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Opinions July 25, 2012 ILD

July 25, 2012

7th Circuit Court of Appeals posted no Indiana opinions at IL deadline.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In re the Adoption of S.W., Thomas West v. Ronnie D. Sedberry and Sondra Sedberry (NFP)
34A04-1202-AD-77
Adoption. Affirms grant of petition by the Sedberrys to adopt West’s biological daughter.

In Re: The Marriage of John Davis v. Pamela Davis (NFP)
15A05-1112-DR-649
Domestic relation. Affirms distribution of property.

Paul Lewis v. State of Indiana (NFP)
53A01-1201-PC-1
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.

Andrew Huntsman v. State of Indiana (NFP)
57A03-1201-CR-14
Criminal. Affirms sentence imposed following guilty plea to Class A misdemeanor cemetery mischief.

Vaughn Blackburn v. State of Indiana (NFP)
32A04-1112-CR-659
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class A misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

In the Matter of the Adoption of A.N.B.; L.T.B. v. C.J.H. (NFP)
26A01-1201-AD-30
Adoption. Affirms order granting stepfather’s petition to adopt A.N.B.

Darnell Tinker v. State of Indiana (NFP)
02A03-1112-CR-587
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class B felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.

Ben J. Davis v. State of Indiana (NFP)
22A04-1107-CR-372
Criminal. Affirms conviction and sentence for Class B felony dealing in cocaine and status as a habitual offender.

Brad W. Passwater v. State of Indiana (NFP)
48A05-1201-PC-17
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.

Jimmie I. Immel v. Jennifer W. Immel (NFP)
06A01-1112-DR-600
Domestic relation. Affirms order dissolving marriage and division of assets.

K.S.B., A Child Alleged to be a Delinquent Child v. State of Indiana (NFP)
71A03-1112-JV-602
Juvenile. Affirms decision to place K.S.B. in the custody of the Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village following his adjudication for intimidation.

Anthony Wilson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
89A01-1110-CR-490
Criminal. Affirms convictions of Class A felony dealing in cocaine and Class D felony maintaining a common nuisance.

Sean Shumaker v. State of Indiana (NFP)
43A03-1203-CR-133
Criminal. Affirms trial court allowing the state to file a belated answer to Shumaker’s petition for post-conviction relief and the denial of his motion for default judgment. Reverses summary denial of Shumaker’s PCR petition and remands for further proceedings.

A.K., Father v. T.L., Mother (NFP)
02A04-1112-JP-653
Juvenile paternity. Dismisses father’s appeal of order which in part denied his petition to modify custody.

Opinions July 25, 2012

July 25, 2012

Indiana Supreme Court
Kenneth Dwayne Vaughn v. State of Indiana
45S05-1112-CR-684
Criminal. Affirms decision not to grant a mistrial. Vaughn did not suffer actual harm from the bailiff restraining him by covering Vaughn’s mouth in front of the jury so he would stop taking.

Defendant not harmed by refusal to grant mistrial

July 25, 2012

The Indiana Supreme Court found no harm was done when an uncooperative defendant’s mouth was covered by a bailiff in order to quiet the man, so the trial court correctly denied the defendant’s motion for a mistrial.

Darden retires, announces McKinney scholarship

July 25, 2012

Court of Appeals Judge Carr L. Darden will establish a scholarship in the name of himself and his wife of 57 years at his alma mater, the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. The judge and other officials announced the scholarship Wednesday during his Statehouse retirement ceremony.

Judge: consider corroborative evidence in certain molestation cases

July 25, 2012

Indiana Court of Appeals Judge John Baker thinks it’s time that corroborative evidence be required in child molestation cases in which the charges are supported by the testimony of a single witness.

School bus drivers can’t sue school corporation for collusion

July 25, 2012

The lawsuit for collusion brought by 13 North Gibson School Corporation bus drivers against the school corporation as a result of bids for a transportation services contract failed on interlocutory appeal before the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Federal judge rules against environmental groups in I-69 suit

July 25, 2012

The two environmental organizations challenging the construction of Interstate 69 in southern Indiana lost in federal court Tuesday. The lawsuit filed by Hoosier Environmental Council and Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads dealt with the stretch of the interstate from Washington, Ind. to Scotland, Ind.

