If you have been charged with theft in Indiana, it’s important to understand the legal definitions, potential sentencing ranges, and possible collateral consequences. At Harshman Ponist Smith & Rayl, our experienced legal team can help you navigate the complex legal system and fight for your rights. Definitions of Theft in…
Indiana Law Blog
Setting Aside Crimes of Sex Trafficking Victims
Indiana, and Indianapolis in particular, is a hub for sex trafficking. Victims of human trafficking, including both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, are often convicted of crimes committed while they’re under the control or influence of the trafficker. The first thing that likely comes to mind is that victims are…
Indiana Obligation to Report Abused and Neglected Children
Reporting Child Abuse Indiana has a simple statutory requirement to report abused or neglected children. Indiana Code § 31-33-5-1 provides: [A]n individual who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect shall make a report as required by this article. The report may…
#1 Best Plan to Take Care of Children if Parents Die Simultaneously
Picture this: It’s your 10th wedding anniversary and your husband surprised you with the amazing Hawaii trip you couldn’t afford to take for your honeymoon at the time. Even better, he’s booked your parents to watch your pride and joy while you are in paradise. All you have to do…
USA Gymnastics Suspends 2016 Olympian Alex Naddour
Update: On November 13, 2018, the Safe Sport Center dismissed the disciplinary action against Naddour, and he was removed from USAG’s list of suspended members on November 14. He does not intend to make any other public statements regarding the matter. On June 20, 2018, USA Gymnastics (“USAG”) suspended Alex…
No Privilege in Indiana for Unlicensed Social Workers
Last July, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided Rogers v. State, 60 N.E.3d 256 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), in which the attorney for a criminal defendant had deposed an employee of a charitable organization who held a degree in social work from an accredited university but not a license from…
LLCs for Estate Planning and Keeping the Family Cabin in the Family
It might come as a surprise to non-Hoosiers that several parts of Indiana are popular locations for vacation cabins. The best known are probably Brown County and the area around the Indiana Dunes. Other locales include Lake Maxinkuckee, Lake Monroe, and Lake Patoka; the Amish country and the smaller lakes…
Family Businesses: Succession Planning for LLCs
Owners of Indiana LLCs (and their lawyers) can learn some lessons from a recent case involving an Alabama LLC. The case is L.B. Whitfield, III Family LLC v. Virginia Ann Whitfield, et al. The Whitfield Case L.B. Whitfield, III owned half of the voting stock in a business that had…
Indiana Supreme Court Holds Police Interrogation Went Too Far
Ordinarily, I leave this area of the law to the my partner, Susan Rayl, but today (well, yesterday by the time I’m writing this) the Indiana Supreme Court issued a decision, written by Justice Stephen David, that caught my attention. In Bond v. State, the Court held that the defendant’s…
Positive Changes to Indiana LLC Laws – Estate Planning
Earlier this year the Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act 1394, which takes effect today, July 1, and makes several amendments to the Indiana LLC statute, officially known as the Indiana Business Flexibility Act. This is the first of two articles discussing those changes. This first article addresses some…