Statute requiring Department of Child Services (DCS) to protect reporter identity (Ind. Code § 31-33-18-2) does not create a a private right of action; there was also no common-law basis for to impose a duty on DCS for confidentiality.
Supreme
Price v. Ind. Dept. of Child Svcs., No. 49S05-1705-PL-285, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Aug. 28, 2017).
A judicial mandate cannot be issued to control Department of Child Services caseload requirements.
McAlpin v. State, No. 39S01-1705-CR-342, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Aug. 14, 2017).
Drug-free zone sentencing enhancement was proper as jury could infer that a minor’s presence was reasonably expected in a public park even though school was in session and it did not have benches, playgrounds, or trees.
Bd. of Cmm’r of Union Cty. v. McGuinness, No. 81S01-1708-PL-529, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Aug. 15, 2017).
County did not have third-party standing to sue on behalf of its residents.
Leonard v. State, No. 02S00-1604-LW-185, __ N.E.3d __ (Ind., Aug. 11, 2017).
In the Richmond Hill explosion murder case, the evidence was sufficient to support the murder convictions and the statutory aggravator; the trial court properly refused to include the lesser-included jury instruction; and, Indiana’s life without parole statute is constitutional.