Indiana Court of Appeals
Articles
Juvenile court must reconsider modification petition for teen without counsel
A Kosciusko County teen who was made a ward of the Department of Correction will get another day in court after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined the teen did not waive his right to counsel at the hearing where he was made a ward.
COA affirms termination of parental rights, declines request to interpret phrase in statute
The Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed the termination of a father’s parental rights, even though the fact-finding hearing was held outside the statutory time frame. The judges also declined to interpret whether the applicable statute contains directory or mandatory language.
Sentence affirmed for man who killed exchange students in drunk driving crash
A man convicted of killing three foreign exchange students in a violent car crash while driving drunk won't have his 38 ½-year sentence after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined he failed to prove his sentence was inappropriate.
Judges affirm intimidation conviction against man who threatened neighbor
The state presented sufficient evidence to prove a Cass County man intimidated his neighbor by engaging in a true threat against his neighbor and intending to place his neighbor in fear of retaliation, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled.
COA reverses CHINS finding for lack of evidence
An Allen County child will no longer be considered in need of services after the Indiana Court of Appeals determined Friday the Department of Child Services failed to provide sufficient evidence to support a CHINS finding.
COA reverses order making ex-spouses co-owners of college savings account
An Indiana trial court erred when it ordered two divorced parents to become co-owners of the ex-husband’s 529 savings account in post-dissolution proceedings, finding the account was the man’s property, so the trial court lacked authority to make his ex-wife a co-owner.
Judges reverse resisting law enforcement conviction, citing insufficient evidence
A Fort Wayne woman’s conviction for misdemeanor resisting law enforcement was overturned Thursday by the Indiana Court of Appeals after the judges determined the state didn’t prove she fled from the police officers.
COA upholds Hamilton County utility rate increase
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a Hamilton County public utility seeking to have affiliate expenses included in its sewer utility rate calculation.
Court properly suppressed man’s statements to officers, COA rules
A man who told police officers questioning him about a molestation allegation that he was “done with answering questions” will have his statements suppressed at trial after the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s ruling Thursday.
COA chastises court for magistrates repeatedly entering final judgments
A southern Indiana trial court that has been repeatedly advised by the Indiana Supreme Court that magistrate judges may not sign the court’s findings and conclusions was told again by the Indiana Court of Appeals on Wednesday in a CHINS case to stop the practice.
COA upholds probation revocation based in part on failed conviction
The Indiana Court of Appeals found no violation of due process and sufficient evidence supported the revocation of a man’s probation for allegedly committing child molesting, even though he was acquitted on that charge.
Challenge to alcohol permit presents issue of first impression
A liquor store seeking to challenge the type of alcohol permit awarded to a Hamilton County specialty food store does not have standing to pursue judicial review under the Administrative Orders and Procedures Act, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in a first impression case.
COA rules against card counter banned from Hoosier Park casino
A man who has been banned from numerous casinos because he counts cards when gambling lost his lawsuit against Hoosier Park and the Indiana Gaming Commission after his arrest for trespassing at the Anderson casino.
Indiana court has jurisdiction over Michigan man who didn’t pay for seed
Over a Michigan man’s objections, the Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed that a feed and farm supply store in northern Indiana can sue him for an unpaid bill in Indiana.
COA affirms turnover of tax sale surplus funds
A man who loaned money nearly 10 years ago to a company in exchange for a mortgage security interest in some real estate is entitled to the surplus funds from a tax sale involving that land, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Tuesday.
Worker barred by noncompete challenges Commercial Court constitutionality
One of the first Indiana Commercial Court cases argued on appeal opened with a hearing-day motion filed Monday in the Indiana Court of Appeals challenging the constitutionality of the state’s year-old pilot docket.
COA finds for bank in construction lien litigation
The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of a bank in a legal battle over which lien in a construction project should take priority, with the court determining the bank’s lien was superior to a mechanic’s lien because the bank’s mortgage on the project secured its loan of funds to the construction project.
First impression: Denial of coverage is uninsured vehicle
Ruling on an issue of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals has held that a vehicle that is insured but is denied coverage after an accident is considered uninsured under Indiana statute.
Reversal: Women may sue Evansville, Fort Wayne over police sex assaults
Two women who were sexually assaulted in separate cases by on-duty police in Evansville and Fort Wayne prevailed on appeal in their civil lawsuits against the cities Friday after trial courts had ruled in favor of the municipalities.