Indiana Court Decisions: Oct. 6-19, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
Court opinions
Articles
Opinions Oct. 25, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Jeremiah Jordyn Smith v. State of Indiana
22A-CR-364
Criminal. Reverses the Tippecanoe Superior Court’s grant of the state’s motion to revoke the pretrial diversion agreement entered into with Jeremiah Jordyn Smith. Finds Smith’s diversion agreement was supported by consideration and the state was bound by its terms. Also finds revoking Smith’s diversion agreement without cause was a breach of the agreement’s terms. Remands with instructions to dismiss the case against Smith with prejudice.
Reversal: Trial court breached contract when it revoked pretrial diversion agreement
The state must keep its end of the deal in a pretrial diversion agreement entered into by a man facing sex offense-related charges, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled, reversing an order allowing the state to withdraw the agreement.
Opinions Oct. 24, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
People for Community, Inc./PFC, Isaac Fincher v. City of Fort Wayne Neighborhood Code Compliance
22A-MI-447
Miscellaneous. Affirms the dismissal of the complaint filed by Rev. Isaac Fincher in Allen Circuit Court on behalf of People for Community Inc. Finds PFC’s argument fails on the merits because the trial court gave PFC ample opportunities to secure counsel. Concludes the COA cannot say that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to give PFC even more time to secure counsel as it gave PFC ample time to do so.
COA affirms removal of transgender teen from home, rejects parents’ constitutional claims
A mother and father whose transgender teen was removed from their home due to allegations of abuse has failed to convince the Court of Appeals of Indiana that their rights as parents were infringed upon when the court intervened.
7th Circuit rejects white South Bend athletic director’s ‘reverse racism’ discrimination claims
A former South Bend high school athletic director has failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals that he wasn’t hired for a new job because he is white.
7th Circuit rules partial victory merits reduced attorney fees
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a reduction in attorney fees of more than 50% for an Indiana attorney who had been previously admonished by the appellate court for trying to up his compensation.
Opinions Oct. 19, 2022
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
United States of America v. Travis Gates
21-3314
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Criminal. Affirms Travis Gates’ four-year sentence for his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Finds Gates’ sentence was procedurally sound and substantively reasonable.
COA reverses attempted murder, unlawful possession convictions for man who fired gun with police present
A Bargersville man will have another chance to convince a jury he wasn’t trying to kill a police officer when he drunkenly fired a handgun in his apartment complex after the officer arrived on scene.
Court rejects appeal to give American Samoans citizenship
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal seeking to give people born in American Samoa U.S. citizenship.
Opinions Oct. 17, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Z.T. v. Review Board of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (mem. dec.)
22A-EX-1360
Agency action. Affirms the Review Board of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s dismissal of Z.T.’s appeal of an administrative law judge’s denial of her unemployment claim on the basis that she left employment without good cause in connection with the work. Finds Z.T. filed her appeal with the review board well beyond 15 days following notification of the ALJ’s decision, so the board had no jurisdiction to review that decision and thus properly dismissed Z.T.’s untimely appeal.
7th Circuit affirms convictions, sentences for three in major Gary drug conspiracy
Three Gary men intertwined in a major drug ring did not sway the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals from affirming their convictions and decadeslong sentences on Friday.
Opinions Oct. 14, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
James Stephens v. The Honorable Peggy Ryan Hart, Magistrate
22A-MI-1301
Miscellaneous. Affirms the dismissal of James Stephens’ claims against Marion Superior Magistrate Judge Peggy Hart regarding his denial of petition for post-conviction relief. Finds the claims were subject to dismissal based on absolute judicial immunity. Also finds Stephens’ waived argument that the trial court magistrate judge lacked authority to dismiss his complaint is not well-taken. Finally, finds Stephens has waived any constitutional challenge to the statute granting magistrate judges the authority to enter final appealable orders.
Opinions Oct. 13, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Shane E. Ehr v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
22A-CR-496
Criminal. Affirms Shane E. Ehr’s conviction of Class A misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person. Finds the Jay Superior Court did not err when it denied Ehr’s motion to dismiss because lost photographs from the incident were not materially exculpatory. Also finds the photographs might have been potentially useful, but Ehr made no showing the state destroyed them in bad faith.
7th Circuit affirms heroin dealer’s amended sentence
An Indianapolis heroin dealer who had already convinced the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals once to reduce his prison time has failed to persuade the judges to shave more time off his sentence.
Hoosier justices craft new framework for deposing execs: Indiana Supreme Court builds in elements for careful consideration of deposition requests
A lawsuit filed against the NCAA presented an issue of first impression and prompted the Indiana Supreme Court to develop a framework for trial courts to use when deciding discovery disputes involving executives or high-ranking officials in an organization.
Indiana Court Decisions: Sept. 22-Oct. 5, 2022
Read Indiana appellate court decisions from the latest reporting period.
Despite error, COA affirms dismissal of couple’s complaint over arsenic-treated decks
While a Monroe County couple convinced the Court of Appeals of Indiana that a trial court misapplied the state’s product-liability statute in their case, that ruling still didn’t win them any relief for the allegedly defective decks at their home.
Opinions Oct. 11, 2022
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Gene DeVane and Gladys DeVane, Husband and Wife v. Arch Wood Protection, Inc., a Lonza Company, Osmose, Inc., n/k/a Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc., Chemical Specialties, Inc., n/k/a Venator Materials PLC
22A-CT-233
Civil tort. Affirms the dismissal with prejudice of Gene and Gladys DeVane’s complaint against Arch Wood Protection Inc., Koppers Performance Chemicals Inc. and Venator Materials PLC seeking the replacement of their decks. Finds the Monroe Circuit Court erred by dismissing the complaint based on the product-liability statute of repose because the DeVanes have alleged no past or existing physical harm. Also finds the DeVanes have not established that “equitable remediation” is a valid cause of action, nor have they identified any other statutory or common-law cause of action that might be viable here.
Patient’s suit against Community Health moves ahead after diagnosis shared online
A woman whose medical diagnosis was mailed to the wrong person and then shared on social media may proceed with part of her suit against Community Health Network, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled, finding genuine issues of material fact remain.