Only parents, grandparents and step-parents have standing to pursue visitation with a child.
Branham v. Varble & Chastain, No. 62S01-1103-SC-14, ___ N.E.2d ___ (Ind., Aug. 30, 2011)
Self-represented parties in small claims court do not forfeit the generic exemption statute and the Social Security exemptions even if the litigants do not know enough to plead them; even if an information of contempt has not been filed, a court does not err when it orders a party to return for status checks a limited number of times; orders to seek employment or to seek better employment are not a proper part of a proceeding supplemental.
Feuston v. State, No. 38A02-1011-CR-1175, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Aug. 19, 2011).
Trial court has no duty to set a trial date when defendant absconds and fails to appear; Criminal Rule 4(C) one year did not begin to run until defendant’s notice of his incarceration in another county and request for trial were received by the trial court and the prosecutor; fact jail may have known of defendant’s presence in the other county was not attributable to court and prosecutor in this case.
Bex v. State, No. 53A01-1008-CR-422, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Aug. 22, 2011).
Federal Constitution permits trial by a jury of five when a jury of six is provided for by law, without alternates by agreement, and, due to an emergency, a juror is excused; consent to trial by five under such circumstances may be given by counsel, as a matter of trial strategy.
Perry v. State, No. 49A05-1012-CR-774, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Aug. 22, 2011).
Admission of hospital nurse’s record of statements assault victim made to nurse, including identity of attacker, did not violate either the hearsay rule or the Crawford Confrontation Clause rule.