Opinions

Indiana Supreme Court
Michael Ackerman v. State of Indiana
49S00-1409-CR-770
Criminal. Affirms Michael Ackerman’s conviction and sentence for second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The court found an admission of an autopsy report into evidence does not violate the defendant’s right to confront witnesses against him when the pathologist who performed the autopsy against him was not available to testify.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Richard Lee Dulin v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
79A05-1508-CR-1155
Criminal. Affirms sentence of five years with two suspended to probation for conviction of Level 5 felony operating a vehicle while privileges are suspended for life and Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Noe Escamilla v. Shiel Sexton Company, Inc.
54A01-1506-CT-602
Civil tort. Affirms denial of Noe Escamillia’s motion in limine, ruling that evidence of his immigration status would be admissible and his expert testimony based on future lost wages based on what he could have made in the U.S. would not be admissible. Affirms grant of Shiel Sexton’s motion to exclude Escamillia’s experts. Remands for further proceedings. Judge John Baker dissents.

Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana v. Brian J. Taylor
46S04-1509-CR-552
Criminal. Reverses and remands the prospective blanket suppression of police officers’ testimony in a murder case. Even though the officers’ testimony is presumptively tainted by the eavesdropping, they may yet have an independent basis for certain limited testimony.

Indiana Court of Appeals
3155 Development Way, LLC v. APM Rental Properties, LLC
10A01-1508-PL-1235
Civil plenary. Affirms rescission of a contract to purchase a tract of land after the court found a company relied on a misrepresentation to purchase it.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Rogers Group, Inc. v. Tippecanoe County, et al.
79A02-1506-PL-694
Civil plenary. Affirms one zoning ordinance as enforceable and a second not enforceable. Tippecanoe County’s requirement of a special exception to mine in a flood plain is valid and enforceable, but a quarry ban that prohibits new mines within two miles of residential areas is not because it was not enacted in accordance with Indiana’s zoning statutes.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of: D.W. (Minor Child), and, T.W. (Mother) v. The Ind. Dept. of Child Services
45A03-1507-JC-842
Juvenile. Dismisses appeal of order terminating mother’s visitation with her daughter and denying her motion to modify a CHINS action. Dismisses for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the trial court’s order is not a final judgment.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Cheryl L. Underwood v. Thomas Bunger, in his capacity as the Personal Representative of The Estate of Kenneth K. Kinney; Judith M. Fulford; and Sheree Demming
53A01-1509-MI-1305
Miscellaneous. Affirms grant of the estate of Kenneth K. Kinney’s motion to dismiss. The estate was not a proper defendant in Underwood’s claim for partition.

Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana, Acting on Behalf of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration v. International Business Machines Corporation  
49S02-1408-PL-513.
Civil plenary. Reverses trial court ruling that IBM was not in material breach of its master services agreement to administer Indiana’s welfare systems under a $1.3 billion contract that the state terminated for cause. Summarily affirms the Court of Appeals on all other  issues:  affirming the trial court’s award of $40 million in assignment fees and $9,510,795 in equipment fees to IBM; affirming the trial court’s denial of deferred fees to IBM; and reversing the trial court’s award of $2,570,621 in early termination close out payments and $10,632,333 in prejudgment interest to IBM. Remands to the trial court to determine the amount of fees IBM is entitled to for two change orders, and for calculation of the parties’ damages, including any appropriate offsets to the state as a result of IBM’s material breach of the MSA.   

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kulon N. Lewis, Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
02A03-1508-CR-1140
Criminal. Affirms Kulon Lewis Jr.’s conviction of attempted murder , a Level 1 felony, and the sentencing enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of an offense.
 

Indiana Court of Appeals
In Re the Term. of the Parent-Child Relationship of: M.R.W., M.A.W., Ja.W., Se.W., Sa.W., and C.W. (Minor Children), and J.R. (Mother) v. Ind. Dept. of Child Services (mem. dec.)
79A02-1506-JT-702
Juvenile. Affirms termination of mother’s parental rights.

Indiana Court of Appeals
KS&E Sports and Edward J. Ellis v. Dwayne H. Runnels
49A02-1501-CT-42
Civil tort. Affirms denial of KS&E Sports’ motion for judgment on the pleadings against Dwayne Runnels. KS&E asserted immunity from suit arguing Runnels’ damages resulted from criminal misuse of a firearm by a third party.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Edward P. Kramer v. Focus Realty Group, LLC, successor in interest to AES Restaurants, LLC
29A04-1508-PL-1089
Civil plenary. Affirms award of summary judgment in favor of Focus Realty Group for breach of contract after it paid $40,000 more than the correct purchase price. Kramer’s attorney had responded to a request by Focus’ attorney with a figure higher than the lease actually was.

Indiana Supreme Court
In Re The Marriage of Amy Steele-Giri v Brian K. Steele
45S04-1512-DR-00682
Domestic relations. Affirms trial court’s denial of mother’s motion for custody modification and contempt. There was ample evidence for the trial court to concluded that a custody modification was not in the child’s best interests.

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.

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.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tricia A. Davis Williams v. State of Indiana
29A02-1506-CR-528
Criminal. Affirms Tricia A. Davis Williams’ sentencing order after she pleaded guilty to one count of Class D felony theft. Her placement in the Department of Correction is not inappropriate.

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. 

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.

Indiana Tax Court

Nick Popovich v Ind. Dept. of State Revenue
49T10-1010-TA-53
Awards Nick Popovich $24,963 for successfully prosecuting his first motion to compel.