Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. v. Jessah Martin

 
 
Attorney for Appellant
    
Robert M. Baker III
Johnson, Smith, Pence, & Heath LLP
Indianapolis, IN

Attorneys for Appellee
 
Edward L. Murphy, Jr.
Stefanie R. Crawford
Miller, Carson, Boxberger & Murphy LLP
Fort Wayne, IN

 
     IN THE INDIANA SUPREME COURT INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, INC., Appellant (Defendant below ),

v.

JESSAH MARTIN Appellee (Plaintiff below ).

 
)
)    Supreme Court No.
)    02S05-0106-CV-311
)
)    Court of Appeals No.
)    02A05-0005-CV-178
)
)
)

 
    APPEAL FROM THE ALLEN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
    The Honorable Nancy Eshcoff Boyer, Special Judge
    Cause No. 02D01-9911-CP-1980

 
 
ON PETITION TO TRANSFER
 
 
 
April 10, 2002
SULLIVAN, Justice.
 
This appeal arises from the issuance of a preliminary injunction against the Indiana High School Athletic Association ("IHSAA") and in favor of Jessah Martin ("Martin"). For more background, see our companion decision, Indiana High School Athletic Ass'n, Inc. v. Martin, No. 02S03-0106-CV-312 (Ind. April 10, 2002), also decided today.

On February 8, 2000, Martin filed a Verified Motion for Attorney's Fees in an attempt to recover fees incurred in connection with her earlier Contempt Petition. See footnote On February 25, 2000, Martin filed a Verified Supplemental Motion for Attorney's Fees, further requesting an award of fees she incurred in connection with her original fee petition. The trial court co nducted a hearing on the fee petitions on March 3, 2000, announcing a judgment for fees incurred in connection with the contempt petition on March 3, 2000.
 
The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the trial court with Judge Vaidik dissenting. See Indiana High School Athletic Ass'n, Inc. v. Martin, 741 N.E.2d 775 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000), transf. granted, 753 N.E.2d 18 (Ind. 2001)(table).

    In their submissions to this court, both parties assume Martin's entitlement to attorney fees to be conditioned on the validity of the trial court's contempt finding. Because we hold that the trial court erred in holding the IHSAA in contempt in the companion case decided today, the trial court erred in awarding Martin attorney fees.
 
    Having granted transfer pursuant to Indiana Appellate Procedure Rule 58 (A), thereby vacating the opinion of the Court of Appeals, we now reverse and vacate the trial court's order awarding Martin attorney fees.

SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON, BOEHM, and RUCKER, JJ., concur.

Footnote: On January 21, 2000, the trial court found IHSAA in contempt of court and assessed a $500.00 per day fee.