Indiana Case Commentaries

Delegation of Fire Sprinkler Maintenance in Commercial Leases: Indiana Supreme Court Reaffirms Contractual Freedom but Requires Clarity

Date: May 25, 1995

Delegation of Fire Sprinkler Maintenance in Commercial Leases: Indiana Supreme Court Reaffirms Contractual Freedom but Requires Clarity Introduction The case of Fresh Cut, Inc. v. Bert Fazli (650...

SPRANGER v. STATE: Clarifying Standards of Review for Negative Judgments in Post-Conviction Relief

Date: May 25, 1995

SPRANGER v. STATE: Clarifying Standards of Review for Negative Judgments in Post-Conviction Relief Introduction In the landmark case of SPRANGER v. STATE (1995), the Supreme Court of Indiana...

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Trash Searches Under Article I, § 11

Date: May 13, 1995

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Trash Searches Under Article I, § 11 Introduction In the landmark case of Moran & Holland v. State of Indiana (644 N.E.2d 536, 1995), the Supreme Court of...

Limitation of Aggravating Circumstances in Death Penalty Sentencing: Indiana Supreme Court Sets New Precedent

Date: Mar 10, 1995

Limitation of Aggravating Circumstances in Death Penalty Sentencing: Indiana Supreme Court Sets New Precedent Introduction Gerald W. Bivins, the appellant and defendant, was convicted in the Supreme...

Harrison v. State of Indiana: Mandating Specific Sentencing Orders in Capital Cases

Date: Jan 5, 1995

Harrison v. State of Indiana: Mandating Specific Sentencing Orders in Capital Cases Introduction Harrison v. State of Indiana, 644 N.E.2d 1243 (Ind. 1995), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court...

Expanding the Scope of Direct Criminal Contempt: Upholding Judicial Integrity Beyond Formal Proceedings

Date: Nov 29, 1994

Expanding the Scope of Direct Criminal Contempt: Upholding Judicial Integrity Beyond Formal Proceedings Introduction The case of Frank HOPPING v. STATE of Indiana (637 N.E.2d 1294) presents a pivotal...

Independent Standards for Privileges and Immunities: Indiana Supreme Court in COLLINS v. DAY

Date: Nov 29, 1994

Independent Standards for Privileges and Immunities: Indiana Supreme Court in COLLINS v. DAY Introduction In COLLINS v. DAY (644 N.E.2d 72, Supreme Court of Indiana, 1994), the Indiana Supreme Court...

Perry v. Stitzer Buick: Indiana Supreme Court Expands Jurisdiction Over Employee's Common Law Claims

Date: Nov 2, 1994

Perry v. Stitzer Buick: Indiana Supreme Court Expands Jurisdiction Over Employee's Common Law Claims Introduction Perry v. Stitzer Buick GMC, Inc., et al. is a landmark case adjudicated by the...

Fundamental Error in Attempted Murder Conviction: LOWERY v. STATE

Date: Oct 5, 1994

Fundamental Error in Attempted Murder Conviction: LOWERY v. STATE Introduction Jim Lowery, the appellant, appealed a judgment denying his post-conviction relief in the case of LOWERY v. STATE, 640...

City of South Bend v. Mullin: Defining Governmental Immunity and Duty Under the Indiana Tort Claims Act

Date: Aug 20, 1994

City of South Bend v. Mullin: Defining Governmental Immunity and Duty Under the Indiana Tort Claims Act Introduction City of South Bend v. Mullin (639 N.E.2d 278) is a pivotal case decided by the...

Effective Assistance of Counsel and Habitual Offender Determination in William Perry v. State of Indiana

Date: Aug 11, 1994

Effective Assistance of Counsel and Habitual Offender Determination in William Perry v. State of Indiana Introduction William Perry v. State of Indiana, 638 N.E.2d 1236 (Supreme Court of Indiana,...

Individual Liability in Employment Contract Breach: Insights from Winkler v. Reed Sons

Date: Jul 29, 1994

Individual Liability in Employment Contract Breach: Insights from Winkler v. Reed Sons Introduction The case of Ronnie WINKLER v. V.G. REED SONS, INC., Arthur S. Overbay, Jr., and Typoservice...

Fundamental Error in Verdict Instruction and Double Jeopardy Implications in TOWNSEND v. STATE

Date: Apr 19, 1994

Fundamental Error in Verdict Instruction and Double Jeopardy Implications in TOWNSEND v. STATE Introduction Scott D. TOWNSEND v. STATE of Indiana, 632 N.E.2d 727 (Supreme Court of Indiana, 1994), is...

Stricter Standards for Inventory Searches of Impounded Vehicles Established by Indiana Supreme Court

Date: Dec 31, 1993

Stricter Standards for Inventory Searches of Impounded Vehicles Established by Indiana Supreme Court Introduction The case of James FAIR v. STATE of Indiana (627 N.E.2d 427) represents a pivotal...

Indiana Supreme Court Narrows Rule 404(b) Interpretation in WICKIZER v. STATE

Date: Dec 28, 1993

Indiana Supreme Court Narrows Rule 404(b) Interpretation in WICKIZER v. STATE Introduction WICKIZER v. STATE, 626 N.E.2d 795 (Ind. 1993), is a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of Indiana...

Indiana Supreme Court Reinforces Political Speech Protections under State Constitution in Colleen Price Case

Date: Nov 2, 1993

Indiana Supreme Court Reinforces Political Speech Protections under State Constitution in Colleen Price Case Introduction The Colleen PRICE v. STATE of Indiana case represents a significant...

Affirming Discretion in Custody Modification under Joint Legal Custody: Analysis of RICHARDSON v. MORGAN

Date: Oct 28, 1993

Affirming Discretion in Custody Modification under Joint Legal Custody: Analysis of RICHARDSON v. MORGAN Introduction In Re the Marriage of Ranaye (Morgan) Richardson, Appellant, and Daniel G....

Establishing Tort Liability for Bad Faith in Insurance Claims: Erie Insurance Co. v. Hickman

Date: Oct 28, 1993

Establishing Tort Liability for Bad Faith in Insurance Claims: Erie Insurance Co. v. Hickman Introduction In the landmark case of Erie Insurance Company v. Ramona Hickman, the Supreme Court of...

Burden of Proof in Post-Conviction Relief for Habitual Offender Status: WEATHERFORD v. STATE

Date: Oct 26, 1993

Burden of Proof in Post-Conviction Relief for Habitual Offender Status: WEATHERFORD v. STATE Introduction The case of Michael WEATHERFORD v. STATE of Indiana (619 N.E.2d 915) presents a pivotal...

Indiana Supreme Court Sets New Precedent on Jury Deliberation Fatigue: FARRELL v. STATE of Indiana

Date: Oct 23, 1993

Indiana Supreme Court Sets New Precedent on Jury Deliberation Fatigue: FARRELL v. STATE of Indiana Introduction In the landmark case of FARRELL v. STATE of Indiana, 622 N.E.2d 488 (Ind. 1993), the...