The Indiana Court of Appeals will hear oral argument in H.D., et al. v. BHC Meadows Hospital, Inc., et al.on Tuesday, February 26th at 3:00 p.m. at Wabash College.  A panel of Judge Patricia A. Riley, Judge James S. Kirsch and Judge Melissa S. May will hear the case on appeal from Monroe Circuit Court.

The Court is asked to decide whether an Indiana law requires that the appellants, H.D., a juvenile, and her parents, bring their claim, arising from a breach of patient confidentiality, to a medical review panel prior to a state court.  Arguing for the appellant, H.D., will be Betsy Greene of Greene & Schultz Law Firm in Bloomington.  Lucy Dollens of Locke Reynolds in Indianapolis will argue for BHC Meadows Hospital, Inc.

This case is the Court of Appeals’ eighth visit to Wabash College in as many years.  The Court has heard more than 200 oral arguments “on the road,” since it began regularly traveling the state to hear oral arguments at its centennial in 2001.  The Court travels to better enable Hoosiers to learn about the judicial branch; students may question the judges about the judicial process following the argument.  Sites for “traveling oral arguments” typically include law schools, colleges, high schools, and county courthouses. 

The Indiana Court of Appeals is the state’s second-highest court.  It reviews appeals from trial court decisions; a decision of the Indiana Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Indiana Supreme Court.  The majority of appeals filed in Indiana are decided by the Court of Appeals.  

The 15 judges on the Court of Appeals issue more than 2,800 written opinions each year, sitting in three-judge panels.  For more information about the Court of Appeals and its “Appeals on Wheels” initiative, visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/appeals/.  For additional information on H.D., et al. v. BHC Meadows Hospital, Inc., et al., visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/appeals/arguments.html.