Question: Can Indiana governments be held liable for injuries and damages caused by “potholes” or other defects in the roadway? Answer: Yes. The principle that a governmental entity has a ...
Are you allowed as a juror to stop and investigate the scene of a collision?
Question: Are you allowed as a juror to stop and investigate the scene of a collision? Answer: No, the instructions you receive as a juror include the following: You have been selected as jurors and h...
What do you have to show to get an award of punitive damages against a drunk driver?
Question: What do you have to show to get an award of punitive damages against a drunk driver? Answer: Unlike compensatory damages, which are intended to make the plaintiff whole, punitive damages ...
Who controls when a civil case will go to trial or be continued?
Question: Who controls when a civil case will go to trial or be continued? Answer: Upon motion, trial may be postponed or continued in the discretion of the court, and shall be allowed upon a showing ...
What are the requirements of the Indiana Tort Claims Act (“ITCA”)?
Question: What are the requirements of the Indiana Tort Claims Act (“ITCA”)? Answer: The ITCA provides that a claim against a political subdivision is barred unless the prescribed notice i...
What is an “Excited Utterance” as it relates to the hearsay rule?
Question: What is an “Excited Utterance” as it relates to the hearsay rule? Answer: Hearsay is defined as an out-of-court statement offered in court to prove the truth of the matter assert...
What civil liability can a dog owner have if they do not maintain their dog on a leash and that dog bites someone causing injury?
Question: What civil liability can a dog owner have if they do not maintain their dog on a leash and that dog bites someone causing injury? Answer: It is well-established that the keeper of an animal ...
Are there penalties in a civil case for intentionally destroying evidence to ensure the other side can not get access to that evidence?
Question: Are there penalties in a civil case for intentionally destroying evidence to ensure the other side can not get access to that evidence? Answer: Yes, this type of action is call “spolia...
Can parents that furnish alcohol and allow underage party guests to drink that alcohol be sued?
Question: Can parents that furnish alcohol and allow underage party guests to drink that alcohol be sued when injuries arise directly due to the minor’s intoxication? Answer: YES. Indiana Code m...
What is the difference between a “bomb” and a “firework”?
Question: What is the difference between a “bomb” and a “firework”? Answer: Commonly understood, a “bomb” is an explosive device designed to release destructive mat...