Indianapolis Law Blog

Know your rights when facing campus discipline

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

If you’ve been charged with a crime on campus and are facing disciplinary action from your university, you may be wondering about your rights as you proceed with a case. It’s important for you to take your charges seriously and to know what’s ahead while you navigate the process.

If you attend a public institution, your rights are guaranteed and protected under the United States Constitution. Public colleges and universities are government agencies and must follow certain procedures and standards for consistency in student discipline cases.

Criminal charges add to troubles of Indiana man after lawsuit

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in dui/ovwi defense on Thursday, November 8, 2018.

A 30-year-old man already named as a defendant in a civil personal injury case now faces multiple criminal charges after a motorcycle crash. He has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating without a proper license, and a level 6 felony for driving with a blood alcohol concentration above .08 and causing serious injury.

According to the police report, he was driving a motorcycle in Griffith when he went through a landscaping barrier close to the intersection of Columbia Avenue and Wood Street. He and a female passenger both required hospital treatment for their injuries.

Complications in divorce for older people

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in complex property division on Thursday, October 25, 2018.

People in Indiana who are over the age of 50 and getting a divorce might be concerned about retirement. However, there is a number of other financial issues they should be aware of as well.

Starting with divorces finalized in 2019, alimony will not be tax-deductible or tax-payable. Some attorneys expected this to lead to a rush to get divorced before the end of 2018, but this does not appear to have happened. However, one important implication is that since alimony is not taxed, it cannot be counted as income. Since it is not income, it cannot be placed into an IRA or Roth account.

Penalties for driving while intoxicated

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in dui/ovwi defense on Friday, October 12, 2018.

Driving while impaired from alcohol or drugs is a negligent behavior that puts all road users at risk. Indiana motorists who get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while they are intoxicated can be subject to a range of consequences if convicted.

For individuals whose conviction is the result of their first offense, they should expect to have to pay court fees and costs of at least $300 and a fine of as much as $5,000. They can be required to go to jail for up to one year and may have their license suspended for up to two years. In some cases, individuals convicted for the first time of driving while intoxicated may be placed on probation and have to pay for and attend a course that covers substance abuse. Other consequences for first-time offenders can include having to go to a victim impact panel and being required to undergo urine testing for alcohol and drugs.

2 legal tools to help business owners during divorce

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in complex property division on Thursday, September 27, 2018.

A divorce impacts both people involved in every possible way. In addition to going through emotional turmoil, both parties will also need to account for all marital assets and prepare for property division. This includes real property, works of art, savings accounts, retirement accounts and business interests.

This can be particularly difficult for business owners. Business owners could see their entire professional empire destroyed by a divorce. In some cases, courts will consider the business a marital asset. Even those who began the business prior to the marriage could see any growth that occurred during the marital relationship deemed martial property subject to division.

Will a DUI affect your professional license?

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office on Thursday, September 20, 2018.

One of the main fears you may have if you are convicted of DUI is how long you may be without your driver’s license. What you may not realize is that other licenses you have could also be suspended or revoked.

Many times, a DUI is viewed not only as a criminal violation, but often as an indicator of your responsibility. Because of this, your professional life could be at risk. If you are a physician, nurse, real estate broker or teacher, you could be facing the loss of your license because of a DUI.

Westfield High School Boys' Tennis Team

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

DeVries + Kelly Law Office appreciates the value of family and community involvement, and one of the ways we show it is by sponsoring the Westfield High School boys' tennis team. They play matches across Indiana during their fall season, and we enjoy supporting their efforts by attending matches and contributing financially to their team efforts.

Vince Vaughn charged with DUI in California

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in dui/ovwi defense on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Indiana movie fans may remember that actor Vince Vaughn was arrested for drunk driving earlier this year. On Sept. 7, California prosecutors announced that the "Wedding Crashers" star has been officially charged in connection with the incident.

On June 10, Vaughn was arrested after being stopped at a sobriety checkpoint set up at the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Prospect Avenue in Manhattan Beach at approximately 12:40 a.m. According to authorities, officers with the Manhattan Beach Police Department repeatedly asked the 48-year-old to exit his vehicle, but he refused to comply. He was eventually taken into custody and taken to an area jail for processing. He posted bail and was released.

Bitcoin presents new challenge for divorcing couples

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in complex property division on Wednesday, August 29, 2018.

It is not uncommon for people in Indiana and throughout the country to own Bitcoin and other digital coins. However, owning them can create problems when a couple chooses to get a divorce. This is because it can be hard to determine the value of a coin as markets can fluctuate wildly in a short period of time. It can also be difficult to determine where digital currency is being held or how much a person owns.

An individual can choose to put a copy of a digital wallet on a USB drive, which makes it harder to trace. If this happens, an investigation can be done to determine when transactions took place, but the investigation may cost more than the currency is worth. Therefore, a spouse will have to hope that the coins were purchased or traded online where the transactions are easier to track.

2 different Indiana parents charged with DWI and neglect

On behalf of DeVries + Kelly Law Office posted in dui/ovwi defense on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

According to law enforcement authorities, two different Indiana parents are facing charges of driving while intoxicated and neglect. The first incident involved a 33-year-old Muncie man who was stopped by a Ball State University police officer on June 25 after driving erratically. The second incident involved a 27-year-old Muncie woman who reportedly crashed her vehicle. Both people had their children in their vehicles.

Police report that the 33-year-old man was pulled over after the officer noticed him crossing the center line and then continue to drive erratically. When he was pulled over, he reportedly spoke very quickly and appeared to be impaired. He did not have alcohol in his system, and he initially refused a blood test. The officer obtained a court order for a blood test, and the test came back positive for amphetamines.