Law Office of Mark Nicholson: The Nicholson Nugget

Send us a message A split-second decision after the whistle can follow you for years. I’m Monique, and today I’m breaking down how a football hit, a basketball block, or a rec league shove can cross the line from “part of the game” into an Indiana criminal battery case. The big surprise for most people is that sports consent and assumed risk are real defenses, but they are not unlimited, especially when conduct looks intentional or clearly outside normal play. We walk through the three facto...

Send us a message A federal jury just told the Justice Department “no” in one of the most talked-about celebrity criminal trials: Lil Durk (Dirk Banks) was found not guilty on every count in a murder-for-hire case. We walk through what that verdict really means, why it matters far beyond hip-hop headlines, and how a jury can respect the seriousness of an accusation while still demanding proof beyond a reasonable doubt. We dig into the engine of the prosecution’s theory and the pressure point...

Send us a message Why taking the stand can backfire: Lil Durk did not testify—and that may be the smartest move in the whole case. When the prosecution has the burden of proof, the defense does not have to “tell its side” just to appear innocent. Once a defendant testifies: The prosecution gets to cross-examine them.Every answer can create a new problem.One bad response can undermine weeks of careful defense strategy. Staying silent is not an admission of guilt. It is a constitutional ri...

Send us a message A wrist grab in the cereal aisle sounds small until you see what it can trigger: battery charges, civil claims, and a spiral of fear and confusion for everyone involved. We walk through a vivid store confrontation and use it to explain Indiana’s rules on detention, shopkeeper’s privilege, and the moment “just hold them” becomes too much. If you’ve ever wondered who can lawfully stop a shopper, how long a stop can last, or what “reasonable” really means, this is a tight, prac...

Send us a message Someone spits near you on a crowded downtown sidewalk and it hits your jacket. Your stomach turns, everyone looks, and you’re left wondering what counts as “just rude” versus a crime. We walk through that exact moment and answer the question plainly: can spitting be battery under Indiana law, and what has to be proven for charges to stick? We break battery down into a simple, usable framework prosecutors rely on: contact, intent, and offensiveness or harm. You’ll hear clear...