Opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
First American Title Insurance v. Stephen W. Robertson, Insurance Commissioner of the state of Indiana, in his official capacity, on behalf of the Indiana Department of Insurance
49A05-1512-PL-2309
Civil plenary. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s dismissal of First American Title Insurance Co.’s complaint against Stephen Robertson, in his official capacity as Indiana insurance commissioner. Finds that the trial court properly granted IDOI’s motion to dismiss because FATIC’s claims are barred by res judicata.

Corey Middleton v. State of Indiana
32A01-1603-PC-592
Post conviction. Affirms denial of petition for post-conviction relief. While Corey Middleton’s defense attorney used the word ‘Negro’ to describe him during voir dire, the offending language does not entitle him to post-conviction relief because of the considerable evidence against him that led to his conviction and 40-year sentence on drug and gun charges. Middleton was also not entitled to PCR when his attorney, who has since been disbarred, failed to inform him of a plea agreement that Middleton said he would have accepted or on other grounds.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Mark Vinup v. Joe's Construction, LLC and Joe Getz and Property-Owners Insurance Company v. Joe's Construction, LLC and Joe Getz
58A04-1602-CT-502
Civil tort. Affirms the Ohio Circuit Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Property-Owners Insurance Co. and Joe’s Construction. Finds that Mark Vinup failed to establish that a genuine issue of material fact exists on the issue of whether his status was that of an employee at the time he was injured. Also finds that under the plain language of the policy, Vinup was not a temporary worker, and the trial court did not err when it granted Property-Owners’ motion for summary judgment.

Indiana Supreme Court
Mary Osborne v. State of Indiana
29S02-1608-CR-433
Criminal. Reverses trial court’s denial of Mary Osborne’s motion to suppress. Finds that although the police officer who stopped Osborne was prompted by a genuine desire to serve and protect, under the circumstances, those actions constituted an improper intrusion upon Osborne’s constitutional privileges against unreasonable search and seizure.

Indiana Tax Court
The University of Phoenix, Inc. v. Indiana Department of Revenue
49T10-1411-TA-65    
Tax. Denies the Indiana Department of State Revenue’s motion for protective order. Finds that the University of Phoenix’s request to depose Michael Alley, former department commissioner, is not vexatious.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Commitment of M.E. v. Department of Veterans Affairs
27A02-1605-MH-987
Mental health. Reverses the involuntary commitment of M.E. Finds that M.E. did not receive appropriate notice, that his waiver was invalid and that Veterans Affairs did not carry its burden of proof with respect to the elements of dangerousness and grave disability. Remands with instructions to vacate the order of involuntary commitment.

Indiana Court of Appeals
C.V. v. C.R.
45A03-1606-PO-1282
Protective order. Reverses protective order issued against C.V. and remands with instructions to vacate the protective order because C.R. did not produce sufficient evidence he stalked her and that a protective order was warranted.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Jane E. Wilson, M.D., and IU Medical Group v. Tyler Lawless b/n/f Mindy R. Lawless
49A05-1511-CT-1814
Civil tort. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s judgment in favor of Tyler Lawless on a complaint for damages filed by Tyler’s mother, Mindy Lawless, as Tyler’s next friend. Finds that Mindy Lawless’ failure to immediately bring Tyler to see a doctor after he developed flank pain did not constitute an intervening cause of Tyler’s injury.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Gabriel G. Williams v. State of Indiana
71A03-1604-CR-975
Criminal. Affirms Gabriel Williams’ conviction of Level 5 felony criminal recklessness. Finds the bullet lodged in the side of a house fired from Williams’ gun constitutes “into” the dwelling for purposes of the statute.

Indiana Supreme Court
ESPN and Paula Lavigne v. University of Notre Dame Police Department
71S05-1606-MI-359  
Miscellaneous. Affirms trial court dismisall of ESPN’s suit that sought records from the Notre Dame Police Department of incidents involving student athletes.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Marco A. Galindo v. State of Indiana
32A05-1607-CR-1541
Criminal. Affirms Marco Galindo’s conviction of felony murder. Finds that the Hendricks Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion when it refused to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter.

Indiana Court of Appeals
William McNeal v. State of Indiana
49A05-1604-CR-838
Criminal. Affirms William McNeal’s conviction of Level 5 felony possession of cocaine. Finds that the Marion Superior Court did not abuse its discretion by admitting evidence that McNeal claims was obtained in violation of his rights pursuant to the Fourth Amendment and Article 1, Section 11 of the Indiana Constitution.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In re the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of A.W. and G.S.: H.S. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services
54A01-1604-JT-1090
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Reverses Montgomery Circuit Court’s order terminating H.S.’s rights to her children, A.W. and G.A.S. Finds that the trial court’s decision to terminate H.S.’s rights knowing she will be living with G.A.S. is incongruous with and antithetical to the finding that the conditions that resulted in the removal of A.W. and G.A.S. will not be remedied.

The following Indiana Tax Court opinion was posted after IL deadline Monday:
Indiana Department of State Revenue, Inheritance Tax Division v. The Estate of Orville J. Rauch
49T10-1207-TA-38
Tax. Affirms the Jasper Circuit Court’s order determining the inheritance liability of the Estate of Orville J. Rauch. Finds that Rauch had an in loco parentis relationship with Robert and Claudia Wandless

The following Indiana Tax Court opinion was posted after IL deadline Friday:
Monroe County Assessor v. SCP 2007-C-26-002, LLC a/k/a CVS 3195-02
49T10-1509-TA-29
Tax. Affirms Indiana Board of Tax Review’s finding that CVS’ appraisals of a Bloomington store location are more credible than the Monroe County Assessor’s assessments between 2009 and 2013. Holds that Tax Court rulings in previous similar cases were decided correctly.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Mickel Thacker v. State of Indiana
49A02-1510-CR-1563
Criminal. Affirms Mickel Thacker’s conviction of Level 6 felony auto theft and Class A misdemeanor resisting law enforcement. Finds that the evidence was sufficient to prove Thacker knowingly or intentionally exerted unauthorized control over a stolen vehicle and resisted law enforcement.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Momar, Inc. v. Watcon, Inc. (mem. dec.)
71A03-1603-PL-621
Civil plenary. Affirms St. Joseph Superior Court’s grant of a preliminary injunction enjoining Momar Inc. from aiding its employee, Michael Janowiak, in soliciting orders from customers of Watcon Inc., from accepting orders from Watcon customers whose business Momar had previously solicited with aid from Janowiak, and from using or divulging any of Watcon’s confidential information.

Indiana Court of Appeals
David McCollough v. Noblesville Schools and Jeff Bryant
29A02-1512-CT-2181
Civil tort. Affirms on interlocutory appeal the denial of summary judgment to Noblesville Schools and Jeff Bryant on ex-basketball coach David McCollough’s defamation claim. Affirms summary judgment in favor of the defendants on McCollough’s other claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of contract, and tortious interference with a contract/business relationship.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
United States of America v. Deandre Armour
15-2170
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Criminal. Affirms Deandre Armour’s conviction for aiding and abetting using or carrying and/or brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence but vacates the sentence on that count and remands for resentencing. Affirms the district court’s decision to sentence Armour as a career offender.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Justin S. Johnson v. State of Indiana
28A05-1602-CR-309
Criminal. Reverses Greene Superior Court decision to revoke Justin Johnson’s home detention and instead sentence him to seven years in the Department of Corrections. Remands with instructions to place Johnson in on work release.