Court opinions

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Joseph Marcel Odom v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-293
Criminal. Affirms Joseph Marcel Odom’s convictions for Level 2 felony conspiracy to commit dealing in methamphetamine, Level 6 felony obstruction of justice and Class B misdemeanor false informing and his sentence of 28 years. Finds Odom has failed to establish that his sentence is inappropriate in light of his demonstrably poor character. Also finds no abuse of discretion from the Tippecanoe Circuit Court in instructing the jury on conspiracy charge and that his obstruction conviction was supported by sufficient evidence.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Charles Andrew Wenner v. Gehrid Hensley, et al.
23A-SC-973
Small claims. Affirms the small claims judgment in Monroe Circuit Court issued against landlord Charles Andrew Wenner and in favor of tenants Hayen Johnson, Gehrid Hensley and Quinn Kaise. Remands for a determination of appellate attorney fees to be awarded to tenants. Finds Wenner’s procedural bad faith in his appeal rises to the level of egregiousness for which appellate attorney fees are warranted.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Austin J. Hollifield v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-1014
Criminal. Affirms Austin Hollifield’s conviction of Level 4 felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, his habitual offender enhancement and his 20-year enhanced sentence. Finds the admission of a video was not error. Also finds Hollifield’s sentence is not inappropriate.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Ji J. Lian v. Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County (mem. dec.)
22A-OV-2758
Ordinance violation. Affirms the orders requiring Ji Jing Lian to remedy the various health code violations on the interior and exterior portions of her property by a certain date and, in the event she did not comply, ordering the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County and/or its contractors to vacate the premises and clean up the exterior, with a resulting lien for the costs incurred. Finds Lian did not raise her Fourth Amendment argument in the Marion Superior Court, so she cannot pursue it on appeal.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
A.W. v. State of Indiana
23A-JV-1609
Juvenile. Affirms the denial of A.W.’s motion for relief from judgment pursuant to Indiana Trial Rules 60(B)(6) and (8) without an evidentiary hearing. Finds the Elkhart Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion and was not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Anonymous Provider 2 v. Estate of Ryan K. Askew, by Fornetta Askew, Personal Representative
23A-CT-992
Civil tort. Dismisses Anonymous Provider 2’s appeal of the denial of his motion to dismiss under Indiana Trial Rule 12(B)(1). Finds Anonymous Provider 2 is appealing from an interlocutory order, but he does not assert the right to do so under Appellate Rule 14(A), there is no indication he sought certification from the Lake Superior Court or permission from the Court of Appeals to file a discretionary interlocutory appeal, and he has not stated a statutory right to appeal. Remands for further proceedings.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Forty Acre Cooperative and Angela Dawson v. Rita Delliquadri; Larry Gambles; Milton Louis; Deborah L. McCullough; Telisa Sims, individually and in her capacity as the personal representative of the estate of Alton Sims, Sr.; and Brenda J. Thomspon (mem. dec.)
23A-PL-1119
Civil plenary. Affirms the denial of the appellants’ motion for relief from judgment, filed after the Lake Superior Court entered default judgment against them. Finds the trial court did not err.