developer Sydney “Jack” Williams admitted to failing to report $6.4 million in income from 2004 through 2007 that he earned from Miami Beach, Fla.-based Capitol Investments, run by CEO Nevin Shapiro.
NCAA sued by ex-college football players over head injuries
The National College Athletic Association has been sued by two former college football players who claim the organization failed to enforce safety measures to protect them from concussions.
Federal judge limits Indiana ban on robo-calls
Indiana's attorney general says he'll fight a federal judge's ruling limiting Indiana's ban on political robo-calls to in-state phone calls only.
Rep. DeLaney calls for stage collapse liability hearing
The Indianapolis Democrat said the $5 million liability cap the state has in place is "too little" for the seven people who died and dozens who were injured.
Federal judge nixes firm’s Bio Cremation lawsuit
A federal judge in Pittsburgh has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a Pittsburgh company that claimed its so-called "Bio Cremation" service — a flameless process to cremate remains — was being unfairly targeted by two Indiana competitors.
Lawsuit by fair victims challenges Indiana’s $5M tort cap
An Indiana law that caps the state's liability for damages at $5 million for a single event violates the U.S. and state constitutions and should be thrown out, six plaintiffs suing over the deadly collapse of an Indiana State Fair stage argue in a lawsuit filed Monday.
Judge stays decision in WellPoint policyholder case
Former policyholders of WellPoint Inc., who won a right to a class-action trial over their claims that they were shortchanged when the company went public a decade ago, will have to put their trial plans on hold.
Plan approved to distribute fair stage-collapse donations
The families of the seven people killed in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse will receive $35,000 each from a relief fund that collected donations for the victims.
Former partner of Moe & Johnny’s owner alleges fraud
Real estate executive John Bales filed a lawsuit last month accusing Chuck Mack of “willfully and maliciously” misappropriating $200,000 that belonged to him.
Indiana bans DuPont’s Imprelis herbicide
Officials took the action after finding that the herbicide damaged scores of trees and ornamental plants throughout the state.
Indiana sets up special process for state fair claims
The state on Monday asked families of those killed or injured in a deadly stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair to complete a new customized claim form by Nov. 1 so the state can expedite settlements.
Court upholds former pastor’s fraud sentence
The Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld a 54-year sentence for a 67-year-old former pastor convicted of pocketing millions of dollars that investors believed would be used to build churches.
Sweeping reform to patent system signed into law
The first significant change in patent law since 1952 is designed to ease the way for inventors to bring products to market and help whittle down a massive backlog of applications.
Ex-Dow Agro scientist makes plea in trade-secret case
A former Indiana scientist has agreed to plead guilty to charges of illegally sending trade secrets worth $300 million to China and Germany.
Columbia Club nudges aside one foundation, forms second
The Columbia Club has formed a not-for-profit, the Columbia Club Historic Preservation Foundation, to preserve its 1924 building on Monument Circle. The 28-year-old Columbia Club Foundation already exists for the same purpose, and its fate is now unclear.
Judge in Ponzi case deals blow to Hoosier developer
A federal bankruptcy judge in Florida has rejected a settlement that would have extricated former Indianapolis developer Sydney “Jack” Williams from tens of millions of dollars in claims for a mere $334,000.
Ex-Ohio State, Colts player pleads guilty in scam
Former Ohio State University and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Art Schlichter, whose football career was derailed by a gambling addiction, has pleaded guilty to state theft charges linked to a sports ticket fraud scheme.