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Opinions April 1, 2011

Indiana Court of Appeals
Hochstetler Living Trust v. Friends of Pumpkinville Nature Trail
20A03-1009-PL-490
Civil plenary. Affirms trial court’s partial summary judgment in favor of Friends of Pumpkinville Nature Trail, which quieted title to a disputed tract in favor of the nature trail. Because the Plank Deed from 1899 conveyed a fee simple interest to the railroad company, the Penn Central quitclaim deed conveyed that fee simple interest to the nature trail.

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7th Circuit rules on Rolls-Royce job-bias case

A day after the nation’s highest court heard arguments on the largest female gender-discrimination case in history, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has delved into that same territory and upheld a federal judge’s decision denying class certification in a sex discrimination suit in which a group of female Rolls-Royce employees accused the manufacturer of paying women less than men for the same or similar work.

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Judges: defendant should be able to confront witness

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered the District Court to grant a convicted murderer’s habeas petition, finding the admission of out-of-court statements at his trial violated the man’s Sixth Amendment right of confrontation.

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Opinions March 31, 2011 ILD

Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Thomas Dexter v. State of Indiana
79A05-1003-CR-189
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A felony neglect of a dependent and determination of habitual offender status, stating expert witness testimony was admissible and jury was properly instructed.

Anjanette L. Silvers v. State of Indiana
57A03-1010-CR-562
Criminal. Reverses trial court’s decision to revoke probation, stating trial court failed to properly advise Silvers of her right to counsel, and therefore her decision to waive that right is not valid. Remands for proceedings consistent with appeals court’s decision.

Michael B. Adams v. State of Indiana
29A02-1008-CR-903
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana and court’s decision to suspend Adams’ license and registration. States sufficient evidence existed for conviction, and license and registration suspension were appropriate, pursuant to Indiana Code Section 35-48-4-15.

Kevin R. Ash v. State of Indiana (NFP)
84A01-1009-CR-491
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony stalking.  

Richard Emmons v. State of Indiana (NFP)
7904-1008-CR-487
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to deny motion for sentence modification.

Terrance Tindall v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1006-CR-855
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony dealing in marijuana.

Edward Murrell v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1002-PC-310
Post-conviction relief petition. Affirms trial court’s denial of petition for post-conviction relief.

Michael Vest v. State of Indiana (NFP)
43A04-1009-CR-603
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to impose maximum sentence for misdemeanor conversion.

Julius Finch v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A05-1008-CR-496
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony dealing in marijuana.

Jerry W. Clark v. State of Indiana (NFP)
87A05-1008-CR-572
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class D felony dissemination of matter harmful to a minor.

Term. of the Parent-Child Rel. of M.W., et al.; A.C. v. I.D.C.S. (NFP)
71A05-1009-JT-655
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms trial court’s order terminating mother’s parental rights to her three children.

Perry Roberson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1006-CR-389
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to revoke probation.

Emmett L. White v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1008-CR-867
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to revoke probation and impose sentence.

Jeffrey L. Watson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
65A01-1008-CR-411
Criminal. Affirms convictions of four counts of Class B felony dealing in methamphetamine.

Joseph P. Holstead v. State of Indiana (NFP)
71A03-1011-CR-623
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s denial of motion for permission to file a belated notice of appeal.

Indiana Department of Natural Resources v. United Minerals Co., LLC (NFP)
26A05-1007-PL-453
Civil plenary. Reverses trial court’s order to vacate notice of violation. Remands to administrative law judge for review.

Roberto S. Campos v. State of Indiana (NFP)
19A01-1008-CR-390
Criminal. Affirms conviction of and sentence for Class A felony attempted murder.

Paternity of B.P.; D.V. v. B.P. (NFP)
79A04-1007-JP-619
Juvenile paternity. Reverses and remands to trial court the calculation of father’s child support obligation, stating court used wrong multiplier. Affirms trial court’s denial of father’s petition regarding use of tax exemption and of initial child support determination.

