Court Opinion

ID: 2730572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 22:03:00.187455+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:12.599643
License: Public Domain

FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT:                     ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:

PETER A. VELDE                               JEFFREY E. STRATMAN
Kightlinger & Gray, LLP                      Aurora, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana

CRYSTAL G. ROWE
Kightlinger & Gray LLP
                                                                   FILED
                                                                 Mar 29 2012, 9:21 am
New Albany, Indiana
                                                                        CLERK
                                                                      of the supreme court,
                                                                      court of appeals and
                                                                             tax court

                             IN THE
                   COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

DELAGE LANDEN FINANCIAL                      )
SERVICES, INC.,                              )
                                             )
      Appellant-Plaintiff,                   )
                                             )
             vs.                             )      No. 15A05-1107-CC-366
                                             )
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH                      )
CENTER, INC.,                                )
                                             )
      Appellee-Defendant.                    )

                   APPEAL FROM THE DEARBORN SUPERIOR COURT
                        The Honorable Jonathan N. Cleary, Judge
                            Cause No. 15D01-1012-CC-388

                                   March 29, 2012

                             OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION

ROBB, Chief Judge
                                        Case Summary and Issues

       DeLage Landen Financial Services (“DLL”) filed a complaint for breach of contract

against Community Mental Health Center, Inc. (“CMHC”), and subsequently sought

summary judgment in its favor. DLL appeals the trial court‟s denial of its motions to strike

CMHC‟s response to DLL‟s motion for summary judgment and the trial court‟s denial of its

motion for summary judgment.                Concluding the trial court abused its discretion in

considering CMHC‟s late-filed response on summary judgment and that, considering only the

properly designated evidence, summary judgment should be granted to DLL, we reverse and

remand.

                                       Facts and Procedural History

       CMHC leased seven copy machines and related accessories pursuant to a written lease

agreement with Pitney Bowes Credit Corporation (“Pitney Bowes”). On December 6, 2010,

DLL, as assignee-lessor, filed a complaint against CMHC seeking contract damages and

other relief. CMHC filed an answer and asserted certain affirmative defenses.

       On March 15, 2011, DLL filed a motion for summary judgment and designation of

evidence. Pursuant to Trial Rule 56(C), CMHC had thirty days – or until April 18, 2011

including the three-day extension for service by mail1 – to file a response. On April 15,

2011, the trial court set DLL‟s motion for a hearing on May 27, 2011. On May 27, 2011,

CMHC filed a motion to continue the hearing, alleging counsel had a family emergency.

That motion was granted. Also on May 27, 2011, CMHC filed a Motion for Enlargement of

       1
           See Ind. Trial Rule 6(E).

                                                    2
Time to File Response to Motion for Summary Judgment, simultaneously filing the

Response. In the Motion for Enlargement of Time, CMHC‟s counsel relied on Trial Rule

6(B)(2), allowing a trial court to permit an act to be done upon motion made after the

expiration of the time period for doing so if the failure to act was the result of excusable

neglect. CMHC‟s counsel stated that he had an inexperienced scheduling secretary who did

not properly calendar the due date for the Response, and that he did not notice the failure to

file a response until he reviewed his calendar for the week of May 27, 2011, and discovered

the summary judgment hearing. DLL objected to the enlargement of time, citing the Indiana

Supreme Court case of HomEq Servicing Corp. v. Baker, 883 N.E.2d 95, 98-99 (Ind. 2008),

in support of the proposition that because CMHC failed to respond to the summary judgment

motion in any way within thirty days of its filing the trial court could not consider any filings

made thereafter. On June 3, 2011, the trial court denied the Motion for Enlargement of Time.

