Opinions

The following Indiana Supreme Court opinion was posted after IL deadline on Tuesday:
In the Matter of Michael Jeffries
18S-DI-94
Disciplinary. Suspends Michael Jeffries from the practice of law for a period of not less than three years, without automatic reinstatement, effective Aug. 21. Finds Jeffries committed attorney misconduct by neglecting clients’ cases, maintaining two websites with misleading information, mismanaging his trust account, making false statements to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission and failing to cooperate in the disciplinary process.   

Indiana Court of Appeals
Katelin Eunjoo Seo v. State of Indiana
29A05-1710-CR-2466
Criminal. Reverses the order for Katelin Seo to unlock her iPhone 7 as part of a criminal investigation. Finds compelling Seo to unlock the phone would violate her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Remands for further proceedings. Judge Patricia Riley concurs in result without separate opinion. Judge Melissa May dissents with separate opinion. 

Indiana Court of Appeals
A.M. v. State of Indiana 
18A-JV-618
Juvenile. Affirms the placement of then-15-year-old A.M. in the Department of Correction after multiple findings against him. The Kosciusko Superior Court acted within its discretion in modifying A.M.’s placement, and he was not denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.  

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Elliott Levin v. William Miller, et al. 
17-1775
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Sarah Evans Barker. 
Civil. Affirms the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of three former Irwin Union Bank & Trust Co. executives. Finds the record clearly establishes that on the advice of government regulators and expert outside legal counsel, the board of directors prioritized saving the banks, and the officers had no authority to second-guess the board’s judgment with their own independent investigation.  

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
USA v. Tyrone Miller
17-3514
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr.
Criminal. Affirms Tyrone Miller’s conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon but remands for resentencing. Finds the district court judge miscalculated the number of Miller’s prior felonies, subsequently imposing an inaccurate sentence.

The following 7th Circuit Court opinions were posted after IL deadline on Tuesday.
USA v. Johnny Jones
17-2658
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Jon E. DeGuilio.
Criminal. Affirms Johnny Jones’ 145-month sentence and conviction of possessing and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Finds the trial court properly calculated the drug quantity in Jones’ possession and applied the enhancement for possession of a weapon.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Jordan Allen-Wilson v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
18A-CR-201 
Criminal. Affirms Jordan Allen-Wilson’s 10-year executed sentence and conviction of Level 2 felony robbery resulting in serious bodily injury. The Hendricks Superior Court did not err in failing to rebut his mistake-of-fact defense, and the sentence was not inappropriate. 

Indiana Court of Appeals

Nicole Kingrey v. Michael Kingrey (mem. dec.)
18A-DR-533
Domestic relation. Affirms the Harrison Circuit Court’s decision awarding sole physical and legal custody of minor child B.K. to father, Michael Kingrey. Finds the trial court did not abuse its discretion or err in modifying custody.

Indiana Supreme Court
In the Matter of the Honorable Ryan D. Johanningsmeier, Judge of the Knox Superior Court 2
18S-JD-351
Judicial discipline. Reprimands Knox Superior Court 2 Judge Ryan D. Johanningsmeier.  Under a Statement of Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline, finds Johanningsmeier engaged in judicial misconduct by his actions in, and failure to recuse from, a close friend’s traffic-infraction case. Finds Johanningsmeier violated six provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Daniel T. O'Bryant, D.B.A. O'Bryant Transport LLC v. Alan P. Adams, Luan Adams, D.B.A., A.L.A. Trucking, Inc.
48A02-1711-PL-2709
Civil plenary. Affirms the Madison Circuit Court’s dismissal of Daniel O’Bryant’s claims against A.L.A. Trucking, Inc for breach of contract. Finds the trial court did not err when it dismissed O’Bryant’s claim due to the forum selection clause in an independent contractor agreement, so the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied O’Bryant’s motion to correct error.

