Search Tips

Berger, et al. v. Sellers, et al.

Docket No. 20220322
Oral Argument: Friday, May 19, 2023 1:30 PM

Docket Info

Title
Darren Berger and Tamara Berger, Plaintiffs, Appellants, and Cross-Appellees
v.
Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers,
Jordan Anderson, Personally, and
Big River Builders, Inc., Defendants, Appellees, and Cross-Appellants
and
The Misty Waters Owners' Association, Defendant and Appellee
and
Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan
Anderson, Personally, and Big River
Builders, Inc., Third-Party Plaintiffs, Appellees,
and Cross-Appellants
v.
Jeff Carlson, Third-Party Defendant and Appellee

Case Type
CIVIL APPEAL : REAL PROPERTY
Appeal From
Case No. 2021-CV-00134
South Central Judicial District, Burleigh County
Pamela Ann Nesvig
2023 ND 171996 N.W.2d 329
Oral Argument 5/19/2023

Highlight

A planned unit development is a form of zoning ordinance which is interpreted under rules of statutory construction. Where an incorporated reference is subsequently modified or repealed, that change does not alter the meaning of the law incorporating that reference.

A party is not required to exhaust administrative remedies prior to suit when the issue concerns the interpretation of an unambiguous statute and does not need the exercise of an agency’s expertise in making factual decisions.

The interpretation of a restrictive covenant is generally governed by rules for interpretation of a contract. Restrictive covenants will be given full effect when clearly established.

Whether a fiduciary relationship exists is generally a question of fact, dependent upon a showing of special circumstances.

Violating a requirement in the planned unit development or restrictive covenants constitutes an “unlawful” act for purposes of a statutory private nuisance claim. Homeowners do not have a right to sunlight and open space on adjacent properties.

Conduct that constitutes a breach of contract does not subject the actor to an action in tort for negligence, unless the conduct also constitutes a breach of an independent duty that did not arise from the contract. Section 9-10-01, N.D.C.C., codifies the general duty of care to abstain from injuring property or infringing upon rights. Neighbors who are members of a homeowners’ association owe each other an ordinary duty of care. A homeowners’ association owes homeowners reasonable care in approving construction plans. The fact finder determines how a reasonable homeowners’ association would act under the circumstances and whether the association exercised reasonable care in performing its duties. Generally, a contractor is relieved of liability if he followed the contractee’s plans or specifications which were defective or insufficient, and the defect or insufficiency caused the damage.

Slander is a false and unprivileged publication other than libel. Intentional interference with contract requires a breach of contract. Unlawful interference with business requires an independently tortious or otherwise unlawful act of interference. Negligence requires a breach of duty.

Briefs

Filing Date Description
02/13/2023 AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF (Misty Waters L.L.C.) View
02/13/2023 APPELLANT BRIEF View
03/27/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (The Misty Waters Owners' Association) View
03/27/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan Anderson & Big River Builders, Inc.) View
04/26/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (Jeff Carlson) View
04/26/2023 REPLY BRIEF (Darren Berger and Tamara Berger) View
05/09/2023 REPLY BRIEF (Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan Anderson & Big River Builders, Inc.) View

Counsel

Party Type Name
APPELLANT PRIVATE PRACTICE Bradley John Beehler - 05319
APPELLANT PRIVATE PRACTICE Victoria Anne Vold - 08839
APPELLEE PRIVATE PRACTICE Katie L. Winbauer - 09260
APPELLEE PRIVATE PRACTICE William P Harrie - 04411
APPELLEE PRIVATE PRACTICE Chris A. Edison - 05362
AMICUS CURIAE PRIVATE PRACTICE Zachary Evan Pelham - 05904
AMICUS CURIAE PRIVATE PRACTICE Matthew R. Keller - 09338
APPELLANT PRIVATE PRACTICE Shea Ashley Miller - 08498
APPELLANT PRIVATE PRACTICE Nicholas C. Grant - 07102
APPELLEE PRIVATE PRACTICE Randall Joseph Bakke - 03898
APPELLEE PRIVATE PRACTICE Shawn Arlin Grinolds - 05407

(Note: Attachments may not be available for recently filed cases and/or confidential documents.)

