Opinions

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Lake Ridge School Corporation and School City of Hammond, West Lafayette Community School Corporation v. Eric Holcomb, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of Indiana; Indiana State Board of Education; Indiana Department of Education; and Todd Rokita, in his official capacity as Attorney General of the State of Indiana
22A-PL-423
Civil plenary. Affirms the Lake Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment to defendants Eric Holcomb, in his official capacity as governor of the state of Indiana; the Indiana State Board of Education; that Indiana Department of Education; and Todd Rokita, in his official capacity as attorney general of the state of Indiana in a dispute with Lake Ridge School Corporation, School City of Hammond and West Lafayette Community School Corporation. Finds the school corporations, as political subdivisions, cannot assert takings claims against the state defendants in their efforts to maintain control of closed public-school buildings.

No opinions published on Nov. 8, 2022.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Jajuan L. Clayton v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-693
Criminal. Affirms Jajuan Clayton’s conviction for Level 2 felony dealing in a Schedule I controlled substance. Finds sufficient evidence to support the conviction.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Roto-Rooter Services Company v. Nationwide Insurance Company of America a/s/o Eduardo and Dawn Manning Juarbe (mem. dec.)
22A-CT-760
Civil tort. Affirms the denial of Roto-Rooter Services Company’s motion for relief from default judgment in a dispute with Nationwide Insurance Company of America a/s/o Eduardo and Dawn Manning Juarbe. Finds Roto-Rooter failed to establish exceptional circumstances necessary to satisfy Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(8).

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Penny Korakis v. Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Michael R. Messmer, D.O., David A. Halperin, M.D.
22A-CT-867
Civil tort. Affirms the grant of summary judgment to Dr. David A. Halperin, Dr. Michael R. Messmer and Memorial Hospital of South Bend on Penny Korakis’ medical malpractice lawsuit. Finds Dr. James Kemmler’s affidavit was insufficient to create genuine issues of fact such that summary judgment in favor of the defendants was inappropriate.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Jim Brugh v. Board of Commissioners of Cass County, Indiana, et al. (mem. dec.)
22A-PL-2474
Civil plenary. Affirms the denial of Jim Brugh’s motion to correct error, filed after the Cass Circuit Court approved a proposed agreed order reached by the Board of Commissioners of Cass County and the city of Logansport in a partition action through a mediation that took place without Brugh, who previously had been permitted to intervene. Finds Brugh did not have standing to participate in the mediation.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Charitable Allies, Inc. v. Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana, Inc. (mem. dec.)
22A-PL-1111
Civil plenary. Affirms the removal of Charitable Allies’ notice of an attorney’s lien in an underlying action between Charitable Allies’ former client, Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana Inc., and former officers of DSA. Finds Charitable Allies has waived its argument regarding the Lake Superior Court’s purported lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and its assertion that the trial court lacked personal jurisdiction over it is meritless and not supported by cogent reasoning or authority. Also finds the trial court’s removal of the notice of lien is not reversible error. Finally, finds the totality of Charitable Allies’ work product to the Court of Appeals demonstrates not just weak legal positions, but positions “utterly devoid of all plausibility.” Remands to the trial court with instructions for it to determine and award to DSA a reasonable amount for its appellate attorney fees in this appeal.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
E.S. v. State of Indiana
22A-JV-1197
Juvenile. Reverses E.S.’s delinquency adjudication for sexual battery, a Level 6 felony when committed by an adult. Finds the state did not present sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to sustain E.S.’s delinquency adjudication.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of A.C. (Minor Child), Child in Need of Services, and M.C. (Mother) and J.C. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services
22A-JC-49
Juvenile CHINS. Affirms the Madison Circuit Court’s dispositional order after mother M.C. and father J.C. admitted that child A.C. is a child in need of services, and the trial court’s prior order on the combined initial and detention hearing. Finds the parents’ appeal of the initial/detention order is moot. Also finds the dispositional order is not clearly erroneous and does not violate the parents’ constitutional rights.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Steven Anthony Thomas v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-637
Criminal. Affirms Steven Anthony Thomas’ conviction of Level 5 felony domestic battery. Finds the state’s evidence was sufficient to rebut Thomas’ self-defense claim.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Eric S. Cullum v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-210
Criminal. Affirms Eric Cullum’s convictions of two counts of Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine and his aggregate 28-year sentence, with 24 years executed and four years suspended to probation. Finds Cullum has waived review of the admission of evidence obtained from the search of his home. Also finds the Greene Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion by denying Cullum’s motion for continuance or by denying the defense motion for mistrial. Finally, finds Cullum has not demonstrated that his sentence was an abuse of discretion, inappropriate or disproportionate.