Opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
Robert Shorter v. State of Indiana
19A-CR-2904
Criminal. Affirms Robert Shorter’s convictions for Level 2 felony dealing in methamphetamine, Level 3 felony dealing in a narcotic drug, Level 3 felony conspiracy to commit dealing in a narcotic drug and Level 3 felony aiding, inducing or causing dealing in methamphetamine. Finds that the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions. Also finds no error in the admission of evidence that would violate the Fourth Amendment or Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution. Judge Rudolph Pyle dissents with separate opinion.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Thomas R. Ysursa and Becker, Hoerner, Thompson & Ysursa, P.C. v. Frontier Professional Baseball, Inc.
20A-CT-49
Civil tort. Affirms the Marion Superior Commercial Court’s denial of the Ysursa parties’ motion to dismiss a lawsuit asserting legal malpractice over its involvement in litigation stemming from a failed bid to locate a Frontier Professional Baseball League team in Kokomo. Finds the commercial court did not err in finding there were sufficient minimum contacts between Ysursa and Indiana to establish personal jurisdiction, and the ruling was not unreasonable.

Indiana Supreme Court
Marcus Lee McCain v. State of Indiana
20S-CR-281
Criminal. Affirms Marcus Lee McCain’s 45-year sentence for his conviction of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Marcel Harris. Finds the Lake Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in imposing the sentence. Also finds that under Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B), the sentence is not inappropriate in light of the nature of the offense and McCain’s character.

Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana v. Wesley Ryder
20S-CR-435
Criminal. Reverses an order of the Marion Superior Court suppressing evidence of a blood draw from an off-duty police trainee who was charged with multiple offenses including operating while intoxicated following a wrong-way crash on Interstate 465 in Indianapolis. Finds that the judge who authorized the warrant for the blood draw certified probable cause contemporaneously and in writing, and that even if she had not, the warrant was still valid under Indiana’s substantial compliance filing doctrine. Remands for proceedings. Justice Slaughter concurs in part without separate opinion.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Thursday.
Carmine Greene v. Westfield Insurance Company
19-2260
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Philip P. Simon.
Civil. Affirms summary judgment for Westfield Insurance in a lawsuit brought by Carmine Greene and neighbors of the VIM Recycling property in Elkhart, seeking an order that Westfield pay a $50.56 million environmental pollution damages judgment entered against VIM. Finds that summary judgment for Westfield was proper because two coverage exceptions in the insurance policy apply.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL daily deadline Wednesday.
David L. Day, Jr. v. United States of America
18-2398
Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Criminal. Vacates the denial of David Day’s pro se motion for relief from his 92-month sentence under 28 U.S.C § 2255. Rules the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana erred by denying the motion without an evidentiary hearing to hear Day’s arguments that his private attorneys were constitutionally ineffective for advising him to reject a favorable plea offer. Notes that to have his motion granted, Day will have to show a “reasonable probability” that he would have received a sentence lower than 92 months. Remands for an evidentiary hearing.

The following Indiana Supreme Court decision was posted after IL deadline Tuesday.
Brian E. Hardin v. State of Indiana
20S-CR-418
Criminal. Affirms in a 3-2 decision Brian Hardin’s conviction and 22-year aggregate sentence for conviction of possession and dealing methamphetamine and the denial of his motion to suppress evidence found in a search of his truck. The majority — justices Christopher Goff, Mark Massa and Geoffrey Slaughter — find the search was not unreasonable under Litchfield v. State, 824 N.E.2d 356, 361 (Ind. 2005). Justice Steven David and Chief Justice Loretta Rush dissent and would grant the motion to suppress and remand for a new trial in Morgan Circuit Court. Slaughter in a separate concurrence questions the test developed under Litchfield.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Monday.
Tyrus McNair v. USA
18-2541
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division. Judge William Lee.
Civil. Affirms the Northern District Court’s denial of Tyrus McNair’s request for resentencing. Finds that McNair did not act diligently in making his request for relief.

The following 7^th Circuit Court opinion was posted after IL Deadline on Friday.
USA v. Jerry J. Jones
19-1644
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Richard Young.
Criminal. Vacates Jerry Jones’ revised 840-month sentence for conviction of two carjackings, an armed bank robbery, and using firearms during those crimes of violence. Finds that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana did not sufficiently justify the extent of its deviation from Jones’ effective guidelines range of 348–390 months. Remands for resentencing.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Reanna Lopez-Smith v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
19A-CR-3018
Criminal. Affirms Reanna Lopez-Smith’s convictions in Marion Superior Court of Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement and Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The state presented sufficient evidence to negate her affirmative defense of protected political speech.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Clark-Floyd Landfill, LLC v. Ricky Gonzalez, Yvonne Gonzalez, Robert Scoles, and Tamara Scoles, on Behalf of Themselves and All Others Similarly Situated
19A-CT-2680
Civil tort. Affirms the Clark Circuit Court’s certification of Ricky Gonzalez, Yvonne Gonzales, Robert Scoles, and Tamara Scoles’ complaint against Clark Floyd Landfill, LLC as a class action. Finds, among other things, that the trial court did not apply an incorrect legal standard in determining whether to certify the class action. Also finds the trial court’s adoption of the Homeowners’ class definition is supported by substantial evidence.

