The Indiana Court of Appeals will visit Indiana University East at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, to hear oral argument. The court case will be argued in Vivian Auditorium, located in Whitewater Hall.

The event is sponsored by the Criminal Justice Program of the IU East School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Wayne County Bar Association.

Assistant Professor of Political Science E. Scott Lee is the faculty coordinator for the event.

Judge Robert R. Altice

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students and the community alike to come and sit in on a live Indiana Court of Appeals session here on our campus. This does not happen very often and much will be learned about our state’s court system by attending and then participating in the question-and-answer period afterwards,” Lee said.

A panel consisting of Judge John G. Baker, Judge Margret G. Robb, and Judge Robert R. Altice, Jr. will hear Wyatt Severance v. New Castle Community School Corporation, et al., a case in which Severance appeals the trial court’s decision to grant the school’s motion to strike and the school’s motion for summary judgment.

Judge John G. Baker

According to the case synopsis, Wyatt Severance and Turner Melton were both enrolled in a vocational education program through New Castle Community School Corporation. A physical altercation between the two students resulted in a serious leg injury to Severance, who filed a civil complaint against the school corporation, alleging negligence.

The school corporation moved for summary judgment on two grounds: first, that Severance was contributorily negligent in bringing about his injuries, thereby barring any recovery, and second, that the school did not breach its duty to Severance.

During the summary judgment stage, Severance designated an expert affidavit, which the school corporation moved to strike. The trial court granted the school’s motion to strike and the school’s motion for summary judgment. Severance now appeals.The oral argument will conclude with a question-and-answer session; however, the judges will not be able to speak about the case.

Judge Margret G. Robb

The oral argument is open to the media and public, though seating is limited. Once the oral argument begins further admittance by visitors to Vivian Auditorium will not be permitted.

The Court of Appeals hears oral arguments across Indiana to enable Hoosiers to observe the real-world issues that face the Court and learn more about the Court’s indispensable role in Indiana government. Audiences also get to observe skilled legal arguments and advocacy by some of Indiana’s best lawyers, against a backdrop of case-specific facts and statutory and constitutional law.

Media Policy for Indiana Court of Appeals
The event is open to the public and will last about one hour. Reporters may ask the Court’s permission to record the argument in audio, video, or photographic formats. Please email requests to Court Administrator Larry Morris (CourtofAppeals@courts.in.gov) at least 48 hours before the scheduled start of the argument. Per Indiana Supreme Court order, all video cameras must be tripod-mounted, and neither video nor still photos may employ flash or strobe lighting.

About Appeals on Wheels
Traveling oral arguments, or Appeals on Wheels, take the court across Indiana to help Hoosiers learn more about the judiciary’s indispensable role in Indiana government. They also provide opportunities for Court of Appeals judges to meet and talk with a broad range of citizens in relatively informal settings. Appeals on Wheels typically occur at high schools, colleges, law schools and courtrooms, but they’ve also been held at conference centers, tourist sites and even retirement communities. The Court has conducted nearly 500 Appeals on Wheels since its 2001 centennial, although the program predates the centennial.

For more information about the Court, please visit courts.in.gov/appeals.