Jerome Crowder v. State of Indiana (NFP)
09A02-1008-CR-852
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class C felony operating a motor vehicle while privileges are forfeited for life.

Theodore T. Schwartz v. State of Indiana (NFP)
02A05-1010-CR-714
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class A felony rape, two counts Class A felony criminal deviate conduct, Class A felony burglary, Class A felony robbery, Class B felony criminal confinement, Class D felony strangulation, and Class D felony auto theft.

Randy Deal v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1008-CR-505
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor domestic battery.

Timothy W. Robertson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
27A02-1008-CR-929
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to permit testimony stating Robertson was the robber in a surveillance video.

Indiana Tax Court has posted no opinions as of IL deadline.

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Court: DNR case can proceed despite 11-year delay

The Indiana Court of Appeals has looked past a trial rule calling for diligent prosecution of claims, finding that a state Department of Natural Resources land ownership dispute can proceed despite an 11-year delay in prosecuting because it’s of great public importance and should be decided on the merits.

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Opinions March 31, 2011

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Antonio D. Jones v. James Basinger
09-3577
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Terre Haute Division, Chief Judge Richard L. Young.
Civil. Remands with instructions to grant writ of habeas petition. Reverses District Court's affirmation that Jones was not entitled to a habeas petition, citing U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Crawford v. Washington. States that informant’s double-hearsay against Jones was used as substantive evidence to prove Jones’ guilt, violating his Sixth Amendment rights.

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Opinions March 30, 2011 ILD

Indiana Supreme Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tywan D. Griffin v. State of Indiana
49A02-1007-CR-774
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana, ruling the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Griffin committed the charge.

George F. Evans, Jr. v. Peggy A. Evans
12A02-1008-DR-895
Domestic relation. Affirms trial court’s grant of motion to compel payment in favor of James C. Michael, personal representative for the estate of Peggy A. Evans, pursuant to an amended dissolution decree. States that Peggy’s counsel advised George’s counsel that his pension plan administrator had rejected the qualified domestic relations order (QRDO) from the court, as the QRDO must state that benefits to Peggy would terminate upon her death. Peggy died before she had received a single payment from the QRDO. Michael then filed a motion to compel payment as outlined in the QRDO, or an alternative payment. Judge Riley dissents in part.

Trust of William H. Riddle; Linda Goins v. Patricia Riddle
41A04-1007-TR-447
Trust. Affirms trial court’s ruling that Goins had breached her duties as trustee for William H. Riddle by paying for expenses not allowable under specific provisions of the trust. With respect to the cross-appeal, remands to trial court to determine reasonable trial and appellate attorney fees. Statute allows that if a beneficiary successfully maintains an action to compel a trustee to perform his duties, the beneficiary is entitled to reasonable attorney fees, which includes appellate attorney fees.

Estate of Nathaniel Kappel v. Margaret Kappel
32A01-1008-ES-462
Estate, supervised. Affirms Hendricks Superior Court’s order requiring the estate of Nathaniel Kappel to pay a survivor’s allowance to his widow, Margaret Kappel, stating Margaret’s demand was not untimely, as a surviving spouse is not required to file a demand for payment, and is therefore not subject to the nine-month time period prescribed by Indiana Code Section 29-1-14-1(d).

Sheila K. Granger v. State of Indiana
10A01-1002-CR-39
Criminal. Affirms convictions of five counts of child molesting as Class A felonies, three counts of child molesting as Class C felonies and one count of Class D felony child solicitation. While some admitted evidence was not relevant to the case, other items collected from Granger’s house corroborated the testimony of witnesses, and provided sufficient evidence for a jury to base credibility findings. Finds the admission of the irrelevant evidence to be harmless. Reduces her 60-year executed sentence, citing Granger’s lack of a criminal record, her role in the community, and relative lack of substantial physical harm to the victims.

Leslie A. McCormick v. State of Indiana (NFP)
45A05-1007-CR-431
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony battery.

