Indiana Court of Appeals
John Fox v. Nichter Construction Co., Inc.
03A01-1202-SC-52
Small claims/wages. Affirms in part, reverses in part and remands in part the dismissal of Fox’s wage claim with prejudice and orders the court to enter a dismissal of the claim with prejudice. A divided appeals court held that the trial court erred in dismissing the complaint because it lacked subject matter jurisdiction because Fox had pursued his claim through the Department of Labor under the Wage Claim statute before filing suit. The appeals court ordered the trial court to dismiss the case without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, including the failure to name the real party in interest. Fox may refile his claim setting forth the reassignment by the Department of Labor.

Clinton Couch v. State of Indiana
48A04-1204-CR-181
Criminal. Affirms the trial court’s judgment in imposing a 91-year sentence for a child molester. Couch argued the trial court circumvented his plea agreement by considering his uncharged conduct an aggravating circumstance that led to the enhanced and consecutive sentences. However, the COA ruled the trial court did not find the testimony of two other alleged victims about Couch’s uncharged conduct to be an aggravating circumstance.