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Dean v. Pelham

Citations: 901 N.E.2d 648; 2009 Ind. App. LEXIS 337; 2009 WL 511755Docket: 73A01-0806-CV-306

Court: Indiana Court of Appeals; February 27, 2009; Indiana; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

In the case of Rosemary Dean v. William T. Pelham, the Indiana Court of Appeals initially reversed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Pelham, representing the Estate of William McNatt, and directed that summary judgment be entered for Dean. Following this, the Estate filed a petition for rehearing, which the court granted to clarify its earlier decision. The court affirmed that it had appropriately analyzed the evidence according to the summary judgment standard but acknowledged the use of imprecise language regarding its conclusions. The court restated that the evidence did not create a genuine issue of material fact concerning William McNatt's intent regarding Dean's survivorship rights. The court's opinion was affirmed in all other respects, with Judges Darden and Barnes concurring.

Legal Issues Addressed

Clarification on Court's Decision

Application: The court granted a petition for rehearing to clarify its earlier decision on the summary judgment, restating its findings on the lack of genuine issue of material fact.

Reasoning: The court restated that the evidence did not create a genuine issue of material fact concerning William McNatt's intent regarding Dean's survivorship rights.

Reassessment of Summary Judgment

Application: The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision and directed that summary judgment be entered for Dean, after reassessing the initial grant of summary judgment in favor of Pelham.

Reasoning: The Indiana Court of Appeals initially reversed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Pelham, representing the Estate of William McNatt, and directed that summary judgment be entered for Dean.

Summary Judgment Standards

Application: The court analyzed the evidence according to the summary judgment standard, ensuring no genuine issue of material fact was present.

Reasoning: The court affirmed that it had appropriately analyzed the evidence according to the summary judgment standard but acknowledged the use of imprecise language regarding its conclusions.