Indiana

Pay Dispute Prompts Defenders to Withdraw From Fatal Arson Case

The appointed lawyers for a man accused of setting a fire that killed his wife and son are withdrawing from a case in which costs continue to mount. The lawyers—Zaki Ali and Joseph Cleary—say Madison County, Ind., officials have refused to pay the $95,000 needed to defend Rex David Delph,…

Jul 8, 2008 11:46 AM CDT

Attorney Held Hostage, SUV Stolen After Driving Client to Hearing

Police in central Indiana are on the hunt for a domestic battery defendant who is now wanted on charges that he held his lawyer hostage and stole his SUV. The lawyer, Thomas Hamer, reportedly took temporary custody of client Richard L. Hudson so he could escort him to a hearing…

Jul 8, 2008 10:52 AM CDT

Big Indy Firm Coming to Chicago, Plans 50-Lawyer Office

A more than 370-lawyer international law firm headquartered in Indianapolis is reportedly coming to Chicago in a big way. Baker & Daniels is establishing a presence in the Windy City with a seven-lawyer contingent from Schuyler Roche, and expects to have a 50-lawyer Chicago office in the near future, according…

Jun 2, 2008 10:34 PM CDT

New Tests in 1908 Murder Mystery: Did ‘Lady Bluebeard’ Kill Children, Too?

It looks like Belle Gunness, in addition to luring lonely men to her hillltop Indiana farm in the early 1900s and murdering and dismembering them, may have killed children there, too, according to an attorney-turned-forensic anthropologist. Although DNA test results are still awaited, attorney Andrea Simmons, who is leading a…

May 15, 2008 12:42 AM CDT

2 Midwest Firms Form 320-Lawyer Midsize Law Partnership

Effective today, two Midwest law firms have merged into a 320-lawyer partnership. It will be known by the name of the larger firm, which is based in Cincinnati—220-lawyer Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, reports the National Law Journal, in an article reprinted by New York Lawyer (reg. req.). Robert Hicks, managing…

May 1, 2008 5:24 PM CDT

Ind. High Court Allows ‘Serial Filers’ to Keep Litigating

After filing dozens of lawsuits against the prison system and threatening a judge, convicted arsonist Eric D. Smith has finally set precedent. And it’s a precedent that has some predicting will create an influx of prisoner lawsuits, further clogging the court system, the Indianapolis Star reports. At issue is a…

Apr 23, 2008 3:23 PM CDT

Man’s Death Penalty Request Unlikely to Be Granted

Seeking to forgo a trial for the killings of his mother and grandparents, an Indiana defendant wrote to the judge handling his case and asked to “enter a plea for the death penalty.” But the Indianapolis Star reports that such requests are relatively common and rarely lead to such an…

Apr 23, 2008 12:28 PM CDT

Whirlpool Plant Suspends 39 Employees Caught Smoking

A Whirlpool Corp. plant in southern Indiana has suspended 39 workers, claiming the employees were in fact smokers even though they claimed on their health insurance that they had kicked the habit. Whirlpool requires its employees who smoke to pay $500 more in insurance premiums, the Evansville Courier & Press…

Apr 23, 2008 11:17 AM CDT

Quadruple Murder Conviction Tossed Because of Trial Delays

An Indiana appellate court has tossed a man’s conviction for a quadruple murder, saying the trial judge should have granted the defendant’s speedy trial motion to dismiss the case. The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the 160-year conviction of Jeffrey Pelley, who was accused of using a shotgun to kill…

Apr 9, 2008 12:19 PM CDT

Gangster Museum Reopens After Dillinger Nephew Settles Suit

American gangster history enthusiasts will get a chance to explore the life and times of the notorious John Dillinger. The Dillinger Museum reopened Friday in Hammond, Ind., after a long-fought court battle between local tourism officials and Dillinger’s great-nephew Jeffery Scalf, the Post-Tribune reports. Scalf, who owns Dillinger LLC, which…

Mar 31, 2008 8:36 PM CDT

Vegetable Sets Off Bomb Scare at Indiana Law Office

Employees of an Indiana law office called police yesterday about a suspicious package. After it was taken by a bomb squad robot to a nearby parking lot, X-rayed and subjected to an unsuccessful detonation effort, however, it turned out to contain a large raw turnip. The vegetable had been mailed,…

Mar 14, 2008 7:59 PM CDT

New Law Firm Perk: Lactation Room

An Indiana law firm has converted a conference room into a lactation room for nursing mothers, providing them with a private and comfortable place to pump breast milk and a refrigerator in which to keep it. Although a new state law now requires employers of more than 25 to offcer…

Mar 10, 2008 5:09 PM CDT

Stanford Law Prof Decides Against Congressional Bid

In just one week’s time, Stanford University law professor Lawrence Lessig has gone from a possible congressional candidate to a law professor with a mission to reform pork-barrel spending and lobbyist influence. Lessig caused something of a stir last week when he announced he was considering a run for a…

Feb 26, 2008 1:30 PM CST

Lawyer-Sleuth May Solve 100-Year-Old Forensic Murder Mystery

Thanks to an Indiana attorney who decided to go back to school to study forensic anthropology, a 100-year-old murder mystery may be on the brink of resolution. With the help of an anthropology professor and University of Indianapolis students, attorney Andrea Simmons, 47, has exhumed what is supposed to be…

Feb 12, 2008 7:13 PM CST

Indianapolis Court Targets No-Show Jurors

Seventeen no-show jurors in Indianapolis are getting a surprise from the Marion County Superior Court: warrants for their arrest. Judge Mark Stoner has been coordinating a crackdown on no-show jurors, and his court issued the arrest warrants for contempt of court, the Indianapolis Star reports. About half of people summoned…

Jan 9, 2008 4:19 PM CST