Opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals

M.T. v. D.W. (mem. dec.)
23A-AD-1328
Adoption. Reverses the Johnson Superior Court’s judgment denying M.T. grandmother’s petition to adopt. Finds the trial court’s decision was based on an erroneous reading of the Consent Statute. Remands to the trial court with instructions to enter factual findings as to whether grandmother proved by clear and convincing evidence that D.W., the child’s biological father, failed without justifiable cause to communicate with the child when able to do so or knowingly failed to provide for child’s care and support when able to do so.

Indiana Supreme Court
Diego Morales, in his official capacity as Indiana Secretary of State, the Indiana Election Commission, and Amanda Lowery, in her official capacity as Jackson County Republican Chair v. John Rust
23S-PL-371
Civil plenary. Reverses Marion Superior Court’s order blocking enforcement of the Affiliation Statute that prohibits U.S. Senate hopeful John Rust from appearing on the GOP primary ballot in May. Finds that the Affiliation Statute is not unconstitutional and Rust’s remaining arguments lack merit. Finds that because the Affiliation Statute is a mere procedural regulation that does not substantively change the minimum qualifications for the United States Senate, it survives Rust’s 17th Amendment challenge. Remands with instructions to enter judgment for the state. Justice Derek Molter concurs with separate opinion in which Justice Geoffrey Slaughter joins.  Justice Christopher Goff dissents with separate opinion in which Chief Justice Loretta Rush joins.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Adoption of Baby Girl; C.M. and K.M., In the Matter of the Paternity of L.A. (Minor Child); Y.N. v. K.Q.A. and C.M. and K.M.
23A-AD-1590
Adoption. Reverses the Marion Superior Court’s order, which established Y.N.’s paternity of L.A. Finds that putative father’s consent to L.A.’s adoption had been irrevocably implied as a result of his failure to timely register with the registry and that he was, therefore, barred from challenging the adoption or establishing paternity. Also finds the trial court erred in entering an order establishing the putative father’s paternity.

Indiana Court of Appeals

John U. Dustin v. Michelle C. Dustin (mem. dec.)
23A-DC-758
Domestic relations with children. Affirms the Monroe Circuit Court’s final decree of dissolution and division of John and Michelle Dustin’s marital estate. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion. Also finds John Dustin has not satisfied his burden on appeal to overcome the strong presumption that the trial court acted correctly in applying the statutory factors.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Doug Williams and W.W. Contracting Inc. v. Pekin Insurance Inc.
23A-PL-995
Civil plenary. Affirms the Tippecanoe Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Pekin Insurance Inc. Finds W.W. Contracting Inc.’s theft allegation established the dishonest act. 

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Anthony Lefevers v. SGC Properties LLC (mem. dec.)
23A-PL-909
Civil plenary. Affirms the Harrison Circuit Court’s order granting SGC Properties LLC’s motion for the involuntary dismissal of Anthony Lefevers’ case. Finds the trial court did not fail to issue findings and conclusions and that the evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that Lefevers failed to present sufficient evidence to prove his claim against SCG.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Connie Davis-Brumley, as Mother of Decedent v. Fair Oaks Farms LLC; Fair Oaks Hospitality LLC and Farmhouse Restaurant LLC
23A-CT-1610
Civil tort. Affirms Lake Superior Court’s order granting Fair Oaks Farms’s motion to dismiss and denying the motion to substitute. Finds the trial court did not err by dismissing the wrongful death complaint, nor did it err by denying the motion to substitute.

Wednesday opinions
Court of Appeals of Indiana
M.W. v. H.Y.
23A-PO-879
Protection order. Affirms the Lake Circuit Court’s grant of a protection order against M.W. Finds the trial court was not required to announce the cause number of the PO Cause at the beginning of the hearing, nor was it required to announce at some point during the hearing, when the evidence being presented was directed toward the PO Cause as opposed to the dissolution proceedings. Also finds M.W. has failed to meet his burden to show that the trial court failed to hold a hearing as required by Indiana Code section 34-26-5-9(h) and to receive evidence to support H.Y.’s petition for a protection order.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Elpers Bros. Construction & Supply, Inc., et al. v. Deane L. Smith, II, M.D., et al.
23A-PL-437
Civil plenary. Affirms and reverses in part the grant of summary judgment in favor of Deane L. and Lori A. Smith. Finds the Vanderburgh Circuit Court properly granted summary judgment for the Smiths on their claim that Elpers Bros. Construction & Supply Inc. owed a non-delegable duty to properly design and construct a subdivision’s drainage system. Also finds the trial court erred in granting only partial summary judgment for the homeowners association and in denying Elpers Development’s motion for summary judgment. Finally, finds the trial court properly denied Elpers Construction’s motion for summary judgment on the Smiths’ fraud claim. Remands for further proceedings.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Starr Indemnity & Liability Co. et al. v. NIBCO INC.
23A-PL-1343
Civil plenary. Reverses the Elkhart Superior Court’s judgment reinstating NIBCO’s declaratory judgment action against Starr Indemnity & Liability Co., et.al.. Finds the trial court erred by reinstating the action. Also finds that relief from the judgment was only available to NIBCO under Indiana Trial Rule 60 (B) and because the company failed to act within the time permitted by the rule, it was not entitled to reinstatement.