Valonte Deshoun Smith v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
19A-CR-2333
Criminal. Affirms Valonte Smith’s aggregate 12-year sentence for conviction of Level 3 felony rape. Finds the Madison Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion in denying admission of certain evidence. Finds Smith has failed to meet his burden that the deputy prosecutor committed misconduct and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury. Also finds sufficient evidence to support the conviction, that Smith did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel and that his sentence is not inappropriate.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Mary Eve Kassen Moriarty v. Cathereine C. Moriarty, et al.
19A-PL-02342
Civil plenary. Affirms the Hamilton Superior Court’s order entering judgment in favor of daughters Catherine C. Moriarty and Paula A. Bowers against Mary Eve Kassen Moriarty on their claim to reject the probate of the purported last will and testament of William J. Moriarty on the basis of lack of testamentary capacity and/or undue influence and on their claim of tortious interference with inheritance. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by permitting the daughters to reopen their case-in-chief. Finds the trial court’s legal conclusions that the purported will is invalid and its conclusions regarding tortious interference with inheritance are not clearly erroneous.

Indiana Supreme Court
In The Matter of Steven T Fulk
19S-DI-00277
Attorney discipline. Disbars Indianapolis attorney Steven Fulk effective immediately after finding that he committed attorney misconduct by neglecting a client’s case, converting an employee’s tax withholdings for his personal use, and failing to cooperate with the disciplinary process.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Thursday
USA v. Terrance Brasher
18-1997
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Criminal. Affirms Terrance Brasher’s sentence of life in prison for conviction of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Finds no merit to any of Brasher’s arguments against his conviction and sentence, including that there was a fatal variance between the conspiracy as charged and the proof at trial, among others.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Christal Trowbridge v. In re the Estate of Everett Thomas Trowbridge, Michael T. Trowbridge
19A-ES-3022
Estate. Reverses the Clark Circuit Court’s refusal to probate the will of Christal Trowbridge’s ex-husband, Everett Thomas Trowbridge. While affirming the probate court’s conclusion that Everett’s estate is entitled to the presumption that Trowbridge destroyed his will with the intent to revoke it, agrees with Christal that the court did not engage in the proper analysis to determine whether she rebutted that presumption. Remands on that issue with instructions for the court to issue a new order applying the correct analysis.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Tuesday:
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Erin Johnson v. Enhanced Recovery Company, LLC
19-1210 & 19-1334
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division. Judge Philip P. Simon.
Civil. Affirms the district court’s entry of summary judgment for Enhanced Recovery on Erin Johnson’s class-action complaint seeking damages under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Finds Johnson failed to present any evidence other than her own opinions that a letter sent by ERC was misleading. Affirms on cross-appeal the district court’s denial of ERC’s prior motion to dismiss, finding denial was proper because the court found Johnson had presented a plausible claim.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of G.B., K.W., and D.C. (Minor Children), Children Alleged to be in Need of Services; N.C. (Mother) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
19A-JC-2435
Juvenile CHINS. Affirms the adjudication of mother N.C.’s three minor children, G.B., K.W. and D.C., as children in need of services. Finds the Department of Child Services presented sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s determination that the children are CHINS.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Jesus Pedraza, Jr. v. State of Indiana
19A-CR-850
Criminal. Grants rehearing for the limited purpose of making a point of clarification regarding the circumstances of Jesus Pedraza’s Miranda waiver. Affirms the memorandum decision in all other respects.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In Re the Paternity of J.G.; Wendy Sonora Hernandez and Margarito Guzman v. Fredy Sanchez Cortes and State of Indiana
19A-JP-2429
Juvenile paternity. Affirms the denial in Elkhart Superior Court of Wendy Sonora Hernandez’s motion for summary judgment on the state’s action seeking to establish paternity of her child by Fredy Sanchez Cortez. Finds the trial court did not err in its denial, and that mother and husband, Margarito Guzman, have failed to meet their burden on appeal to demonstrate that the court abused its discretion when it dismissed husband as a party to the action. Also finds that mother has failed to demonstrate that she was prejudiced by the trial court’s failure to provide her with explicit notice of its intent to treat her motion to dismiss as a motion for summary judgment. Lastly, holds that the state timely filed its paternity petition and that putative father was not required to register with the putative father registry before the state could file its petition.