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Opinions Jan. 18, 2013 ILD

January 18, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kelly Bertholet Stokes v. Estate of Kenneth Stokes (NFP)
64A05-1205-ES-237
Estate, supervised. Dismisses interlocutory appeal filed by Kelly Bertholet Stokes after her motion to correct error was denied following the denial of her motion for reimbursement of monies seized by bank.

Danielle Kelly v. State of Indiana (NFP)
30A01-1112-CR-584
Criminal. Grants rehearing to address Kelly’s claim that the court failed to consider a “dispositive fact” in its discussion regarding incriminating statements, but affirms opinion in all respects which upheld denial of Kelly’s motion to suppress.

Matthew A. Parks v. State of Indiana (NFP)
64A03-1202-CR-66
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C felony child molesting.

Jonathan Books v. State of Indiana (NFP)
25A03-1208-CR-357
Criminal. Affirms sanction for probation violation.

The Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court issued no opinions prior to IL deadline.

Opinions Jan. 18, 2013

January 18, 2013

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Linda K. Roddy v. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security
12-1682
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division, Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Civil. Vacates judgment of the District Court and remands Roddy’s case for disability insurance benefits to the Social Security Administration for further proceedings. Finds the administrative law judge made a number of errors in his consideration of the record, in which he denied her benefits.

7th Circuit orders SSA take another look at woman’s case

January 18, 2013

Finding that the administrative law judge hearing a southern Indiana woman’s claim for disability insurance benefits made several errors in his consideration of the record, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to the Social Security Administration for more proceedings.

Court properly admitted gun into evidence

January 18, 2013

The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a man’s conviction of Class B felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, rejecting his argument that the gun he tossed away while running from police should not have been admitted into evidence.

Judges uphold drug possession conviction, reverse habitual offender enhancement

January 18, 2013

A man who was arrested and charged with Class B felony possession of cocaine because he was within 1,000 feet of a family housing complex in Elkhart had his conviction upheld by the Indiana Court of Appeals Friday. But the judges reversed a habitual offender enhancement because the state didn’t prove that John F. Harris III had more than one dealing offense.

Judge dismisses federal right-to-work challenge

January 18, 2013

A U.S. District judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed in Hammond by a labor union challenging the state’s right-to-work law for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Chief Judge Philip P. Simon in the Northern District of Indiana did allow two counts claiming the law violates the Indiana Constitution to proceed in state court.

Opinions Jan. 17, 2013 ILD

January 17, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Marilyn Carter v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1206-CR-457
Criminal. Affirms convictions for Class A misdemeanors resisting law enforcement and battery.

B.B., Jr. v. State of Indiana (NFP)
45A03-1205-JV-228
Juvenile. Affirms adjudication as a delinquent for having committed what would be Class A misdemeanor cruelty to an animal if committed by an adult.

Jeff Clade v. Hunt Construction Group, Inc. (NFP)
49A02-1206-CT-509
Civil tort. Grants rehearing to clarify original opinion and affirms, in which the Court of Appeals reversed summary judgment for Hunt on a negligence claim. Judge Riley would deny rehearing.

Steven Newville v. State of Indiana (NFP)
34A02-1205-CR-379
Criminal. Affirms Class A felony conviction of attempted rape.

Garrick P. Twiford, Jr. v. State of Indiana (NFP)
20A04-1205-CR-284
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A felony child molesting.

The Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions by IL deadline. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana decisions by IL deadline.

Opinions Jan. 17, 2013

January 17, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Daniel Brewington v. State of Indiana
15A01-1110-CR-550
Criminal. Reverses convictions and sentences for intimidation of Dr. Edward Connor and intimidation of Heidi Humphrey and remands with instructions to vacate, which does not alter Daniel Brewington’s aggregate sentence. Affirms conviction for intimidation of Judge James Humphrey and for attempted obstruction of justice relating to Connor. Affirms in all other respects.

COA affirms man’s conviction of intimidating Dearborn County judge

January 17, 2013

A Dearborn County man who posted numerous articles online about a Superior judge who presided over his divorce alleging the judge was corrupt and a child abuser had his conviction of intimidation related to the conduct upheld by the Court of Appeals Thursday. But the judges found intimidation convictions relating to a psychologist who performed the custody evaluation and the judge’s wife could not stand.

Fired rabbi loses appeal

January 17, 2013

A Bloomington rabbi terminated less than a year into his contract with Congregation Beth Shalom lost his case before the Indiana Court of Appeals. He claimed he was fired for reporting child abuse, but the congregation said his contract was terminated for other conduct that fell under the ministerial exception.

