Opinions

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Jennifer Pennington and Joshua Pennington v. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Inc. d/b/a Beacon Health and Fitness, Spear Corporation, and Panzica Building Corporation
22A-CT-1573
Civil tort. Affirms St. Joseph Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment to Spear Corporation and Panzica Building Corporation and a partial summary judgment to Beacon Health Building Corporation. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by striking a portion of the deposition testimony of the Penningtons’ designated expert witness nor did it abuse its discretion in its evidentiary rulings.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of the Marriage of Emily G. McConnell v. Cedric J. Booker (mem. dec.)
22A-DC-2348
Domestic relations with children. Affirms the Warrick Superior Court’s dissolution decree, which granted parenting time to Cedric J. Booker that deviated from the Indiana Parenting Guidelines. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its parenting time order or when it denied Emily McConnell’s motion to correct error.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Rupinder Thind v. Delaware County, Indiana
22A-PL-2332
Civil plenary. Affirms the grant of Delaware County’s motion for a preliminary injunction but reverses the order imposing costs and fines on Rupinder Thind. Finds the Delaware Circuit Court did not err in entering the preliminary injunction. Also finds the imposition of fines and costs was premature.

Kathryn Dircks and Barry Dircks v. Julie Camden and Camden & Meridew, P.C. (mem. dec.)
22A-PL-1292
Civil plenary. Affirms the granting of Julie and Camden’s petition requesting attorney’s fees and costs. Finds the Boone Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion.

Steven D. Lemons v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-01994
Criminal. Affirms Steven Lemons’ conviction for Level 6 felony attempted residential entry. Finds the state presented sufficient evidence to support the conviction.

WEOC, Inc. d/b/a Wings, Etc. and Romo, LLC, d/b/a El Cantarito v. Leah Niebauer, as Special Representative of the Estate of Nathan Blount, Deceased
22A-CT-1869
Civil tort. Affirms the denial of Wings Etc. and El Cantarito’s motion to dismiss Count 3 of the wrongful death suit brought by Leah Niebauer, special representative of the Estate of Nathan Blount. Finds the estate’s claim for negligent furnishing of alcoholic beverage does state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
United Farm Family Mutual Insurance Company v. Hudson Insurance Company
22A-PL-00544
Civil plenary. Reverses summary judgment in insurance claim case. Finds the Marion Superior Court erroneously granted summary judgment in favor of Hudson Insurance Company. Remands for further proceedings to assess the amount of “statutory interest and all legal fees and costs incurred in pursuing collection until the award is paid.”

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Gregory Wireman v. LaPorte Hospital Co., LLC
22A-CT-2639
Civil tort. Affirms summary judgment in favor of the LaPorte Hospital. Finds the LaPorte Circuit Court did not err by concluding that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur does not apply to Gregory Wireman’s claims.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Kristie A. Alley v. Penguin Random House
21-3158
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Richard Young.
Civil. Affirms the grant of summary judgment to Penguin Random House on Kristie Alley’s retaliation claim, and the earlier dismissal of her breach of contract claim. Finds a reasonable juror could not find that Alley’s demotion was due to her engagement in a protected activity. Also finds Penguin’s employee Code of Conduct did not convert Alley’s at will employment into a contractual relationship. Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi dissents with separate opinion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Duke Industrial Group, and Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Inc. v. Duke Energy Indiana, LLC, and Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
22A-EX-1685
Agency action. Affirms the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s grant of Duke Energy Indiana LLC’s petition for approval of a six-year plan for transmission, distribution and storage system improvements pursuant to Indiana Code § 8-1-39-10(a). Finds the IURC neither misapplied the challenged section of the TDSIC statute nor failed to make necessary factual findings.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In re the Paternity of C.R. Korey B. Ricciardi v. Christina Feiock (mem. dec.)
22A-JP-2255
Juvenile paternity. Reverses the Johnson Circuit Court’s order finding father Korey B. Ricciardi in contempt and any associated sanctions, including those related to makeup visits and that Ricciardi pay $1,500 to mother Christina Feiock’s attorney. Finds Ricciardi’s conclusion that Feiock was not entitled to midweek parenting time was not unreasonable. Also finds Ricciardi did not willfully disobey the court’s order. Finally, finds Ricciardi has demonstrated prima facie error.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
David Kelly v. Paul Goldberg and The Crown Hill Cemetery d/b/a Crown Hill Cemetery (mem. dec.)
22A-CT-2266
Civil tort. Reserves the Marion Superior Court’s order granting Paul Goldberg’s Verified Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment. Finds the trial court abused its discretion in granting Goldberg relief under Trial Rule 60(B). Remands with instructions to reinstate default judgment in favor of David Kelly.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Raylu Enterprises, Inc. v. City of Noblesville, Indiana
22A-PL-2243
Civil plenary. Affirms the Hamilton Superior Court decision to grant the city of Noblesville’s motion to strike an inverse-condemnation claim made by Raylu Enterprises Inc. against the city. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in striking Raylu’s inverse-condemnation counterclaim.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Darin M. Haberkorn v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-2150
Criminal. Affirms Darin Haberkorn’s conviction of Class B misdemeanor harassment. Finds sufficient evidence supports Haberkorn’s harassment conviction. Also finds the Allen Superior Court did not commit fundamental error in instructing the jury.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Matthew Joseph Frazier, Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-686
Criminal. Affirms Matthew Frazier’s conviction of attempted residential entry. Finds the state presented sufficient evidence in the Marion Superior Court to support Frazier’s conviction.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Posterity Scholar House, LP v. FCCI Insurance Company
21A-PL-2731
Civil plenary. Affirms the Allen Superior Court’s grant of FCCI Insurance Company’s motion for partial summary judgment as to Posterity Scholar House’s tortious bad faith claim. Finds the relationship between a surety and its bond obligee does not reflect the “special relationship” on which the Indiana Supreme Court relied in Erie Ins. Co. v. Hickman, 622 N.E.2d 515 (Ind. 1993). Dismisses Posterity’s appeal of the trial court’s denial of its motion for partial summary judgment as to its breach of contract claim. Finds the Court of Appeals lacks jurisdiction over the breach of contract appeal.

Indiana Supreme Court
Charlie D. Leshore, Jr. v. State of Indiana
23S-CR-51
Criminal. Grants transfer and reverses the denial of Charlie Leshore’s post-conviction petition for permission to file a belated notice of appeal. Finds Leshore was not at fault in failing to file a timely notice of appeal. Also finds Leshore was diligent in pursuing his belated notice of appeal. Remands with instructions to let Leshore’s appeal proceed. Justice Christopher Goff dissents with separate opinion, joined by Justice Geoffrey Slaughter.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Benjamin Michael Veach v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-1431
Criminal. Affirms Benjamin Veach’s conviction of Level 1 felony dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death. Finds the state proved the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Also finds the Huntington Superior Court did not err in denying Veach’s motion for judgment on the evidence. Finally, finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury.