Marion Hoosier and Antwon Baymon v. Terry Riddle and Rebecca Riddle (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                           FILED
    regarded as precedent or cited before any                                 Aug 08 2019, 8:34 am
    court except for the purpose of establishing                                    CLERK
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                    Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    estoppel, or the law of the case.                                               and Tax Court
    APPELLANTS PRO SE
    Marion Hoosier
    Antwon Baymon
    Anderson, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    Marion Hoosier and Antwon                                August 8, 2019
    Baymon,                                                  Court of Appeals Case No.
    Appellants-Defendants,                                   18A-SC-961
    Appeal from the Madison Circuit
    v.                                               Court
    The Honorable Thomas L. Clem,
    Terry Riddle and Rebecca                                 Judge
    Riddle,                                                  The Honorable Stephen Clase,
    Appellees-Plaintiffs.                                    Magistrate
    Trial Court Cause No.
    48C05-1801-SC-14
    Barteau, Senior Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019                      Page 1 of 7
    Statement of the Case
    [1]   Marion Hoosier and Antwon Baymon appeal the small claims court’s entry of
    judgment in favor of Terry Riddle and Rebecca Riddle (“the Riddles”). We
    dismiss.
    Issue
    [2]   Hoosier and Baymon claim the trial court erred in entering judgment in favor of
    the Riddles, but the dispositive issue is whether this appeal was timely filed.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [3]   On January 4, 2018, the Riddles filed a Notice of Small Claim against Hoosier
    and Baymon. The precise nature of the parties’ dispute is unclear, but the
    Riddles claimed Hoosier and Baymon owed them $6,000 for damage to their
    vehicle. The small claims court scheduled a bench trial for January 25, 2018.
    The Chronological Case Summary indicates that Hoosier and Baymon were
    served with the Notice of Small Claim as follows: “copy left and mailed.”
    Appellants’ App. Vol. 2, p. 2.
    [4]   The small claims court held the bench trial as scheduled on January 25. After
    the hearing, the court issued an order in which it stated the Riddles were
    present, but Hoosier and Baymon had failed to appear. The court further
    indicated proper service had been issued to Hoosier and Baymon. Finally, the
    court determined it had heard evidence “on . . . the record” and issued a
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 2 of 7
    judgment in favor of the Riddles in the amount of $6,000, plus court costs and
    eight percent annual interest. Id. at 12.
    [5]   Later in the day on January 25, Hoosier and Baymon filed a request for a new
    trial with a different judge. They claimed they had arrived “later than the
    plaintiff,” and the small claims court had refused to hear their evidence and
    show them the Riddles’ evidence. Id. at 11. Hoosier and Baymon further
    claimed the judge was biased against them. On February 6, the court denied
    Hoosier and Baymon’s request for a new trial and determined the January 25
    judgment was confirmed.
    [6]   On March 5, the Riddles filed with the small claims court a request to intercept
    Hoosier and Baymon’s tax refunds to satisfy the judgment. The court
    scheduled a hearing on proceedings supplemental for April 4. On April 3,
    Baymon filed a request for a “continuance or appeal” and further indicated he
    was hiring a lawyer. Id. at 16.
    [7]   On April 4, the small claims court held the previously scheduled hearing on
    proceedings supplemental. After the hearing, the court issued an order stating
    as follows:
    Plaintiff appears in person. Defendant appears in person.
    Defendant confirms address. Defendants disagree with
    judgment. Defendants advised to pay or appeal. The court
    grants defendants 30 days from this date to file a belated appeal.
    Defendants acknowledged understands [sic]. Cause reset for
    review hearing on 6/8/2018, at 1:30 p.m. to check status.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 3 of 7
    Id. at 18. Hoosier and Baymon filed a Notice of Appeal on April 27, 2018.
    This appeal followed.
    Discussion and Decision
    [8]    Hoosier and Baymon challenge the small claims court’s rulings, but we have
    determined that their appeal is untimely. A Notice of Appeal must be filed
    within thirty days of the trial court’s issuance of a final judgment or a ruling on
    motion to correct error. Ind. Appellate Rule 9(A)(1). “Unless the Notice of
    Appeal is timely filed, the right to appeal shall be forfeited except as provided
    by P.C.R. 2.” App. R. 9(A)(5). The Indiana Supreme Court has explained,
    “[i]n essence a party loses his or her right to appeal for failing to file timely a
    Notice of Appeal.” In re Adoption of O.R., 
    16 N.E.3d 965
    , 971 (Ind. 2014).