COA upholds mother’s relocation to Illinois

January 17, 2013

A trial court’s decision to allow a mother and her two children to move to Illinois after marrying her fiancé was not an abuse of discretion by the court because the father didn’t show how the move would have a negative effect on the children.

Probate, child seduction bills move out of committees

January 17, 2013

Several bills moved out of legislative committee this week, including one that would expand the definition of child seduction to include a mental health professional engaging in certain sexual behavior with a patient between 16 and 18 years old.

Mock trial judges needed for new tournament in Indianapolis

January 17, 2013

Indiana University Bloomington Mock Trial organization is seeking practicing attorneys as volunteers for its first tournament, the Hoosier Hoedown, in Indianapolis. The tournament is Jan. 26 and 27 in the Indianapolis City-County Building.

Opinions Jan. 16, 2013 ILD

January 16, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Douglas Moyer & Irk v. David M. Dugger and Diana Dugger (NFP)
06A05-1203-CC-122
Civil collection. Affirms denial of Douglas Moyer & Irk’s motion for summary judgment on the Duggers’ suit to recover fees and vacation time they claimed they earned while employed with DMI.

Pablo Garcia-Gomez v. State of Indiana (NFP)
02A04-1206-CR-290
Criminal. Affirms three-year sentence for Class D felony domestic battery.

Christopher Hudson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
48A04-1207-CR-355
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C felony possession of a dangerous material or device by a prisoner.

The Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions by IL deadline. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana decisions by IL deadline.

Opinions Jan. 16, 2013

January 16, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Nick Domaschko and Edwina Domaschko, and their Respective Trusts, et al. v. State of Indiana
58A01-1206-PL-261
Civil plenary. Affirms trial court’s order of immediate appropriation and appointment of appraisers. The trial court properly determined that the state, through the Indiana Department of Transportation, was entitled by law to acquire the Domaschkos’ property.

INDOT can take Ohio County property for road improvements

January 16, 2013

The Indiana Court of Appeals found Wednesday that the Indiana Department of Transportation is entitled by law to acquire a portion of an Ohio County couple’s property to improve State Road 56.

Senator files bill restricting educational credit time for sex offenders

January 16, 2013

Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, announced Wednesday that he has introduced legislation to revise the state’s education credit law for sex offenders. He said eight months ago that he would seek to change the law after a sex offender was released early after earning this type of credit.

Lake Superior judge to be honored for service at MLK event

January 16, 2013

Gov. Mike Pence will recognize four people for their service and commitment to the community, including Lake Superior Judge Calvin D. Hawkins, at an event honoring the life and works of Martin Luther King Jr. Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at the Indiana Statehouse.

Indiana Democrats trying to jumpstart conversation on health care

January 16, 2013

A coalition of Democratic senators and representatives gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday morning to “jumpstart the conversation” on health care exchanges and Medicaid expansion.

Opinions Jan. 15, 2013 ILD

January 15, 2013

Indiana Court of Appeals
Designplan, Inc. and Jill D. Willey v. John R. Price and The National Bank of Indianapolis Corporation (NFP)
29A05-1203-PL-120
Civil Plenary. There was no breach of duty, and the trial court did not err by granting NBI’s motion for summary judgment.

Bin Mu v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A05-1205-CR-310
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class D felony criminal confinement and Class A misdemeanor battery.

Norma E. Singo, et al. v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Americas, and Fred Shimfessel, Richard Cart, d/b/a Cart's Creative Designs and Encore Credit Corp. (NFP)
39A01-1202-MF-48
Mortgage foreclosure. Affirms summary judgment in favor of Deutsche Bank, et al.

Kelly Lee Muncy, Kendra Marie Vondersaar, Karen Kay Muncy and Kim Sue Muncy v. Town of Avon, Indiana (NFP)
32A04-1203-OV-134
Local ordinance violation/zoning. Affirms trial court ruling that use of property for open storage violates an Avon zoning ordinance.

Pamela J. Podemski v. U.S. Bank National Association as Trustee (NFP)
20A03-1207-MF-325
Mortgage foreclosure. Affirms trial court denial of Pamela Podemski’s motion to set aside default judgment and foreclosure decree.

State of Indiana v. Jason Burkett (NFP)
09A02-1205-PC-356
Post conviction. Reverses and remands post-conviction relief court’s grant of petition for post-conviction relief.

Term. of the Parent-Child Rel. of Tr.C., Te.C., and K.C. (Minor Children); N.C. aka N.J. (Father) v. The Indiana Dept. of Child Services (NFP)
42A04-1205-JT-273
Juvenile. Affirms termination of parental rights.

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