Attorney J. Thomas Vetne's Legal Cases

Copyright infringement

Malibu Media, LLC v. Jane Doe, No. 2:13-cv-00099-rlm-jem, United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana

Jan 09, 2014

OUTCOME: Malibu dismissed the case rather than go to trial. Jane Doe didn't pay a dime in settlement

Malibu Media is a California-based pornography company. It's known for suing people all over the country for violating its copyrights in the pornographic movies it produces. Its goal is to wring settl ... ements out of people who hope not to have their name associated with their products. It sued my client, Jane Doe, claiming that she'd illegally downloaded many of Malibu Media's movies. The claim made news from Indiana to California (http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_24546981/ind-defendants-fight-back-porn-copyright-cases). I postured the case for trial because Malibu Media doesn't like to try cases. And because Jane Doe couldn't afford legal fees, I got her homeowner's insurer to pay my fees.

Litigation

Steven X. Charley, et al. v. Advance Sweeping, Inc. and USM Services, No. 45D05-1102-CT-00034, Lake Superior Court

Mar 27, 2013

OUTCOME: Defense verdict for defendants

Steven Charley slipped and fell on ice at work one morning and tore his right rotator cuff. His worker's compensation insurer paid his medical bills, but Charley wanted more. So he sued the snow plowin ... g companies responsible for clearing the lot and demanded over $600,000 to settle. The case went to trial for three days and the jury returned a verdict for my clients.

Slip and fall accident

Sheldon v. Hobart Ridge Corporation, et al., No. 45D10-1005-CT-00081, Lake Superior Court

Feb 07, 2012

OUTCOME: Directed verdict for my client

The plaintiff claimed to have slipped and fallen on water in my client's grocery store. She broke her right wrist in the mishap. The case didn't settle and went to trial in Crown Point in February 2012 ... . But it didn't reach the jury. The judge directed a verdict for my client at the close of the evidence.

Insurance

Auto Owners Insurance Company v. Amanda Singleton, et al. No. 71D07-0802-PL-00021, St. Joseph Superior Court

Feb 03, 2009

OUTCOME: Judgment for Amanda Singleton

Amanda Singleton and her husband rented a home. While they were out to dinner one night, the house burned down. Their landlord's insurer paid to repair the home, and then sued Amanda for roughly $80,0 ... 00. I took her case for free (she'd just had a baby and couldn't afford a lawyer), got the insurance company's case against her thrown out of court, and got an order requiring the insurance company to pay my attorneys fees.

J. Thomas Vetne's Legal Cases (4)

Malibu Media, LLC v. Jane Doe, No. 2:13-cv-00099-rlm-jem, United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana

Steven X. Charley, et al. v. Advance Sweeping, Inc. and USM Services, No. 45D05-1102-CT-00034, Lake Superior Court

Sheldon v. Hobart Ridge Corporation, et al., No. 45D10-1005-CT-00081, Lake Superior Court

Auto Owners Insurance Company v. Amanda Singleton, et al. No. 71D07-0802-PL-00021, St. Joseph Superior Court