NDLS clinic to participate in patent law pilot project

July 24, 2012

The Notre Dame Law School’s Intellectual Property and Entrepreneur Clinic has been selected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to take part in the agency’s Patent Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program beginning this fall.

Opinions July 24, 2012 ILD

July 24, 2012

Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions at IL deadline.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Keith Crawford v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1112-CR-648
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class A felony dealing in cocaine.

Evonne Carrillo v. Review Board of the Ind. Dept. of Workforce Development and Skozen & Skozen, LLP (NFP)
93A02-1108-EX-794
Agency appeal. Affirms the review board’s decision that Carrillo was discharged from her job for just cause was reasonable.

Latine Davidson v. State of Indiana (NFP)
10A04-1112-PC-695
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.

Roy L. Streicher v. State of Indiana (NFP)
69A05-1111-CR-603
Criminal. Remands with instructions to vacate the Class C misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated conviction, and affirms sentence for Class D felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a previous operating while intoxicated conviction within the last five years and Class A misdemeanor domestic battery with injury.

Asa G. Wisler v. State of Indiana (NFP)
27A05-1109-CR-492
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C misdemeanor operating a vehicle with an ACE of 0.08 or more.

Alan Weir v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A04-1201-CR-22
Criminal. Affirms trial court order Weir serve the balance of his home detention sentence and his previously suspended 2-year sentence in the Department of Correction.

Larry Edward Ruble, Jr., Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Natasha Ruble, Deceased v. Lori Thompson, M.D. (NFP)
53A05-1109-CT-488
Civil tort. Affirms judgment on a defense verdict in a medical malpractice action.

Jordan Guess v. State of Indiana (NFP)
84A01-1112-CR-620
Criminal. Affirms denial of motion for jail time credit.

John W. Breedlove v. State of Indiana (NFP)
09A02-1111-CR-1116
Criminal. Affirms sentence for Class B felony dealing in methamphetamine.

Justin Holman v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1112-CR-1138
Criminal. Affirms convictions of two counts of Class B felony robbery and one count of Class A misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license.

Jeffrey Scott Brooks v. State of Indiana (NFP)
48A02-1111-CR-1095
Criminal. Affirms admittance of hearsay testimony at an evidentiary hearing on a probation violation.

Timothy L. Gabbard v. State of Indiana (NFP)
34A02-1112-CR-1174
Criminal. Affirms sentence imposed following guilty plea to receiving stolen property and admitting to violating probation for the third time.

Chanda Banner v. Charles Kincaid (NFP)
82A05-1202-DR-93
Domestic relation. Affirms determination of Kincaid’s child support arrearage.

Dwayne Gaines v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1201-CR-12
Criminal. Reverses conviction of Class C misdemeanor indecent exposure and remands with instructions to vacate. Affirms conviction of Class D felony criminal confinement.

Opinions July 24, 2012

July 24, 2012

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Jeffrey D. Kirkland v. United States of America
11-2507
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division, Judge Jon E. DeGuilio.
Civil. Reverses District Court’s conclusion that an enhancement of Kirkland’s sentence under the Armed Criminal Career Act was still appropriate based on his remaining three convictions for violent felonies. Court may only consider Shepard-approved sources in determining whether prior offenses occurred on separate occasions under 18 U.S.C. Section 924(e)(1). Based on the record, the appellate court can’t conclude that Kirkland’s robbery and burglary offenses – which were on the same day – occurred on separate occasions. Remands for resentencing.

7th Circuit reverses ACCA enhancement

July 24, 2012

Based on a sparse record of evidence that the District Court could consider in determining whether a man can be sentenced under the Armed Career Criminal Act, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found the government didn’t meet its burden to prove two of the man’s previous convictions from events on the same day were separate predicate offenses under the Act.

