Articles

Rear-ended driver wins new damages trial after errant jury instruction

A driver who a jury awarded just $10,000 on her personal injury claims after an intoxicated driver struck her car from behind won a new trial on damages Friday. The Indiana Court of Appeals found an erroneous jury instruction may have led to a verdict that was less than the driver had been offered to settle the case.

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Opinions March 19, 2020

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline on Wednesday.
DePuy Synthes Sales, Inc. v. OrthoLA, Inc.

19-2765
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Chief Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson.
Civil. Affirms the district court’s stay of a case filed in the Southern District seeking an order to compel arbitration in a medical device distribution dispute between manufacturer DeDuy Synthes Sales and Los Angeles-area contract distributor OrthoLA, Inc. Finds that given related litigation over similar subject matter in California, the Southern District did not abuse its discretion in staying the matter until the California matter is resolved.

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Opinions March 16, 2020

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline on Friday.
USA v. Sheila Geary
19-2299
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division. Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen.
Criminal. Affirms Sheila Geary’s 57-month prison sentence and five years of supervised release for a child pornography conviction, as well as an order that she pay $55,600 in restitution jointly and severally with her husband, David Geary. Finds no clear error in the district court’s factual findings that Sheila was a but-for cause of a child’s abuse. Also finds the inclusion of the restitution amount in Sheila’s PSR was sufficient notice to her that David’s restitution amount would be used in her sentencing. Thus, finds no error in relying on the calculation from David’s sentencing to determine the amount of restitution that Sheila would owe.

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Opinions March 12, 2020

Indiana Court of Appeals
Name Change Of: R.E.
19A-MI-02562
Miscellaneous. Reverses and remands the Newton Circuit Court’s demand that R.E. publish his petition to change his name in a local newspaper; litigate the petition in open court; and submit medical evidence to show that R.E. had actually undergone a physical sex change. Finds the trial court obstructed the timely disposition of R.E.’s petition and placed evidentiary burdens upon R.E. that were unjustified and contrary to law. Remands with instructions that the trial court grant R.E.’s petition without further delay.

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Opinions March 11, 2020

The following opinions were posted after IL deadline Tuesday.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
USA v. Monique Bowling
19-2110
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division. Judge Philip P. Simon.
Criminal. Affirms Monique Bowling’s 63-month sentence for conviction of theft from a local government that received federal funds under 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A). Finds the federal funds element was met when the parties stipulated that the City of Gary received more than $10,000 in federal benefits in a one-year period. Also finds no error in admitting testimony under Rule 404(b) and that the district court’s finding that Bowling deliberately exaggerated her mental health symptoms and remained mute to unnecessarily delay the proceedings does not need to be disturbed.

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