Opinions

The following Indiana Supreme Court opinion was posted after IL deadline on Wednesday:
Clinton Loehrlein v. State of Indiana
20S-CR-376
Criminal. Affirms Clinton Loehrlein’s murder and attempted murder convictions and the the Vanderburgh Circuit Court’s finding that he was not insane at the time he murdered his wife and attempted to kill his daughters. Finds that the attorney juror in his trial did commit gross misconduct by falsely answering a juror questionnaire, but that given the facts and circumstances of the case, including the strong evidence of Loehrlein’s sanity, it is not likely he was harmed.

Indiana Supreme Court
In the Matter of Michael A. Blickman
18S-DI-553
Attorney discipline. Issues a public reprimand to attorney Michael A. Blickman. Finds Blickman violated Indiana Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 and 8.4(d) through efforts to “silence” a child solicitation victim and her family. Also finds the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission failed to sustain its burden of proof on the remaining charges. Justice Geoffrey Slaughter concurs in part and dissents in part with separate opinion.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Lora Brenner and Shawn Brenner v. Ignacio Chavez, et al. (mem. dec.)
20A-CC-538
Civil collection. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court’s dismissal of Lora and Shawn Brenner’s claims against Ignacio Chavez. Finds that although Chavez failed to establish that he was an employee of the LLC, the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the Brenners’ claims. Thus, finds that the trial court properly granted Chavez’s amended motion to dismiss Counts II, IV and VI of the Brenners’ second amended complaint.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Dennis Millikan and Vicki Millikan v. City of Noblesville and KACE, LLC
20A-PL-1061
Civil plenary. Reverses the denial of Dennis and Vicki Millikan’s motion for summary judgment regarding the Millikans’ action to quiet title in property they claimed to have adversely possessed. Finds the Hamilton Circuit Court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of the city of Noblesville. Also finds the Millikans had a reasonable and good faith belief that they were paying taxes on the disputed property. Remands for the trial court to enter summary judgment in favor of Millikans.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., and Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Inc. v. Rick C. Sasso, M.D. (mem. dec.)
19A-PL-378
Civil plenary. Affirms the $112,452,269 verdict in favor of Dr. Rick Sasso on his complaint for breach of two contracts against Medtronic Inc., Medtronic Sofamor Danek Inc. and Warsaw Orthopedic Inc. Finds the Marshall Circuit Court did not err by denying Medtronic’s motion to dismiss over a jurisdictional challenge or by denying Medtronic’s claims that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law regarding a screw agreement. Also finds the court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Medtronic on Sasso’s claim for punitive damages.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Matthew Powell v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
20A-CR-1371
Criminal. Affirms Matthew Powell’s aggregate 15-year sentence for conviction in Fayette Superior Court of Level 4 felony dealing in methamphetamine and his habitual offender status. Finds Powell’s sentence was not inappropriate considering his character. Also finds Powell is not entitled to a sentence reduction pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B).

Indiana Court of Appeals
Brandon McFadden v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
20A-CR-1221
Criminal. Affirms Brandon McFadden’s 4½-year sentence with one year suspended for conviction of Level 5 felony domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon. Finds that the Lake Superior Court did not abuse its discretion in its consideration of aggravating circumstances.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Monday.
USA v. Travis Barrett
19-2254
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division. Judge Joseph S. Van Bokkelen.
Criminal. Affirms Travis Barrett’s 97-month imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release. Finds that Barrett waived his challenge to Condition 31 of his proposed conditions of supervised release by not presenting it to the district court.

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Wednesday.
Dennis Troyer v. National Futures Association
20-1422
Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division. Magistrate Judge Susan L. Collins.
Civil. Affirms summary judgment in favor of National Futures Association and denial of Dennis Troyer’s motion for summary judgment. Finds that NFA Bylaw 301 is not applicable in this case.

