October 29, 2024
INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SANCTIONED, WASTES OVER $370,000 OF HOOSIER TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN COURT CASE MISMANAGEMENT
INDIANAPOLIS—In a shocking misuse of taxpayer dollars, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has been sanctioned by a Marion Superior Court and ordered to pay $373,300.73 in legal fees and costs due to inappropriate conduct in a recent court case. The court found that the state’s top legal office, alongside the Indiana Department of Labor and IOSHA, repeatedly mishandled evidence, disobeyed court orders, and engaged in misconduct that unnecessarily prolonged the legal proceedings.
The substantial $373,300 penalty, issued as a court-ordered sanction, will come entirely from Hoosier taxpayer pockets as a direct consequence of these actions.
“This careless misuse of taxpayer dollars is a clear betrayal of public trust,” said Destiny Wells. “Indiana families deserve leaders who act with integrity, prioritize accountability, and respect the hard-earned money of Hoosiers. This ruling is a wake-up call—the Attorney General’s Office should be focused on serving Hoosers, not draining resources through costly and avoidable misconduct.”
The funds awarded to the petitioners cover legal fees they were forced to incur as a result of the state’s refusal to produce requested records, repeated misrepresentations, and spoliation of evidence—resulting in delays that stretched the case longer and made it more costly than necessary.
According to court records, both the Indiana Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Labor had multiple opportunities to correct their actions but continued to obstruct the process. Now, taxpayers are left with a bill nearing $400,000. The court has given the Attorney General’s Office and other state entities involved just 30 days to pay the awarded fees and costs.
The people of Indiana deserve a government that respects both the rule of law and their hard-earned tax dollars. This order highlights the need for new leadership that prioritizes integrity, efficiency, and genuine public service.