Indiana Supreme Court
In the Matter of Charles R. Huston
18S-DI-258
Disciplinary. Finds Charles Huston in contempt for practicing law while suspended and extends his suspension to a minimum of two years without automatic reinstatement. Orders Huston to pay a fine and orders him to serve 15 days in prison if the fine is not timely paid.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of E.A.G. (Minor Child); C.L. (Mother) and A.G. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.)
18A-JT-293
Juvenile termination. Affirms the Dearborn Circuit Court’s termination of A.G. and C.L.’s parental rights over their minor child, E.G. Finds the totality of the evidence, including the parents’ historical inability to provide a safe and stable home and their failure to maintain contact with E.G., supports the trial court’s conclusion that termination of parental rights is in E.G.’s best interest. 

Indiana Court of Appeals 
Beverly K. Oswald v. Tarek Shehadeh and Falon Vela
29A02-1711-PL-2627
Civil plenary. Reverses the Hamilton Superior Court’s decision to dismiss a breach of contract suit that found Indiana lacked personal jurisdiction over the defendants over Tarek Shehadeh and Falon Vela. Finds both defendants had sufficient minimum contacts with Indiana for the court to exercise personal jurisdiction over them. Also finds their due process rights will not be violated by proceeding Indiana. Remands for further proceedings.  

7th Circuit Court of Appeals 
Susan Spicher v. Nancy Berryhill 
17‐3399
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division. Judge William C. Lee
Civil. Reverse and remands the denial of social security disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income to Susan Spicher. Finds the administrative law judge did not provide reasoning for her rejection of medical observations that undercut her conclusion. Remands for the ALJ to address Dr. Crystal Strong’s recommendation that Spicher regularly ambulate and evidence that Spicher could not perform certain postural activities and account for the effects of Spicher’s humerus fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

Indiana Court of Appeals
In Re: The Adoption of S.M.S., F.V. v. J.S. and A.S. (mem. dec.)
18A-AD-517
Adoption. Affirms the adoption of S.M.S. to grandparents J.S. and A.S. Finds the Clinton Circuit Court did not err in concluding that F.V. impliedly consented to the adoption. Finds the adoption is in the best interest of S.M.S. and not clearly erroneous.

The following 7th Circuit Court opinion was posted after IL deadline on Tuesday.
Mark McCleskey v. CWG Plastering, LLC
17‐1980
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Larry J. McKinney.

Civil. Reverses and remands the Indiana Southern District Court’s decision to grant summary judgment to CWG Plastering, LLC. Finds the appellants provided enough evidence to support their case, concluding the district court was too quick to grant summary judgment in favor of CWG Plastering, LLC. Judges Frank Easterbrook and David Hamilton concur with separate opinions.

Indiana Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of Z.B., D.B., L.B., Me.B., Ma.B. (Minor Children) and A.B. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services, et al.
18A-JT-318 
Juvenile termination of parental rights. Affirms the Delaware Circuit Court's termination of mother A.B.'s parental rights, holding that a court-appointed special advocate may prosecute a TPR case even when the Department of Child Services objects.

Indiana Court of Appeals
Dennis Knight v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
71A04-1711-PC-2748
Post-conviction. Affirms the St. Joseph Superior Court’s order to prepare a new 
pre-sentence investigation report for Dennis Knight. Finds Knight waived the argument that he was entitled to any relief based on the trial court sentencing him without a PSI because he failed to raise such an argument on direct appeal. Also finds, waiver notwithstanding, that Knight’s argument that such an error would entitle him to a new trial was meritless. Finally, finds Knight failed to show any prejudice resulting from the post-conviction court resentencing him.  

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Planned Parenthood of Indiana v. Commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health, et al.
17-1883
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Tayna Walton Pratt.
Civil. Affirms the preliminary injunction against Indiana House Enrolled Act 1337. Finds the law raises burdens to a woman’s right to an abortion as established in Roe v. Wade. Judge Michael Kanne concurs with a separate opinion.

7th Circuit Court of Appeals
USA v. Keenan Davis
17-2814
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division. Chief Judge Theresa L. Springmann.
Affirms Kennan Davis’ conviction of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Finds the evidence, including testimony from police and Davis’ 6-year-old daughter, were admissible and sufficient to support the convictions.