       Following the trial court‟s order denying CMHC an enlargement of time to respond to

the motion for summary judgment, DLL filed a motion to strike CMHC‟s response to

summary judgment as untimely and CMHC requested Trial Rule 60(B) relief from the trial

court‟s June 3, 2011, order. On June 24, 2011, the trial court denied DLL‟s motion to strike,

allowing CMHC‟s response to stand and therefore, effectively granting CMHC‟s requested

Trial Rule 60(B) relief. DLL filed a motion to reconsider the trial court‟s June 24, 2011,

order. The trial court vacated its June 24, 2011, order and set DLL‟s motion to reconsider for

a hearing. Following the hearing, the trial court denied DLL‟s motion to strike CMHC‟s

                                               3
response to summary judgment, granted CMHC permission to file its belated response, and

denied DLL‟s motion for summary judgment:

              Plaintiff, [DLL], having filed its Motion for Summary Judgment and the
       Court, having considered said motion and being duly advised in the premises,
       hereby denies the same.
              The Court further vacates the June 24, 2011 Order denying [DLL‟s]
       Strike Motion, however the court now reinstates said order after having held a
       full hearing on said issue on July 8, 2011. Further the Court grants [CMHC]
       permission to file the summary judgment response pleadings which were filed
       on or about June 6, 2011.

Appellant‟s Appendix at 7. DLL now appeals. Additional facts will be supplied as

necessary.

                                  Discussion and Decision

                            I. Motion for Relief from Judgment

       DLL first contends the trial court erred in granting CMHC‟s Rule 60(B) motion for

relief from the June 3, 2011, order denying an enlargement of time to file its summary

judgment response and allowing CMHC to file a belated response to summary judgment.

                                  A. Standard of Review

       Indiana Trial Rule 60(B) provides:

               On motion and upon such terms as are just the court may relieve a party
       or his legal representative from a judgment, including a judgment by default,
       for the following reasons:
               (1) mistake, surprise, or excusable neglect . . . .
               ***
       . . . A movant filing a motion for reason[ ] (1) . . . must allege a meritorious
       claim or defense.

The burden is on the movant for relief from judgment to demonstrate that the relief is both

necessary and just. In re Paternity of M.W., 949 N.E.2d 839, 842 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Trial

                                              4
Rule 60(B) “affords relief in extraordinary circumstances which are not the result of any fault

or negligence on the part of the movant.” Goldsmith v. Jones, 761 N.E.2d 471, 474 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2002).

       Our review of a trial court‟s grant or denial of a motion for relief from judgment

pursuant to Trial Rule 60(B) is limited to determining whether the trial court committed an

abuse of discretion. Citimortgage, Inc. v. Barabas, 950 N.E.2d 12, 15 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).

A trial court abuses its discretion when its ruling is clearly against the logic and effect of the

facts and circumstances before the court. TacCo Falcon Point, Inc. v. Atlantic Ltd. P‟ship

XII, 937 N.E.2d 1212, 1218 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).

                                   B. Relief from Judgment

       The propriety of the trial court‟s grant of relief from judgment ultimately relates back

to whether the trial court should consider CMHC‟s response to DLL‟s motion for summary

judgment. Trial Rule 56 states, in pertinent part:

              (C) The motion and any supporting affidavits shall be served in
       accordance with the provisions of Rule 5. An adverse party shall have thirty
       (30) days after service of the motion to serve a response and any opposing
       affidavits. . . .
              ***
              (F) Should it appear from the affidavits of a party opposing the motion
       that he cannot for reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify
       his opposition, the court may refuse the application for judgment or may order
       a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or depositions to be taken or
       discovery to be had or may make such other order as is just.
              ***
              (I) For cause found, the Court may alter any time limit set forth in this
       rule upon motion made within the applicable time limit.

                                                5
       In Seufert v. RWB Med. Income Props. I Ltd. P‟ship, 649 N.E.2d 1070, 1073 (Ind. Ct.

App. 1995), this court held that a trial court has discretion to order a continuance pursuant to

Trial Rule 56(F) or alter time limits pursuant to Trial Rule 56(I) only where the non-movant

has responded or sought an extension of time in which to respond within thirty days of the

motion for summary judgment being filed. In Desai v. Croy, 805 N.E.2d 844 (Ind. Ct. App.

2004), trans. denied, this court noted that our cases had consistently followed the Seufert rule

until Farm Credit Servs. v. Tucker, 792 N.E.2d 565 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), in which this court

held the trial court had discretion under Trial Rule 56(I) to consider the non-movant‟s

designated evidence even when the non-movant had failed to respond within thirty days. Id.

at 848-49 (citing Farm Credit Serv., 792 N.E.2d at 569-70). Nonetheless, Desai followed

Seufert and again held that “a trial court may exercise discretion and alter time limits under

56(I) only if the nonmoving party has responded or sought an extension within thirty days

from the date the moving party filed for summary judgment.” 805 N.E.2d at 850.

