State v. Marion Superior Court

Andrew H. Hull, Laurie E. Martin, Hoover Hull Turner LLP, Indianapolis, IN, Daniel R. Lombard, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, Chicago, IL, Steven Menashi, Jay P. Lefkowitz, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, NY, Attorneys for Opposing Party International Business Machines Corporation.

After a bench trial and judgment in the underlying contract dispute, this Court reversed in part and remanded to the trial court with instructions to resolve remaining issues. State v. Int'l Bus. Machines Corp., 51 N.E.3d 150 (Ind.2016). The Clerk certified that opinion on May 6, 2016. Later that day, the State moved for a change of judge under Indiana Trial Rule 76(C)(3) in the underlying case, No. 49D10–1005–PL–21451. The State soon filed this original action, seeking a writ compelling the trial court to vacate all orders issued in the underlying case since certification and grant its motion for change of judge. International Business Machines Corporation opposes that request and argues, among other things, that the State is not entitled to a change of judge.

This Court has exclusive, original jurisdiction to supervise the exercise of jurisdiction by other Indiana courts. See Ind. Const. art. 7, § 4 ; Ind. Original Action Rule 1. The Court's participating members have reviewed and discussed the filed materials. The Court's majority concludes the State is entitled to a change of judge. Accordingly, the Respondents, the Marion Superior Court and the Hon. David J. Dreyer, are ordered to vacate all orders issued in the underlying case on or after May 6, 2016, and to grant the change of judge. Judge Dreyer is prohibited from exercising jurisdiction in the underlying case except that necessary to comply with this opinion and effectuate the change of judge. This opinion is final and effective immediately; petitions for rehearing or motions to reconsider are not allowed. See Orig. Act. R. 5(C).

MASSA, J., not participating.

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