The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed judgment awarded to a bank against a former homeowner who filed for bankruptcy, finding that because the man had been discharged of any liability on the mortgage, the judgment was in error.
A former Biomet employee has lost his argument before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he was defamed by his former employer when it included his name in a list for the Department of Justice as part of a corruption investigation.
Indiana Supreme Court
Rodney W. Falls v. State of Indiana
19S-CR-557
Criminal. Grants transfer to reaffirm that a charge of stalking may be supported by conduct that is continuous in nature, even if it is a single episode. Finds that Rodney Falls’ conduct of following a college student by vehicle for more than two hours met the statutory definition of “continuing” harassment, thereby supporting his conviction in Kosciusko Superior Court of Level 6 felony stalking. Affirms the Indiana Court of Appeals’ opinion in all other respects.
A man’s act of following a college student for more than two hours on U.S. Highway 30 from Valparaiso to Warsaw constituted stalking, Indiana Supreme Court justices affirmed Tuesday, finding his actions were continuous in nature.
The Indiana Court of Appeals on Tuesday rejected multiple arguments regarding its prior decision involving the LaPorte County auditor’s failure to check records that would have revealed the address of a Michigan City property owner whose land was sold without notice for back taxes.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Pink A. Robinson v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
18A-CR-2218
Criminal. Affirms Pink Robinson’s aggregate 48-year sentence for conviction in Elkhart Circuit Court of three counts of Level 3 felony robbery with a deadly weapon. Finds his sentence is not inappropriate in light of his character.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Jimmy E. Crase v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
18A-CR-2423
Criminal. Affirms Jimmy E. Crase’s conviction of two counts of Class B felony child molestation. Finds there is sufficient to support Crase’s classification as a credit restricted felon.
An employer who failed confirm its presence at a telephonic hearing it was scheduled to have with a recently terminated employee couldn’t convince the Indiana Court of Appeals that it was denied a reasonable opportunity for a fair hearing.
A man’s conviction in a domestic battery case after both defense and prosecution asked for a mistrial because a relative of the defendant communicated with a juror outside court will stand after the Indiana Supreme Court in a 3-2 decision chose not to hear the appeal. Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Justice Steven David published a dissent, believing the defendant had been prejudiced and was entitled to a new trial.
The denial of an Indianapolis property owner’s request to put a Dollar Tree in a vacant drugstore building was an abuse of discretion, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed in a Friday decision.
A wrongful death case will proceed to retrial after the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a woman’s motion to strike a potential juror who expressed an unwillingness to decide the question of damages.
Indiana Court of Appeals
Bart M. Betteau v. Robert Headrick and Karen Headrick (mem. dec.)
18A-MI-2610
Miscellaneous. Affirms the Floyd Superior Court’s ruling that Robert and Karen Headrick are owners of an easement allowing use of a gravel driveway that runs across Bart Betteau’s property. Finds the Headricks have a right to use the gravel driveway along the path it followed at the time the Headricks and Betteau took title to their respective properties. Also finds the trial court did not err in assessing the Headricks and Betteau each half the maintenance cost for the portion of the gravel driveway that is utilized by both parties.
A man who stalked and kidnapped two women at gunpoint and led police on a vehicle chase couldn’t persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals to reduce his aggregate 75-year sentence.
Indiana Court of Appeals
James A. Ringley v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc. (mem. dec.)
19A-MF-782
Mortgage foreclosure. Affirms the Hamilton Superior Court’s order denying James Ringley’s motion to set aside the judgment entered in favor of Caliber Home Loans, Inc. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Ringley’s motion to set aside the judgment in favor of Caliber.
The Indiana Supreme Court reviewed a dispute over a rent-to-own contract and determined the family who had been living in the home were renters, not buyers. The ruling in Rainbow Realty Group, Inc., et al. v. Katrina Carter and Quentin Lintner, might give families who enter rent-to-buy contracts some remedy to prevent their dreams of homeownership from becoming a nightmare.
Read Indiana appellate decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Two juveniles will remain wards of the Indiana Department of Correction after the Indiana Supreme Court found that while their participation in their modification hearings through Skype violated an administrative rule, it did not cause a fundamental error.
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a mother’s complaint against a deputy chief of police, which alleged he created a false affidavit for her arrest after she allegedly touched her child in an “abusive” manner.
Neighbors to an 8,000-head hog farm are asking the Indiana Supreme Court for relief, arguing Indiana’s Right to Farm Act does not give blanket immunity to all negligence and trespass claims. Martin Richard and Janet Himsel and Robert and Susan Lannon have filed a petition to transfer their complaint over a concentrated animal feeding operation near their farms in Hendricks County.
A man who claimed a semi-truck driver and the driver’s employer caused him personal injuries after an interstate collision will receive a new damages trial after the Indiana Court of Appeals found that an instruction given to the jury on the man’s failure to mitigate his damages was erroneous.