Larson v. Hagerty

20080056 Reuben Larson, Plaintiff and Appellant
v.
Gail Hagerty,
Zachary Pelham,
Wayne Stenehjem, Defendants and Appellees

Appeal from: District Court, South Central Judicial District, Burleigh County
Judge Ronald E. Goodman
Nature of Action: Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Counsel:
Appellant: Pro se
Appellee: Douglas Alan Bahr , Att. General Office
Term: 05/2008   Argument: 05/05/2008  04:00pm
ND cite: 2008 ND 99
NW cite: 756 N.W.2d 344


Issues: Appellant's Statement of the Issues:
Is N.D.C.C. 32-12.2-04 a subject matter jurisdictional predicate statute?
Is this an impermissible collateral attack?
At the common law, do judges have immunity only if they acted in good faith, only if they acted with judicial integrity?
Do Stenehjem and Pelham have discretionary immunity for filing a motion and making argument?
Can Larson sue the Defendants, is he required to sue the State?
Does having the Office of Attorney General represent State employees conflict with his function to represent the best interests of the People?

Appellee's Statement of the Issues:
I. Under state law, a district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction of a lawsuit against the State and its employees if the plaintiff did not timely present a notice of claim. Plaintiff sues a state judge and two state employees for actions taken within the scope of their employment. Plaintiff never presented a notice of claim. Did the district court correctly find it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the case?
II. A party may not collaterally attack a judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. A proceeding is a collateral attack if the action challenges the legality of the judgment in another proceeding. Plaintiff challenges the legality of the judgment in another proceeding. Did the district court correctly find this action is an impermissible collateral attack on the judgment in the other proceeding?
III. Judicial immunity makes judges immune from suit for damages for judicial acts not done in the clear absence of all jurisdiction. Defendant Hagerty is a judicial officer sued for an order she issued in a civil proceeding. Did the district court correctly find Defendant Hagerty immune from suit?
IV. Discretionary immunity makes government officials immune from suit for discretionary acts. An action is discretionary if it is a matter of choice and the decision whether to act is based on public policy considerations. Defendants Stenehjem and Pelham are sued for their discretionary litigation decisions. Did the district court properly find Plaintiff's claims against Defendants Stenehjem and Pelham barred by discretionary immunity?

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Docket entries:
102/26/2008 NOTICE OF APPEAL: 02/22/2008
202/26/2008 ANNOUNCED DISQUALIFICATION: Sandstrom, Dale V.
303/19/2008 RECORD ON APPEAL
403/26/2008 APPELLANT BRIEF (Scanned)
503/26/2008 APPELLANT APPENDIX
603/26/2008 DISK NONCOMPLIANCE (part of letter dtd 3-26-08 from appellant filing ATB )
704/10/2008 APPELLEE BRIEF
804/10/2008 Affidavit of Service of AEB
904/10/2008 DISK - aeb (e-mailed)
1004/14/2008 Request for waiver of oral argument on behalf of the Appellee
1104/23/2008 REPLY BRIEF of Appellant (Scanned)
1204/24/2008 Certificate of Service of RYB
1304/24/2008 DISK NONCOMPLIANCE (RYB)
1404/24/2008 Letter from Reuben Larson stating he will not be attending oral argument
1504/24/2008 ACTION BY SUPREME COURT (Request to waive oral argument on behalf of the Appellee). Granted
1604/30/2008 SITTING WITH THE COURT: Olson, Everett Nels
1705/05/2008 APPEARANCES: Submitted under NDRAppP 34(e) on behalf of Appellants; submitted under NDRAppP 34(f)
1805/05/2008 on behalf of Appellees
1905/05/2008 ARGUED:Submitted under NDRAppP 34(e) on behalf of AT; submitted under NDRAppP 34(f) on behalf of AE
2005/06/2008 Citation of Supplemental Authorities
2105/19/2008 DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED BY SUMMARY DISP.
2205/19/2008 UNANIMOUS OPINION: Per Curiam
2305/19/2008 Costs on appeal taxed in favor of appellees
2405/19/2008 Judgment e-mailed to Parties
2506/10/2008 MANDATE
2606/13/2008 RECEIPT SIGNED BY DISTRICT COURT CLERK'S OFFICE
2707/24/2008 Letter dated July 21, 2008, from Clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States re a writ of
2807/24/2008 certiorari filed on 7-15-08 & placed on docket 7-21-08 as No. 08-5376
2910/14/2008 Notice from U.S. Supreme Court that Petition for Writ of Certiorari is denied

Generated from Supreme Court Docket on 12/01/2008