Indiana Court Decisions: Aug. 11-24, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the most recent reporting period.
Court opinions
Articles
COA affirms denial of motion to clarify probation sentencing
A man arguing his probation should end three years earlier than the date listed in the system has failed to secure relief from the Court of Appeals of Indiana.
Justices reverse convictions for man denied Pirtle rights, but concurrence suggests revisiting Pirtle
A Cass County man convicted of multiple felonies after police responded to a report of a possible robbery at his home has secured a reversal from the Indiana Supreme Court after convincing the justices his Pirtle rights were violated during a police search. However, one justice, while concurring, suggested the high court take another look at Pirtle in the future.
Opinions Aug. 25, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Mark Alan Hurley v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-298
Criminal. Affirms Mark Alan Hurley’s conviction of Level 6 felony battery on a person less than 14 years of age by a person over 18 years of age. Finds the totality of the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction.
Idaho can’t enforce abortion ban in medical emergencies
A federal judge in Idaho has barred the state from enforcing a strict abortion ban in medical emergencies over concerns that it violates a federal law on emergency care.
Indiana Supreme Court tosses decades-old precedent protecting police work product
The Indiana Supreme Court has overturned a more-than-30-year-old precedent, finding the previous ruling that held police reports were covered by the work-product doctrine is no longer applicable because of changes to the state’s trial rules and technological advances that have ended the laborious task of redacting documents using a Marks-a-Lot marker.
In ‘rare circumstances,’ split COA reverses denied PCR petition for man convicted of drug crime he didn’t commit
Although neither trial nor appellate counsel proved ineffective in a man’s drug-related case, a split Court of Appeals of Indiana has reversed the denial of the defendant’s petition for post-conviction relief after finding he was convicted of a crime he did not actually commit.
Suicidal man who killed motorist in head-on collision to keep murder conviction
A man who drove into oncoming traffic as part of a suicide attempt, killing another motorist, has failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana to overturn his murder conviction.
COA: BMV can share infraction conviction info
Per Indiana Code, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles isn’t prohibited from disclosing records or information about traffic infraction convictions, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has affirmed.
COA: Wife’s testimony provided ‘rational basis’ under Indiana Evidence Rule 701
A Chicago man convicted of multiple felonies in Indiana tried to block his wife’s testimony at trial under Indiana Evidence Rule 701, but the Court of Appeals of Indiana held that after 11 years of marriage, the wife would be able to recognize her husband on surveillance video.
COA reverses teen’s intimidation adjudication for insufficient evidence
A teenager who lashed out at her mother and sister before causing property damage has convinced the Court of Appeals of Indiana to overturn her delinquency adjudication for intimidation.
Opinions Aug. 22, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Michael Whitaker v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
21A-CR-2268
Criminal. Affirms Michael Whitaker’s convictions of Level 6 felony driving while intoxicated endangering a person and Class B misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident. Vacates Whitaker’s conviction of Level 6 felony driving with an alcohol concentration equivalent over .15 on double jeopardy grounds. Finds the state presented sufficient evidence that Whitaker operated his vehicle. Also finds the Whitley Superior Court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted photographs of items found in Whitaker’s car because those items were found in plain view by an officer who had been called to an accident scene and their connection to criminal activity was immediately apparent.
Missed opportunity waives arguments for appeal against $110K restitution order
A convicted sex offender’s perceived legal strategy for avoiding a six-figure restitution judgment backfired when the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals determined he had waived the issue because he did not raise his arguments at sentencing.
COA: Moot involuntary commitment order was appropriate
A woman who was permitted to challenge her involuntary commitment order by the Indiana Supreme Court did not sway the Court of Appeals of Indiana on remand from its original decision after it concluded again that her temporary commitment was appropriate.
Water provider not subject to state billing, disconnection provisions, COA rules
A dispute brought by a southern Indiana residential community about whether its water provider’s bill payment and customer disconnect rules violated state law has been stopped up by the Court of Appeals of Indiana, which affirmed that the provider isn’t subject to the state provisions.
7th Circuit: Prisoner failed to exhaust administrative remedies before filing 8th Amendment suit
An Indiana inmate who alleged a doctor and nurse were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs has failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that his appeal is not precluded by his failure to exhaust administrative remedies.
7th Circuit affirms insurance co. must pay USA Gymnastics ‘reasonable and necessary’ fees incurred from Nassar-related claims
An insurance company that balked at representing USA Gymnastics against lawsuits stemming from Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse of hundreds of female athletes has failed in its challenge to an order that it pay significant fees to the Indianapolis-based athletic organization.
7th Circuit upholds denial of COVID insurance coverage to downtown Indy’s Conrad Hotel
Continuing a national trend, an Indianapolis hotel that suffered significant blows as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic did not prevail before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in its attempts to secure insurance coverage for its pandemic-related losses.
7th Circuit makes edits to clarify immigration judge, not immigration board, will conduct evidentiary hearing
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the federal government’s petition for a rehearing of an immigration appeal but did make a handful of edits to its original opinion after the Department of Justice objected to the language.
Appellate court reverses probation revocation for man denied due process, orders new hearing
A man will get a new hearing after the Court of Appeals of Indiana concluded the Marion Superior Court violated his due process rights by not properly advising him during probation revocation proceedings.