Carol Sparks Drake v. Thomas A. Dickey, Craig Anderson, Charles E. Podell, and Duke Realty Corp.

This matter is before the Indiana Supreme Court on a petition to transfer jurisdiction filed by the appellees pursuant to Appellate Rule 57, following the Court of Appeals opinion reported as Drake v. Dickey, 2 N.E.3d 30 (Ind.Ct.App. 2013). One of the issues raised on transfer addresses footnote 2 of the Court of Appeals opinion. The footnote indicates the appel-lees failed to denominate as a cross-appeal an argument rejected by the trial court that the appellees contend is an alternative ground for affirming the summary judgment order.

Appellate Rule 9(D) permits an appellee to “cross-appeal without filing a Notice of Appeal by raising cross-appeal issues in the appellee’s brief.” Appellate Rule 46(D)(2) provides, “The Appellee’s Brief shall contain any contentions the appellee raises on cross-appeal as to why the trial court or Administrative Agency committed reversible error.” The Appellate Rules do not require the filing of a cross-appeal where the appellee does not seek reversal of the order or judgment appealed, but instead raises a ground for affirming that appears in the record and was rejected or not considered by the trial court or agency. Citimortgage, Inc. v. Barabas, 975 N.E.2d 805, 813 (Ind. 2012) (“a prevailing party ... may defend the trial court’s ruling on any grounds, including grounds not raised at trial.”).

Accordingly, the Court grants transfer and summarily affirms the Court of Appeals opinion pursuant to Appellate Rule 58(A)(2), with the exception of footnote 2, which is hereby vacated.