To revoke probation for failure to comply with a financial condition, the State has the burden to prove by a preponderance that the condition was violated and that the violation was reckless, knowing, or intentional; the probationer has the burden to present “facts related to an inability to pay and indicating sufficient bona fide efforts to pay so as to persuade the trial court that further imprisonment should not be ordered.”
Supreme
Akard v. State, No. 79S02-1009-CR-478, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Dec. 9, 2010)
An appellate review increase in defendant’s sentence, while within an appellate court’s authority under Appellate Rule 7(B), is not ordered in this case, particularly since the State agreed that the sentence the trial judge imposed was appropriate.
T.R.W. Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc. v. Moore, No. 73S05-0909-CV-404, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Oct. 13, 2010)
Wrongful death damages for dependent child’s loss of father erroneously included period of father’s projected life span after child would be emancipated; remittitur ordered to correct error. When fault had been erroneously attributed to nonparties, retrial of the fault allocation was required.
Termination of Parent-Child Relationship of I.A., No. 62S01-1003-JV-148, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Oct. 5, 2010)
Evidence to terminate father’s parental rights was insufficient in this case in which the child had not been living with the father.
Hopper v. State, No. 13S01-1007-PC-399, __ N.E.2d __ (Ind., Sept. 29, 2010)
A defendant seeking to waive counsel and proceed pro se should not only be advised of the dangers of going to trial without a lawyer, as required by Faretta v. California, but should also “be informed that an attorney is usually more experienced in plea negotiations and better able to identify and evaluate any potential defenses and evidentiary or procedural problems in the prosecution’s case.”