COA affirms attorney fee order
The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the decision by a trial court that in order for proceedings supplemental to be withdrawn without prejudice, the moving party must pay attorney fees as ordered by the lower court.
Indiana Court of Appeals
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COA modifies punitive damages award
The statutory cap on punitive damages should be based on the amount of compensatory damages awarded in the action in which the party seeks punitive damages, the Indiana Court of Appeals held, and not based on the total compensatory damages awarded in the action on all claims.
Court split over actual notice of defendant’s incarceration
Although “not a fan” of discharges pursuant to Criminal Rule 4(C), an Indiana Court of Appeals judge believes a defendant’s case needs re-examined by the trial court to see if he is entitled to discharge.
COA outlines approach to awarding attorney fees in estate challenges
In a case in which the trial court awarded a woman and her children more than $170,000 in attorney fees even though two of the three claims raised were without just cause or good faith, the Indiana Court of Appeals specified the approach judges should follow when a party seeks attorney fees pursuant to I.C. 29-1-10-14.
Boilerplate language can’t support warrant for blood draw
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a woman’s motion to suppress a blood sample taken after a police officer suspected her of drunken driving. The judges found the affidavit did not contain specific information alleging the woman drove a vehicle.
Justices to review day care couple’s manslaughter convictions
The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether a couple convicted of involuntary manslaughter after a child died in their home-based Fishers day care should get new trials.
Officer’s internal statement not allowed in criminal trial
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a Fort Wayne police officer that a statement he gave as part of an internal affairs investigation into his role in a break-in of a foreclosed home should not be allowed at his criminal trial.
Deed allows owners to make wells deeper, court rules
A family that sold mineral rights to a company but reserved the rights to oil and gas from certain producing wells was not restricted by the deed from making the reserved wells deeper, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Friday.
State performed due diligence charging man in 25-year-old attack
In a matter of first impression, the Indiana Court of Appeals held that state employees met the due diligence requirement of I.C. 35-41-4-2 regarding the statute of limitations in charging a man in 2013 for an attack on a 10-year-old girl in 1988.
Court erred in not considering subsequent property settlement agreements
The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a ruling in favor of a woman on her claim that her ex-husband owed her more than $2.4 million based on a 1997 property settlement agreement. The judges found the trial court should have considered subsequent property settlement agreements the two entered into without the court’s approval.
Reversal reinstates negligence claim in fall on snowy hotel lot
A trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of hotel defendants on a negligence claim arising after a guest slipped, fell and was injured in a parking lot covered by a dusting of snow.
Cocaine dealing conviction affirmed over jury instruction challenge
A man convicted of dealing cocaine failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals to reverse due to what he claimed was an erroneous jury instruction.
Remonstrators’ victories are short-lived
In a string of reversals from the Indiana Court of Appeals, the judiciary seems to be saying that if a municipality indicates it will need the additional territory at some point in the future, then that is enough to allow an annexation to move forward.
Insurance policy v. public policy
A starkly divided Indiana Court of Appeals opinion over whether insurance should be in play after a bicyclist was killed by an unauthorized motorist may be appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court.
Rogue nurse prompts call to revisit privacy rulings
Noting technology is advancing faster that privacy law, an Indiana Court of Appeals judge is urging the Indiana Supreme Court to revisit precedent regarding invasion of privacy claims.
Longest-serving COA judge dies Thursday
Patrick D. Sullivan, the longest-serving Indiana Court of Appeals judge in the court’s history, died Thursday after a brief illness, the court announced. He was 83.
Lawsuit continues on railroad crossing accident case
A woman involved in a fatal car versus train accident in Boone County will be allowed to go to trial on just one of her claims: whether the railroad company failed to provide an unobstructed view at the crossing because of lack of vegetation control.
Court ordered to reconsider expungement petition
An illegible handwritten note next to a docket entry in a 1976 conviction is not enough to support the trial court’s decision to deny a man’s expungement petition because he had not paid $37 in court costs. The Indiana Court of Appeals ordered the trial court to reconsider the man’s petition.
Sentence upheld, but restitution order needs a second look
The man ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to his ex-wife following misdemeanor convictions of invasion of privacy and criminal mischief will get a new hearing on the matter after the Court of Appeals sent the case back to the trial court.
COA: Case belongs in Tax Court
A company owner seeking relief from a tax judgment should not have filed in county court, but with the Indiana Tax Court, the Court of Appeals concluded Wednesday. It ordered the case dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.