Court stays out of Planned Parenthood funding case
The Supreme Court will not disturb a lower court ruling that blocks Indiana's effort to strip Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood because the organization performs abortions.
Legal Issues
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City fires indicted DMD employees, hires special attorney
The city terminated two employees indicted this week on fraud charges stemming from a bribery scheme involving the Indianapolis Land Bank. It also hired a veteran attorney to review city policies and handle communications about the scheme.
Convicted ex-coroner hits Brizzi with legal malpractice suit
Former Hancock County coroner Tamara Vangundy says she paid Carl Brizzi $10,000 for negligent legal advice that ended her career as an elected official.
Mayor suspends land bank after indictments
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Wednesday sidelined a city program that sells vacant and tax-delinquent properties, one day after federal prosecutors indicted two of its top officials for allegedly accepting bribes and kickbacks.
Feds used wire tap, undercover agent in Land Bank probe
A federal public-corruption task force used a wire tap and an undercover FBI agent to unravel a fraud scheme authorities say was orchestrated by two city employees and three co-conspirators.
Feds charge 5 in Indy Land Bank kickback scheme
Federal prosecutors have charged two city employees in the Department of Metropolitan Development and three others in a scheme involving cash kickbacks on the sale of properties in the Indy Land Bank.
Ex-councilor Bateman sentenced to 27 months in prison
Paul C. Bateman Jr. had pleaded guilty in January to his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
Canada’s Supreme Court won’t hear Lilly appeal on Zyprexa
Eli Lilly claims recent decisions by Canadian courts invalidating 17 drug patents have made the country an outlier among major developed countries.
Court upholds Indiana’s limit on civil damages
The Indiana Supreme Court has upheld the state law limiting punitive damages awarded in civil lawsuits and directs most of that money to a state victims fund.
Truck stop mogul says he didn’t know of fuel-rebate issues
In a speech in Indianapolis, embattled truck stop CEO and Cleveland Browns owner James Haslam took the blame for a lack of oversight in his fuel-sales rebate program, which is the subject of a federal investigation.
Indianapolis couple charged with mail fraud
George Bowman, 43, and Traci L. Bowman, 42, are accused of falsifying purchase records and fraudulently filing insurance claims for expensive construction equipment they never purchased.
State unlikely to act on push for lower booze level for driving
Federal officials are recommending that states reduce the amount of alcohol people can drink and still get behind the wheel. But a key state lawmaker says that’s not likely to happen in Indiana.
National fraternities face more legal risk after court ruling
An Indiana appeals court ruling regarding the death of a Wabash College freshman may force national fraternities to take more responsibility for misconduct at chapter houses.
Leader of fraud scheme sentenced to 4-plus years
Michael Russell, 54, pleaded guilty in January to 20 counts of wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme involving former Indianapolis City-County Councilor Paul Bateman.
High court rules against Indiana farmer in patent case
The Supreme Court has sustained Monsanto Co.'s claim that an Indiana farmer violated the company's patents on soybean seeds that are resistant to its weed-killer.
UPDATE: Brizzi lieutenant agrees to guilty plea in bribery case
David Wyser, the top deputy under former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi, was charged with bribery for his role in the early release of a woman convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme.
Scam artist receives 34 years for home-sale scheme
Shela Amos, 57, led victims in Indianapolis to believe they were legitimately purchasing vacant homes that Amos did not actually own.
Ruling keeps church ensnared in life insurance nightmare
A federal bankruptcy judge has slapped down an Anderson church that attempted to blame its bank for a failed scheme to finance church upgrades by buying life insurance policies on its elderly members.
Judge grants class status to lawsuit against BMV
As many as 4 million Indiana drivers could become plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has overcharged for driver's licenses since 2007.
Assets of attorney in fraud case have gone missing, feds say
After being charged with defrauding clients, Indianapolis attorney William Conour was ordered not to dispose of his personal property. But much of it is now missing, including art, furniture, sports memorabilia and bottles of expensive champagne, according to court filings.