Court opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
Santos Cortez, et al. v. Indiana University Health, Inc., et al.
19A-CT-02540
Civil tort. Affirms dismissal of a lawsuit in Marion Superior Court alleging IU Health employees falsified Santos Cortez’s medical records in a medical malpractice complaint that was settled. Holds that claims regarding the alleged alteration of Cortez’s medical records fall within the scope of the Medical Malpractice Act and therefore should have been first submitted to a medical review panel.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Nicholas David McHenry v. State of Indiana
19A-CR-02460
Criminal. Affirms Nicholas McHenry’s aggregate 24-year sentence for his convictions of two counts of Level 4 felony child molesting. Declines the state’s request to dismiss McHenry’s appeal because his plea agreement allowed him to appeal his sentence following an open plea, and the plea agreement left sentencing entirely to the trial court’s discretion. Finds that McHenry’s sentence is not inappropriate given the nature of his offense and his character, particularly in light of McHenry’s continuing acts of criminal sexual behavior.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals opinions were posted after IL deadline on Wednesday:
Leif Hinterberger, et al. v. City of Indianapolis
19-3365
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Civil. Affirms the rejection of Leif Hinterberger’s statement of facts for violation the district court’s rulings governing summary judgment practice, and the entry of summary judgment against Hinterberger. Finds the district court did not abuse its discretion in striking Hinterberger’s statement because it did not comply with Local Rule 56-1, nor did it err in entering summary judgment against him on each of his claims.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline on Tuesday.
USA v. Nehemiah Felders
19-2867
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Criminal. Affirms, per curiam, a jury’s conviction of Nehemiah Felders for unlawful possession of a firearm and his 96-month sentence. Finds the record is silent about what was on the card a police officer read to Felders, of which the officer asserted was Felder’s Miranda warnings. Finds that on a silent record Felders cannot show that any error occurred — not when the warnings were read, not in the district court.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals opinions were posted after IL deadline on Monday:
Raymond Marling v. Richard Brown
19-3077
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Terre Haute Division. Judge James R. Sweeney II.
Civil. Reverses the Southern District Court’s grant of habeas corpus relief to Raymond Marling, and its conclusion that the state court’s finding against him had been rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. Finds the officer who opened and inventoried the contents of a box found in Marling’s vehicle acted within the scope of discretion granted by General Order 49. Also finds that Marling’s counsel did not violate the Sixth Amendment.