Articles

Judges uphold OWI conviction

The Indiana Court of Appeals concluded today that even though a statute uses the word “and” when saying a driver’s actions, thoughts, and normal control of faculties must be impaired, the state isn’t required to prove all three were impaired in order to get a conviction of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

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Court: stipulation can be in preliminary jury instructions

Even though a defendant waived his argument for appeal that a stipulation may not be placed before a jury via preliminary jury instructions, the Indiana Court of Appeals held the opposite today in a case involving a conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

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Judges rule man’s right to speedy trial was violated

The state had an affirmative duty to pursue prosecution of a defendant under his right to a speedy trial, the Indiana Court
of Appeals ruled today. The appellate court also disapproved of the state’s blanket policy to not attempt to secure
the attendance of an accused incarcerated person in a foreign jurisdiction until he has finished serving his sentence there.

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Judges: 2-year statute of limitations doesn’t apply

The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal of a medical group’s application for adjustment of claim for provider
fee, finding the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board erred by ruling the application was filed outside the statute of
limitations.

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Court rules on liability in nursing home accident

The Indiana Court of Appeals today turned to an issue that has been dealt with few times in state court history:

What happens when a nursing home facility brings a local string band to play for the residents, and one of those volunteers
arrives on the property and drives into the building before the performance, jumping a curb and striking a nursing home resident
on the front porch before crashing into the building itself?

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Testimony showed intent in identity deception

During a trial for identity deception, a court correctly admitted evidence under Indiana Evidence Rule 404(b) of the defendant's prior interaction with the victim of his identity theft and previous instances of using the victim's information, the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded today.

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Teen’s Fourth Amendment rights not violated

Debating in a footnote whether a juvenile's argument that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated was subject to a Terry stop analysis, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided to apply the Terry analysis to his case.

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Judges disagree on when escape occurs

The Indiana Court of Appeals had to decide whether inmates in a jail could be charged with escape if they never left the outer walls of the facility. The majority affirmed the dismissal of the escape charges against the six inmates, ruling the act was just a violation of prison rules.

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Forged agreement presents question of fact

A company that forged a former employee's non-compete contract and later sued and settled with another company over that false document isn't entitled to summary judgment in a new suit brought by the other company after it learned the document was forged, ruled the Indiana Court of Appeals.

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COA: Government vehicle exclusion is void

The Indiana Court of Appeals concluded today in a matter of first impression that the government vehicle exclusion in underinsured motorist policies is void as against public policy.

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Judges disagree as to athlete’s eligibility

One Indiana Court of Appeals judge believed his colleagues strayed from the evidence of recruitment and instead focused the family's financial plight when they decided the high school athlete didn't transfer schools primarily for athletic reasons.

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Judges: Court should have questioned jurors

Judges on the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed as to whether a man's murder conviction should be overturned because the trial court failed to investigate the impact of threats made against the jury. The majority determined the lack of action by the trial court resulted in a fundamental error that required reversing the conviction, but that he could be retried.

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Sexual misconduct doesn’t fall under MedMal act

The Indiana Court of Appeals today affirmed a trial court determination that an employee's sexual conduct with a patient can't constitute a rendition of health care or professional services, so a negligent hiring complaint against a hospital based on that conduct doesn't fall under the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.

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