Search Results

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kent R. Blair, Sr. v. State of Indiana
02A05-1604-CR-832
Criminal. Affirms Kent Blair’s convictions of invasion of privacy as a Level 6 felony and criminal trespass as a Class A misdemeanor, and his sentence to 1 ½ years executed in the Indiana Department of Correction. Finds the evidence is sufficient to sustain Blair’s convictions, that the Allen Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing him and that his sentence is not inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Danny Sims v. Andrew Pappas and Melissa Pappas
45A03-1509-CT-1424
Civil tort. Majority reverses jury award of $2 million in favor of the Pappases in a lawsuit following a crash caused by Sims, an intoxicated driver. The trial court erred in admitting Sims’ prior decades-old convictions for alcohol-related offenses that neither proved nor disproved any facts that were central to the questions the jury decided, and were therefore irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial. Judge Robert Altice dissents, arguing admission of the evidence of past convictions was for the sole purpose of establishing punitive damages and bear on the reprehensibility of his actions and state of mind.  

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
James Blasius v. Angel Automotive, Inc.
15-2994
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen.
Civil. Reverses district court decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Angel Automotive Inc. after James Blasius accused the company of negligence. Finds that a genuine issue of material fact exists as to the proximate cause of the fire that consumed Blasius’ vehicle and that Blasius is entitled to rely on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. Remands for further proceedings.