UPDATE: Defense takes turn in Marsh civil trial
Don Marsh finally got off the hot seat Wednesday afternoon after his former company wrapped up nearly two days of questioning, but he didn't stay off the witness stand for long.
Legal Issues
Articles
Jury: Real estate execs Bales, Spencer not guilty of fraud
SOUTH BEND — John M. Bales lifted his crossed hands to his face and began to cry Thursday evening as a federal judge read the same jury verdict on each of 13 fraud counts against the real estate broker and his partner: Not guilty.
Defense rests in Bales trial after flurry of witnesses
Closing arguments are expected to begin Wednesday afternoon in the federal fraud trial of Indianapolis real estate broker John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer after the defense raced through seven witnesses Tuesday and early Wednesday.
UPDATE: Jet trips during affairs were also for business, Marsh testifies
In a day on the witness stand, former Marsh Supermarkets Inc. CEO Don Marsh told jurors during his fraud trial Tuesday that he’s not proud of his extramarital affairs, but he insisted the private jet trips he took to visit his mistresses were business-related.
FBI agent references Brizzi in Bales trial testimony
Federal prosecutors rested their fraud case against John M. Bales and partner William E. Spencer on Monday after a full day of testimony from FBI Special Agent Brian Percival that included several references to former Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi.
Marsh to call former CEO as first witness
The lead lawyer for Marsh Supermarkets Inc. expects to call Don Marsh as its first witness when the civil trial against him reconvenes Tuesday. The grocery chain alleges that the former CEO used company funds to pay more than $3 million in personal expenses.
Indiana agencies team up to battle unemployment fraud
The Marion County prosecutor's office is teaming with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to prosecute people suspected of committing unemployment insurance fraud in Indiana.
Families sue to recover lost investments
A central Indiana county commissioner, his wife and members of three other families who lost more than $700,000 they invested in businesses state officials say were shell companies are suing two men accused of orchestrating the scheme.
Former Venture employee turns on Bales during testimony
An FBI investigation into Venture Real Estate Services and principals John Bales and Bill Spencer had already begun when Matthew Dyer signed on as the company's controller in December 2009. Bales told him the company had done nothing illegal, Dyer testified Wednesday.
Judge clears two horsemen from defamation suit
A federal judge has released two Indiana horsemen from the ongoing defamation and conspiracy case brought by Ed Martin Jr., a former car dealer and thoroughbred breeder.
Bales defense: Elkhart deal was a ‘scheme to help’
Facing a looming deadline to find suitable office space for the state Department of Child Services, Indianapolis real estate broker John M. Bales and partner Bill Spencer in 2008 dipped into their own pockets to help close a difficult lease deal, their defense attorneys contend.
Sale of family-owned business leads to lawsuit
Deborah Ecksten, a former shareholder of Indianapolis-based Createc Corp., is suing her brother and mother, claiming they earned multimillion-dollar profits at her expense by selling the company without her knowledge.
Fraud trial for broker Bales begins in South Bend
The federal fraud trial of Indianapolis real estate broker John M. Bales and a partner began Monday morning in South Bend with a jury-selection process that may not have run as smoothly if it took place in central Indiana.
NFL harpoons Pendleton man’s trademark application
Thinking that brothers Jim and John Harbaugh might go head to head in this year’s Super Bowl, Roy Fox last year filed applications to register “Harbowl” and “Harbaugh Bowl” as U.S. trademarks.
Trial date set for local attorney facing fraud charges
William Conour is accused of engaging in a scheme to defraud clients by keeping settlement proceeds for his own use. A new trial date has been set for Sept. 9.
Ex-councilor Bateman agrees to plead guilty to fraud charges
Paul C. Bateman Jr., a former Democrat city-county councilor, agreed to plead guilty Wednesday to 13 counts of money laundering and wire fraud for his part in defrauding an Indianapolis physician of $1.7 million.
Judge dismisses Indiana right-to-work law challenge
U.S. District Court Judge Philip Simon in Hammond ruled that none of the union's arguments against the law could succeed in federal court, although a challenge could still be made in state courts.
Leader of fraud scheme pleads guilty to 20 counts
Michael Russell faces between 57 and 71 months in prison for defrauding an Indianapolis investor of $1.7 million. Two associates, Paul Bateman, a former City-County councilor, and Manuel Gonzalez, have pleaded not guilty and are set for trial Feb. 11.
Indiana House panel backs sentencing-laws overhaul
A sweeping plan to overhaul Indiana's criminal sentencing laws cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature on Wednesday with the support of law-enforcement groups that had scuttled similar efforts the past two years.
Foul odor spurs Oliver Winery hard-cider lawsuit
The Bloomington-based winery claims in a federal lawsuit that it was forced to recall its hard apple cider due to defective cans provided by Ball Metal Beverage Container Corp.