Several judges will be visiting classrooms on Tuesday, Sept. 17 for Constitution Day.
It was on September 17, 1787 that the U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. The document was then sent out to the states for ratification.
A Michigan City man was recently sentenced for his involvement in a fatality accident in LaPorte County on July 19, 2012.
On that day, Katherine Atkins was traveling on Joliet Road in LaPorte County and as she was negotiating a curve, her vehicle was struck by another driven by John Minkle. The impact killed Atkins and injured three children.
The LaPorte County FACT (Fatal Alcohol Crash Team) conducted an investigation and it was determined that Minkle had an extremely high level of PCP and marijuana in his body at the time of the crash. Minkle was arrested in South Bend on a warrant for charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and Serious Bodily Injury.
Minkle later pleaded guilty to charges of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated as a Class B Felony and two counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated as a Class D Felony. He was sentenced by LaPorte County Judge Thomas Alevizos on Thursday, April 11 to a total of 16 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with four years suspended.
This was the most significant case investigated by the newly created LaPorte County FACT. The organization is funded by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and is overseen by the Governor’s Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving.
LaPorte County Judge Thomas Alevizos issued a two page ruling Tuesday afternoon that gave a rather “limited preliminary injunction” in a case brought by the estate of Tammy Van Dam, and her life partner Beth Urschel. The suit brought by the lawyer for the two asked that the wreckage from the State Fair stage that collapsed be preserved.
Alevizos did though reject a request to preserve all e-mails, 911 calls and other evidence that could be destroyed.
He also criticized the attorney before him, Kenneth Allen, for saying he was seeking $50 million for the estate of Tammy Van Dam. The judge said that local court rules stipulate that no damage amounts be listed. He called the revelation of the amount a “publicity stunt” by the attorney.
Tammy Van Dam was killed, and Beth Urschel was injured when the stage collapsed before a performance of the county music duo Sugarland at the State Fair.