Friday opinions
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Fernando Marroquin v. Christina Reagle
23A-MI-2545
Miscellaneous. Reverses Elkhart Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment to the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Correction Christina Reagle. Finds Indiana Code Section 11-8-8-19(f) doesn’t apply to Fernando Marroquin and that Indiana doesn’t require registration for Class D felony sexual misconduct with a minor.  Remands for the entry of summary judgment for Marroquin.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Billy Ray Barker v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-PC-1751
Post-conviction relief. Affirms the Madison Circuit Court’s summary denial of Billy Ray Barker’s successive petition for post-conviction relief challenging the revocation of his parole after he was convicted of new criminal charges. Finds the trial court properly granted the state’s motion for summary disposition, denying Barker’s unauthorized successive petition.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Jacquelyn Ivankovic v. Milan Ivankovic
23A-DC-1954
Domestic relations with children. Affirms the Lake Superior Court’s denial of Jacquelyn Ivankovic’s request for a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction, asking that Milan Ivankovic be enjoined from contacting Jacquelyn’s employer to make allegations that she had engaged in wrongdoing. Finds the trial court does not have the statutory authority to issue the requested injunction. Also finds the husband’s communications with third parties involved allegations that wife committed illegal conduct, which is speech protected under the First Amendment.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
J.M. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-JV-1400
Juvenile. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court adjudication of J.M. as a delinquent. Finds the state presented evidence of a probative nature from which a reasonable trier of fact could find that J.M. committed an act which would constitute child molesting as a Level 4 felony if committed by an adult.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: R.S. and N.S., and M.Y. (Mother) and T.S. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
23A-JT-1192
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms the Clark Circuit Court’s termination of mother M.Y. and father T.S.’s parental rights to R.S. and N.S. Finds neither M.Y. nor T.S. have shown that the trial court committed clear error in terminating their parental rights to the child or at any point during the TPR proceedings. Also finds neither demonstrated a due process violation.  

Court of Appeals of Indiana
In the Matter of A.M.J. and A.L.J., Minor Children Alleged to be Children in Need of Services; S.J. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services
23A-JC-2241
Juvenile CHINS. Affirms the Allen Superior Court’s order modifying custody of father S.J.’s sons in favor of their maternal grandmother. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion by modifying custody of the children in favor of the maternal grandmother.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Automotive Finance Corporation d/b/a AFC v. Meng Liu
23A-CC-1468
Civil collections. Affirms the grant of Meng Liu’s motion to set aside a summary judgment order in favor of Automotive Finance Corporation. Finds the Marion Superior Court did not abuse its discretion. Judge Elaine Brown dissents with separate opinion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Tum Uk v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
23A-CR-616
Criminal. Affirms Tum Uk’s conviction for Level 1 felony child molesting. Finds no fundamental error. Also finds sufficient evidence supports Uk’s conviction.

Court of Appeals of Indiana
Desmond Banks v. State of Indiana
23A-CR-896
Criminal. Affirms and reverses in part Desmond Banks’ convictions in a quadruple murder and his de facto life sentence. Finds the Marion Superior Court properly denied Banks’ motion for mistrial based on Critical Emergency Response Team members approaching and standing behind him as jurors filed out of the courtroom. Also finds three of the four robbery convictions should be vacated due to insufficient evidence. Finally, finds Desmond’s convictions for the murder and Level 2 felony robbery of Marcel Wills constitute double jeopardy, and his 220-year sentence is inappropriate. Reduces his sentence to 135 years. Remands with instructions for the trial court to enter conviction for Level 5 felony robbery. Judge Cale Bradford concurs in part and dissents in part with separate opinion.

Monday opinions
Court of Appeals of Indiana
Lela Jo Boucher v. Dennis J. Doyle
23A-DN-1534
Domestic relations without children. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court’s order dividing the marital estate in favor of Dennis Doyle. Finds Lela Jo Boucher failed to demonstrate that the trial court’s deviation from the presumptive equal split of the marital estate was clearly erroneous.