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I am an employee of the Indiana state government and currently working while under a doctor's care for an injury sustained at work. Despite being on workers' compensation since January 2025, I am being subjected to a forced resignation due to a bi-annual budget reduction of 30%. There... View More

answered on Apr 26, 2025
Your question seems simple but the analysis is rather nuanced. The specific nature of your injury and your restrictions are important. It is extremely unusual for an Indiana employer to agree to accommodate restrictions for 4 months. If you are unable to work or your restrictions prevent you... View More
My husband voluntarily went to Bloomington Meadows Psychiatric Hospital on April 22, 2025, to adjust his medications. He signed an AMA on Wednesday, but they are holding him until Monday, citing incorrect records from IU Health Morgan ER related to an incident from November 2023. Despite providing... View More

answered on Apr 26, 2025
With all due respect, that doesn't make any sense. If your husband wanted or needed to "adjust" his psychotropic medication, he could have and should have contacted the prescribing physician, NOT check himself into a psychiatric hospital if he did not want to be admitted. Once... View More
I am concerned because my mom and other family members have intentionally shared information about my therapy sessions with others. There were no prior agreements or discussions about maintaining privacy, but this disclosure has made it harder for me to attend therapy. Is there anything legally I... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
Please don't provide any further details of your concerns in a public forum. If you are a minor, your parents or legal guardians have unrestricted access to your medical records in most jurisdictions, including Indiana. You state that your parents' disclosure "has made it harder... View More
I am concerned about a situation where a doctor used a family member, who was the brother-in-law of a schizophrenia patient and living in the same household, to translate medical conversations without consent. The patient, who was under stress due to her living situation, cannot recall much of... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
You don't tell us who you are, nor do you specify the basis of your proposed lawsuit. To summarize, you are somehow related to an individual suffering from schizophrenia. The individual's brother-in-law translated medical conversations with unknown persons, in an unknown context, while... View More
I was involved in a 7-car pileup in which my car will probably be totaled. The crash was due to farmers burning fields, causing severe visibility issues with no prior warnings or signage. A police report is available, and there was a significant injury to another person involved. I have not... View More

answered on Apr 17, 2025
In Reece v. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., 173 N.E.3d 1031 (Ind. 2021), the Indiana Supreme Court adopted the following rule: landowners owe a duty to passing motorists on adjacent highways not to create hazardous conditions that visit themselves upon the roadway; but when a land use or condition that... View More
I was involved in a 7-car pileup in which my car will probably be totaled. The crash was due to farmers burning fields, causing severe visibility issues with no prior warnings or signage. A police report is available, and there was a significant injury to another person involved. I have not... View More

answered on Apr 17, 2025
If you were not injured, what would you sue for? Anyone who was injured will bring a claim against the car that struck them. Individuals like yourself who were not injured but who sustained significant property damage will also bring claims against the drivers who struck them. All drivers are... View More
Someone falsely reported to the police that I had a gun. When pulled over, I fled because I was without a license. Although I did not have a gun, the police found meth in my truck's cooler. I'm charged with possession and intent to distribute, although there's no fingerprint or DNA... View More

answered on Apr 4, 2025
Likely not, had the police pulled you over simply because of the false allegation of a gun, you might have a good chance. However, because you fled, the discovery of the meth was likely as a result of a search incident to an arrest. The definitive answer will depend on the fine details of the... View More
Can I reduce or drop a ticket for speeding under Indiana Code 9-21-5-2(a)(2) for exceeding the maximum speed of 55 mph? I was driving 74 mph. This is not my first ticket, but it's my first for this year. There were no specific conditions like weather or traffic influencing my speed, and there... View More

answered on Apr 4, 2025
To answer your question will depend on a few factors. Are you a CDL operator, if so, it is very likely the prosecutor will tell you your only option is to pay the ticket or take it to trial. If you are not a CDL operator, it will depend on your record and which county your case is filed in.
In January 2017, we had a furnace installed, but in November 2017, the duct board fell and burned due to improper installation. My wife inhaled smoke from this incident, which we suspect may have contributed to her developing an autoimmune disease, as toxic fumes are known causes. Although no... View More

answered on Apr 4, 2025
I am not an HVAC contractor, but I don't understand how improperly installed ductwork could possibly cause a fire. If that happened, the installer would almost certainly file a third-party action against the manufacturer, thereby minimally tripling the cost of any suit. Beyond that, you... View More
What Indiana trial court rule determines jurisdiction in a civil wrongful death case, especially if the decedent was killed in a different county than where she lived? The case is filed against an individual, and there are no other pending related cases.

