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Indiana Court of Appeals
Jason Lee Sowers v. State of Indiana
08A02-1208-CR-640
Criminal. Reverses convictions of Class D felonies criminal recklessness and resisting law enforcement. The bailiff improperly communicated with the jury foreperson, resulting in fundamental error. Remands for further proceedings. Judge Bradford dissents.
The bailiff at a man’s trial for criminal recklessness and resisting law enforcement improperly communicated with the jury foreperson regarding reaching a verdict, leading the Indiana Court of Appeals to reverse Jason Lee Sowers’ convictions.
A post-conviction court correctly denied relief to a man on his felony fraud conviction after determining that his felony failure to register conviction should be vacated, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled. Anthony McCullough pleaded guilty to the separate charges in one agreement.
An Indianapolis law firm with a broad range of representation and diverse clientele plans to close its doors after more than 90 years.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Lee Yoder v. State of Indiana (NFP)
17A03-1206-CR-294
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class B felony arson.
Hugo Torres v. City of Hammond (NFP)
45A03-1210-OV-430
Local ordinance violation. Affirms denial of Torres’ motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Christopher S. Edwards v. State of Indiana (NFP)
73A01-1210-CR-446
Criminal. Affirms denial of Edwards’ motion to withdraw guilty plea.
Maria Collaros v. Gary Community School Corp. (NFP)
93A02-1212-EX-1034
Agency appeal. Affirms conclusion that Collaros is not permanently and totally disabled.
The Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions by IL deadline. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana decisions by IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Richard J. Bond and Janet A. Bond, et al. v. Templeton Coal Company, Inc.
42A01-1209-PL-419
Civil plenary. Affirms summary judgment for Templeton Coal Co. on its complaint to quiet title to certain mineral interests. Considering Section 2’s ambiguity, the rule to strictly construe acts in derogation of the common law, and the Mineral Lapse Act’s underlying purposes, holds that Section 2 of the Act is limited in its retroactive application to only the twenty-year period immediately preceding the effective date of the Act, or September 2, 1951.
The Indiana Court of Appeals has held that a portion of the Mineral Lapse Act is limited in its retroactive application to only the 20-year period immediately proceeding the Sept. 2, 1971, effective date of the Act.
United States Chief Justice John G. Roberts will find himself in a familiar place later this month when he delivers the commencement speech at La Lumiere School in LaPorte. Roberts is a 1973 graduate of the school.
Courts that would like financial help to implement recommended improvements have until July 1 to apply for grants from the Division of State Court Administration.
Indiana Court of Appeals
David A. Warner v. State of Indiana (NFP)
07A05-1207-CR-386
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class B felony dealing in methamphetamine and Class B misdemeanor possession of a switchblade.
The Indiana Tax Court posted no opinions by IL deadline. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana decisions by IL deadline.
Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana v. John Doe
49S00-1201-CT-14
Civil tort. Reverses judgment declaring I.C. 34-51-3-4, -5, and -6 impermissibly inconsistent with Article 1, Section 20 and Article 3, Section 1 of the Indiana Constitution. The cap and allocation scheme of punitive damages does not infringe upon the right to a jury trial, and the cap does not offend the separation of powers. Remands with instructions to grant Stewart’s motion to reduce the punitive damages to the statutory maximum and order that 75 percent of the award be deposited in the Violent Crime Victim Compensation Fund.
Indiana Code 32-17-10-2 is unconstitutional as applied retroactively to a land-use restriction in a Vincennes Girl Scout organization’s deed requiring an Illinois Girl Scout group to use deeded land as a camp for 49 years.
The Indiana Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association has filed a complaint in federal court challenging the law governing the sale of cold beer. Convenience stores, pharmacies and groceries are unable to sell cold beer under current law.
The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously reversed a Marion Superior judge’s 2011 decision in a sex-abuse case that held the statutes that cap punitive damages and dictate their allocation violate the Indiana Constitution.
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a Lake County man’s conviction of Class C felony child molesting, rejecting the defendant’s claims that some of the victim’s father’s testimony at trial resulted in fundamental error.
St. Joseph Superior Judge Jerome Frese sentenced a South Bend man to 90 years for murdering his girlfriend in October 2009. This is the second time Brice Webb has been convicted and sentenced for Cherlyn Reyes’ death.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana will hold the investiture ceremony for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James M. Carr Tuesday at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana Court of Appeals
David D. Kiely v. Kathryn Starnes-Kiely (NFP)
14A05-1208-DR-430
Domestic relation. Remands division of marital estate property to the trial court for clarification.
Vickie Fenoglio as Personal Representative of the Estate of Paul Fenoglio v. Boguslaw Gluszak, M.D. and Steve Robertson, Commissioner of the Indiana Dept. of Ins. and Boguslaw Gluszak, M.D. (NFP)
84A01-1211-PL-513
Civil plenary. Affirms summary judgment in favor of Boguslaw Gluszak M.D. on a proposed medical malpractice complaint.
Stephen Harriman and Elena Ivanova v. Smith Brothers Ultimate Builders, Inc. (NFP)
41A01-1210-SC-460
Small claim. Affirms judgment in favor of Smith Brothers on a breach of contract claim.
Paul Komyatti, Jr. v. The Consolidated City of Indianapolis-Marion County and Citizens Energy Group (NFP)
49A04-1209-CT-445
Civil tort. Affirms summary judgment for the city and Citizens Energy on Komyatti’s lawsuit after he hit a pothole while on his bicycle and was injured.
Chris Griner v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1208-CR-656
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A felony child molesting.
The Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions by IL deadline. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana decisions by IL deadline.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Joseph Matheny v. State of Indiana
49A04-1207-CR-347
Criminal. Grants petition for rehearing to clarify that the previous holding – that the trial court’s refusal of Matheny’s tendered instruction constituted error in light of Santiago v. State and Albores v. State – does not conflict with those cases. The judges reaffirmed their original decision which affirmed the Class D felony auto theft conviction and found that although the trial court erred in refusing to give the instruction regarding the jury’s duty to conform the evidence to the presumption that the defendant is innocent, the error was harmless.
The Indiana Supreme Court will take a case that divided the Court of Appeals: whether a trial court is required to have a man with Alzheimer’s disease committed once an incompetency finding is made.