The Attorneys at Dixon & Moseley, P.C.
Strong, Trial-Ready Advocates Protecting Your Rights
For most of us, it is easy to be prepared to go to a new doctor’s appointment. We generally know what the doctor wants to know (our medical history) and what brings us to the doctor in the first place (a routine checkup to a lingering pain or bump). On the other hand, most people really do not know what…
Today, more than ever, children are being raised by third parties, including step-parents. When the non-custodial, biological parent does not stay involved in his/her child’s life, this often leads the step-parent (and child) to want to adopt. If the other biological parent is deceased or consents to the adoption, there is no legal barrier to prevent the adoption (assuming the…
All final orders issued from Indiana trial courts may be appealed as a matter of right. Most appeals first go to the Indiana Court of Appeals. The appeal process is all done by written briefs based on the record (testimony and exhibits) from the trial court that decided the issues. In most cases, trial attorneys defer to those who routinely…
Each year, thousands of protective orders are issued in cases involving certain domestic relationships. Some are tactical weapons to advance illicit objectives; most have merit. Protective orders may have profound implications for work and core civil liberties, such as the right to keep and bear arms. A proven violation can result in a fine, contempt of court charge, and criminal…
Perhaps any seasoned civil or criminal trial attorney has had (or heard about) the horror story case where his or her client (now potential criminal defendant) did not understand that the right to remain silent1 applies in all places, at all times, and to all statements where it could later result in criminal charge. Silence is priceless. This blog post…
Having a contempt petition (sometimes called a rule to show cause) filed against one in a civil or criminal case is generally unsettling. What is the purpose? Generally, civil and criminal contempt is the legal process by which trial courts enforce their orders and/or maintain decorum in the courtroom. A key and relatively recent Indiana case, Stanke,1 has refined civil…
In polling a room full of people who have experienced divorce, some will contend their ex-spouse is “crazy”. Part of this is gallows humor and a way to cope with this past or present stressor; there are those for whom the situation will be a reality. This blog post addresses divorce and mental health statistics means to obtain a diagnosis…
Under Appellate Rule 9, a party generally has the right to appeal a final judgment to the Indiana Court of Appeals. This order is the one that decides the case. However, an appeal has some very key limitations that are easy to misunderstand and miss when deciding to appeal. This blog post covers three important such issues that generally cannot…
There are many legal considerations in taking an appeal from a trial court’s final order to the Indiana Court of Appeals. In this blog post, three of the most basic considerations for appeal are considered to illustrate the obvious—but not often thought of—components of an appeal. The first is the time to prepare an appeal. On appeal to the Indiana…
Indiana’s appellate court’s are adapting with the times and requirements for open access to courts as guaranteed by the Indiana Constitution. Appeals to the Indiana Court of Appeals, Indiana’s primary intermediate court are made uniform to expedite the appellate process and ensure uniformity in review on-line and in paper format by the Clerk issuing a “Notice of Defect” for briefs…