G.B. v. State

715 N.E.2d 951, 1999 Ind. App. LEXIS 1467
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 31, 1999
DocketNo. 45A03-9810-JV-436
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 715 N.E.2d 951 (G.B. v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
G.B. v. State, 715 N.E.2d 951, 1999 Ind. App. LEXIS 1467 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

OPINION

BAILEY, Judge

Case Summary

Appellant-Petitioner G.B. appeals the trial court’s Order which denied her Indiana Trial Rule 60(B) motion for relief from her initial adjudication as a delinquent, and subsequent parole violation. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Issue

G.B. raises three issues on appeal which we consolidate and restate as one: Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it denied G.B.’s T.R. 60(B) motion as untimely.

Facts

On August 20, 1996, G.B. admitted to allegations of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Disorderly Conduct. (R. 88-89). However, the Magistrate for the juvenile court misstated G.B.’s second charged offense as Resisting Law Enforcement, rather than Disorderly Conduct. (R. 89).

Count II of the petition reads as follows: ... [G.B.] did knowingly and intentionally engage in tumultuous conduct by attempting to strike other persons with a chair while in the Cedar Lake Police Department. That’s in violation of Indiana Code 35 — 45—1—3(1) [cite for Disorderly Conduct], that would be Resisting Law Enforcement, a class B Misdemeanor if you’re an adult. Do you admit or deny doing that? [G.B.]: I admit.

(R. 88-89) (emphasis added). The juvenile court accepted G.B.’s admission and adjudicated her delinquent on September 9, 1996. (R. 90, 62). G.B. was placed on probation on November 4,1996. (R. 53).

Following an alleged violation of probation, a modification hearing was held on May 15, 1997, at which G.B. and her mother signed a waiver of G.B.’s right to counsel. (R. 48, 121). Prior to G.B. signing the waiver of her right to counsel, the following exchange took place:

[G.B.]: I want a lawyer or a public defender.
[Juvenile Court]: Your mom just waived your rights to an attorney, sign the papers.

(R. 121). Thereafter, the modification hearing continued and G.B. admitted to violating her probation. (R. 46, 122). G.B. was adjudicated a child in need of services, and ordered committed to the Department of Correction until she reached the age of eighteen. (R. 46-47,125).

On March 18, 1998, G.B. filed a T.R. 60 motion for relief from judgment, in which she argued in part as follows; that the juvenile court mistakenly adjudicated G.B. on the charge of Resisting Law Enforcement, and that she was denied her statutory and constitutional right to counsel at her modification hearing. (R. 27-30). G.B. moved to expunge her juvenile record on September 1, 1998. (R. 21-25). On September 15, 1998, the juvenile court denied G.B. relief, ruling as follows:

Court having taken this matter under advisement, [G.B.’s] motion for Relief of Judgment pursuant to Indiana Rule 60(B)(8) is denied as being untimely filed. Motion was filed after one year from date that judgment was entered. Motion to expunge is also denied.

(R. 13). This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision

Standard of Revieiv

The grant or denial of a motion for relief from judgment is left to the equitable discretion of the trial court. We will reverse only for abuse of that discretion. Mercantile National Bank of Indiana v. Teamsters Union Local # 142 Pension Fund, 668 N.E.2d [953]*9531269, 1271 (Ind.Ct.App.1996). An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s denial is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and inferences supporting the judgment for relief. Showalter v. Brubaker, 650 N.E.2d 693 (Ind.Ct.App.1995). On a motion for relief from judgment, the burden is on the movant to demonstrate that relief is both necessary and just. Levin v. Levin, 645 N.E.2d 601, 604 (Ind.1994).

Mistake at Modification Hearing— T.R. 60(B)(1)
G.B. contends that the juvenile court mistakenly adjudicated her of Resisting Law Enforcement, rather than Disorderly Conduct. The record reflects that the juvenile court correctly stated the elements of, and Indiana Code cite for, Disorderly Conduct - but misstated such offense as Resisting Law Enforcement.1
Based upon this mistake, G.B. claims that the juvenile court should have granted her relief from the adjudication pursuant to T.R. 60(B)(1). Trial Rule 60(B)(1) reads in pertinent part as follows:
Rule 60. Relief from judgment or order
(B) Mistake-Excusable neglect-Newly discovered evidence-Fraud, etc.
On motion and upon such terms as are just the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from an entry of default, final order, or final judgment, including a judgment by default, for the following reasons:
(1) mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect
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The motion shall be filed ... not more than one year after judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken for reasons (1), (2), (3), and (4). A movant filing a motion for reasons (1), (2), (3), (4), and (8) must allege a meritorious claim or defense. Consequently, G.B. was required to file her “mistake” claim within one year of the juvenile court’s September 9, 1996 adjudication. G.B.’s 60(B) motion was not filed until March' 18, 1998. (R. 27). Accordingly, G.B. failed to timely file her 60(B)(1) “mistake” claim.
Waiver of Counsel — T.R. 60(B)(8)
G.B. further contends that she was denied her right to counsel at the. modification hearing held by the juvenile court on May 15, 1997. (Brief of Appellant at 5-7). The State argues that G.B.’s T.R. 60(B)(8) Motion was not timely filed, thereby precluding the juvenile court from considering the merits of G.B.’s “right to counsel” contention.
Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(8) provides in pertinent part as follows:
Rule 60. Relief from judgment or order
(B) Mistake-Excusable neglect-Newly discovered evidence-Fraud, etc.
On motion and upon such terms as are just the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from an entry of default, final order, or final judgment, including a judgment by default, for the following reasons:
(8) any reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment, other than those reasons set forth in sub-paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4).
The motion shall be filed within a reasonable time for reasons (5), (6), (7), and (8) ... A movant filing a motion for reasons (1), (2), (3), (4) and (8) must allege a meritorious claim or defense.

(Emphasis added). The determination of what constitutes a reasonable time varies with the circumstances of each case. Levin v. Levin, 645 N.E.2d 601, 604 (Ind.1994). Relevant to the question of timeliness is prejudice to the party opposing the motion and the basis for the moving party’s delay. Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
715 N.E.2d 951, 1999 Ind. App. LEXIS 1467, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gb-v-state-indctapp-1999.