    [9]    In their Notice of Appeal, Hoosier and Baymon stated they were appealing the
    small claims court’s January 25, 2018 final judgment and February 7, 2018
    denial of their request for a new trial. Even if we treat Hoosier and Baymon’s
    request for a new trial as a motion to correct error, they did not file their Notice
    of Appeal until April 27, 2018, more than thirty days after the denial of their
    request, and their attempt to appeal those decisions is untimely. See Estate of
    Mills-McGoffney v. Modesitt, 
    78 N.E.3d 700
    , 705 (Ind. Ct. App. 2017) (appellant
    waived right to appeal trial court’s striking of complaint and denial of motion
    for summary judgment; Notice of Appeal filed after the thirty-day deadline).
    [10]   On April 4, 2018, the small claims court granted Hoosier and Baymon thirty
    days to file a belated appeal, and Hoosier and Baymon filed their Notice of
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 4 of 7
    Appeal within that deadline. We conclude the court lacked the authority to
    grant an extension to file a Notice of Appeal. Indiana Appellate Rule 9(A)(5)
    states that certain appellants may seek a belated appeal under Indiana Post-
    Conviction Rule 2, but that rule applies to criminal cases, not to civil actions
    such as a small claims proceeding. See Wooten v. State, 
    946 N.E.2d 616
    , 623
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2001) (appeal dismissed; appellant could not seek a belated
    appeal under Post-Conviction Rule 2 for the revocation of his probation, which
    is a civil proceeding).
    [11]   Even if Hoosier and Baymon’s appeal were timely, their failure to comply with
    the Indiana Rules of Appellate Procedure would prevent us from addressing the
    merits of their claims. Pro se litigants are held to the same legal standards as
    licensed attorneys. Basic v. Amouri, 
    58 N.E.3d 980
    , 983 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016).
    “We will not become an ‘advocate for a party, or address arguments that are
    inappropriate or too poorly developed or expressed to be understood.’” 
    Id. at 984
     (quoting Perry v. Anonymous Physician 1, 
    25 N.E.3d 103
    , 105 n.1 (Ind. Ct.
    App. 2014), trans. denied). While we prefer to decide issues on the merits, where
    an appellant’s noncompliance with appellate rules is so substantial as to impede
    our consideration of the issues, we may deem the alleged errors waived. 
    Id.
    [12]   An appellant’s brief must include a table of authorities, a statement of issues, a
    statement of case describing the procedural history, a summary of argument,
    and an argument section, among other requirements. Ind. Appellate Rule
    46(A). Hoosier and Baymon’s seven-page brief consists of a “statement of
    grounds” and “supporting facts.” Appellants’ Br. p. 2. In addition, the
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 5 of 7
    argument section must contain the appellant’s contentions on the issues,
    supported by “cogent reasoning” and “citations to the authorities, statutes, and
    the Appendix or parts of the Record on Appeal relied on.” Ind. Appellate Rule
    46(A). It must also include a “concise statement of the applicable standard of
    review.” 
    Id.
     Hoosier and Baymon’s statement of grounds, which we consider
    as similar to an argument section, does not contain any citations to legal
    authorities discussing the standard of review. In addition, they do not cite any
    authorities in support of their allegations of error.
    [13]   Finally, when filing a Notice of Appeal, an appellant is required to request a
    transcript of all portions of the proceeding “necessary to present fairly and
    decide the issues on appeal.” Ind. Appellate Rule 9(F)(5). Hoosier and
    Baymon failed to request a transcript of the January 25, 2018 hearing, even
    though the small claims court conducted that hearing on the record. A
    transcript of that hearing is necessary to address Hoosier and Baymon’s claim
    that they appeared for the hearing, but the small claims court refused to hear
    their evidence. Hoosier and Baymon’s extensive noncompliance with the
    Appellate Rules has impeded our consideration of the issues, and we would
    deem their claims waived even if their appeal were timely. See Ramsey v. Review
    Bd. of Ind. Dep’t of Workforce Dev., 
    789 N.E.2d 486
    , 490 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003)
    (appellant’s appeal deemed waived for failure to provide cogent reasoning and
    citations to authority in appellant’s brief).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 6 of 7
    Conclusion
    [14]   For the reasons stated above, we dismiss this appeal.
    [15]   Appeal dismissed.
    Riley, J., and Bradford, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-SC-961 | August 8, 2019   Page 7 of 7
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 18A-SC-961

Filed Date: 8/8/2019

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 8/8/2019