Court rules for Indianapolis Housing Agency in suit brought by ex-employee

July 24, 2012

The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for the Indianapolis Housing Agency, finding the agency had a qualified privilege to report an employee’s suspected criminal conduct while on the job.

Son’s suit against father not barred by Indiana Guest Statute

July 23, 2012

A divided Indiana Supreme Court has found that a lawsuit filed by a son after his father hit him with his car while the son tried to help his father park isn’t barred by Indiana’s Guest Statute.

Opinions July 23, 2012 ILD

July 23, 2012

Indiana Court of Appeals
Michael Sims v. State of Indiana (NFP)
20A03-1203-CR-127
Criminal. Affirms denial of motion to correct erroneous sentence.

Edwin D. Calligan v. State of Indiana (NFP)
02A03-1108-CR-400
Criminal. Grants rehearing and affirms original decision to deny motion to correct erroneous sentence.

Savane Williams v. State of Indiana (NFP)
20A04-1106-CR-428
Criminal. Affirms convictions and sentence for two counts of Class A felony dealing in cocaine, but finds the trial court erred in the manner in which it imposed the habitual offender enhancement. Remands for further proceedings.

Rosalio Pedraza v. State of Indiana (NFP)
49A02-1111-PC-1076
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief.

Robert Grubbs v. State of Indiana (NFP)
53A01-1109-PC-606
Post conviction. Affirms denial of motion for reconsideration and motion to correct error.

Indiana Tax Court posted no opinions at IL deadline.

Opinions July 23, 2012

July 23, 2012

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Mark McCleskey, trustee, et al. v. DLF Construction Inc., an Indiana corporation
11-1826
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, Judge William T. Lawrence.
Civil. Affirms finding that the construction company, as employer, had to contribute to the funds for all hours worked by members of the union, not just bargaining unit work. The collective bargaining agreements are clear that DLF is required to make contributions to the pension and health and welfare funds for each hour worked by a covered employee.

Judges affirm construction company had to pay into union funds

July 23, 2012

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with an Indiana federal court that a construction company that entered into a working agreement with a cement masons union had to contribute to two funds for all hours worked, not just bargaining unit work.

Indianapolis attorney resigns from bar

July 23, 2012

The Indiana Supreme Court has accepted the resignation of the Indianapolis attorney who pleaded guilty earlier this year to theft from two clients.

Chief justice appoints 2 to rules committee

July 23, 2012

Indiana Chief Justice Brent E. Dickson has appointed Lake Superior Judge Calvin D. Hawkins and Muncie attorney Perry Gregory Cross to the Indiana Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.

Opinions July 20, 2012 ILD

July 20, 2012

Indiana Supreme Court and Tax Court posted no opinions at IL deadline.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Bradley D. Haub v. State of Indiana (NFP)
Criminal. Affirms sentences stemming from three different causes for Class B felony aiding burglary, two counts of Class C felony forgery, Class D felony auto theft, and Class D felony theft.

Anthony Lee Leturgez v. State of Indiana (NFP)
79A02-1112-CR-1105
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class B misdemeanor battery.

Term. of Parent-Child Rel. of D.P. and P.S. (Minor Children); A.P. (Father) v. Indiana Dept. of Child Services (NFP)
03A01-1107-JT-309
Juvenile termination. Affirms termination of parental rights.

Term. of Parent-Child Rel. of B.B. and L.H. (Minor Children); Lo.H. (Mother) v. Indiana Dept. of Child Services (NFP)
79A02-1111-JT-1101
Juvenile termination. Affirms termination of parental rights.

Jamey Wayne Thomas v. State of Indiana (NFP)
79A02-1110-CR-1066
Criminal. Affirms sentence following guilty plea to Class C felony operating a motor vehicle while privileges were forfeited for life.

Opinions July 20, 2012

July 20, 2012

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Bradley M. Shideler v. Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security
11-3284
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division, Judge Robert L.
Miller Jr.
Civil. Affirms denial of application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The administrative law judge adequately evaluated Shideler’s credibility. Whatever his current condition is, the ALJ’s decision finding that he was not disabled as of March 31, 2000, is supported by substantial evidence.

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