DCS was not required to make a reasonable effort to reunify children with foster parents when it was not in the children’s best interest. Foster parents were not entitled to intervene in CHINS case.
Appeals
Easterday v. Everhart, No. 22A-DC-1510, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 6, 2023).
The trial court erred when it based the modification of child’s legal custody solely on religion; totally prohibiting father from discussing religion with child violates his First Amendment right to free speech.
Passarelli v. State, No. 22A-CR-1116, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Jan. 9, 2023).
The objective component of self-defense, as adopted by our courts, is analyzed from the standpoint of an ordinary “reasonable person.” The question being presented to the fact-finder is whether an ordinary reasonable person would have responded with deadly force if confronted with the same circumstances that defendant confronted.
In re Guardianship of Weber v. Weber, No. 21A-GU-2680, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Dec. 20, 2022).
After trial court granted spouse’s spousal support for Medicaid purposes, trial court properly allowed Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to intervene; FSSA was entitled to relief from judgment because the facts did not support spousal maintenance.
Chatman v. State, No. 22A-CR-934, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind. Ct. App., Dec. 22, 2022).
Diagnostic testimony from a medical professional based on information acquired from other professionals is inadmissible hearsay; however, the same testimony may be admissible under Evidence Rule 703, which provides: “An expert may base an opinion on facts or data in the case that the expert has been made aware of or personally observed. Experts may testify to opinions based on inadmissible evidence, provided that it is of the type reasonably relied upon by experts in the field.”