N.D.R.Civ.P.
RULE 61. HARMLESS ERROR
No error in either the admission or the exclusion of evidence and no error or defect
in any ruling or order or in anything done or omitted by the court or by any of the parties is
ground for granting a new trial or for setting aside a verdict or for vacating, modifying or
otherwise disturbing a judgment or order, unless refusal to take such action appears to the
court inconsistent with substantial justice. The court at every stage of the proceeding must
disregard any error or defect in the proceeding which does not affect the substantial rights
of the parties.
Unless justice requires otherwise, no error in admitting or excluding evidence, or any other error by the court or a party, is ground for granting a new trial, for setting aside a verdict, or for vacating, modifying, or otherwise disturbing a judgment or order. At every stage of the proceeding, the court must disregard all errors and defects that do not affect any party's substantial rights.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rule 61 is identical to Rule Fed.R.Civ.P. 61, FRCivP.
Rule 61 was amended, effective _______________, in response to the December 1, 2007, revision of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The language and organization of the rule were changed to make the rule more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.
Sources: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of _________________; November
29-30, 1979, page 19; Rule Fed.R.Civ.P. 61, FRCivP.
Cross Reference: Rules N.D.R.Civ.P. 8 (General Rules of Pleading), N.D.R.Civ.P. 32 (Use
of Depositions in Court Proceedings), N.D.R.Civ.P. 59 (New Trials Amendment of Judgments), and
N.D.R.Civ.P. 60 (Relief From Judgment or Order), N.D.R.Civ.P.; Rule N.D.R.Crim.P. 52 (Harmless
Error and Obvious Error), N.D.R.Crim.P.; Rule N.D.R.Ev. 103 (Rulings on Evidence), N.D.R.Ev.