The lawsuit filed by Tom DeCola against the Starke County Council continues to move through the legal system.
Continue readingDeCola vs. Starke County Council Lawsuit Moves Forward
Pulaski County to Seek Advice of Preservationist on Courthouse Accessibility
Pulaski County is getting outside help to address accessibility issues at the courthouse. Continue reading
Pulaski County Attorney Responds to Lawsuits
A couple lawsuits against Pulaski County were briefly addressed by the county attorney, during Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting. One of them is a federal class action lawsuit alleging a lack of accessibility in the county courthouse for people with disabilities and mobility issues. Continue reading
North Judson Town Attorney Steps Down
North Judson is looking for a new town attorney. Rachel Arndt has decided not to renew her contract with the town when it expires at the end of the year, citing increasing responsibilities at law firm Peterson Waggoner & Perkins. Continue reading
North Judson Denies Wrongdoing in Rail Line Suit
Officials with the Town of North Judson say they do not have a formal response at this time to claims by a former railroad operator that they violated contract, confidentiality, and the law.
Rail Operator Files Suit Against Town of North Judson
The Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad Company has filed suit against the Town of North Judson for what it alleges is several violations of contract, confidentiality, and the law.
Little Progress Made Over Grave Dispute
A Starke County family that purchased their grave sites 20 years ago at Highland Cemetery says they will continue to pursue what they believe is the only answer.
Marilyn Derrickson says that as her husband was measuring for headstone foundations earlier this year, they discovered there wasn’t enough room at the site. The family owns several plots, but is missing a space due to the fact that someone else is buried in one of them.
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Federal Judge Renders Decision in Department of Justice Challenge
A federal judge ruled in favor of the City of Plymouth in a U.S. Military Reserve Officer’s lawsuit filed in 2012.
According to Plymouth City Attorney Sean Surrisi, Robert D. DeLee who was serving the country in the Air Force Reserves was seeking city longevity pay under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Surrisi explained that longevity pay is additional compensation that the city provides to qualified employees as an incentive to remain in service to the city.
City of Knox Named in Federal Lawsuit
Knox is one of 50 municipalities named in a federal lawsuit. Kevin D. Miller, who was subjected to a K9 drug search of his person and car in Marshall County last year, has brought suit claiming that dog and all trained by Vohne-Liche Kennels are unreliable. Miller claimed that the dog falsely detected drugs in the car, and in the process of searching the vehicle traumatized his wife. He had initially been stopped for a traffic violation.
Knox City Council Discusses Risner Lawsuit
The Knox City Council met this week with newly elected councilman Donald Kring taking the seat of 16-year council veteran Ed Blue.
One of the matters brought before the council at the meeting was a pending lawsuit from Edward Risner, who claims that the city breached a verbal contract when they refused to burn down his house as part of a training exercise. Mayor Rick Chambers told WKVI that Risner believes he had a verbal contract with the fire department to burn his house down, and use the opportunity as a training session.
Starke County Council Approves Request for Legal Fees
The Starke County Council last night approved the Starke County Commissioners’ request to transfer $100,000 into the Legal Fund from the Health Fund to defend the County in the Jack Haut Class Action Lawsuit. Haut, as previously reported, is suing the County claiming the jail does not meet humane conditions because of overcrowding.
Starke County Commissioners Discuss Class Action Lawsuit
The Starke County Commissioners met yesterday to discuss the Class Action Suit brought against the County by inmate Jack Haut. Because the suit is not covered by insurance, the County must come up with the money for legal expenses. County Attorney, Marty Lucas, advised the Commissioners that it will cost a minimum of $100,000 in attorney fees. And he said don’t expect a quick resolution.
Haut, in his suit, is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief because of the conditions at the Starke County Jail. One part of the suit is the claim that the jail is consistently overcrowded.
Starke County Commissioners to Discuss Funding for Class Action Lawsuit
The Starke County Board of Commissioners will be meeting Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to discuss funding for the class action lawsuit being brought against the County by Jack Haut, a prisoner in the Starke County Jail.
Haut has brought suit against the county alleging unconstitutional and unlawful conditions of confinement at the Starke County Jail. In his suit, Haut alleges that the conditions at the jail are consistently and dangerously overcrowded. Continue reading
