The Indiana Court of Appeals recently shed more light on what constitutes a “special relationship” necessary for a plaintiff to establish constructive fraud without proving the five traditional elements of constructive fraud. American Heritage Banco, Inc. v. Cranston, 928 N.E.2d 239 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). Indiana case law on constructive fraud is, quite frankly, a mess. There are at least…
Indiana utilities and Indiana utility lawyers should be aware that the Indiana Supreme Court recently had the opportunity to consider the standard of review that courts follow in reviewing utility regulatory settlements of an administrative agency. N. Ind. Pub. Serv. Co. v. U.S. Steel, 907 N.E.2d 1012 (Ind. 2009). The case involved a dispute regarding a settlement agreement entered into…
Here is a case that could describe many farmers and other businessmen retaining independent contractors. It is summer time and paint crews travel from farm to farm offering to paint grain bins or other outbuildings. Almost every farmer owning grain bins will have had this experience and many of us have hired the crews to perform painting tasks. Do you…
The Indiana Court of Appeals recently reviewed the enforceability of a three-year, 50-mile radius non-compete agreement for a physician in Mercho-Roushdi-Shoemaker-Dilley Thoraco-Vascular Corporation v. Blatchford, 900 N.E.2d 786 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Indiana business lawyers and their clients will benefit from the clarification offered by the Court. The case is noteworthy because the court held the non-compete agreement to be…