Opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
Rogers Group, Inc. v. Tippecanoe County, et al.
79A02-1506-PL-694
Civil plenary. Affirms one zoning ordinance as enforceable and a second not enforceable. Tippecanoe County’s requirement of a special exception to mine in a flood plain is valid and enforceable, but a quarry ban that prohibits new mines within two miles of residential areas is not because it was not enacted in accordance with Indiana’s zoning statutes.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of: D.W. (Minor Child), and, T.W. (Mother) v. The Ind. Dept. of Child Services
45A03-1507-JC-842
Juvenile. Dismisses appeal of order terminating mother’s visitation with her daughter and denying her motion to modify a CHINS action. Dismisses for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because the trial court’s order is not a final judgment.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Cheryl L. Underwood v. Thomas Bunger, in his capacity as the Personal Representative of The Estate of Kenneth K. Kinney; Judith M. Fulford; and Sheree Demming
53A01-1509-MI-1305
Miscellaneous. Affirms grant of the estate of Kenneth K. Kinney’s motion to dismiss. The estate was not a proper defendant in Underwood’s claim for partition.

Indiana Supreme Court
State of Indiana, Acting on Behalf of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration v. International Business Machines Corporation  
49S02-1408-PL-513.
Civil plenary. Reverses trial court ruling that IBM was not in material breach of its master services agreement to administer Indiana’s welfare systems under a $1.3 billion contract that the state terminated for cause. Summarily affirms the Court of Appeals on all other  issues:  affirming the trial court’s award of $40 million in assignment fees and $9,510,795 in equipment fees to IBM; affirming the trial court’s denial of deferred fees to IBM; and reversing the trial court’s award of $2,570,621 in early termination close out payments and $10,632,333 in prejudgment interest to IBM. Remands to the trial court to determine the amount of fees IBM is entitled to for two change orders, and for calculation of the parties’ damages, including any appropriate offsets to the state as a result of IBM’s material breach of the MSA.   

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kulon N. Lewis, Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
02A03-1508-CR-1140
Criminal. Affirms Kulon Lewis Jr.’s conviction of attempted murder , a Level 1 felony, and the sentencing enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of an offense.
 

Indiana Court of Appeals
In Re the Term. of the Parent-Child Relationship of: M.R.W., M.A.W., Ja.W., Se.W., Sa.W., and C.W. (Minor Children), and J.R. (Mother) v. Ind. Dept. of Child Services (mem. dec.)
79A02-1506-JT-702
Juvenile. Affirms termination of mother’s parental rights.

Indiana Court of Appeals
KS&E Sports and Edward J. Ellis v. Dwayne H. Runnels
49A02-1501-CT-42
Civil tort. Affirms denial of KS&E Sports’ motion for judgment on the pleadings against Dwayne Runnels. KS&E asserted immunity from suit arguing Runnels’ damages resulted from criminal misuse of a firearm by a third party.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Edward P. Kramer v. Focus Realty Group, LLC, successor in interest to AES Restaurants, LLC
29A04-1508-PL-1089
Civil plenary. Affirms award of summary judgment in favor of Focus Realty Group for breach of contract after it paid $40,000 more than the correct purchase price. Kramer’s attorney had responded to a request by Focus’ attorney with a figure higher than the lease actually was.

Indiana Supreme Court
In Re The Marriage of Amy Steele-Giri v Brian K. Steele
45S04-1512-DR-00682
Domestic relations. Affirms trial court’s denial of mother’s motion for custody modification and contempt. There was ample evidence for the trial court to concluded that a custody modification was not in the child’s best interests.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Paul Dimmett v. Carolyn Colvin
15-2233
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Evansville Division, Chief Judge Richard L. Young.
Civil/Social Security disability. Reverses grant of summary judgment in favor of the Social Secuirty Administration. The denial was not a reasonable analysis of the plaintiff's claim and served to rubber stamp the agency's denial of benefits for a 33-year sheet metal journeyman who sought disability benefits due to chronic breathing difficulties and possible exposure to asbestos.

Indiana Court of Appeals

Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc., and Hammond Gavit High School v. Nasir Cade, et al.
45A03-1503-PL-84
Civil plenary. Reverses preliminary injunction granted in favor of the high schools and players. Remands for dismissal of claims brought by students who would have been banned from participating in the IHSAA boys’ basketball state tournament because their claims are now moot. COA says trial court erred by concluding the schools demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits and remands to trial court.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tricia A. Davis Williams v. State of Indiana
29A02-1506-CR-528
Criminal. Affirms Tricia A. Davis Williams’ sentencing order after she pleaded guilty to one count of Class D felony theft. Her placement in the Department of Correction is not inappropriate.

Indiana Court of Appeals
David Lee Marshall v. State of Indiana
20A03-1507-MI-973
Criminal. Affirms the denial of David Lee Marshall’s petition for expungement, holding the trial court could properly find, based upon Marshall’s own admission, that he had committed a crime in the relevant time period and was not entitled to the requested relief. 

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tyrone Grayson v. State of Indiana
49A05-1505-CR-350
Criminal. Affirms Tyrone Grayson’s conviction of Class B felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. An anonymous tip was sufficient probable cause for police to stop Grayson’s vehicle, where a handgun was found in plain sight.

Indiana Tax Court

Nick Popovich v Ind. Dept. of State Revenue
49T10-1010-TA-53
Awards Nick Popovich $24,963 for successfully prosecuting his first motion to compel.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Aduwali Abdukhadir Muse v. Charles A. Daniels, Warden, FCI Terre Haute
15-2646
Civil. Affirms denial of writ of habeas corpus because Muse waived the right to challenge his guilty plea based on his age when he pleaded guilty.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Caterpillar Inc. v. William Sudlow
79A02-1507-CT-801
Civil tort. Reverses and remands summary judgment for William Sudlow in favor of Caterpillar Inc. after it found Sudlow is not entitled to relief under statute or common law. Sudlow was a Caterpillar employee who was fired after another employee observed a partially visible gun in his vehicle in the Caterpillar parking lot.

Indiana Supreme Court
Ashonta Kenya Jackson v. State of Indiana
48S02-1509-CR-554
Criminal. Affirms conviction of Class C felony corrupt business influence, holding that Indiana’s Racketeer Influenced and Criminal Organizations Act does not contain a continuity element, but rather a requirement that the pattern of crimes are “not isolated.” The evidence was sufficient to show the underlying robberies Jackson was convicted of were not isolated. Remands for revision of the sentencing order to indicate which offense was enhanced by the habitual offender adjudication.

Indiana Supreme Court
Austin Blaize v State of Indiana
26S00-14-10-LW-771
Life without parole. Affirms convictions of murder, burglary and other charges and Austin Blaize’s sentence of life without parole and a term of years. Comments made by the judge to the jury do not require reversal and a new trial.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Edward Skillman v. Ivy Tech Community College
49A04-1509-PL-1279
Civil plenary. Affirms summary judgment for Ivy Tech on Skillman’s claim under the Indiana Wage Payment Act. Ivy Tech is not an “employer” for purposes of the Indiana Minimum Wage Law because it is “subject to” federal Fair Labor Standards Ac requirements, even if Skillman cannot personally enforce FLSA requirements against Ivy Tech.