A man whose child molesting sentence was handed down while he was in the hospital did not waive his right to be present at sentencing, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled Thursday in vacating the sentence and ordering a new hearing.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Kimberly J. Brook v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-2110
Criminal. Affirms Kimberly J. Brook’s convictions of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, Class A misdemeanor driving while suspended, Level 6 felony unlawful possession or use of a legend drug and Level 6 felony obstruction of justice, and her two-year sentence, with one year executed and one year served on community corrections. Finds Brook was not entitled to bifurcation, so the Cass Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in denying her request. Also finds the trial court did not erroneously invade the province of the jury by giving instructions that created a mandatory presumption indicating that Lorazepam was classified as a legend drug, and there was sufficient evidence to prove that Brook possessed Lorazepam. Finally, finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in the admission of testimony, and Brook’s sentence is not inappropriate. Judges Nancy Vaidik and Elizabeth Tavitas concur and dissent in part with separate opinions.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Shannon Leeann Zimmerman v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-685
Criminal. Affirms the Montgomery Superior Court’s order revoking Shannon Leeann Zimmerman’s probation. Finds the trial court didn’t abuse its discretion when it ordered Zimmerman to serve the entirety of her previously suspended sentence.
There was sufficient evidence to convict a man for his role in a scheme to defraud people over 50 out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in an online dating scheme, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Wednesday.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
James Huspon v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-PC-2853
Post-conviction relief. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s denial of post-conviction relief to James Huspon. Finds Huspon’s 100-year sentence does not violate the Eighth Amendment. Also finds Huspon has failed to establish that his proffered evidence relating to juvenile brain development would result in a shorter sentence. Declines to address Huspon’s argument that his sentence violates Article 1, Section 16 of the Indiana Constitution because he did not raise an argument based on the nature of his offenses.
Indiana Supreme Court justices have granted transfer to a medical malpractice case involving a hospital technician’s failure to sterilize surgical equipment.
Defendants facing criminal contempt are entitled to the same statutory protections as other criminal defendants, including the right to the appointment of mental health experts, the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled in a Tuesday reversal.
The admission of a screenshot of a defendant’s texts with a contact during his trial on a drug-related conspiracy charge was harmless and only one piece of an “overwhelming” amount of evidence supporting his conviction, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Russell G. Finnegan v. State of Indiana
23A-MI-442
Miscellaneous. Reverses the Pulaski Circuit Court’s finding that Russell Finnegan was in indirect criminal contempt of court. Finds the trial court abused its discretion in failing to act on Finnegan’s notice of intent to file an insanity defense and appoint medical personnel to evaluate his mental health and testify at his criminal contempt hearing. Remands for further proceedings.
A subcontractor that was part of a delayed project at a BP plant in northwest Indiana can’t assert claims against the contractor based on unjust enrichment, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled in affirming a number of decisions from a lower court.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Luse Thermal Technologies, LLC v. Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc. and BP Products North America, Inc.
23A-PL-633
Civil plenary. Affirms the Lake Superior Court’s grant of partial summary judgment in favor of Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc. on Luse Thermal Technologies Inc.’s request for damages and unjust enrichment claim; the grant of summary judgment in favor of BP Products North America Inc. on Luse’s claims based on the personal liability notice statute and unjust enrichment; the grant of BP’s motion to strike certain evidentiary materials; and the denial of Luse’s partial motion for summary judgment with respect to Graycor’s counterclaim relating to the recovery of certain contractual costs. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting BP and Graycor’s motions to strike, nor did it err in granting Graycor and BP’s motions for summary judgment. Also finds genuine issues of material facts remain as to Luse’s motion for partial summary judgment. Finally, finds Graycor’s request for appellate attorney fees is not ripe for review.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Sammy Tinnin v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-628
Criminal. Affirms Sammy Tinnin’s conviction in the Marion Superior Court of felony murder. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Tinnin a continuance. Also finds no fundamental error occurred as a result of Exhibits 66 and 67 not being formally admitted into evidence. Finally, finds the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Tinnin murdered John Shockley.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board v. Marion County Sheriff’s Office (mem. dec.)
23A-PL-655
Civil plenary. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s entry of summary judgment for the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Finds the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board’s argument that sheriff’s deputies aren’t eligible for training from the board isn’t properly before the court. Also finds the trial court did not enter injunctive relief. Vacates the trial court’s supplemental order, finding it was unnecessary dicta and potentially confusing to the underlying judgment.
A company’s repeated efforts to notify a Madison County couple by mail that their properties had been sold at a tax sale met federal and state notice requirements, the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed Wednesday.
The Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board must admit Marion County sheriff’s deputies into its de-escalation training program, the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled Thursday, upholding a special judge’s ruling in favor of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Dylan T. Myers v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-3022
Criminal. Affirms Dylan T. Myers’ conviction of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury as a Level 1 felony and his 30-year sentence. Finds the state presented sufficient evidence to support Myers’ conviction. Also finds the sentence imposed on Myers’ conviction under the neglect statute as a Level 1 felony does not offend the proportionality clause of the Indiana Constitution.
There was no evidence that a man intended to sell the methamphetamine found in his possession during a traffic stop, a split Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled Wednesday in reversing a dealing conviction.
A man convicted of neglect against his girlfriend’s infant daughter has failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that either insufficient evidence or the Indiana Constitution require reversal of his Level 1 felony conviction.
It’s been a little more than three months since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions. Although the decision didn’t necessarily take law schools by surprise, it forced them to quickly adapt their admissions processes.
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.