Appellate judges to go to Rochester, Upland for arguments
On Tuesday, two panels of Indiana Court of Appeals judges will travel north to hear arguments.
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On Tuesday, two panels of Indiana Court of Appeals judges will travel north to hear arguments.
On April 20, the Columbus Applebee’s restaurant will donate 15 percent of sales to Legal Aid District Eleven, which serves Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, and Jennings counties.
Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Larry T. Bass v. State of Indiana
63A01-1007-CR-340
Criminal. Affirms convictions of and aggregate sentence of seven years with two years suspended for Class C felony child molesting and Class C felony attempted child molesting. Touching a child’s breasts or genitals isn’t required to sustain a child molesting conviction under I.C. Section 35-42-4-3(b). The trial court didn’t err by denying Bass’ motion for a directed verdict and he waived his claim of prosecutorial misconduct. There is no fundamental error on that issue.
Warren Parks v. State of Indiana (NFP)
24A01-1007-CR-358
Criminal. Affirms trial court did not abuse its discretion by denying Parks’ request to withdraw his guilty plea after he was sentenced for Class A misdemeanor check deception.
Judith Silverman and Morris Silverman v. Arden Johnson, et al. (NFP)
29A05-1006-PL-443
Civil plenary. Affirms judgment in favor of Johnson, Southern Companies Inc. and Southern Pediatrics LLC on the Silvermans’ complaint alleging, among other things, fraud, securities violations, theft, conspiracy, and breach of fiduciary duty.
Leonard J. Laraway v. Cathy A. (Laraway) Fisher (NFP)
29A05-1007-DR-430
Domestic relation. Vacates trial court order that found Leonard Laraway in arrears for child support and college expenses pursuant to a dissolution settlement agreement and in contempt for failure to make such payments. Remands with instructions to provide more specific findings on this issue or base the determination regarding Laraway’s salary and child support obligation on a signed and verified child support obligation worksheet.
Dennis Meadows v. State of Indiana (NFP)
61A01-1009-CR-483
Criminal. Affirms conviction of two counts of Class B felony burglary and one count of Class C felony burglary.
Paternity of T.B.; C.B. v. C.K. (NFP)
56A04-1008-JP-502
Juvenile. Affirms order which increased father C.K.’s parenting time with T.B. on a set schedule without imposing any restrictions on that parenting time.
Otis Chandler v. State of Indiana (NFP)
71A05-1005-PC-340
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post conviction relief.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Diane Werner v. Gregory Werner
46A03-1008-DR-447
Domestic relation. Affirms order finding it would be in the children’s best interest for their father to be their primary physical custodian and awarding mother parenting time. Diane Werner waived her argument that the court used the wrong standard in determining whether to modify custody because she didn’t object at the custody hearing. The trial court’s findings are sufficient to support its judgment under the “best interests” standard. Judge Kirsch dissents.
Even though the trial court departed from established statutory procedures by using the “best interests” standard to modify physical custody, the majority of Indiana Court of Appeals judges affirmed the lower court’s decision.
Fundamental error and prejudice for ineffective assistance of trial counsel present two substantively different questions, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded Thursday in a post-conviction case.
A suspended attorney has pleaded guilty to stealing $283,000 from his clients during dozens of transactions.
Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
D.G. v. State of Indiana
49A04-1006-JV-416
Juvenile. Reverses true finding that D.G. committed what would be Class B felony child molesting if committed by an adult. The failure to assess victim A.S.’s competency before testifying was an error and requires reversing the true finding. There is sufficient evidence to permit another hearing on the allegations. Remands for further proceedings.
Michael J. Cable v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1006-CR-386
Criminal. Affirms convictions of three counts of Class D felony intimidation and one count of Class A misdemeanor invasion of privacy.
State of Indiana v. Mary McNeal (NFP)
84A05-1008-CR-485
Criminal. Affirms grant of McNeal’s motion to suppress.
Marvin L. Ervin v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1002-CR-123
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony theft and adjudication as a habitual offender.
Term. of Parent-Child Rel. of M.H.; R.S. v. IDCS (NFP)
79A02-1009-JT-1166
Juvenile. Affirms termination of parental rights.
Lisa and Nicole Tanasijevic v. Alicia Bookwood (NFP)
45A03-1007-CT-364
Civil tort. Affirms verdict in favor of Bookwood on the Tanasijevics’ complaint following an auto accident.
Claudette Mee, et al. v. George Albers, M.D., et al. (NFP)
03A01-1007-CT-339
Civil tort. Affirms jury verdict in favor of Dr. Albers and Southern Indiana OB/GYN on the Mees’ complaint for damages arising from alleged medical malpractice.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Douglas M. Grimes v. Victoria Crockrom, et al.
