Attorney emerges as key player in international adoptions
Michele Jackson’s quest to stem child exploitation led her into arranging international adoptions.
Law
Articles
Durham backers who exited early now taking financial hit
A group of elite Indianapolis investors who cashed out before Tim Durham’s financial empire collapsed have reached a settlement with a bankruptcy trustee requiring them to give most of their money back.
Biofuel fraud case shines light on Imperial CEO
Federal prosecutors say Jeffrey Wilson did not initially know about a fraud scheme in Imperial Petroleum’s new subsidiary, E-Biofuels, but allowed the deception to continue once he did, costing investors tens of millions of dollars.
Biofuels firm’s fraud cheated victims of $100M, feds say
Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday related to an investigation of E-biofuels LLC in Henry County, alleged to be the largest instance of tax and securities fraud in state history.
Dozens of judges to visit schools for Constitution Day
The judges will primarily visit K-12 schools and most will distribute pocket-sized versions of the state constitution, the federal constitution and the Declaration of Independence to students.
Durham’s appeal hangs on tossing damaging wiretaps
Attorneys for Tim Durham and his co-defendants cast their clients’ convictions on a total of 25 felony counts as the result of a string of legal missteps, including bungled jury instructions, and giving investigators the right to conduct wiretaps without first demonstrating that “ordinary investigative techniques failed or were unlikely to succeed.”
Marsh Supermarkets, former CEO spar over attorney fees
The company and Don Marsh each want the other to pay legal bills that, coincidentally, total about $1.7 million each. They stem from a bitter court battle between the two that concluded in July.
Fourteen at flea market face counterfeiting charges
Indiana State Excise Police seized thousands of counterfeit items at White's Sale Barn in Brookville, about 75 miles southeast of Indianapolis.
Miami man pleads guilty to warehouse thefts
A Miami man who helped carry out the theft of about $90 million in prescription drugs from a Eli Lilly warehouse in Connecticut pleaded guilty Monday to similar thefts in Florida, Kentucky and Virginia.
Indiana wants Hardy misconduct charges reinstated
The state will appeal a ruling that threw out four felony counts of official misconduct against Indiana's former top utility regulator, the attorney general's office said Monday.
Indiana judge finds portion of right-to-work law unconstitutional
A Lake County judge has ruled that Indiana’s right-to-work law violates a provision in the state constitution barring the delivery of services “without just compensation.” The law will stay in effect while an appeal to the state Supreme Court is prepared.
Indy tree trimmer accused of ripping off senior
The suit was the first to be filed under a new Senior Consumer Protection Act. The law provides harsher penalties for those found guilty of financially exploiting people 60 or older.
Combatants draw partisan distinctions in debate over sheriff’s budget
The Marion County sheriff can’t control the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, but Mayor Greg Ballard can’t tell the sheriff how to operate jails or secure the City-County Building, and, much to his frustration, he’s been unable to control the sheriff’s spending.
Menard fires back in court fight with Hilberts
Menard has countersued Tomisue Hilbert for “abuse of process,” saying she filed her lawsuit only after companies controlled by Menard removed the Hilberts as managers of a private equity firm and sued to recover millions of dollars in fees paid to the Hilberts.
Indiana Supreme Court takes up case between state, utility
Contract law dominated an Indiana Supreme Court hearing over an agreement requiring the state to buy synthetic natural gas from a private plant and resell it on the open market.
Avalanche of lawsuits flows from Conour fraud
State and federal suits take aim at a cavalcade of local attorneys, including some who used to work with the once-prominent, personal-injury lawyer.
Indiana Supreme Court to review energy contract
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday on a lower court ruling invalidating part of a contract that would require the state to buy synthetic natural gas from a southwestern Indiana plant and resell it on the open market for 30 years.
State appeals court sets hearing on IBM welfare lawsuit
The state is appealing a Marion County judge's ruling last year awarding $52 million to IBM after then-Gov. Mitch Daniels canceled what was a 10-year, $1.37 billion contract.
Hauke fraud victims to get $1M in initial restitution
Former money manager Keenan Hauke was sentenced in July 2012 to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded 67 investors of $7.1 million. Even more victims have emerged since the sentencing.
NFL seeks $765M settlement over concussion lawsuits
The NFL and more than 4,500 former players want to resolve concussion-related lawsuits with a $765 million settlement that would fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and medical research, a federal judge said Thursday.