       In HomEq, our supreme court considered whether the trial court erred in declining to

consider the non-movants‟ joint affidavit in opposition to summary judgment, filed over one

year after the motion for summary judgment. The non-movants argued on appeal that the

trial court has discretion to consider late-filed responses and should have done so in this case.

Our supreme court acknowledged the then-recent inconsistent authority, but characterized

the Desai decision as providing a bright line rule precluding late filing. Id. at 98. The court

also stated that “[a]ny residual uncertainty was resolved . . . when we cited Desai with

                                               6
approval” in a 2005 case. Id. (citing Borsuk v. Town of St. John, 820 N.E.2d 118 (Ind.

2005)). In Borsuk, the court stated:

       When a nonmoving party fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment
       within 30 days by either filing a response, requesting a continuance under Trial
       Rule 56(I), or filing an affidavit under Trial Rule 56(F), the trial court cannot
       consider summary judgment filings of that party subsequent to the 30-day
       period.

820 N.E.2d at 124 n.5. Pursuant to this authority, DLL argues the trial court had no

discretion to grant relief and allow the consideration of CMHC‟s late-filed response.

       CMHC contends that HomeEq can be distinguished by its facts and procedural

history. In HomeEq, the plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment on April 15, 2004.

Although the defendants sought a series of continuances of the summary judgment hearing,

at no time within thirty days after service of the motion for summary judgment did they

request alteration of the time limits imposed by Trial Rule 56. A summary judgment hearing

was ultimately held on May 9, 2005, on which date the defendants filed a joint affidavit in

opposition to summary judgment. The trial court declined to consider the affidavit and

granted the plaintiff‟s motion for summary judgment. Our supreme court concluded, based

on the rule discussed above, that the trial court did not err in refusing to consider the affidavit

and affirmed the grant of summary judgment. HomeEq, 883 N.E.2d at 99.

       CMHC distinguishes this case from HomeEq by noting first, the non-movant in

HomeEq never requested an enlargement of time under the Indiana Trial Rules whereas

CMHC requested an enlargement of time pursuant to Trial Rule 6(B)(2), and second, the

affidavit in HomeEq was filed thirteen months after the motion for summary judgment (and

                                                7
one year after a response was due) whereas CMHC‟s materials were submitted approximately

two months after DLL‟s motion for summary judgment (or slightly over one month after they

were due).

       As to CMHC‟s reliance on its request for an enlargement of time to distinguish this

case from HomeEq, Trial Rule 6(B)(2) provides:

               When an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a specific
       time by these rules, the court may at any time for cause shown:
               (1) order the period enlarged, with or without motion or notice, if
       request therefor is made before the expiration of the period originally
       prescribed or extended by a previous order; or
               (2) upon motion made after the expiration of the specific period, permit
       the act to be done where the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect;
       but, the court may not extend the time for taking any action for judgment on
       the evidence under Rule 50(A), amendment of findings and judgment under
       Rule 52(B), to correct errors under Rule 59(C), statement in opposition to
       motion to correct error under Rule 59(E), or to obtain relief from final
       judgment under Rule 60(B), except to the extent and under the conditions
       stated in those rules.

CMHC argues that, despite the holding in HomeEq with respect to Trial Rule 56, Trial Rule

6(B)(2) “on its face allows the trial court discretion to allow an enlargement of time as long

as the court finds excusable neglect . . . .” Brief of Appellee at 24. CMHC notes that Trial

Rule 56(I) restates Trial Rule 6(B)(1), and that because Trial Rule 56 is not one of the rules

specifically exempted from the operation of Trial Rule 6(B)(2), an enlargement of time is

allowed.

       When trial rules conflict, we apply the principles of statutory construction under

which rules are to be construed together and in harmony when possible. Carter-McMahon v.

