Opinion ID: 852892
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Niksich's Right to be Present

Text: The trial court refused either to issue a transport order or to hold the trial at the prison. That issue was mooted by the trial court's dismissal of the notice of claim. However, because the issue will recur on remand, we address it now. Niksich contends this violated his constitutional right to bring and maintain a civil action. Niksich has the right to bring a civil action. He does not have an absolute right to be present as a matter of federal due process. See, e.g., Muhammad v. Warden, Baltimore City Jail, 849 F.2d 107, 111-12 (4th Cir.1988); Helminski v. Ayerst Labs., 766 F.2d 208, 213 (6th Cir.1985). As we recently observed in Jordan v. Deery, 778 N.E.2d 1264, 1272 (Ind.2002), even where the right to a jury trial applies, the right of a party to be present is not absolute. Rather, under extraordinary circumstances presence of a party may not be required. Id. An incarcerated plaintiff may present such circumstances. Niksich may seek to submit the case through documentary evidence, to conduct the trial by telephonic conference, to secure someone else to represent him at trial, or to postpone the trial until his release from incarceration. Hill v. Duckworth, 679 N.E.2d 938, 940 n. 1 (Ind.Ct.App.1997). We think the trial court has wide discretion in selecting any of these options after evaluating the prisoner's need to be present against concerns of expense, security, logistics and docket control. Muhammad, 849 F.2d at 111.