When the permanency plan for a child adjudicated a CHINS provides for appointment of a guardian under Ind. Code 31-34-21-7.7, the filing of a guardianship petition and notice of the petition and hearing are statutory prerequisites for appointment of a permanent guardian. The trial judge cannot “open” the guardianship without a guardianship petition and notice.
Feeman v. State, No. 23A-CR-2503, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 24, 2024).
When a defendant is charged with a crime against another person, the victim’s identity is a material element of the offense that the State must specifically allege in the charging information and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anderson v. State, No. 24A-CR-152, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 24, 2024).
The affirmative defense of human trafficking does not negate any elements of a prostitution charge; rather, it operates by entirely excusing the culpability for engaging in prostitution. Accordingly, a defendant may properly be assigned the burden to prove the defense by a preponderance of evidence.
Mishler v. Union-North United School Corp., No. 23A-MI-1019, __N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 11, 2024).
The Claims Against Public School Act (“CAPSA”) is not a pre-suit notice law parallel to the ITCA. A court is required to dismiss claims that fail to submit proper notice to the public school.
Hetty, Inc. v. Weems, No. 24A-SC-148, __N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., June 14, 2024).
In a small claims matter, defendant was not required to formally plead a nonparty defense.