Opinions

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted Thursday after IL deadline:
United States of America v. Reynold De La Torre, et al.
18-2009, -2218, -2286, -3303, 19-1299
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Criminal. Affirms sentences entered against Maria Gonzalez, Reynold De La Torre and Adrian Bennett. Vacates the guilty pleas entered by Christian Chapman and Jeffrey Rush. Finds Gonzalez’s offense level was properly adjusted for her “aggravating role,” De La Torre waived his challenge to the conditions of his supervised release, and Bennett failed to identify a specific reason to question the substantive reasonableness of his below-guidelines sentence. Also finds Chapman and Rush were subjected to sentencing errors that affected their substantial rights. Remands for further proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
State of Indiana v. Frederick Obryan McFarland
18A-CR-2408
Criminal. Affirms the Vanderburgh Superior Court’s denial of the state’s motion to amend the habitual offender charging information against Frederick McFarland filed three calendar days before his trial on multiple charges related to a fatal car crash allegedly cause after McFarland fled an attempted traffic stop. Finds no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s ruling.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Alejandro Yeatts v. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
19-1269
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Magistrate Judge Michael Gotsch, Sr.
Civil. Affirms the Northern District Court’s denial of Alejandro Yeatts’ motion for partial summary judgment against Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Finds statements provided by Biomet that Yeatts was suspended in connection with a corruption investigation against Biomet is not actionable defamation. Also finds Yeatts’ inability to prove the statement false demonstrates that it is a statement of opinion, beyond the reach of defamation law.

Indiana Supreme Court
Rodney W. Falls v. State of Indiana
19S-CR-557
Criminal. Grants transfer to reaffirm that a charge of stalking may be supported by conduct that is continuous in nature, even if it is a single episode. Finds that Rodney Falls’ conduct of following a college student by vehicle for more than two hours met the statutory definition of “continuing” harassment, thereby supporting his conviction in Kosciusko Superior Court of Level 6 felony stalking. Affirms the Indiana Court of Appeals’ opinion in all other respects.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Pink A. Robinson v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
18A-CR-2218
Criminal. Affirms Pink Robinson’s aggregate 48-year sentence for conviction in Elkhart Circuit Court of three counts of Level 3 felony robbery with a deadly weapon. Finds his sentence is not inappropriate in light of his character.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Jimmy E. Crase v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
18A-CR-2423
Criminal. Affirms Jimmy E. Crase’s conviction of two counts of Class B felony child molestation. Finds there is sufficient to support Crase’s classification as a credit restricted felon.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Bart M. Betteau v. Robert Headrick and Karen Headrick (mem. dec.)
18A-MI-2610
Miscellaneous. Affirms the Floyd Superior Court’s ruling that Robert and Karen Headrick are owners of an easement allowing use of a gravel driveway that runs across Bart Betteau’s property. Finds the Headricks have a right to use the gravel driveway along the path it followed at the time the Headricks and Betteau took title to their respective properties. Also finds the trial court did not err in assessing the Headricks and Betteau each half the maintenance cost for the portion of the gravel driveway that is utilized by both parties.

Indiana Court of Appeals
James A. Ringley v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc. (mem. dec.)
19A-MF-782
Mortgage foreclosure. Affirms the Hamilton Superior Court’s order denying James Ringley’s motion to set aside the judgment entered in favor of Caliber Home Loans, Inc. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Ringley’s motion to set aside the judgment in favor of Caliber.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Termination: A.B., et al. v. Indiana Department of Child Services
19A-JT-00487
Juvenile termination. Affirms the Steuben Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion in admitting drug test evidence from parents A.B. and J.R. Finds there is sufficient evidence to support the termination of the parent-child relationships with their children K.R., J.T.R., J.L.R., and E.R.  Finds there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the children’s removal will not be remedied.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kurt McElroy v. State of Indiana
18A-CR-2930
Criminal. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s denial of Kurt McElroy’s motion to suppress the evidence of marijuana and a handgun found during a search of his home. Finds McElroy’s Fourth Amendment rights were not violated by the officers’ search of the common areas of the residence, specifically the kitchen, and the subsequent seizure of the handgun. Likewise, finds the officers did not violate his state constitutional rights.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Feather Trace Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Donald R. Luster
19A-SC-300
Small claims. Reverses the Marion Superior Small Claims Court’s judgment in favor of homeowner Donald Luster against the Feather Trace Homeowners Association. Finds no cases holding that abrogation of homeowner association dues and assessments is the appropriate remedy for an owner’s dissatisfaction with the way an HOA is performing or the conditions or quality of the neighborhood and its amenities. Remands with instructions to enter judgment in favor of the HOA and to calculate the amount owed by Luster.

The following opinions were posted after IL deadline Friday.
7^th Circuit Court of Appeals
Donald Wayne Bush v. USA
16-3244
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge William T. Lawrence.
Civil. Vacates the Southern District Court’s decision due to its basis on an “erroneous jurisdictional view.” Finds that although the bankruptcy judge was right to hold that he had authority to resolve the tax dispute between Donald and Kimberly Bush and the United States while the Bushes’ bankruptcy was ongoing, the exercise of that authority was no longer appropriate. Remands with instructions to remand to the bankruptcy judge for the entry of an order under §1334(c)(1), marking the final step in the Bushes’ bankruptcy proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
T.R. v. E.R.
19A-DC-89
Domestic relations. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s decree of dissolution of T.R. and E.R.’s marriage. Remands with instructions to clarify the order regarding the domestic violence program, psychological evaluation and mother’s income, and to recalculate child support if necessary.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of D.B., L.B., H.B. & S.B. (Minor Children) and D.J.B. (Father), et al. v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
19A-JT-542
Juvenile termination. Affirms the termination of D.J.B. and M.M.B.’s parental rights to their children, D.B., L.B., H.B., and S.B. Finds there is sufficient evidence to support the termination of parental rights order from Starke Circuit Court.

The following Indiana Tax Court opinion was posted after IL deadline Tuesday.
Rolls-Royce Corporation v. Marion County Assessor
19T-TA-23 and 19T-TA-24
Tax. Denies the Marion County Assessor’s second motion to dismiss Rolls-Royce’s appeal of the assessment of its real property for the 2012-2016 tax years. The assessor failed to prove that Rolls-Royce did not: state a claim upon which relief could be granted; comply with certain statutory prerequisites, or; exhaust its administrative remedies. Also declines Rolls-Royce’s request for attorney fees, finding the assessor’s second appeal was not duplicative.