7^th Circuit Court of Appeals
BRC Rubber & Plastics, Inc. v. Continental Carbon Company 
20-1011
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division. Magistrate Judge Susan L. Collins.
Civil. Affirms the district court’s order for seller Continental Carbon Company to pay damages to buyer BRC Rubber & Plastics Inc. and the award of prejudgment interest to BRC for the cost of replacing lost supply at higher prices. Finds the district court properly applied Section 2-609 of the Uniform Commercial Code to find that the seller gave the buyer reasonable grounds for doubting that it would perform and that the seller repudiated by failing to provide adequate assurance that it would continue to perform. Also finds the court properly applied Section 2-712 to find that the buyer’s cover was commercially reasonable. Finally, finds the court did not err in awarding prejudgment interest.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Timothy Marcus Mayberry v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
20A-CR-158
Criminal. Affirms Timothy Mayberry’s murder conviction and an enhancement for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Finds that because Mayberry has not shown any deliberate conduct of bad faith by the state or substantial prejudice to his rights, his argument fails. Thus, finds that the St. Joseph Superior Court was well within its discretion in allowing Officer Ray Wolfenbarger’s testimony.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Delangley Woods v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
20A-MI-1149
Miscellaneous. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s order awarding $12,064 to the state against Delangley Woods on the state’s complaint for civil forfeiture after a bench trial. Finds the trial court did not err when it awarded the cash to the state on its forfeiture complaint.

The following Indiana Tax Court opinion was posted after IL Daily deadline Thursday:
Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc. v. Monroe County Assessor
19T-TA-17
Tax. Affirms the Indiana Board of Tax Review’s final determinations establishing the assessed values of Lowe’s Home Centers store in Bloomington for the 2014-2017 tax years. Rejects Lowe’s contention that the Indiana Board erred in rejecting its sales comparison approach and income approach valuations and in excluding the obsolescence depreciation adjustments from its cost approach valuations.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Javan D. Brown v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-125
Criminal. Affirms Javan Brown’s aggregate 6½-year conviction for Level 5 felony reckless homicide and Class A misdemeanor dangerous possession of a firearm. Finds that Brown’s argument that the LaPorte Superior Court erred by excluding his mother from the courtroom fails. Also finds that the trial court did not err by allowing the jury to examine and pull the trigger on the firearm during deliberations. Finds the evidence is sufficient to sustain Brown’s conviction for reckless homicide, and finds both convictions do not constitute double jeopardy. Finds his sentence is not inappropriate and the trial court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing him.

Indiana Court of Appeals
McGraw Property Solutions, LLC v. Jason Jenkins 
20A-PL-00630
Civil plenary. Affirms the Boone Superior Court’s summary judgment in favor of Jason Jenkins against McGraw Property Solutions, concluding that Jenkins timely cancelled a storm repair contract within three days of acceptance.

The following Indiana Supreme Court opinion was posted after IL Daily deadline Monday:
K.C.G. v. State of Indiana
20S-JV-263
Juvenile. Vacates K.C.G.’s delinquency adjudication and the modification of his probation based on that adjudication in Marion Superior Court. Remands with instructions to dismiss the State’s petition, finding the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction because the offense of dangerous possession of a firearm can never be committed by an adult.

Indiana Court of Appeals

Robert James Plato, Jr. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

20A-CR-475

Criminal. Affirms the Madison Circuit Court’s revocation of Robert Plato Jr.’s probation and order that he serve the four years of his previously suspended sentence. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

Indiana Court of Appeals
R.W. v. J.W.
19A-PO-02697
Protective order. Affirms the issuance of a permanent protective order against Rafer Weigel and the Porter Superior Court’s denial of his motion to dismiss the petition for an order of protection. Finds the trial court did not err by failing to transfer J.W.’s petition to Illinois and did not err by finding and concluding that sufficient evidence existed to support issuing a permanent order of protection in favor of J.W. Judge Terry Crone concurs in a separate opinion, arguing Weigel’s identity should not be hidden from the public.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Michael D. Williams v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-1209
Criminal. Reverses Michael Williams’ conviction in Wayne Superior Court of misdemeanor theft after he found and took money left at a grocery-store self-checkout station by a previous customer. Finds that Williams’ conduct does not constitute theft under the existing theft statute.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Pines of Greenwood, LLC and Arbor Homes, LLC v. The Village Pines at the Pines of Greenwood Homeowners’ Association, Inc. (mem. dec.)
20A-PL-373
Civil plenary. Affirms and reverses in part the Johnson Superior Court’s determination that The Village Pines at the Pines of Greenwood Homeowners’ Association incurred damages of more than $1 million. Finds dues are owed to the HOA, and the HOA is the party that has been damaged by Pines of Greenwood LLC and Arbor Homes LLC failing to pay assessments on unsold lots. Also finds that the trial court’s order on damages does not make clear how it arrived at the amount due and remands to either clarify how the court arrived at the amount ordered or correct the amount due for unpaid assessments. Finally, reverses the interest award and vacates the award of late fees, and remands for the trial court to recalculate interest and apply an 8% rate starting in November 2011.