McMahon, 815 N.E.2d 170, 175 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). Thus, when two rules cover the same

                                              8
subject matter and one does so generally where the other does so specifically, the more

specific rule prevails. Daugherty v. Robinson Farms, Inc., 858 N.E.2d 192, 197 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2006), trans. denied. The parties disagree over which rule – Trial Rule 6 or Trial Rule

56 – is more specific. We recognize, as CMHC has pointed out, that Trial Rule 56 is not one

of the rules Trial Rule 6(B)(2) specifically exempts from its operation. However, none of the

rules that are specifically exempted from Trial Rule 6(B)(2) have their own enlargement of

time provision and would thus be subject to Trial Rule 6(B)(2) without the exemption.

Because Trial Rule 56 has its own enlargement of time provision, which applies only to Trial

Rule 56 and is therefore the more specific of the two rules, it does not need to be exempted

from Trial Rule 6(B)(2) because it is not subject to Trial Rule 6(B)(2) in the first instance.

Thus, the fact that CMHC filed a motion for enlargement of time pursuant to Trial Rule

6(B)(2) and the non-movant in HomeEq did not is not a pertinent distinction because Trial

Rule 6(B)(2) does not apply to summary judgment materials.

       CMHC also points out that the non-movant in HomeEq tried to file its response one

year after it was due, whereas CMHC attempted to file its response only approximately one

month after it was due. Given that the rule announced in HomeEq is not a substantial

compliance rule, the length of time that passes between the date a response to a motion for

summary judgment is due and the date a response is filed is immaterial. In Thayer v. Gohil,

740 N.E.2d 1266 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied, the non-movant timely requested and

was granted two extensions of time to respond to a motion for summary judgment. The

second extension allowed her until November 29, 1999, to file her response. The non-

                                              9
movant filed her response and accompanying affidavits on December 1, 1999, and also filed

a motion for leave to file her response belatedly, alleging she had good cause for not meeting

the deadline. The trial court ultimately struck her response and granted summary judgment to

the movant. On appeal, we held the non-movant‟s failure to show cause for alteration of time

before the November 29, 1999, deadline “must result in a striking of her untimely response.”

Id. at 1268. In so holding, we specifically noted that the non-movant, filing her response

only two days after the deadline, had come “closer to complying with T.R. 56” than in other

cases reaching the same result. Id. Nonetheless, “it is essential that the non[-]movant timely

comply with the dictates of T.R. 56.” Id.; see also Borsuk, 820 N.E.2d at 124 n.5 (noting that

because non-movant filed affidavit two months after motion for summary judgment was filed

without requesting relief within thirty day period allowed to respond, trial court should not

have admitted the affidavit); Desai, 805 N.E.2d at 850 (non-movant failed to respond to

motion for summary judgment for approximately three and one-half months and trial court

therefore erred in allowing non-movant to file opposing affidavits at that time); Seufert, 649

N.E.2d at 1073 (non-movant failed to respond to motion for summary judgment in the three

months between its filing and a hearing thereon and trial court therefore appropriately found

there was no evidence raising an issue of fact and properly granted summary judgment).

       Because CMHC failed to file a response or request an extension within the prescribed

time, the trial court had no discretion to alter the time limits in Trial Rule 56. CMHC‟s

belated response should have been stricken and the trial court abused its discretion when it

                                             10
granted CMHC relief from its earlier judgment and allowed CMHC‟s response to be filed

and considered on summary judgment.

                                  II. Summary Judgment

       DLL also contends the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment.

We review a trial court‟s decision to grant or deny summary judgment de novo, standing in

the same position as the trial court and considering only the properly designated evidence in

evaluating the summary judgment motion. Liberty Country Club v. Landowners, 950 N.E.2d

754, 757 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). A party seeking summary judgment has the burden to make a

prima facie showing through its designated evidence that there are no genuine issues of

material fact and the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Coffman v. PSI Energy,

Inc., 815 N.E.2d 522, 526 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. The non-moving party may

not then rest on the allegations of its pleadings to demonstrate the existence of a genuine

issue for trial, but must designate specific facts so showing. Id. The court must accept as

true those facts alleged by the non-moving party, construe the evidence in favor of the non-

movant, and resolve all doubts against the moving party. Id. This means, however, that

“only those facts alleged by the respondent/nonmovant and supported by affidavit or other

evidence „must be taken as true.‟” McDonald v. Lattire, 844 N.E.2d 206, 212 (Ind. Ct. App.

