Developer who drew friends into Ponzi reaches $1M deal
Sydney "Jack" Williams, founder of Williams Realty Group, recruited dozens of investors, many with Indiana ties, to invest in a Florida business that turned out to be a giant fraud.
Legal Issues
Articles
Embattled prosecutor Brizzi plans new business
Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said he plans a new business in reputation management. He will also work as an attorney from offices in Hamilton County and Indianapolis.
Broadband provider sends troubling financial signals
Omnicity Corp. is a half-year behind in payments to a Muncie lender and faces several lawsuits over unpaid bills from companies it acquired.
Conseco brass agree to settle 8-year-old suit for $41.5M
The suit accused CEO Gary Wendt, President Bill Shea, Chief Financial Officer Charles Chokel and Chief Accounting Officer Jim Adams of engaging in a “massive and systematic coverup of … actual debts and losses through complex accounting, misleading disclosures, and irregular accounting practices.”
Insurer for Durham firm to settle suits for $5.5M
The agreement allows embattled financier Tim Durham to remain on the board of CLST Holdings, but mandates he step down as chairman and not vote on any matter unless doing so would make the board unanimous.
Judge removes Bren Simon as trustee over late husband’s estate
A series of questionable decisions by Bren Simon in recent months appear to have paved the way for a Hamilton County judge’s order this week removing Bren as interim trustee over Simon Property Group co-founder Melvin Simon’s estate.
Daniels endorses findings of criminal code review
Sweeping changes proposed for Indiana’s criminal sentencing system won the endorsement Wednesday of Gov. Mitch Daniels, who said that if lawmakers enact the changes they would hold down the state’s ballooning prison population and save taxpayer money.
Hillenbrand wins ban of knockoff coffins from Mexico
The U.S. International Trade Commission said Monday that Ataudes Aguilares will be barred from bringing in caskets with attached memorabilia compartments, which Batesville-based Hillenbrand has patented.
Whistleblower suit cites Rolls-Royce engine flaws
Rolls-Royce Corp. concealed repeated defects at an aircraft engine plant in Indianapolis and fired a safety official for reporting the problems, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.
Indiana church financier gets 54 years for Ponzi scheme
A judge sentenced 66-year-old Vaughn Reeves to 54 years in prison during a court hearing Tuesday in Sullivan. A jury convicted him in October on nine counts of securities fraud.
Republic sues website operator over airline gift cards
Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holdings Inc. and its Frontier Airlines unit filed a trademark-infringement case against the operator of a website offering gift cards as consumer incentives.
Judge OKs plan to distribute Schrenker’s assets
A judge on Friday approved a plan under which investors who lost millions in Marcus Schrenker’s financial schemes will get back seven cents on the dollar.
Simon widow’s attorneys want judge to step down
Attorneys for Bren Simon turned their ire toward a Hamilton County judge on Tuesday, asking him to recuse himself from a legal battle over real estate magnate Melvin Simon's $2 billion estate.
Judge denies motion to dismiss school funding suit
Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Franklin Township Schools and Middlebury Community Schools say the school formula violates the state constitution's requirement for "general and uniform" public education funding because districts get different per-pupil amounts.
Celebrity lawyer Roy Black tapped in Durham criminal probe
Tim Durham says he’s ruined financially, but he’s not cutting corners lining up legal firepower to defend himself. Durham has hired famed criminal defense attorney Roy Black of Miami, lawyers representing the Indianapolis financier in civil litigation confirmed.
Man gets 40-year sentence for lawmaker attack
A man found guilty but mentally ill for an attack on Indiana state Rep. Ed. DeLaney was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday.
Allison Transmission, key supplier continue court battle
The dispute reached a boiling point early this year when the supplier, Allison’s sole supplier of bonded piston seals, threatened to stop shipping.
Home Loan Bank sues over losses on $3B mortgage portfolio
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis is suing some of the nation’s largest financial institutions to recover losses on a $3 billion portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.
Inventor files suit against local printing business
Lawsuit alleges Harding Poorman Group shorted former Discom Technologies owner a percentage of sales after it acquired his company.
Court upholds Lilly patent on cancer drug Alimta
A U.S. District Court judge on Monday upheld Eli Lilly and Co.’s patent on the cancer drug Alimta, protecting the compound until July 2016. It was a welcome win after a difficult few months for Indianapolis-based Lilly, which is facing a wave of patent expirations in coming years.