EPA changes stand, sides with ethanol industry in court case
The federal government announced Monday that it will support the ethanol industry in a lawsuit over biofuel waivers granted to oil refineries under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Lawsuits
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Judge says railroad talks should be included in lawsuits
The ruling undercuts one of the defenses that Union Pacific, BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern had offered in dozens of lawsuits that major companies filed last year questioning the way railroads set shipping rates.
Governor signs bill for Indiana COVID-19 lawsuit shield
Indiana businesses and others now have broad protections from lawsuits by people blaming them for contracting COVID-19 under a new state law.
BoomBozz owner suing former pizzeria franchisees over new restaurant
The company behind the BoomBozz pizzeria chain is suing the its former franchisees in Carmel and Fishers for allegedly using the company’s recipes and other trade secrets to open Crafters Pizza and Draft House in Carmel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Indiana Senate passes COVID-19 liability protection bill
Senate Bill 1, authored by Republican Sen. Mark Messmer of Jasper, would shield businesses and individuals from coronavirus civil liability lawsuits unless there was gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct that could be proven with “clear and convincing evidence.”
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.
Supreme Court ends suits alleging Trump illegally profited from biz interests
It means that there is no definitive answer after years of legal wrangling over the Constitution’s emoluments clauses, which prohibit presidents and others from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments without congressional approval.
Ratcliff sues Indiana Gaming Commission for suspending his license
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, longtime casino executive Rod Ratcliff argues that the commission violated his right to due process and says he believes the commission is trying to force him to sell his interests in the new Gary casino to Hard Rock International, a partner in the project.
Longtime anchor Morehead sues WTHR, claims harassment, discrimination
WTHR’s website still lists Andrea Morehead as one of its news anchors, but her attorney told IBJ that the station fired her in December.
Conseco settles life insurance class action for $27M
Policyholders allege Conseco and its parent companies, Carmel-based CNO Financial Group Inc. and CNO Services LLC, overcharged policyholders through improper premiums and cost of insurance charges.
Indiana Senate committee advances COVID-19 legal immunity bill
The bill would shield businesses and individuals from coronavirus civil liability lawsuits unless there was gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct that could be proven with “clear and convincing evidence.”
Judge rules against 20 local bar owners who sued over pandemic restrictions
The complaint was aimed at Marion County’s pandemic public health orders, which included tougher restrictions on bars and nightclubs in the county than those in most of the state.
Woman denied higher salary because husband had job wins court reversal
A Muncie teacher who sued her employer after being told that her starting salary didn’t need to be higher because her husband had a job has secured a reversal in her favor on her pay-discrimination claims.
Lawsuit alleges Purdue breached contract in Peru projects
Siblings who contacted Purdue University about helping to lower the alpaca mortality rate in their native Peru are now suing, claiming the West Lafayette school has garnered millions of dollars from additional projects they helped establish but is refusing to pay them for their work.
Lawmakers seek to shield businesses from COVID lawsuits
Several state lawmakers have been drafting coronavirus immunity legislation over the past several months as efforts in Congress to pass federal legislation have stalled.