Court opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
Andrew Conley v. State of Indiana
19A-PC-3085
Post conviction. Affirms and reverses in part Andrew Conley’s amended petition for post-conviction relief. Finds Conley’s trial counsel failed to adequately present mitigating evidence, missed opportunities to present expert testimony on scientific evidence regarding the juvenile brain, and missed opportunities to zealously present evidence and challenge the state’s evidence regarding Conley’s mental health. Also finds Conley has shown that his trial counsel’s performance fell well short of prevailing profession norms, and his trial counsel’s deficient performance prejudiced his defense to the extent there is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Finally, finds the post-conviction court’s denial of Conley’s ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim is clearly erroneous, but the court’s denial of the remainder of Conley’s claims is not clearly erroneous. Remands to the Ohio Circuit Court for a new sentencing hearing.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Terrence Brodnik v. Cottage Rents LLC
20A-SC-2036
Small claims. Reverses the Hendricks Superior Court’s dismissal of Terrence Brodnik’s claim against Cottage Rents LLC based on a lack of subject matter jurisdiction and a failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Finds dismissal was improper under Trial Rules 12(B)(1) and 12(B)(6). Remands for further proceedings.

7^th Circuit Court of Appeals
United States of America v. Teria L. Anderson
19-2361
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Criminal. Vacates Teria Anderson’s conviction of distributing a controlled substance and her sentencing enhancement for serious bodily injury. Finds there is no evidence from which a rational trier of fact could conclude that Anderson aided and abetted the May 30, 2017, transaction between Frankie Ray and Ian Buchanan. Also finds the district court did not err in finding the two-level leadership enhancement applicable. Remands to the district court for resentencing on the conspiracy conviction without a serious-bodily-injury enhancement. 

Indiana Court of Appeals

Daniel Welbourne, et al. v. Betty Mays

20A-MI-01001

Miscellaneous. Remands for further proceedings an order of the Johnson Superior Court granting paternal grandmother Betty Mays overnight visitation rights. Finds that while there is some evidentiary support for grandparent visitation, there is an absence of particularized findings necessary to evaluate the propriety of the order. Remands for more particularized findings relative to the child and child’s relationship with Mays.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Adoption of E.M.M.; C.G. and D.G. v. O.M.
20A-AD-1474
Adoption. Affirms the denial of grandparents C.G. and D.G.’s petition to adopt their grandchild, E.M.M. Finds the St. Joseph Probate Court did not abuse its discretion when it found that adoption is not in E.M.M.’s best interests and denied grandparents’ adoption petition.

Indiana Court of Appeals

Muir Woods Section One Association, Inc., and Nantucket Bay Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Claudia O. Fuentes, Marion County Treasurer; Julie Voorhies, Marion County Auditor; and Joseph P. O’Connor, Marion County Assessor

20A-CC-1144

Civil collection.

Reverses the Marion Superior Court’s dismissal of the amended complaint and petition for mandate of Muir Woods Section One Association Inc. and Nantucket Bay Homeowners Association Inc. Finds that although the cases “arises under” Indiana tax law, there has been no final determination by the Indiana Board of Tax Review, so administrative remedies have not been exhausted and the Indiana Tax Court does not have jurisdiction. Remands to the trial court for a determination on the homeowners associations’ mandamus action to compel the Marion County treasurer, auditor and assessor to act.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals opinions were posted after IL deadline Friday:

In re: Kevin T. Hall

20-3245

Petition for a writ of mandamus. Issues a writ of mandamus directing the Southern Indiana District Court to rescind the transfer order of Kevin Hall’s case to the Middle District of Florida after Hall was transferred from a federal prison in Indiana to a federal prison in Florida, thus returning the case to the Southern District of Indiana. Finds that Hall’s case is similar to Ex parte Endo, thus requiring transfer back to Indiana. Also finds that mandamus is the proper vehicle for obtaining review of a transfer decision. Finally, finds that Hall does not have an adequate remedy available through his pending motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, and that Hall did not need to show prejudice before pursuing his venue challenge.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Mark Waterfill and Aegean, LLC v. Erie Insurance Exchange (mem. dec.)
20A-CP-1321
Civil plenary. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Erie Insurance Exchange, dismissing the appeal in a duty-do-defend dispute as untimely.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Corey Desean Coleman v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-817
Criminal. Affirms Corey Coleman’s sentence of two years suspended to probation on the condition he attend and complete classes in anger management and conflict resolution. Finds the sentence imposed in Marion Superior Court after his conviction of Level 6 felony strangulation was not an abuse of discretion.

The following Indiana Supreme Court opinion was posted after IL deadline Tuesday:
Cooper’s Hawk Indianapolis, LLC d/b/a Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant v. Katherine Ray
21S-CT-56
Civil tort. Grants transfer and dismissal Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant’s appeal of the Marion Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment to Katherine Ray on her negligence complaint stemming from a slip-and-fall accident. Finds there are no extraordinarily compelling reasons to restore the forfeited untimely appeal. Remands to the trial court for further proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Travis W. Phelps v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
20A-CR-831
Criminal. Affirms Travis Walker Phelps’ convictions for murder and attempted murder but reverses his firearm enhancement. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury or admitting evidence. Also finds that the Vanderburgh Superior Court failed to advise Phelps of his rights and therefore Phelps did not knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waive his right to a jury trial on the enhancement. Remands for a new proceeding on the firearm enhancement.

Indiana Court of Appeals
John J. Hatzfeld v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-1622
Criminal. Affirms John Hatzfeld’s conviction of Level 6 felony operating while intoxicated with a prior conviction. Finds there was sufficient evidence to sustain Hatzfeld’s conviction in Huntington Superior Court. Also finds that even if a blood test was erroneously admitted, the jury heard ample evidence of his intoxication beyond his blood alcohol content.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Ronnie L. Brown v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-1550
Reverses the revocation of Ronnie L. Brown’s probation. Finds the Delaware Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion when it revoked Brown’s probation for having missed an undetermined number of appointments with his probation officer, but did abuse its discretion when it ordered Brown to serve the entire remaining term of 16 years and 205 days in the Department of Correction as a result of those technical violations. Remands to the trial court with instructions that the court sentence Brown in a manner commensurate with the severity of missed appointments with his probation officer.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Charles Wolfe, et al. v. Robert Agro
20A-PL-1242
Civil plenary. Reverses the Randolph Superior Court’s determination that Charles and Rachel Wolfe committed criminal conversion by knowingly exerting unauthorized control over Robert Agro’s property. Finds that Agro’s proper remedy is through the Uniform Partnership Act, not the Crime Victims Relief Act. Judge Elizabeth Tavitas dissents with separate opinion.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Tuesday.
Rebecca Woodring v. Jackson County, Indiana
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
20-1881
Civil plenary. Reverses the District Court order issuing an injunction against a Nativity scene on the courthouse in Jackson County. Majority finds that while Rebecca Woodring has standing to bring this case, holds that under American Legion v. American Humanist Association, 139 S. Ct. 2067 (2019), the Nativity does not violate the Establishment Clause. Vacates the injunction and remands with instructions for the district court to enter summary judgment in favor of Jackson County. Judge David Hamilton dissents with opinion.