Court opinions

Indiana Supreme Court
Brandon L. Johnson v. State of Indiana
20S-CR-61
Criminal. Reverses the denial of Brandon Johnson’s request to file a belated notice of appeal. Finds the general waiver of Johnson’s “right to appeal,” particularly when contained in the same sentence as an unenforceable waiver of post-conviction relief, was insufficiently explicit to establish a knowing and voluntary waiver of Johnson’s right to appeal his 12-year sentence for his conviction of Level 4 felony dealing in methamphetamine. Remands with instructions for the Orange Circuit Court to grant Johnson’s motion for permission to file a belated notice of appeal. Justice Geoffrey Slaughter dissents without separate opinion.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Melvin Hall v. Bradley Shaw, Giovanni Narducci, and Central Indiana Protection Agency, Inc.
19A-CT-2533
Civil tort. Affirms and reverses in part the Marion Superior Court’s dismissal of Melvin Hall’s lawsuit against Bradley Shaw, Giovanni Narducci and Central Indiana Protection Agency Inc. alleging defamation, abuse of process, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress, and the partial denial of the defendants’ motion to dismiss Hall’s lawsuit. Finds the trial court erred in denying the defendants’ motion to dismiss Hall’s defamation and abuse of process claims based on Narducci’s July 2018 consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. Also finds the trial court correctly dismissed Hall’s defamation claims based on alleged events that occurred before May 22, 2016, and on Gerald Alexander and Guillerma Lolla-Martinez’s trial testimony. Finally, finds the trial court erred in dismissing Hall’s malicious prosecution claims against all defendants based on his criminal prosecution, defamation claims against all defendants based on Alexander and Lolla-Martinez’s out-of-court statements made before Hall’s criminal trial, and IIED claims against Shaw and CIPA based on Narducci’s July 2018 voicemail. Remands for further proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Brice Holden v. State of Indiana
19A-CR-1795
Criminal. Affirms Brice Holden’s conviction for Level 4 felony child molesting. Finds the Clay Circuit Court did not commit fundamental error in admitting the polygraph examination report. Also finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the certified polygraph examiner’s nonhearsay testimony.

Indiana Supreme Court
Jesse L. Payne v. State of Indiana
20S-CR-313
Criminal. Reverses the guilty but mentally ill verdict and aggregate 90-year sentence for Jesse Payne after he confessed to burning down two covered bridges in Parke County. Finds the state presented insufficient demeanor evidence to rebut both the unanimous expert opinion that Payne is legally insane and Payne’s “well-documented history of mental illness.” Remands for the trial court to hold a hearing for Payne’s involuntary commitment under Indiana Code section 35-36-2-4. Justice Mark Massa dissents with a separate opinion joined by Justice Geoffrey Slaughter.

Indiana Court of Appeals
A.S. v. Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital
19A-MH-3044
Mental health. Affirms A.S.’s 90-day commitment to Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital. Finds the Monroe Circuit Court did not admit into evidence the hearsay about which A.S. complains. Finds testimony from a doctor provided clear and convincing evidence that A.S. was gravely disabled and that forced administration of antipsychotic medication was warranted.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Frances L. Batchelder, Special Administrator of the Estate of John E. Batchelder, M.D., Deceased v. Indiana University Health Care Associates, INC, d/b/a IUHP
19A-CT-2569
Civil tort. Reverses the Marion Superior Court’s award of summary judgment in favor of Indiana University Health Care Associates, Inc., in the medical malpractice action brought by Frances Batchelder, special administrator of the estate of John E. Batchelder, M.D. Finds that by prematurely applying the $1.25 million setoff from a settlement with a third party to the statutory limit and offsetting the IUHP judgment to zero, without first determining the value of the estate’s case, the trial court denied the estate the potential full recovery to which the estate is legally entitled. Remands for proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tiffany Abbott, Cathie Barnes, and Chandra Gray v. Individual Support Home Health Agency, Inc.
19A-PL-2367
Civil plenary. Reverses the Henry Circuit Court’s order denying the motion to dismiss the complaint filed by Tiffany Abbot, Cathie Barnes and Chandra Gray’s former employer, Individual Support Home Health Agency, Inc. Finds the women’s reports to the Indiana State Department of Health are protected by absolute privilege because the reports initiated a quasi-judicial proceeding. Finds the trial court erred when it denied their motion to dismiss Home Health’s complaint. Remands the case to the trial court with instructions to dismiss Home Health’s complaint.