45A03-1008-CT-491
Civil tort. Affirms order that Grimes, Crockrom’s former attorney, produce Crockrom’s medical records he obtained while he was representing her. The trial court erred when it did so without first providing for the security of the attorney fees owed. Grimes has a valid retaining lien over Crockrom’s medical records. Remands with instructions that the court determine how much in attorney fees Grimes is owed and then order Crockrom to provide security for the payment of those fees.
An attorney doesn’t have to produce documentation of the amount of money a former client owes in order to have a valid retaining lien, ruled the Indiana Court of Appeals.
Applying 2010 statutory amendments governing chemical tests for evidence of intoxication to a case of a man charged in 2009 with driving while intoxicated didn’t violate the prohibitions against ex post facto criminal sanctions, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Wednesday.
A panel of judges from the Indiana Court of Appeals travels to Franklin Friday to hear arguments in the interlocutory appeal of a man who’s charged with not registering as a sex offender.
Jurists on the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed on an issue of first impression about what an “aggrieved” party is when it comes to filing a mandate or injunction against a water conservancy district under state statute.
Using someone else’s credit card and electronically signing that person’s name is considered “uttering” a written instrument under Indiana’s forgery statute, the state’s appellate court has ruled.
Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard and former Congressman Lee Hamilton are teaming up with the Indiana Bar Foundation and the National Conference on Citizenship to commission the analysis of civic engagement in Indiana.
The James C. Kimbrough Bar Association will salute Indiana’s African-American members of the judiciary on April 21.
Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Cassandra Johnson and Jarrett Buse v. Anya E. Wait, et al.
82A01-0910-CV-498
Civil. Affirms the jury instruction on contributory negligence, finding sufficient evidence to support giving it. The trial court didn’t err by refusing to give the tendered instruction on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur offered by Johnson and Buse because there is a dearth of evidence as to exactly how and when Johnson’s shoulder injuries occurred. Affirms trial court allowance of a defense orthopedic expert witness to testify as to his opinions on causation.
Lamar M. Crawford v. State of Indiana
49A05-1006-CR-377
Criminal. Affirms murder conviction. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it quashed part of Crawford’s request for production of documents to a nonparty television production company, and the state produced sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Crawford committed murder.
John Grimes v. Tamara Grimes (NFP)
48A02-1007-DR-825
Domestic relation. Affirms trial court’s decision to deny John Grimes’ motion to correct error in a post-dissolution proceeding.
Sherrill Essett v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1005-CR-481
Criminal. Reverses jury trial’s conviction of Sherrill Essett for Class D felony theft, stating evidence was not sufficient to support conviction.
Charlotte A. Hunt v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1010-CR-628
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.
John Mark Harris v. State of Indiana (NFP)
85A04-1006-CR-390
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class D felony receiving stolen property and Class B felony conspiracy to commit burglary. Affirms court’s determination that John Mark Harris is a habitual offender and affirms sentences.
Adoption of J.H.; I.H. v. J.R. & W.R. (NFP)
29A02-1009-AD-1091
Adoption. Affirms trial court’s ruling that father’s consent to adoption was not required.
Bryant Carr v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1009-CR-962
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class D felony strangulation and Class A misdemeanor battery.
Martha J. Tichenor v. Daniel Dodson (NFP)
07A01-1006-PO-285
Order of protection. Reverses protection order in favor of Daniel Dodson, et al., stating that repeated e-mails do not fall under protection statute.
Brice Webb v. State of Indiana (NFP)
71A05-1007-CR-517
Criminal. Affirms murder conviction.
Sieb Corp., Inc., Kurt Siebert, et al. v. Laidig Systems, Inc., Mishawaka Leasing Corp., et al. (NFP)
71A03-1010-CT-531
Civil tort. Affirms trial court’s summary judgment in favor of DJ Construction, Progressive, and Clarkco. Reverses trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Laidig Systems, Wyn, and Mishawaka Leasing Corp., and remands for further proceedings.
Term. of Parent-Child Rel. of E.C. & J.V.; J.V. v. IDCS (NFP)
71A04-1010-JT-630
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms trial court’s termination of father’s parental rights.
Term. of Parent-Child Rel. of A.G., J.S., & K.S.; G.S. v. IDCS (NFP)
02A03-1009-JT-489
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms trial court’s termination of father’s parental rights.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Cassandra Johnson and Jarrett Buse v. Anya E. Wait, et al.
82A01-0910-CV-498
Civil. Affirms the jury instruction on contributory negligence, finding sufficient evidence to support giving it. The trial court didn’t err by refusing to give the tendered instruction on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur offered by Johnson and Buse because there is a dearth of evidence as to exactly how and when Johnson’s shoulder injuries occurred. Affirms trial court allowance of a defense orthopedic expert witness to testify as to his opinions on causation.
Baker & Daniels LLP has received national recognition for its efforts working with Wishard Health Services to improve health care disparities by pooling resources provided by doctors, lawyers, social workers and educators.
The Professionalism Committee of the Indianapolis Bar Association extends a Nod to Professionalism to Assistant United States Attorney Bradley A. Blackington.