Marion R. Williams, Jason A. Williams, and Kellie A. Williams v. Roosevelt Allen Jr., Gerry J. Scheub, and Michael C. Repay as Lake County Commissioners (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Feb 10 2016, 5:26 am this Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES Douglas M. Grimes Nicholas A. Snow Douglas M. Grimes, PC Jewell Harris, Jr. Gary, Indiana Harris Law Firm PC Crown Point, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

Marion R. Williams, Jason A. February 10, 2016 Williams, and Kellie A. Court of Appeals Case No. Williams, 45A05-1503-PL-134 Appellants-Defendants, Appeal from the Lake Superior Court v. The Honorable William E. Davis, Judge Roosevelt Allen Jr., Gerry J. Trial Court Cause No. Scheub, and Michael C. Repay 45D05-1408-PL-91 as Lake County Commissioners, and John Petalas as Lake County Treasurer, Appellees-Plaintiffs.

May, Judge. Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 45A05-1503-PL-134 | February 10, 2016 Page 1 of 5 [1] Marion R. Williams, Jason A. Williams, and Kellie A. Williams (collectively

“Property Owners”) appeal the denial of their motion to change venue. As

Property Owners did not ask the trial court to certify the issue for interlocutory

appeal, and it is not an interlocutory appeal of right, we dismiss.

Facts and Procedural History [2] On June 20, 2014, Roosevelt Allen Jr., Gerry J. Scheub, and Michael C. Repay

as Lake County Commissioners, and John Petalas as Lake County Treasurer

(collectively “Lake County”) filed a complaint against Property Owners for the

collection of delinquent property taxes on eighty-eight properties. On July 11,

2015, Property Owners, proceeding pro se, responded. On July 31, 2014, Lake

County Government filed a pleading addressing some of Property Owners’

affirmative defenses. [3] Property Owners asked for and were granted a change of judge. On October

23, 2014, Property Owners moved for change of venue from Lake County. A

hearing was held on November 25, 2014, and Property Owners did not appear.

The trial court denied Property Owners’ request for change of venue as

untimely. [4] On December 19, 2014, Property Owners retained counsel, who filed a second

motion for change of venue. The trial court held a hearing and then denied the

motion.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 45A05-1503-PL-134 | February 10, 2016 Page 2 of 5

Discussion and Decision [5] A judgment is deemed final if:

(1) it disposes of all claims as to all parties;

(2) the trial court in writing expressly determines under Trial Rule 54(B) or Trial Rule 56(C) that there is no just reason for delay and in writing expressly directs the entry of judgment (i) under Trial Rule 54(B) as to fewer than all the claims or parties, or (ii) under Trial Rule 56(C) as to fewer than all the issues, claims or parties;

(3) it is deemed final under Trial Rule 60(C);

(4) it is a ruling on either a mandatory or permissive Motion to Correct Error which was timely filed under Trial Rule 59 or Criminal Rule 16; or

(5) it is otherwise deemed final by law.

Ind. Appellate Rule 2(H). Here, the trial court had not decided the issue in

Lake County’s complaint - delinquent property tax payments - and instead

made a decision only regarding Property Owners’ second request for change of

venue. Thus, the trial court’s decision is interlocutory. See Johnson v. Dr. A.,

973 N.E.2d 623, 627 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012) (“Judgments or orders as to less than

all of the issues, claims, or parties remain interlocutory until expressly certified

as final by the trial judge except as authorized by the Indiana Constitution,

statues, and rules of court.”) (citations omitted).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 45A05-1503-PL-134 | February 10, 2016 Page 3 of 5 [6] Indiana Appellate Rule 14(A) allows for an Interlocutory Appeal of Right when

the interlocutory order is:

(1) For the payment of money;

(2) To compel the execution of any document;

(3) To compel the delivery or assignment of any securities, evidence of debt, documents or things in action;

(4) For the sale or delivery of the possession of real property;

(5) Granting or refusing to grant, dissolving, or refusing to dissolve a preliminary injunction;

(6) Appointing or refusing to appoint a receiver, or revoking or refusing to revoke the appointment of a receiver;

(7) For a writ of habeas corpus not otherwise authorized to be taken directly to the Supreme Court;

(8) Transferring or refusing to transfer a case under Trial Rule 75; and

(9) Issued by an Administrative Agency that by statute is expressly required to be appealed as a mandatory interlocutory appeal.

All other interlocutory appeals are discretionary, and may be taken “if the trial

court certifies its order and the Court of Appeals accepts jurisdiction over the

appeal.” App. R. 14(B).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 45A05-1503-PL-134 | February 10, 2016 Page 4 of 5 [7] Property Owners’ second “Verified Application for Change of Venue from

County” sought a change of venue “pursuant to Ind. Trial Rule 76(A).”

(Appellant’s App. at 84.) The trial court denied Property Owners’ request for

change of venue on March 2, 2015. Thus, any interlocutory appeal taken from

Property Owners’ motion for change of venue is not an Interlocutory Appeal of

Right because it was filed pursuant to T.R. 76, not T.R. 75. There is nothing in

the Chronological Case Summary to indicate the trial court certified its March 2

order; however, it did grant a stay of the proceedings on April 17, 2015,

pending a decision by this court. [8] As Property Owners did not ask the trial court to certify its order for

interlocutory appeal or petition us to accept jurisdiction over the appeal of the

interlocutory order, we do not have jurisdiction. See Young v. Estate of Sweeney,

808 N.E.2d 1217, 1220 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004) (appellate court does not have

jurisdiction over interlocutory orders not appealable by right in the absence of

the certification by both the trial and appellate court).

Conclusion [9] As Property Owners sought change of venue under T.R. 76, the appeal of that

order is not an interlocutory appeal of right, and we do not have jurisdiction.

Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal. [10] Dismissed.

Najam, J., and Riley, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 45A05-1503-PL-134 | February 10, 2016 Page 5 of 5