Shannon Richard v. Vernon Robinson (mem. dec.)

CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 8, 2019
Docket18A-SC-719
StatusPublished

This text of Shannon Richard v. Vernon Robinson (mem. dec.) (Shannon Richard v. Vernon Robinson (mem. dec.)) 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
Shannon Richard v. Vernon Robinson (mem. dec.), (Ind. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED this Memorandum Decision shall not be Jan 08 2019, 8:47 am regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court

estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT Bryce Runkle Peru, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Shannon Richard, January 8, 2019 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 18A-SC-719 v. Appeal from the Miami Superior Court Vernon Robinson, The Honorable J. David Grund, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 52D01-1706-SC-391

Robb, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-719 | January 8, 2019 Page 1 of 18 Case Summary and Issues [1] Landlord Vernon Robinson filed suit against his tenant, Shannon Richard,

seeking possession and past due rent. After a damages hearing, the trial court

issued a judgment in Robinson’s favor. Richard subsequently filed a motion to

correct error seeking a new trial and the trial court set it for hearing but did not

issue an order within thirty days of the hearing. Over thirty days after the

hearing, the trial court rescheduled the hearing on the motion to allow the

presentation of the evidence. Richard now raises five issues on appeal, which

we consolidate and restate as: (1) whether Richard’s motion to correct error was

deemed denied as a matter of law; and (2) whether the evidence supports the

trial court’s judgment. Concluding the motion was deemed denied but that the

evidence does not support the trial court’s judgment, we reverse.

Facts and Procedural History [2] Richard and Robinson entered into an oral lease agreement for Richard to rent

Robinson’s South Lincoln Street property for $650 per month, subject to a $50

late fee. Richard provided a $650 security deposit. Richard had been

Robinson’s tenant for about three years when, on June 22, 2017, Robinson filed

a verified claim against Richard seeking immediate possession and past due rent

in the amount of $2,350, plus interest and court costs. See Appellant’s

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-719 | January 8, 2019 Page 2 of 18 Appendix, Volume 2 at 40.1 Robinson subsequently filed an amended claim on

July 17 for past due rent in the amount of $2,850 plus interest and court costs.

Id. at 42. On August 21, the parties appeared for a possession hearing at which

Richard notified the trial court she had vacated the premises.

[3] A damages hearing was held on October 30 and both parties appeared pro se.

Robinson presented a summary of damages in the amount of $6,120.06, which

reflected costs for cleaning and trash removal, painting and drywall, HVAC

repairs, floor replacement, five months of past due rent and late fees, damage

and repair cost to the property, and court fees. Richard explained to the court

that she and Robinson had “discussed the condition of the floors . . . they were

already bad from the previous lady that lived there [who] had three dogs” and

Robinson was supposed to replace the floor while Richard lived there.

Transcript, Volume II at 14. Robinson conceded the carpet in the home was

from the previous owner. Richard also detailed various problems she

encountered with the property, including a leak in the master bathroom, high

levels of carbon monoxide in the home, and that the air conditioning had

ceased working. Richard alleged Robinson had refused to remedy these issues.

[4] After the hearing, the trial court issued judgment in favor of Robinson in the

amount of $4,849.39 plus interest and court costs. Appellant’s App., Vol. 2 at

1 We take this opportunity to direct Richard’s counsel’s attention to Indiana Appellate Rule 50 regarding the contents and assembly of appendices. Rule 50(F) states that the parties “should not reproduce any portion of the Transcript in the Appendix.” Richard’s appendix includes a copy of the complete transcript.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-719 | January 8, 2019 Page 3 of 18 7. Following entry of the judgment, Richard obtained counsel who filed a

Motion to Correct Error on November 29. In the motion, Richard, by counsel,

argued: (1) she was entitled to a new trial due to surprise because she “never

received notice that [Robinson] was seeking damages for repairs” to the

property and there was “newly available evidence” relevant to that claim; (2)

Robinson failed to provide an itemized list of damages within forty-five days

after termination of occupancy as required by statute; and (3) the pleadings and

evidence do not support a judgment of $4,849.39. Id., Vol. 3 at 2-3. Attached

to the motion was Richard’s affidavit, which stated, in part:

I was not aware prior to trial that [Robinson] would be seeking damages for repairs to the leased premises in addition to back rent. [Robinson’s] pleadings only provided me with notice that [he] was seeking back rent . . . . I was surprised at trial when [Robinson] sought damages for repairs . . . .

Prior to trial, I made a diligent effort to secure evidence concerning the back rent. Because I did not have notice that damages for repairs to the leased premises would be sought at trial, I did not have an opportunity to research the law including my legal rights concerning damages for repairs to the leased premises. I also did not have an opportunity to gather evidence to introduce concerning damages for repairs . . .

Id., Vol. 3 at 10-11.

[5] The trial court set the motion to correct error for hearing on Monday, January

22, 2018. The Friday before the hearing, Richard’s counsel received notice that

eleven other cases had been scheduled for the same half hour period as

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-719 | January 8, 2019 Page 4 of 18 Richard’s scheduled hearing. On the morning of January 22, Richard’s counsel

filed a motion for a continuance indicating his belief he was required to present

evidence on the motion and requesting that the hearing be rescheduled if there

was going to be insufficient time to hear testimony at the hearing. After hearing

arguments on both the motion to correct error and the motion to continue, the

trial court took the matter under advisement. On February 28, the trial court

rescheduled the hearing for May 10. That same day, Richard filed a motion for

application to extend time, in which she argued the motion was deemed denied

on February 21 and requested that the trial court apply to the Indiana Supreme

Court for an extension of time to rule on the motion. The trial court issued an

order on March 7 explaining that at the January 22 hearing, the court

“questioned the necessity of [Richard] presenting evidence as opposed to

argument only” but gave Richard leave to submit a memorandum regarding the

presentation of evidence, continuing the January 22 hearing “to allow sufficient

time on the Court’s calendar and further allow the Court to rule on the

necessity or propriety of the presentation of evidence[.]” Appellant’s App., Vol.

3 at 37-38. The trial court was of the opinion that the motion to correct error

remained pending until it was heard but directed Richard to “take whatever

steps deemed necessary to preserve or protect [her] right of appeal.”

Appellant’s App., Vol. 3 at 39. Richard filed a notice of appeal on March 22,

2018.

Discussion and Decision

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