D.J. v. Review Board (NFP)
93A02-1006-EX-683
Civil. Dismisses appeal of decision in favor of the city on D.J.’s claim for unemployment insurance benefits, citing noncompliance with the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Samuel D. Manley v. State of Indiana (NFP)
82A01-1008-CR-372
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class B felony resisting law enforcement and Class C felony causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a schedule I or II controlled substance in the blood.

James Whitaker, et al. v. Sandra Maskell, et al. (NFP)
60A04-1008-PL-463
Civil plenary. Affirms trial court’s award of attorney fees to Maskell and other defendants.

Gregory Proffitt v. State of Indiana (NFP)
24A01-1006-CR-357
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s decision to deny motions for discharge pursuant to Criminal Rule 4(B).

James A. Love, et al. v. Meyer & Najem Construction, LLC (NFP)
32A01-1006-CT-317
Civil tort. Reverses trial court’s grant of partial summary judgment in favor of Meyer & Najem Construction in a suit filed after James was injured.

Ro.C. v. Ry.C. (NFP)
32A01-1009-DR-435
Domestic relation. Affirms trial court’s order denying mother’s request to relocate to New York with the parties’ children. Dismisses mother’s appeal regarding her motion to modify child support.

Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.
 

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SCOTUS asked to take Indiana stun belt case

The Supreme Court of the United States is being asked to consider an Indiana case about a convicted murderer’s claim that he was improperly restrained with a stun belt during his trial and that led to a wrongful conviction.

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Opinions March 29, 2011 ILD

Indiana Court of Appeals
Mike Hawa v. Gerald R. Moore
87A01-1007-SC-344
Small claim. Affirms small claims court ruling in favor of a countersuit against property owner Mike Hawa, stating Hawa failed to provide contractor Gerald Moore with adequate assurance that Hawa would pay him for his services. States that small claims court erred by awarding Moore the cost of transporting materials after the lawsuit was filed, saying Moore should have used reasonable diligence to mitigate. Reverses with instructions to reduce Moore’s damage award amount.

Ricky D. Whitaker v. Travis M. Becker, et al.
02A03-1006-CT-303
Civil tort. Reverses trial court’s decision to deny Ricky Whitaker’s motion to correct error, stating the court’s decision was an abuse of discretion. Reverses trial court’s decision dismissing the case and awarding $3,700 to Becker’s counsel as reasonable attorney fees for unacceptable conduct. Orders sanction of Whitaker’s counsel with orders to pay $625 in reasonable attorney fees to Becker’s counsel, and remands for further consideration.

Francisco Ponce v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A05-1008-CR-492
Criminal. Affirms trial court’s sentencing of Francisco Ponce on convictions of two counts of Class B felony aggravated battery, Class C felony battery, Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement, and Class C felony carrying a handgun without a license.

Eddie J. Williams, Jr. v. State Employees' Appeals Commission (NFP)
49A02-1011-MI-1269
Miscellaneous. Affirms trial court’s dismissal of appellant’s petition for judicial review of a decision by the State Employees’ Appeals Commission.

The Indiana Tax Court had posted no opinions at IL deadline.

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Opinions March 29, 2011

Indiana Supreme Court
Edward Dawson v. State of Indiana
49S02-1103-CR-176
Criminal. Rules that the Indiana Court of Appeals was correct in declining Edward Dawson’s belated appeal of the trial court’s decision to revoke Dawson’s probation and impose a six-year sentence. States that the COA correctly decided that belated appeals from orders revoking probation are not presently available pursuant to Post-Conviction Rule 2, as the sanction imposed when probation is revoked does not qualify as a “sentence” under the rule.

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Appellate court affirms arbitration on claims against college

With one judge frustrated that Indiana residents and students may have been “hornswoggled” by a college’s advertisements about being accredited, the Indiana Court of Appeals has upheld an order compelling arbitration on a claim that three students were fraudulently induced to enroll because of misrepresentation about that accreditation.

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4 Indiana justices testify on state budget

Four of the Indiana Supreme Court justices testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee Monday night, talking to lawmakers specifically about the need for an appellate case management system, more funding for public defense, and continued fairness in how judicial officers and prosecutors are paid throughout the state.

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