Indiana’s High Court OKs New Judge In IBM Welfare Case

The Armonk headquarter of IBM is seen in this photo, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in New York.
The Armonk headquarter of IBM is seen in this photo, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in New York. Lois Lanzano/AP
The Armonk headquarter of IBM is seen in this photo, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in New York.
The Armonk headquarter of IBM is seen in this photo, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, in New York. Lois Lanzano/AP

Indiana’s High Court OKs New Judge In IBM Welfare Case

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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s highest court has granted the state’s request for a new judge to oversee its long-running fight with IBM Corp. over the company’s failed effort to privatize state welfare services.

The Indiana Supreme Court found Tuesday that the state is entitled to a change of judge, and said its opinion “is final.”

The high court did not detail its reasoning, but its order says it “has exclusive, original jurisdiction” over Indiana’s courts.

Indiana sought a new judge in May after a Marion County judge decided not to award the state any damages in the case.

That came two months after the state Supreme Court found IBM had breached its $1.3 billion contract to automate much of Indiana’s welfare system, and directed the judge to determine what damages IBM owes Indiana.