Articles

Opinions March 14, 2016

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Paul Dimmett v. Carolyn Colvin
15-2233
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, Chief Judge Richard L. Young.
Civil/Social Security disability. Reverses grant of summary judgment in favor of the Social Secuirty Administration. The denial was not a reasonable analysis of the plaintiff's claim and served to rubber stamp the agency's denial of benefits for a 33-year sheet metal journeyman who sought disability benefits due to chronic breathing difficulties and possible exposure to asbestos.

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Opinions March 11, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals

Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., and Hammond Gavit High School v. Nasir Cade, et al.
45A03-1503-PL-84
Civil plenary. Reverses preliminary injunction granted in favor of the high schools and players. Remands for dismissal of claims brought by students who would have been banned from participating in the IHSAA boys’ basketball state tournament because their claims are now moot. COA says trial court erred by concluding the schools demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits and remands to trial court.

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Opinions March 9, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
David Lee Marshall v. State of Indiana
20A03-1507-MI-973
Criminal. Affirms the denial of David Lee Marshall’s petition for expungement, holding the trial court could properly find, based upon Marshall’s own admission, that he had committed a crime in the relevant time period and was not entitled to the requested relief. 

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Opinions March 8, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tyrone Grayson v. State of Indiana

49A05-1505-CR-350
Criminal. Affirms Tyrone Grayson’s conviction of Class B felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. An anonymous tip was sufficient probable cause for police to stop Grayson’s vehicle, where a handgun was found in plain sight.

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Opinions March 3, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
Caterpillar Inc. v. William Sudlow
79A02-1507-CT-801
Civil tort. Reverses and remands summary judgment for William Sudlow in favor of Caterpillar Inc. after it found Sudlow is not entitled to relief under statute or common law. Sudlow was a Caterpillar employee who was fired after another employee observed a partially visible gun in his vehicle in the Caterpillar parking lot.

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Opinions March 2, 2016

Indiana Supreme Court
Ashonta Kenya Jackson v. State of Indiana
48S02-1509-CR-554
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C felony corrupt business influence, holding that Indiana’s Racketeer Influenced and Criminal Organizations Act does not contain a continuity element, but rather a requirement that the pattern of crimes are “not isolated.” The evidence was sufficient to show the underlying robberies Jackson was convicted of were not isolated. Remands for revision of the sentencing order to indicate which offense was enhanced by the habitual offender adjudication.

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Opinions March 1, 2016

Indiana Supreme Court
Austin Blaize v State of Indiana
26S00-14-10-LW-771
Life without parole. Affirms convictions of murder, burglary and other charges and Austin Blaize’s sentence of life without parole and a term of years. Comments made by the judge to the jury do not require reversal and a new trial.

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Opinions Feb. 29, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
Edward Skillman v. Ivy Tech Community College
49A04-1509-PL-1279
Civil plenary. Affirms summary judgment for Ivy Tech on Skillman’s claim under the Indiana Wage Payment Act. Ivy Tech is not an “employer” for purposes of the Indiana Minimum Wage Law because it is “subject to” federal Fair Labor Standards Ac requirements, even if Skillman cannot personally enforce FLSA requirements against Ivy Tech.

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Opinions Feb. 25, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
John H. Hill v. State of Indiana
20A03-1507-CR-907
Criminal. Affirms John Hill’s convictions of criminal confinement, a Class C felony, domestic battery, a Class D felony, domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor and interference with the reporting of a crime, a Class A misdemeanor.  The state did not interfere with his defense by moving to exclude the testimony of a witness.

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Opinions Feb. 24, 2016

Indiana Court of Appeals
Billy Luke v. State of Indiana
15A01-1409-CR-407
Criminal. Affirms Billy Luke’s convictions for invasion of privacy as Class D felonies and the revocation of his probation. Remands with instructions to vacate Luke’s conviction for stalking as a Class C felony because of a double jeopardy violation.

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Opinions Feb. 23, 2016

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Kathy Ann Stark v. Carolyn W. Colvin

15-2352
US District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division
Joseph S. Van Bokkelen, Judge.
Civil. Remands denial of disability insurance benefits to Social Security Administration, finding the administrative law judge applied flawed analyses to deny Stark’s claim.

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