Question: When does a trial judge commit error in denying a for-cause challenge to a juror? Answer: If the denial for-cause was illogical or arbitrary. A trial court has discretion to grant or deny ju...
How do courts determine if a police shooting of a suspect violated the suspect’s civil rights?
Question: How do courts determine if a police shooting of a suspect violated the suspect’s civil rights? Answer: Police shootings are judged from the totality of the circumstances. The test to see i...
How does the 14th amendment protect pretrial detainees?
Question: How does the 14th amendment protect pretrial detainees? Answer: Jail officials must not act with deliberate indifference to the needs of the prisoners. The 8th Amendment, applicable to the s...
What is “qualified immunity” as it relates to civil rights complaints against police officers?
Question: What is “qualified immunity” as it relates to civil rights complaints against police officers? Answer: Qualified immunity is immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to liability. T...
Does a person who has an injury case, but dies from unrelated causes before the case is resolved, lose that case?
Question: Does a person who has an injury case, but dies from unrelated causes before the case is resolved, lose that case? Answer: No. See below. The Indiana Survival Statute creates a limited spectr...
If you suffer a known complication from a medical procedure, does that mean the doctor committed medical malpractice?
Question: If you suffer a known complication from a medical procedure, does that mean the doctor committed medical malpractice? Answer: A bad result without proof of negligence is not malpractice. See...
Can a healthcare provider have liability for a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation by its employee, when employee’s actions were done in violation of company’s rules of confidentiality?
Question: Can a healthcare provider have liability for a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violation by its employee, when employee’s actions were done in violation of comp...
What is a “recorded recollection” and how does it relate to the hearsay rule?
Question: What is a “recorded recollection” and how does it relate to the hearsay rule? Answer: This rule allows a witness to refresh their recollection from a writing and potentially put that wri...
Do bar owners owe a duty to protect their invitees from a “sudden” brawl in their bar?
Question: Do bar owners owe a duty to protect their invitees from a “sudden” brawl in their bar? Answer: Businesses must exercise reasonable care to protect their patrons from foreseeable harms, b...
What is marital privilege?
Question: What is marital privilege? Answer: A rule of evidence that prevents a court from requiring a spouse to testify as to confidential marital communications, but does not bar the spouse from tes...