INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Supreme Court should not change decades of precedent when it comes to member associations’ right to sue on behalf of their members, Common Cause is arguing in an amicus brief filed today.
In Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana ET AL v. Duke Energy Indiana, LCC ET AL, Duke Energy has challenged Citizens Action Coalition’s ability to sue over Duke Energy’s attempt to take payments related to federal compliance expenses.
Common Cause argues that if the Indiana Supreme Court overturns the lower courts and removes Citizens Action Coalition’s standing to sue on behalf of its members, it will overturn decades of precedent where Indiana law allowed injuries to members of an association to be interpreted as injuries to the organizations themselves. Read the full amicus brief here.
“Duke Energy’s attempt to evade accountability would have serious consequences for all Hoosiers, which is why organizations from Common Cause to the NRA are encouraging the Indiana Supreme Court to protect membership associations,” said Julia Vaughn, Common Cause Indiana Executive Director. “Our brief encourages the court to follow precedent and rule that Citizens Actions Coalition has standing, as member associations have had for decades, and how lower courts have ruled in previous cases.”
