Articles

Opinions June 28, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of: R.G. (Minor Child) v. The State of Indiana
23A-JV-00011
Juvenile. Affirms the Lake Superior Court’s award of guardianship of R.G. to the Indiana Department of Correction following his violation of the probation he was serving after his adjudication as a delinquent. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it placed R.G. in DOC when he failed to abide by probation requirements, engaged in physical altercations in detention, and the only residential placement facility that accepted him didn’t have an opening for six to eight weeks.

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Opinions June 27, 2023

Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana v. Bryan D. Lyons
23S-CR-163
Criminal. Grants transfer and affirms the suppression of incriminating statements Bryan D. Lyons made immediately after a polygraph that was changed to a “non-stipulated,” inadmissible investigatory examination without disclosure to the state. Finds that before excluding evidence as a Trial Rule 37 discovery sanction, a trial court must find that the exclusion is the sole remedy available to avoid substantial prejudice or that the sanctioned party’s culpability reflects an egregious discovery violation. Also finds the Lawrence Superior Court’s order in Lyons’ case enforced Trial Rule 37 within those limits.

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Opinions June 26, 2023

Indiana Supreme Court
S.D. v. G.D.
23S-PO-89
Protective order. Affirms the issuance of a two-year protective order against father S.D., with the Starke Circuit Court finding that mother G.D. had established that “domestic or family violence” occurred and that father “represents a credible threat to the safety” of G.D. and child H.D. Finds the trial court’s evidence-based findings support its judgment issuing a protective order against S.D.

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Opinions June 23, 2023

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In re the Supervised Estate of Gene D. Bricker, Deceased Ann Bricker v. The Estate of Gene D. Bricker and Dennis Bricker
23A-ES-3
Estate supervised. Affirms the Hancock Superior Court’s denial of Ann Bricker’s petition to have real estate and a farm account included in Gene Bricker’s estate. Finds there is some similarity between transfer-on-death transfers and a trust designed to defeat a surviving spouse’s share, but concludes the TOD transfers in this case cannot be included in Gene Bricker’s estate. Also finds TOD transfers cannot be found to be “testamentary in nature” for purposes of the state’s spousal inheritance statute.

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