2006). We have determined the trial court erred when it allowed CMHC to respond and

designate evidence in opposition to DLL‟s motion. Accordingly, we will look only to the

evidence designated by DLL in reviewing the trial court‟s denial of summary judgment.

                                             11
       DLL sued CMHC for monthly rental payments due and not paid, for possession of the

equipment, and for attorney fees. On summary judgment, DLL designated CMHC‟s answer

to DLL‟s complaint, and the affidavits of Charles McAllister, a DLL employee, and Peter

Velde, DLL‟s attorney. In its answer, CMHC admitted that in 2005, it entered into a lease

and maintenance agreement with Pitney Bowes, agreeing to make monthly rental payments

for the lease of certain equipment. CMHC also asserted as affirmative defenses that Pitney

Bowes breached the lease and that CMHC had terminated the lease prior to the time it ceased

making payments.

       McAllister avers in his affidavit that he has been a Litigation Recovery Specialist at

DLL since 2008 and that he has personal knowledge of the facts asserted therein. He further

avers that:

              5. Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, CMHC agreed to lease seven (7)
       IM3511 copy machines and related accessories from Pitney (collectively
       referred to as the “Equipment”). In exchange for the Equipment, CMHC
       agreed to pay $1,933.00 per month to Pitney for sixty (60) consecutive months.
              6. Shortly after CMHC‟s execution of the Lease and Maintenance
       Agreement, Pitney assigned and sold all of its rights, title and interest in and to
       the Lease to DLL.
              7. In February 2009, CMHC discontinued paying the monthly rent
       required to be paid pursuant to the terms of the Lease.
              8. CMHC is currently in default under the terms of the Lease.
              9. Under the Lease, CMHC agreed to pay a late payment fee on any
       untimely monthly payments along with all costs, expenses and attorney fees
       incurred by DLL in enforcing the terms of the Lease. . . .
              ***
              13. The Lease entitles DLL to the possession of the Equipment leased
       by CMHC upon CMHC‟s default and allows DLL to dispose of the Equipment
       by sale. . . .
              14. The Lease is unconditional and absolute and cannot be terminated
       by CMHC. . . .

                                               12
Appellant‟s App. at 21-22. Attached as exhibits to McAllister‟s affidavit are copies of the

lease and maintenance agreement, seven statements of account, and the written demand letter

from DLL to CMHC for payment. The lease shows that CMHC is to lease equipment

described as seven model “IM3511” copiers and accessories described as “1-4510, 3-3510, 9-

DL185, and 5-DL250,” and make sixty monthly payments of $1,933. Id. at 26. The “terms

and conditions” of the lease provide:

        this lease cannot be cancelled or terminated for any reason, all payments under
        this lease [ ] unconditional and absolute and you shall pay them regardless of
        whether the equipment is damaged, destroy[ ], defective, unusable or becomes
        obsolete, and regardless of any dispute with, or claims against, [Pitney Bowes],
        vendor or any other party. Your o[ ]gations under this lease are not subject to
        defense, setoff, counterclaim, abatement, or reduction for any reason.

Appellant‟s App. at 26.2 “All Payments due under this Lease shall be payable only to [Pitney

Bowes] at . . . Louisville, KY . . . until we direct you otherwise in writing.” Id. at 27. The

lease also allows Pitney Bowes to “sell, assign or transfer all or any part of this Lease and/or

the Equipment. The new owner will have the same rights that we have . . . . You also agree

and acknowledge that any Assignment by us will not materially change your obligations

hereunder.” Id. The seven statements of account for equipment of type “IM 3510” with

various serial numbers each show a date of last payment of February 27, 2009, and various

amounts due, totaling $53,185.08. Id. at 30-36. Velde avers in his affidavit, supported by a

billing information memo, that DLL has incurred or will incur attorney fees of $7,000 in

pursuing this action.

        2
           The copy of the lease included in the Appellant‟s Appendix is cut off along the right margin and is
not entirely legible. The omissions in this quote reflect only what is actually shown on the copy.

                                                     13
       DLL asserts this designated evidence – as we have determined above, the only

properly-designated evidence to be considered – shows there are no genuine issues of

material fact and it is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law, in the form of a

judgment for the outstanding balance, attorney fees, and an order for possession of the

equipment. CMHC contends that even considering only DLL‟s evidence, there remain

questions of fact precluding summary judgment.

