Verdict . News

2w ago•4 min read

•Indiana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed murder conviction and life without parole sentence for Anthony Wayne Carter

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Murder Conviction and Life Sentence

The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Anthony Wayne Carter's murder conviction and life imprisonment without parole sentence on Feb. 4, 2026. Carter had challenged the trial court's refusal to instruct the jury on lesser charges and the sufficiency of evidence supporting a statutory torture aggravator that enhanced his sentence.

•Carter challenged trial court's refusal to instruct jury on lesser charge of reckless homicide and sufficiency of torture aggravator evidence

Dec 17, 2025•4 min read

•Athlete Taliyah Brooks sued USA Track & Field after heat-related injuries prevented Olympic team qualification

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Olympic Trials Heat Injury Case

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled December 17 in a case involving athlete Taliyah Brooks, who suffered heat-related injuries during the 2020 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. The court's decision clarifies application of the final judgment rule in civil litigation.

•Indiana Supreme Court ruled on final judgment rule application after Brooks' motion to amend complaint was denied

Dec 17, 2025•4 min read

•Indiana Supreme Court reversed Taylor's conviction 3-2, finding Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause violation

Indiana Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Over Confrontation Clause Violation

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine witnesses was violated when a trial court admitted a drug dealer's statement without allowing confrontation. The decision reverses a conviction in a case involving fatal drug overdose.

•Trial court improperly admitted drug dealer's statement identifying Taylor without allowing cross-examination

Dec 11, 2025•4 min read

•Attorney suspended for 30 days with automatic reinstatement for neglecting client's immigration case

Indiana Attorney Suspended 30 Days for Neglecting Immigration Case

The Indiana Supreme Court suspended attorney Edgardo Javier Martinez Suarez for 30 days with automatic reinstatement after finding he engaged in professional misconduct by neglecting a client's immigration matter. The disciplinary action was based on a stipulated agreement between the attorney and the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.

•Discipline resulted from stipulated agreement between attorney and Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission

Nov 20, 2025•4 min read

•Supreme Court ruling addresses constitutional separation of powers between legislative and judicial authority

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Constitutional Separation of Powers

The Indiana Supreme Court issued a ruling in Kortney Lee Elzey v. State of Indiana addressing fundamental questions about the separation of powers under Article 4, Section 1 of the state Constitution. The decision emerged from a complex criminal case involving multiple felony charges and highlighted tensions between legislative statutes and judicial rules.

•Case involves conflict between state law requiring public defender representation and more restrictive court rules

Nov 13, 2025•4 min read

•Appeal waivers function like contract provisions and only bar appeals within their defined scope

Indiana Supreme Court Limits Criminal Appeal Waivers in Sentencing Cases

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in Anderson v. State that criminal defendants can challenge certain sentences even after signing comprehensive appeal waivers. The court held that appeal waivers only bar challenges within their scope and cannot prevent appeals of 'illegal' sentences that fall outside statutory ranges or violate constitutional protections.

•Even comprehensive waivers cannot prevent challenges to 'illegal' sentences outside statutory ranges or violating constitutional protections

Nov 13, 2025•4 min read

•Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals cannot revoke conditional use permits 11 months after approval based on claimed legal error

Indiana Supreme Court Bars Zoning Boards from Revoking Approved Permits

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled that local zoning boards cannot revoke conditional use permits months after approval based on claims of legal error. The November 13, 2025 decision in Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals v. Bedford Recycling, Inc. establishes important precedent limiting municipal authority to reverse zoning decisions.

•Indiana Supreme Court ruled zoning boards lack inherent or common law authority to reconsider final orders without statutory authorization

Nov 6, 2025•4 min read

•Commercial real estate broker Andrew Nemeth sued the Panzica brothers over a failed LLC partnership arrangement for developing commercial property

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Commercial Real Estate Partnership Dispute

The Indiana Supreme Court issued a decision in Andrew Nemeth Properties, LLC v. William A. Panzica, resolving a commercial real estate partnership dispute between broker Andrew Nemeth and the Panzica brothers' architecture firm. The case involved disagreements over the formation and operation of a limited liability company intended to develop commercial property for shared profits.

•The parties failed to document their business agreement in writing, leading to disputes over LLC membership when their relationship deteriorated

Oct 21, 2025•4 min read

•Indiana Supreme Court decided complex insurance assignment case involving Bradley Baldwin and Standard Fire Insurance Company

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Complex Insurance Assignment Dispute

The Indiana Supreme Court issued a decision October 21, 2025, in a complex insurance case involving Bradley Baldwin as assignee versus Standard Fire Insurance Company. The case centers on insurance assignment rights and involves multiple parties including estates and various insurance companies.

•Case addresses insurer dilemmas when coverage is insufficient to satisfy multiple claimants