APRIL SITTING

                OF THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT

All oral arguments are conducted in the Courtroom, Room 317, State House, unless otherwise indicated. These two following cases are being consolidated for oral argument and are scheduled for April.

APRIL 7

9:30 a.m.-- GREATER HAMMOND COMMUNITY SERVICE V. LUCILE MUTKA

AND

LCEOC, INC., AND GREATER HAMMOND COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. V. PATRICIA S. GREER

The Court has set aside one hour for oral argument in these two cases, both arising out of Lake County courts. Greater Hammond Community Services, Inc., provides transportation services to low income, elderly, and physically impaired residents under a contract with the Lake County Equal Opportunity Council, Inc. Among the issues in these cases is whether Greater Hammond Community Services, Inc., is a governmental entity for the purposes of the Indiana Tort Claims Act.

9:30 a.m.--      MICHAEL J. GALANIS V. LYONS & TRUITT
        AND SUZANNE BROWN

     This appeal asks whether a court may order successor counsel, who receives a contingent fee upon settlement of his client's personal injury claim, to pay prior counsel a reasonable hourly fee in quantum meruit for service the prior counsel performed before being discharged by the client if the client was not advised of her obligation to pay prior counsel. The trial court declared that successor counsel was responsible for paying prior counsel in quantum meruit, and a divided Court of Appeals affirmed. Successor counsel seeks transfer.

                 Attorneys for Galanis
                Karl Mulvaney
                Nana Quay-Smith
                Candace Sage
                Indianapolis
                Attorney for Lyons & Truitt
                James Sullivan
                Valparaiso
                Attorney for Brown
                Thomas Macke
                Valparaiso    

APRIL 21

9:30 a.m.--     UNITED STATES GYPSUM, INC., ET AL. V. INDIANA GAS CO.,         ET AL.

    A group of business and residential customers and the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor appealed a ruling of the Utility Regulatory Commission denying their petition to disapprove agreements between gas companies and an affiliate, ProLiance Energy, relating to the transportation and provision of gas supply. The Court of Appeals reversed and instructed the Commission to disapprove the agreements after concluding that the gas companies failed to follow the requirements of the Alternative Utility Regulation Act. The gas companies and ProLiance seek transfer.

APRIL 28
9:30 a.m.--    STATE V. JOSEPH W. KLEIN

    Joseph Klein was charged with various crimes. His motion to dismiss the charges was granted by the Marion Superior Court. The State appealed. The Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part. The State now seeks to have the case transferred to the Indiana Supreme Court.

                Attorney for State
                Rosemary L. Borek
                Indianapolis, IN
                Attorneys for Klein
                Robert W. Hammerle    
                Joseph M. Cleary
                Indianapolis, IN

APRIL 29 --Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana

11:00 a.m.--MICHAEL J. WISNIEWSKI V. DONNA BENNETT

    The patient, Mr. Wisniewski, reached a settlement with certain medical providers and then sought additional damages from the Patient's Compensation Fund. The trial court entered summary judgment for the Insurance Commissioner, Ms. Bennett, effectively denying Mr. Wisniewski access to the Fund. The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded. Both sides ask the Court to grant transfer and decide certain matters concerning settlement, fund access and damages.

                 Attorney for Appellant
                Marshall P. Whalley
                Merrillville, IN
                Attorney for Appellee
                Mary J. Hoeller
                John C. Trimble
                Indianapolis, IN

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