New opinions: Oct. 21 Wednesday, October 21, 2020
The Supreme Court has issued 23 new opinions. The summaries are below.
To see an opinion, click on the "View Opinion" button. Opinions display in a printable format. Hyperlinks to all North Dakota opinions and rules cited in an opinion are included in the text: hover over the citation and click to follow the hyperlink.
See other Supreme Court opinions at: https://www.ndcourts.gov/supreme-court/opinions
Matter of Hehn 2020 ND 226 Highlight: Civil commitment decisions require detailed findings, including credibility determinations and references to evidence the court relied on in making its decision. Conclusory, general findings do not comply with N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a). |
Titan Machinery v. Kluver 2020 ND 225 Highlight: In a bench trial, the district court decides credibility issues, and we will not second-guess the district court on its credibility decisions. |
Hunter v. State 2020 ND 224 Highlight: Claims barred by res judicata are not preserved in post-conviction relief proceedings by combining them with claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. |
WSI v. Tolman 2020 ND 223 Highlight: Statutory interpretation presents a question of law. Statutory provisions are given their plain, ordinary, and commonly understood meaning unless a contrary intention plainly appears. |
Thiele v. Bousquet, et al. 2020 ND 222 Highlight: A summary judgment in a personal injury action is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1) and (4). |
Yost v. State 2020 ND 221 Highlight: A district court order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Gonzalez v. State 2020 ND 220 Highlight: A district court’s order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
State v. Lubitz 2020 ND 219 Highlight: Criminal conviction for murder summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (4). |
Hoffarth v. Hoffarth 2020 ND 218 Highlight: A motion to reconsider an order disposing of a time-tolling post-trial motion does not continue tolling the time to file a notice of appeal. |
Ring v. NDDHS 2020 ND 217 Highlight: When ruling on a motion for substitution upon a party’s death, the district court must determine whether the case was extinguished by the death, and if not, whether the party seeking substitution is the proper successor. |
State v. Long 2020 ND 216 Highlight: A district court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to dismiss is affirmed. |
City of Minot v. Miller 2020 ND 215 Highlight: Exclusion of a chemical test through the application of N.D.C.C. § 39-20-01(b) is not an available remedy in a criminal proceeding not involving a refusal. |
State v. Trefethren 2020 ND 214 Highlight: Criminal judgment entered after a guilty plea is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4) and (7). |
G & D Enterprises v. Liebelt 2020 ND 213 Highlight: The duty which gives rise to a nuisance claim is the absolute duty not to act in a way which unreasonably interferes with other persons’ use and enjoyment of their property. |
Bickel v. Bickel 2020 ND 212 Highlight: If the district court finds certain past income is an unreliable indicator of the obligor’s future income, the court must explain why the income it utilized in determining the child support obligation was appropriate. |
Toure v. State 2020 ND 211 Highlight: A district court’s order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Beyer v. State 2020 ND 210 Highlight: An order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Interest of C.A.R. 2020 ND 209 Highlight: A party seeking termination of parental rights must prove all the elements by clear and convincing evidence. |
State v. Devine 2020 ND 208 Highlight: The exclusionary rule previously codified within N.D.C.C. § 39-20-01(3)(b) did not apply to a test obtained pursuant to N.D.C.C. § 39-20-01.1. |
Bismarck Financial Group, et al. v. Caldwell 2020 ND 207 Highlight: A motion to dismiss under N.D.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of the claims in the complaint, and it must not be granted unless it discloses with certainty the impossibility of proving a claim upon which relief can be granted. |
Suelzle v. NDDOT 2020 ND 206 Highlight: A person may be arrested for actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol if the vehicle is located on private property in a private area to which the public has a right of access. |
Hall v. Hall, et al. 2020 ND 205 Highlight: A district court has greater liberty in granting motions under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) when the matter involves a default judgment rather than a judgment following a full trial on the merits. |
RFM-TREI Jefferson Apartments v. Stark County Board of Comm'rs 2020 ND 204 Highlight: An assessment that exceeds the true and full value of property is contrary to N.D.C.C. § 57-23-01, which provides that “assessments of any taxable property in excess of the full and true value in money are subject to correction and abatement and refund.” When a Board denies a request to abate such an assessment, it acts contrary to the legislature’s directive, and the Court will conclude the abatement denial is arbitrary and unreasonable. |