Opinions

Indiana Court of Appeals
Kurt McElroy v. State of Indiana
18A-CR-2930
Criminal. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s denial of Kurt McElroy’s motion to suppress the evidence of marijuana and a handgun found during a search of his home. Finds McElroy’s Fourth Amendment rights were not violated by the officers’ search of the common areas of the residence, specifically the kitchen, and the subsequent seizure of the handgun. Likewise, finds the officers did not violate his state constitutional rights.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Feather Trace Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Donald R. Luster
19A-SC-300
Small claims. Reverses the Marion Superior Small Claims Court’s judgment in favor of homeowner Donald Luster against the Feather Trace Homeowners Association. Finds no cases holding that abrogation of homeowner association dues and assessments is the appropriate remedy for an owner’s dissatisfaction with the way an HOA is performing or the conditions or quality of the neighborhood and its amenities. Remands with instructions to enter judgment in favor of the HOA and to calculate the amount owed by Luster.

The following opinions were posted after IL deadline Friday.
7^th Circuit Court of Appeals
Donald Wayne Bush v. USA
16-3244
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge William T. Lawrence.
Civil. Vacates the Southern District Court’s decision due to its basis on an “erroneous jurisdictional view.” Finds that although the bankruptcy judge was right to hold that he had authority to resolve the tax dispute between Donald and Kimberly Bush and the United States while the Bushes’ bankruptcy was ongoing, the exercise of that authority was no longer appropriate. Remands with instructions to remand to the bankruptcy judge for the entry of an order under §1334(c)(1), marking the final step in the Bushes’ bankruptcy proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
T.R. v. E.R.
19A-DC-89
Domestic relations. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s decree of dissolution of T.R. and E.R.’s marriage. Remands with instructions to clarify the order regarding the domestic violence program, psychological evaluation and mother’s income, and to recalculate child support if necessary.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of D.B., L.B., H.B. & S.B. (Minor Children) and D.J.B. (Father), et al. v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
19A-JT-542
Juvenile termination. Affirms the termination of D.J.B. and M.M.B.’s parental rights to their children, D.B., L.B., H.B., and S.B. Finds there is sufficient evidence to support the termination of parental rights order from Starke Circuit Court.

The following Indiana Tax Court opinion was posted after IL deadline Tuesday.
Rolls-Royce Corporation v. Marion County Assessor
19T-TA-23 and 19T-TA-24
Tax. Denies the Marion County Assessor’s second motion to dismiss Rolls-Royce’s appeal of the assessment of its real property for the 2012-2016 tax years. The assessor failed to prove that Rolls-Royce did not: state a claim upon which relief could be granted; comply with certain statutory prerequisites, or; exhaust its administrative remedies. Also declines Rolls-Royce’s request for attorney fees, finding the assessor’s second appeal was not duplicative.

Indiana Court of Appeals
William Hedrick v. State of Indiana
18A-CR-01945
Criminal. Grants William Hedrick’s petition for rehearing to correct errors in the Indiana Court of Appeals’ original opinion. Reaffirms the original opinion in all other respects, holding the erroneous admission of the Drug Enforcement Administration agent’s deposition testimony was harmless.

The following 7th Circuit was posted after IL deadline  Tuesday.
David Camm v. Stanley Faith
18-1440
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, New Albany Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Civil. Affirms in part, reverses in part the Southern District Court’s entry of summary judgment on behalf of Robert Stites, Rodney Englert, Stanley Faith, and Sean Clemons in a damages suit brought by former state trooper David Camm. Finds Camm presented enough evidence to proceed to trial on the Fourth Amendment claim as it relates to the first probable-cause affidavit. Remands for trial accordingly. Also finds trial is warranted on the Brady claim against the same four defendants for suppression of Stites’ lack of qualifications and against Faith and Clemons for suppression of the facts surrounding their handling of the DNA profile on Charles Boney’s sweatshirt.

Indiana Supreme Court
In the Matter of Brent Welke
49S00-1707-DI-472
Discipline. Suspends attorney Brent Welke from the practice of law in Indiana for three years without automatic reinstatement. Finds Welke committed attorney misconduct by incompetently representing a client, improperly using a nonlawyer assistant and knowingly making false statements of material fact to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. Justice Steven David dissents regarding the sanction without separate opinion, believing disbarment is warranted.

The following Indiana Supreme Court decision was posted after IL deadline Friday.
Corey R. Faith v. State of Indiana
19S-CR-499
Criminal. Revises the sentencing order from an aggregate 70 years in prison to an executed sentence of 60 years in prison for Corey Faith’s conviction in Harrison Superior Court on three counts of Class A felony child molesting. Finds that under the circumstances of the case, the Court of Appeals’ reduction of Faith’s sentence to 30 years executed was wholly inadequate. Justice Geoffrey Slaughter dissents to the grant of transfer but would affirm the trial court.

Indiana Court of Appeals
James Witham v. Michael G. Steffan, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Gerald W. Rogers, et al.
18A-TR-2914
Trust. Reverses on interlocutory appeal the dismissal of Witham’s petition to contest a will. The trial court erred in dismissing Witham’s petition with prejudice as wrongfully filed, finding that the trial court instead should have transferred the matter to the appropriate court. Remands with instructions to transfer the case to Lake Superior Court for further proceedings.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Corey Lamar Winters v. State of Indiana
19A-CR-431
Criminal. Affirms Corey Winters’ conviction in Marion Superior Court of Class C misdemeanor operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent of .08 or more. Finds there is sufficient evidence to support his conviction.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Jaron Leekingdus Ratliff v. State of Indiana
18A-CR-2387
Criminal. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court’s denial of Jaron Ratliff’s motion to discharge his two charges of Class A felony dealing in cocaine. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied Ratliff’s motion to discharge pursuant to Indiana Criminal Rule 4(C). Finds the trial court’s decision did not violate Ratliff’s Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals was posted after IL deadline on Thursday.

Malcolm Cobb, Jr. v. Aramark Correctional Services
18-1909
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Senior Judge Sarah Evans Barker.
Civil. Reverses and remands the Southern District Court’s dismissal of Malcolm Cobb Jr.’s lawsuit, finding he was late in filing his state-court negligence action against Aramark Correctional Services, which then was removed to federal court. Finds the district court misinterpreted Indiana’s prison mailbox rule and that Cobb had submitted reasonable, legitimate, and verifiable documentation supporting his claim that his documents were timely submitted.

The following 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals decisions were posted after IL deadline Tuesday:
Common Cause Indiana, Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and League of Women Voters of Indiana, Inc., v. Connie Lawson, in her official capacity as Secretary of State of Indiana, et al.
18-2491 and 18-2492
Appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Civil. Affirms the preliminary injunction blocking Indiana from removing voters from the state’s voter rolls without directly contacting the individuals. Finds Senate Enrolled Act 442, which permitted Indiana to rely solely on the Crosscheck database to purge voters, violated the National Voter Registration Act’s requirement that the state must either confirm with the voter that he or she has moved out of state or, if contact cannot be made, must not remove the name unless the state can show the person did not vote or appear to vote between the time the notification was sent and the date after the second general election for federal office. Judge Michael Brennan writes a concurring opinion that the nonprofits bringing the lawsuits do have standing under Article III.