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Courts in the Classroom Lesson Plans and Materials
Featured Case: Ritter v. Stanton
*This case was chosen by staff within the judicial branch as a useful tool to teach an interesting aspect of the law. Its selection has no bearing on how the case will ultimately be decided. Since the members of the court did not participate in the preparation of the lesson plan, the issues raised in it will not necessarily be addressed in the oral argument.
General Case Information
Case Caption: Ira Ritter, et al., v. Jerry and Ruth Stanton
Cause Number: 49A02-9912-CV-00883
Court: Indiana Supreme Court
Date and Time: November 14, 2001, 9:30 AM
Case Summary, Associated Documentation, and Oral Argument
Keywords: Right to trial by jury, jury history, role of a jury
Case Summary:

Jerry Stanton was injured after being pinned between two semi-tractor trailers, one of which was driven by Ira Ritter, an employee of Kroger. Stanton was employed by Gateway Freightline Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kroger. Stanton filed a personal injury action against Ritter and Kroger in the Marion Superior Court. The courts below decided that worker's compensation was not Stanton's exclusive remedy. In addition, the courts below decided that the net $55 million verdict in favor of Stanton was not excessive and that courts do not compare one verdict to another in deciding whether one is excessive. See Ritter v. Stanton, 745 N.E.2d 828 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). Kroger petitions to transfer jurisdiction to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Attorney for Appellants: Karl L. Mulvaney, Indianapolis.
Attorney for Appellees: Thomas Hamer, Anderson.

Case Briefs: Appellant's Petition to Transfer
(1 mb | 20 pages)
Adobe PDF Format

Appellee Brief in Opposition to Petition to Transfer
(910 kb | 18 pages)
Adobe PDF Format
Appellant's Reply to Appellee Brief Opposing Transfer
(308 kb | 7 pages)
Adobe PDF Format
Watch Video: Oral Argument of Ritter v. Stanton
(160 mb | 64 minutes)
Play Ritter v. Stanton Oral Argument
The Court's Action
Indiana Supreme Court: January 31, 2002: the Supreme Court has denied a petition to transfer. The opinion of the Court of Appeals stands and the appeal is at an end.
  View the Order Denying Transfer
(117 kb | 1 page)
Adobe PDF Format
United States Supreme Court: June 10, 2002: It is rare for civil cases to be appealed beyond the Indiana Supreme Court, however, in the case of Ritter and Kroger v. Stanton, Kroger filed a further appeal, called a petition for certiorari, to the United States Supreme Court. On June 10, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Kroger's petition, ending the litigation.
  View the Order Denying Petition for Certiorari
(157 kb | 1 page)
Adobe PDF Format
Lesson Plans and Supporting Materials
Lesson 1: Can I have a jury trial?
Lesson 2: What does a jury do anyway?
Lesson 3: Oral Arguments Online
Related Video: Indiana Jury Service: Duty, Privilege, Honor
(58.3 kb | 16.5 minutes)
Play
This video was produced in accordance with Jury Rule 11 to provide prospective jurors with an orientation prior to the selection process to aid in understanding their role in the legal system. This video gives an overview of the jury system in Indiana, including the importance of jury service, the jury selection process, the key people involved in a trial, what to expect during the trial, and a discussion of jury deliberations.
 
Last modified on Thursday, June, 28, 2007