Court Opinion

ID: 9744282
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:59:19.642153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:48.219879
License: Public Domain

BAKER, Judge,
concurring.
I fully concur in the majority opinion. However, I write separately to highlight what the majority observed in the first footnote-the parties' responsibility to maintain the dignity and reputation of the legal profession.
This matter should have been laid to rest when the Monroe County jury essentially told Crosson and Berry to put this litigation behind them by finding for Berry on the malicious prosecution claim but awarding him no damages. Nevertheless, Crosson brings this appeal before us, complaining that Berry violated Indiana Code section 34-52-1-1(b), which provides for attorney's fees if the action or defense was frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless. In my view, by appealing this case that clearly should have ended with the jury verdict, if not sooner, Crosson is now maintaining a frivolous, unreasonable, and groundless action. As such, I would remand this cause to the trial court for an award of attorney's fees to Berry for the maintenance of this action since the jury verdict, including the litigation of this appeal.