Former country club controller gets 2 years for fraud
Officials say Denise Abrell defrauded the Country Club of Indianapolis of $400,000 by writing checks to herself and using the club's credit card without its knowledge.
Legal Issues
Articles
Convicted financier Durham says he can’t afford a lawyer
An Indiana financier and former chief executive of National Lampoon who was convicted of swindling investors out of about $200 million says he can't afford to hire an attorney to handle his appeal.
Analysis: Simon factions make peace as tax hike looms
Widow Bren Simon and her stepchildren finally managed to settle a long legal battle over the estate of mall magnate Melvin Simon. The goal that appears to have united the survivors: Reducing Uncle Sam’s take of a fortune that has swelled to nearly $3 billion.
FDIC suits charge JPMorgan worsened Irwin Union’s woes
The FDIC says offering circulars Irwin Union relied on when it bought residential mortgage securities contained false and misleading information.
Indiana Supreme Court considers punitive damage cap
A top state attorney defended Indiana's punitive damages law Thursday against claims that it renders trials meaningless by forcing judges to reduce awards in lawsuits without telling jurors.
Workers settle employment lawsuit against local hotels
Sixteen current and former Indianapolis hotel workers have settled their union-backed lawsuit that alleged employment violations by nine area hotels and Atlanta-based Hospitality Staffing Solutions, a subcontractor that employs many hotel workers.
Settlement ends bitter battle over Mel Simon estate
A long, contentious family battle over the $2 billion estate of the late shopping mall tycoon Melvin Simon has ended with a confidential settlement.
Housing group sues Buckingham over apartment accessibility
The National Fair Housing Alliance alleges in a lawsuit that four of the local apartment developer’s properties violate Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements.
Blood drawn from cop after crash OK for trial
The Indiana Supreme Court on Monday let stand a ruling saying blood was drawn properly from an allegedly intoxicated Indianapolis police officer after a 2010 fatal crash. But the officer's attorney said it's uncertain whether the evidence can be introduced at trial.
Indiana court hears Duke Energy ice storm case
An attorney for Duke Energy Corp. urged the Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday to reverse a state regulatory panel's decision blocking the company's attempt to pass onto its customers the cost of damages it incurred during a 2009 ice storm.
Court dismisses paper’s appeal over online comments
The state Court of Appeals has dismissed The Indianapolis Star's appeal of a local judge's order requiring it to identify a person who made anonymous comments on its website that a former chief executive of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana contends were defamatory.
Trustee settles for $3.5M with former Fair Finance owner
Donald R. Fair, the former owner of Fair Finance Co. who sold the business to fraudsters Tim Durham and James Cochran, agreed to the settlement Thursday.
Judge orders new venue for officer in fatal crash
Marion County Judge Grant Hawkins said the case surrounding David Bisard had generated too much publicity for him to get a fair trial in central Indiana.
Feds say Indy company ran auto lien scheme
An Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles employee and two others have been charged with stealing cars from banks by filing fake mechanic's liens.
Successful Durham appeal unlikely, outside lawyers say
Local criminal defense lawyers who tracked the trial of Tim Durham and his accomplices say chances are slim that they would prevail on appeal. One said Durham would have a better chance of winning the lottery.
Durham gets 50 years for fraud scheme
Former Indianapolis businessman Tim Durham was sentenced to 50 years in prison for running a Ponzi scheme that led to the collapse of Fair Finance, costing thousands of investors $250 million. Accomplices Jim Cochran and Rick Snow received 25 years and 10 years, respectively.
Fraud victims detail losses before Durham’s sentencing
A 74-year-old former nun who cares for young children to earn a living after being swindled out of her life savings and a woman whose father lost $170,000 in proceeds from the sale of his farm testified against Tim Durham and his two fraud accomplices Friday morning.
Live tweets from Durham sentencing
IBJ provided ongoing updates from the courthouse where Ponzi schemer Tim Durham and two accomplices were sentenced Friday afternoon.
Durham fate rests in judge’s hands
Convicted Ponzi schemer Tim Durham and two accomplices will find out Friday whether they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Church’s fate in judge’s hands after insurance scheme sours
A federal judge will determine whether an Anderson church can exit bankruptcy with a lighter debt load, over objections from its bank lender, after a church scheme to profit by selling life insurance on its elderly members failed.