State Public Defender Susan Carpenter retired May 31 after nearly three decades in that position, and her chief deputy took charge of the office until the Indiana Supreme Court appoints a successor.
Trial courts interested in earning a Family Court Project grant have until July 1 to apply.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that a woman failed to prove that she was subject to a hostile work environment at Ball State University.
Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Nicholas Mills v. State of Indiana (NFP)
82A04-1012-CR-741
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C felony child molestation.
John Warren v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1009-CR-997
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and Class B misdemeanor criminal recklessness. Reverses conviction of Class A misdemeanor driving while suspended within ten years of a similar prior infraction and remands with instructions to amend by vacating Class A misdemeanor conviction and entering Class A infraction in its place.
Timmy Todd Zieman v. State of Indiana (NFP)
45A03-1005-CR-230
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A felony attempted murder.
Bryan Ward v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1011-CR-1250
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia.
C.W. v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1011-JV-1314
Juvenile. Affirms adjudication as a juvenile delinquent for an act that would be child molesting if committed by an adult
Robert J. Boswell v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1011-CR-1231
Criminal. Affirms 30-year sentence for Class A voluntary manslaughter.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Maetta Vance v. Ball State University, et al.
08-3568
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Civil. Affirms District Court’s summary judgment for the defendants and dismissal of discrimination lawsuit, stating the plaintiff failed to prove that her treatment at work was in any way affected by her race, and that the plaintiff did not prove that Ball State University was negligent in taking steps to remediate reported harassment.
The Indiana Court of Appeals has reversed a juvenile court’s order of restitution, stating the court failed to investigate the young man’s ability to pay, and that the damage amount could not be determined to be reasonable. Judge Melissa S. May wrote an eight-page separate opinion stating that the trial court’s many errors hampered the COA’s ability to perform its review of the case.
For the second time in three years, South Bend’s John Adams High School won the annual National High School Mock Trial Championship.
Attorney Stephenie Jocham, a founder of Carmel firm Jocham Harden Dimick Jackson, died Thursday morning following a battle with cancer, the firm announced.
Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Shepherd Properties Co., d/b/a ShepCo Commercial Finishes v. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 91
49A04-1010-PL-676
Civil plenary. Reverses denial of ShepCo’s motion to correct error challenging an order awarding attorney fees to International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 91 as the prevailing party in an action under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. The trial court erroneously imposed upon ShepCo joint and several liability for statutory attorney fees under the APRA as there is no provision for the assessment of attorney fees against a private party in the event of improper nondisclosure under the act. Remands for further proceedings.
David W. Johnson and Priscilla Johnson v. Madison Regatta, Inc., and American Boat Racing Association (NFP)
39A01-1008-CT-398
Civil tort. Affirms summary judgment for Madison Regatta and American Boat Racing Association on the Johnsons’ complaint for damages after Priscilla was injured after being hit by a car while watching the regatta.
Estate of Maurice Kendrick, Sr., Susan K. Kussart, as Guardian of B.K. v. Estate of Maurice Kendrick, Sr., Crystal Burke-Potts, et al. (NFP)
46A03-1007-ES-361
Estate supervised. Reverses determination that B.K. failed to prove she is an heir of the deceased, Maurice Kendrick Sr. Remands with instructions.
Stephen Ray Jones, Jr. v. State of Indiana (NFP)
48A02-1006-CR-702
Criminal. Affirms sentences for Class C felony dealing in marijuana and Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
Kem Linn v. State of Indiana (NFP)
27A02-1010-CR-1293
Criminal. Affirms sentences following guilty plea to Class C felonies corrupt business influence and fraud on a financial institution, and five counts of Class C felony forgery.
Herman Cecil Mallory v. State of Indiana (NFP)
02A04-1007-PC-493
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.
Jason L. Prater v. State of Indiana (NFP)
08A05-1009-CR-595
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony intimidation.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Larry Ault v. State of Indiana
49A04-1008-CR-492
Criminal. Reverses conviction of felony murder and remands for a new trial. There was sufficient evidence, without Ault’s testimony, to support a jury instruction on self-defense.
The 9th annual Conference on Health, Disability and the Law at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis will examine youth with disabilities in the justice system.
The Indiana Court of Appeals ordered a new trial for a man convicted of murder because the trial court erred by refusing to instruct the jury on self-defense without the defendant’s testimony.
The Indiana Supreme Court was divided Wednesday in an opinion regarding whether a man could be charged with Class C felony child molesting 16 years after he last molested his stepniece.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Jonathan Wirth v. American Family Mutual Insurance Co.
22A01-1009-CT-440
Civil tort. Affirms summary judgment in favor of American Family Mutual Insurance, in which the court found American Family is entitled to repayment of its medical lien pursuant to its insurance contract with Wirth. Wirth negotiated his settlement with the tortfeasor, which was completely satisfied as evidenced by the executed Release of All Claims form. In absence of any evidence that the settlement was reasonable and American Family’s lien should be reduced, American Family is entitled to complete repayment of its medical lien.
Antione A. Smith v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1010-CR-1162
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class D felony battery and Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.
Joseph K. Todd v. State of Indiana (NFP)
43A03-1011-CR-566
Criminal. Affirms sentence following guilty plea to Class D felony failure to appear.
Julius Cabell v. State of Indiana (NFP)
82A01-1010-CR-548
Criminal. Affirms denial of motion to suppress marijuana and statements made to police.
William Soper v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A05-1009-CR-611
Criminal. Affirms denial of motion for jail time credit.
Involuntary Commitment of A.K. (NFP)
18A02-1011-MH-1199
Mental health. Affirms order for A.K.’s regular involuntary commitment.
Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
Indiana Supreme Court
Jeffery Sloan v. State of Indiana
18S04-1009-CR-502
Criminal. Affirms convictions of and sentence for Class A felony and Class C felony child molesting. Holds once concealment has been established, statutes of limitations for criminal offenses are tolled under Indiana Code 35-41-4-2(h) until a prosecuting authority becomes aware or should have become aware of sufficient evidence to charge the defendant. Also holds that under the facts of this case, there was no double jeopardy violation because each challenged offense was established by separate and distinct facts. Justices Sullivan and Rucker dissent.
Ruling on a matter having no cases directly on point, the Indiana Court of Appeals held a trial court had personal jurisdiction over the defendant when it reordered him back to the Indiana Department of Corrections several years after discovering he was released prematurely.
Central Indiana students who have an interest in the law will get an up-close-and-personal look at it through an intensive summer program beginning June 6 at Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis.
State Public Defender Susan Carpenter retires Tuesday after nearly three decades in that position, and no decision has been made as to who will succeed her.
In two cases involving the parental privilege defense, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a teacher who “flicked” a special education student’s tongue and against a father hit his daughter numerous times with a belt.
The Indiana Supreme Court has agreed to take a case between a Vanderburgh County church and its former national organization dealing with what happens to the local church property after the local church defected to another Presbyterian organization.