For the first time, the Indiana Court of Appeals adopted a site-specific approach to rule on an insurance case with multiple policies in several states. The appellate court had been following a uniform-contract-interpretation approach when ruling on choice of law questions in contract actions.
All posts by Chris Buckley
County should study closing satellite sites
When Lake County government was founded long ago, the majority of the county’s population was in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago.
At the time it made sense to have satellite county buildings — particularly for the courts — in the northern cities.
County government, by law, had to be headquartered in the county seat, Crown Point. And Lake Circuit Court also had to be in the county seat.
That was then. This is now.
The majority of the county’s population now is outside Gary, Hammond and East Chicago. Gary, in fact, has barely half the population it did at its high-water mark.
Because of the change in demographics, coupled with the county’s financial pinch, it is time to begin moving ahead with closing the county’s three satellite offices.
While it has been talked about in recent years, it wasn’t until recently that an agency of county government took a definitive stand.
The County Council passed a resolution suggesting that the county hire a consultant to look at the possibility of closing the satellite courthouses and moving the courts to a new facility in Crown Point.
Unfortunately, two of the three commissioners — Roosevelt Allen and Frances DuPey — killed the resolution. We suspect those were politically charged votes, in that DuPey (Hammond) and Allen (Gary and East Chicago) represent cities with satellite courthouses. We suspect the two are trying to protect jobs and not upset constituents.
Council President Larry Blanchard said the council members expected commissioners to stop the resolution. Yet, Blanchard said, the day is coming when the satellite courthouses must be closed.
“We are going to have to do something,” Blanchard said.
Hiring a consultant is a good move, bringing in an unprejudiced third party to make tough recommendations. It’s better to do it sooner than later.
Porter County hate crime victims receive support
VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) – Law enforcement officers in one northwest Indiana county are arming themselves with a new weapon to fight hate crimes.
Porter County Sheriff’s Department and Valparaiso Police Department officers now have fliers printed in both Spanish and English to hand out to victims of racial incidents.
The fliers list the names and contact information for seven Valparaiso Human Relations Council responders who are available to assure victims that hatred is not acceptable. They also let victims know there are service available to them.
Porter County Sheriff David Lain said the fliers and the knowledge that help is just a phone call away provide additional support and comfort to victims.
Health law roundtable event, CLE Dec. 10
Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis, Hall Center for Law and Health, and the American Antitrust Institute will present a roundtable discussion on the future of antitrust enforcement in light of changes in the health-care landscape.
Town officials now face federal charges
Some former Chesterfield town employees accused by the Indiana Attorney General of defrauding their town government now face federal charges.
Justices rule on constructive discharge issue
The Indiana Supreme Court decided Tuesday that a claim for constructive retaliatory discharge falls within the state’s public policy exemption to the employment-at-will doctrine.
Disciplinary Commission seeks agency head
Indiana Lawyer Article
Indiana needs a new face for lawyer discipline, and applications are being accepted from anyone interested in the job.
City of Valparaiso Announces Initiative to Reduce Substance Abuse
In the first 9 months of this year in Porter County, there were 277 ambulance transfers for drug overdose.
There were 21 deaths in Porter County in the first 9 months of 2009 due to drug overdose.
Porter County ranks as one of the highest in the nation for drug deaths per capita.
The city of Valparaiso is working to face the problem of youth substance abuse and find long-term solutions. The city is leading an initiative that unites the community’s schools, law enforcement officers, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based organizations to foster a healthier city, announced Mayor Jon Costas. “We’re committing resources, organization, and enthusiasm to creating an environment where our young people know better and do better,” he said. “It starts here. It starts now,” he said.
The city will partner with a number of leading organizations on Dec. 1 at 3:00 pm to unveil an aggressive new program, designed in conjunction with Porter-Starke Services, to address the county’s substance abuse problem – beginning with Valparaiso. The presentation will be held at Porter County Commissioners/Council Chambers, 155 Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso. The community is invited to attend.
Falling Waters Conservancy District concerns aired
BY JANE HUH, POST TRIBUNE
VALPARAISO — A group of Porter County residents met Monday night with concerns about a recently filed lawsuit against its subdivision’s conservancy district.
Some Falling Waters Estates property owners have been boiling over the legal and financial conflicts that its conservancy district is muddled in.
Valpo man held after two separate car chases
Speeds of more than 115 miles per hour during pursuit
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BY ERIN GUERRA, POST-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
A Valparaiso man was arrested after two separate car chases through South Haven, during which he allegedly hit speeds of more than 115 miles per hour while driving without headlights.