answered on Apr 3, 2025
You are really asking two separate questions. You are asking about jurisdiction (authority of the Court) and venue (the appropriate situs to bring the action). Jurisdiction is addressed in Rule 4.4 and venue is addressed in Rule 75. In your example, any state Court in Indiana would have... View More
I reported to my manager that a coworker was using intravenous drugs in our bar's employee restroom. Despite my reports, no action was taken. I kept a bloodied toilet paper roll used by the employee as evidence. I was terminated about three weeks after my last report, and the manager indicated... View More

answered on Mar 29, 2025
An Indiana attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. In terms of your question of suing for negligence (relating to the "Personal Injury" category of the post), I believe your remedies for any type of injury would generally be limited to workers' comp... View More
I found half a pill and some pieces in prepackaged Kroger broccoli slaw while eating it and spat it out. As an RN, I'm certain it's medication due to pill markings (numbers on it). I have the pill, pieces, and remaining slaw in its packaging. It's too late to contact Kroger today,... View More

answered on Mar 26, 2025
If you are correct, a deli worker dropped prescription medication while making coleslaw. Failure to notice or remediate the situation constitutes negligence that can be imputed to Kroger. That said, notwithstanding Kroger's negligence, if you suffered no ill effect from ingesting the... View More
I am concerned about an incident where my 3-year-old child, who has behavioral issues, managed to get out of his harness on the school bus and nearly fell. My child claims the bus driver spanked him, and when we requested to review the bus footage to understand how he reached the front of the bus,... View More

answered on Mar 25, 2025
Why would you want to pay a $5,000 retainer to hire an attorney to see a video of your child acting badly? What are your concerns? If your child has behavioral issues, why is he riding the bus at age 3? If this is a publicly funded school, it is protected by the Indiana Tort Claims Act. On your... View More
Can a company in Indiana deduct my vacation time to cover days while I'm on workers' compensation and terminate my employment after issues with those deductions? My employer took five days of PTO while I was on workers' compensation. HR said there's nothing they can do about... View More

answered on Mar 23, 2025
Your question is confusing. I don't know whether you're saying that you were paid for the 5 days or not. In Indiana, the employer doesn't have to pay you For the first 7 days unless you are off work for 21 days or longer due to your injury. If your injury was disputed and/or you... View More
I live in a town where the city neglected the sewer main by my house, causing sewage to flood into my finished basement. A plumber confirmed that the issue was solely the city's responsibility, and the city was fixing the problem in a neighbor's yard when the plumber verified with them... View More

answered on Mar 19, 2025
I disagree with your strategy. A far better course of action is to file a claim with your insurance company. If the insurance company wants to pursue a claim against the City of Hobart, that is their prerogative. BE CAREFUL!!! you cannot sue a municipal entity unless you file a tort claims... View More
I live in a town where the city neglected the sewer main by my house, causing sewage to flood into my finished basement. A plumber confirmed that the issue was solely the city's responsibility, and the city was fixing the problem in a neighbor's yard when the plumber verified with them... View More

answered on Mar 20, 2025
My colleague raises excellent points. You may want to discuss this with local attorneys to help you make the best decision. As between pursuing through your insurance or a municipality, while both present their share of challenges, city-based claims are often more difficult. Also be mindful of the... View More
My son was involved in a car accident in Indiana with no personal injuries and no citations for fault by the authorities. The roads were snow-covered at the time of the incident. The other driver lost control and wrecked their vehicle, and subsequently, my son, who was behind them, hit their... View More

answered on Mar 17, 2025
If I understand correctly, you imply that your son was driving uninsured on the date of the accident. You further state that the roads were snow-packed and that the car in front of your son lost control while it was traveling at approximately the same speed as your son. The other car was... View More
I am facing a first hearing for allegedly buying alcoholic beverages for a minor who is 15 years old in Indiana. There are no previous offenses involved. Do I need an attorney for the first hearing, and what should I expect?

answered on Mar 15, 2025
You do not need an attorney for the first hearing, which is your initial hearing as long as you enter a not guilty plea. However, if you are charged with a misdmeanor of furnishing alcohol, you could plead guilty at your initial hearing, though that would be unwise. You should consult with a... View More
I am currently pregnant and not married. My boyfriend and I broke up after he physically assaulted me while pregnant, and I pressed charges against him. He also broke into my home, leading to a no-contact order being placed. I have previous charges filed against him for breaking and entering, and I... View More

answered on Mar 11, 2025
Since you say you are not married then he currently has no parental rights to your child. However, if he goes to court and establishes paternity, then he would have rights. However, even after paternity is established the court can make visitation supervised or not at all if he is a danger to the... View More
I have a non-violent felony conviction from over ten years ago and have not pursued any legal proceedings since. I'm inquiring about the impact of the United States v. Duarte ruling by the 9th Circuit on my ability to own a gun. Can I now legally own a firearm?

answered on Mar 11, 2025
It is uncertain how a 9th circuit case would impact someone living in the 7th circuit or any other circuit, until the S. Ct. hands down a ruling. Regardless, you may want to consider expunging your felony conviction and then going through the process of restoring your rights under IN law. This... View More
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