Oct. 8, 2026

Indiana Court of Appeals
Law Offices of Robert J. Ralis v. Daniel Nicolosi
No. 26A-MF-338
Appeal from the LaPorte Superior Court, Judge Jeffrey L. Thorne. The court affirmed the trial court’s judgment denying Ralis’s claim for an attorney lien on surplus funds from a foreclosure action, concluding that no valid lien existed since the judgment was against Ralis’s former client, North Side Ventures, LLC, and not in its favor. The attorney lien statute applies only to judgments rendered for the benefit of the attorney’s client, which was not the case here. Judge Weissmann authored the opinion, with Judges Bailey and Brown concurring. Attorney for appellant: Sean Dadban, Law Offices of Robert J. Ralis, Chicago. Attorney for appellee: Bradley J. Adamsky, Drayton, Biege, Sirugo & Elliott, LLP, LaPorte.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Termination: S A v. Indiana Department of Child Services, et al.
No. 26A-JT-488
Appeal from Marion Superior Court, Judge Philip C. Sheward. A father appeals the involuntary termination of his parental rights to his daughter, I.M., arguing errors concerning ineffective assistance of counsel and evidentiary support for key findings. The court affirmed the trial court’s decision, concluding the father had not demonstrated counsel inadequacy and the evidence supported findings asserting minimal progress towards reunification and the likelihood that conditions leading to removal would not be remedied. The court also noted that recommendations from the family case manager and guardian ad litem favored termination for the child’s best interests, as the child was thriving in a pre-adoptive placement. Judge May authored the opinion, with Judges Pyle and Scheele concurring. Attorney for appellant: Don R. Hostetler, Indianapolis. Attorneys for appellee: Office of the Indiana Attorney General.

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