No error in granting custody to grandmother instead of father, COA affirms
A father who lost custody of his children failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that the trial court erred by granting custody to the children’s grandmother.
Court opinions
Articles
Justices vacate ex-trustee’s theft convictions because state didn’t prove criminal intent
Concerns about a former trustee accused of theft because she worked out-of-state during COVID should have been handled via a civil action, not a criminal action, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, vacating the ex-trustee’s 21 theft convictions.
Opinions Feb. 16, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of A.M.J. and A.L.J., Minor Children Alleged to be Children in Need of Services; S.J. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services
23A-JC-2241
Juvenile CHINS. Affirms the Allen Superior Court’s order modifying custody of father S.J.’s sons in favor of their maternal grandmother. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by modifying custody of the children in favor of the maternal grandmother.
Dog sniff doesn’t require suppression in drug, firearms case, 7th Circuit affirms
A dog sniff that led to a man’s conviction on drug and firearms charges did not unconstitutionally prolong the underlying traffic stop, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Thursday.
Tax Court upholds board’s valuation of leased space in Circle Centre parking garage
The valuation of leased property in an Indianapolis parking garage will stand after the Indiana Tax Court upheld the Indiana Board of Tax Review’s challenged valuation.
COA splits in upholding motion to set aside summary judgment
A split Court of Appeals of Indiana has upheld the grant of a motion to set aside summary judgment in a dispute involving a financial company and a woman whose ex-husband admitted to using her identity to fraudulently obtain a loan.
Opinions Feb. 15, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Automotive Finance Corporation d/b/a AFC v. Meng Liu
23A-CC-1468
Civil collections. Affirms the grant of Meng Liu’s motion to set aside a summary judgment order in favor of Automotive Finance Corporation. Finds the Marion Superior Court did not abuse its discretion. Judge Elaine Brown dissents with separate opinion.
Opinions Feb. 14, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Tum Uk v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-616
Criminal. Affirms Tum Uk’s conviction for Level 1 felony child molesting. Finds no fundamental error. Also finds sufficient evidence supports Uk’s conviction.
Indiana Court Decisions: Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2024
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
COA splits in reducing 220-year sentence for teen convicted in ‘worst of the worst’ murder
A convicted murderer sentenced as a teen to more than 200 years will have his sentence reduced to 135 years, although one Court of Appeals of Indiana judge would uphold the 220-year term.
Grandmother had standing to seek visitation, COA affirms in adoption case
A grandmother who filed her grandparent visitation petition before her grandchild was adopted had standing to bring the action under the state’s Grandparent Visitation Act, the Court of Appeals of Indiana affirmed Tuesday.
Opinions Feb. 13, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Desmond Banks v. State of Indiana
23A-CR-896
Criminal. Affirms and reverses in part Desmond Banks’ convictions in a quadruple murder and his de facto life sentence. Finds the Marion Superior Court properly denied Banks’ motion for mistrial based on Critical Emergency Response Team members approaching and standing behind him as jurors filed out of the courtroom. Also finds three of the four robbery convictions should be vacated due to insufficient evidence. Finally, finds Desmond’s convictions for the murder and Level 2 felony robbery of Marcel Wills constitute double jeopardy, and his 220-year sentence is inappropriate. Reduces his sentence to 135 years. Remands with instructions for the trial court to enter conviction for Level 5 felony robbery. Judge Cale Bradford concurs in part and dissents in part with separate opinion.
IN justices: Dram Shop Act modified, not eliminated, liability for businesses serving alcohol
The state’s Dram Shop Act modified, but did not eliminate, common law liability for entities that serve alcohol, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Opinions Feb. 12, 2024
Monday opinions
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Lela Jo Boucher v. Dennis J. Doyle
23A-DN-1534
Domestic relations without children. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court’s order dividing the marital estate in favor of Dennis Doyle. Finds Lela Jo Boucher failed to demonstrate that the trial court’s deviation from the presumptive equal split of the marital estate was clearly erroneous.
Opinions Feb. 9, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
James T. Morgan v. State of Indiana
23A-CR-1489
Criminal. Affirms the Montgomery Superior Court’s judgment ordering the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department to retain the seized firearms and ammunition of James Morgan in relation to the state’s “Red Flag Law.” Finds the trial court did not err in admitting a deputy’s testimony and that the state established a probability that Morgan presented a risk of personal injury to himself or to another individual in the future.
Opinions Feb. 8, 2024
Indiana Supreme Court
State ex rel. Richard Allen v. Carroll Circuit Court and the Honorable Frances C. Gull, Special Judge
23S-OR-311
Original action. Grants Richard Allen’s request to reinstate Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi as his counsel but denies his request for an order for his trial to begin within 70 days and for a new judge. Finds the trial court did not find that Baldwin and Rozzi’s disqualification was a necessary last resort after weighing the prejudice to Allen. Also finds Allen did not make his 70-day trial request in trial court. Finally, finds Allen did not overcome the presumption of impartiality. Justice Geoffrey Slaughters concurs and dissents in part with separate opinion.
Justices say no ‘extraordinary circumstances’ existed to remove Delphi murder defendant’s counsel, but with a dissent
The Indiana Supreme Court is explaining its reasoning for reinstating the defense team of the man accused in the 2017 Delphi murder case, crafting a new rule for determining when a judge can remove a court-appointed attorney.
Opinions Feb. 7, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Donald L. Barriger, Jr., and Dianne Barriger v. The Brown County Board of Health and the Brown County Health Officer (mem. dec.)
22A-PL-2944
Civil plenary. Affirms the Brown Circuit Court’s determination that a second order requiring Dianne and Donald Barriger to clean and repair a piece of real estate in Nashville superseded the first order, was lawfully issued and is therefore enforceable. Finds the Barrigers’ claims are either waived or without merit.
Ballot access, criminal cases to be heard at IN Supreme Court in February
The Indiana Supreme Court will be holding four oral arguments this month in cases ranging from ballot access to the seizure of evidence.
Opinions Feb. 6, 2024
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Mandale Hamilton v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-818
Criminal. Affirms the denial of Mandale Hamilton’s motion to suppress. Finds the Hendricks Circuit Court did not err in finding that Officer David Shedrow had “legal authority” to pull over the driver of a Cadillac. Also finds the use of a K-9 for an open-air sniff cannot be said to have prolonged the traffic stop, so it did not implicate the Fourth Amendment or Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. Finally, finds that Officer Mark Christian’s removal of four screws to lower a panel on the dash to retrieve a gun that the officers knew was located in a “tight space” rendered the seizure of the gun unreasonable under Article 1, Section 11.