       CMHC first argues that the lease was between it and Pitney Bowes, and although the

lease provides Pitney Bowes can assign its rights, the only designated evidence indicating

Pitney Bowes had in fact assigned its rights to DLL is the “vague assertion” in McAllister‟s

affidavit that the lease had been assigned. Brief of Appellee at 16. Trial Rule 56(E)

provides, in pertinent part:

       Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge,
       shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show
       affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated
       therein.

Mere assertions in an affidavit of conclusions of law or opinions will not suffice. City of

Indianapolis v. Duffitt, 929 N.E.2d 231, 239 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). “An affidavit need not

contain an explicit recital of personal knowledge when it can be reasonably inferred from its

contents that the material parts thereof are within the affiant‟s personal knowledge.” Decker

v. Zengler, 883 N.E.2d 839, 844 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008), trans. denied.      However, CMHC

cannot meet its burden of showing a genuine issue of material fact for trial simply by

attempting to discredit McAllister‟s affidavit on appeal. McAllister‟s affidavit includes a

specific recitation that he has personal knowledge of the facts related therein. That he is

                                             14
familiar with the CMHC lease and the corresponding accounts can also be inferred from his

position with DLL as a Litigation Recovery Specialist. See, e.g., Skaggs v. Merchants Retail

Credit Ass‟n, Inc., 519 N.E.2d 202, 203 (Ind. Ct. App. 1988) (averments that affiant was

employed by phone company and responsible for customer billing and collections sufficient

to conclude recital of payments and credits made by phone service customer were based on

personal knowledge). This is all that is required by Trial Rule 56(E).

       CMHC admitted in its answer – which was designated by DLL as evidence in support

of its motion for summary judgment – that it entered into the lease and was obligated to make

monthly rental payments. CMHC has designated no evidence to refute McAllister‟s affidavit

stating that an assignment of the lease was made from Pitney Bowes to DLL or that CMHC

stopped making payments thereon. And CMHC has designated no evidence supporting its

affirmative defenses of breach or termination of the lease excusing lack of payment.

       McAllister‟s affidavit, together with CMHC‟s answer, is sufficient to make a prima

facie showing that DLL, as Pitney Bowes assignee, has a lease agreement with CMHC, that

CMHC has failed to make the rental payments it was obligated pursuant to the lease to make,

and that pursuant to the lease DLL is entitled to past due rent amounts, possession of the

equipment, costs and fees.

       CMHC also argues that the statements of account that purport to show the balance

CMHC allegedly owes DLL are not linked to and in fact contradict the lease. CMHC points

out that the lease is for seven model “IM 3511” copiers, but the statements of account are for

model “IM 3510” copiers and two of the statements of account show the same serial number.

                                             15
These discrepancies were not designated as specific facts precluding summary judgment,

and even if they had been, do not rise to the level of a genuine issue of material fact when it

is undisputed that CMHC leased seven copiers and owed monthly rent thereon. McAllister

averred that CMHC owed DLL $53,185.08 for the rental of the equipment, specifically

incorporating the statements of account “for each copy machine leased by CMHC pursuant to

the Lease.” Appellant‟s App. at 22. In short, DLL alleged there was no issue of material

fact, designating evidence making a prima facie case that it was entitled to judgment as a

matter of law, and CMHC has failed to meet its burden of demonstrating an issue of fact.

DLL was entitled to entry of summary judgment in its favor.3

                                                Conclusion

        The trial court abused its discretion in considering CMHC‟s late-filed response to

DLL‟s motion for summary judgment, and considering only the properly designated

evidence, the trial court erred in denying summary judgment to DLL. The judgment of the

trial court is reversed and this cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this

opinion.

        Reversed and remanded.

NAJAM, J., and VAIDIK, J., concur.

        3
           DLL alleges it is entitled, under the terms of the lease, to appellate attorney fees. In entering
summary judgment for DLL on remand, the trial court should determine a reasonable fee to which DLL is
entitled under the lease, including those for pursuing this successful appeal. Accordingly, we need not address
DLL‟s claim that it is also entitled to appellate attorney fees pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule 66(E).

                                                     16