Seq. # Filing Date Description Attachment
1 11/02/2022 NOTICE OF APPEAL : 11/02/2022 View
2 11/02/2022 ORDER FOR TRANSCRIPT : 11/04/2022 View
3 11/04/2022 Rec'd filing fee
4 11/04/2022 NOT. OF FILING NOT. OF APPEAL AND PROOF OF SERV. View
5 11/04/2022 Notice served on Nicholas C. Grant, Shea A. Miller, Randall J. Bakke, Shawn A. Grinolds,
6 11/04/2022 Bradley N. Wiederholt, William P. Harrie, & Chris A. Edison
7 11/29/2022 ELEC. RECORD ON APPEAL DATED NOVEMBER 28, 2022 (ENTRY NOS. 1-143, 145-277, 279, 462)(NOT SENT: 278) View
8 11/30/2022 NOTICE OF CROSS APPEAL (Jason Sellers, et al.) View
9 12/01/2022 NOT. OF FILING NOT. OF CROSS-APPEAL AND PROOF OF SERV. View
10 12/01/2022 Notice served on Nicholas C. Grant, Shea A. Miller, Randall J. Bakke, Shawn A. Grinolds,
11 12/01/2022 William P. Harrie, & Chris A. Edison
12 12/29/2022 1ST ELEC. SUPP. RECORD ON APPEAL DATED DECEMBER 28, 2022 (ENTRY NOS. 463-468) View
13 01/04/2023 All Transcripts Filed in Record
14 01/04/2023 2ND ELEC. SUPP. RECORD ON APPEAL DATED JANUARY 3, 2023 (ENTRY NOS. 470-472) View
15 01/04/2023 3RD ELEC. SUPP. RECORD ON APPEAL DATED JANUARY 4, 2023 (ENTRY NOS. 473-475) View
16 01/05/2023 4TH ELEC. SUPP. RECORD ON APPEAL DATED JANUARY 4, 2023 (ENTRY NOS. 469, 476, 477) View
17 02/06/2023 JOINT MOTION AND STIPULATION FOR EXTENSION OF PAGE LIMITS AND MODIFICATION OF DEADLINES View
18 02/07/2023 ACTION BY CHIEF JUSTICE (principle briefs allowed 50 pages; reply briefs allowed 20 pages) - Granted
19 02/07/2023 AEBs of Sellers, Big River, & Anderson and Misty Waters Owners Association due 30 days from svc
20 02/07/2023 of ATB. AEB of Carlson and RYB of Berger due 30 days from svc of Sellers, et al. & Misty Waters
21 02/07/2023 RYB of Sellers, et al. due 14 days after svc of Carlson AEB & Bergers' RYB)
22 02/13/2023 ANNOUNCED DISQUALIFICATION : Crothers, Daniel John
23 02/13/2023 MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE BRIEF OF AMICAS CURIAE View
24 02/13/2023 ACTION BY CLERK
25 02/13/2023 AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF (Misty Waters L.L.C.) View
26 02/13/2023 APPELLANT BRIEF View
27 02/13/2023 Oral Argument Request by Appellant
28 02/15/2023 Rec'd corrections to ACB (nature of proceedings)
29 02/15/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of ACB from CSD
30 02/15/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of ATB from CSD
31 02/15/2023 MOTION TO ALTER THE ORAL ARGUMENT SCHEDULE BY SELLERS, ETC. - RspDue : 03/01/2023 View
32 02/15/2023 Response Filed by Bergers View
33 03/09/2023 MOT. EXT/TIME APPELLEES' BRIEFS (Sellers, Big River, & Anderson & Misty Waters Owners Association) View
34 03/09/2023 ACTION BY CLERK - Granted : 03/27/2023
35 03/22/2023 Notice of Appearance by Katie L. Winbauer on behalf of Jeff Carlson View
36 03/23/2023 MOTION FOR ADDITIONAL PAGES BY Sellers etc. Appellees View
37 03/24/2023 ACTION BY CHIEF JUSTICE (54 total pages) - Granted
38 03/27/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (The Misty Waters Owners' Association) View
39 03/27/2023 Oral Argument Request by The Misty Waters Owners' Association
40 03/27/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan Anderson & Big River Builders, Inc.) View
41 03/27/2023 Oral Argument Request by Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan Anderson & Big River Builders, Inc.
42 03/30/2023 Rec'd c.o.s. of AEB (The Misty Waters Owners' Association) on Z. Pelham & M. Keller
43 03/30/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of AEB from CSD (Sellers, et al.)
44 03/30/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of AEB from CSD (The Misty Waters Owners' Association)
45 04/18/2023 MOTION FOR ADDITIONAL PAGES FOR REPLY BRIEF BY BERGER APPELLANTS View
46 04/19/2023 NOTICE OF ORAL ARGUMENT SENT
47 04/20/2023 ACTION BY SUPREME COURT (4 additional pages, total 24) - Granted
48 04/20/2023 ACTION BY SUPREME COURT (oral argument) - Granted
49 04/24/2023 SITTING WITH THE COURT : Cruff, Bradley Allen
50 04/26/2023 APPELLEE BRIEF (Jeff Carlson) View
51 04/26/2023 Oral Argument Request by Jeff Carlson
52 04/26/2023 REPLY BRIEF (Darren Berger and Tamara Berger) View
53 04/27/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of RYB from CSD (Darren Berger and Tamara Berger)
54 04/28/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of AEB from CSD (Jeff Carlson)
55 05/09/2023 REPLY BRIEF (Jason Sellers, Krysta Sellers, Jordan Anderson & Big River Builders, Inc.) View
56 05/10/2023 Rec'd 4 copies of RYB from CSD
57 05/17/2023 MOTION TO ALTER THE ORAL ARGUMENT SCHEDULE FOR REBUTTAL BY SELLERS, ETC. View
58 05/17/2023 ACTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL JUSTICE - Granted
59 05/19/2023 APPEARANCES: N. Grant/V. Vold/R. Bakke/S. Grinolds/W. Harrie/K. Winbauer
60 05/19/2023 ARGUED: N. Grant/R. Bakke/W. Harrie/K. Winbauer
61 09/28/2023 DISPOSITION (AND REMANDED)
62 09/28/2023 UNANIMOUS OPINION : Tufte, Jerod E. View
63 09/28/2023 BY ORDER OF THE COURT, COSTS ON APPEAL TAXED IN FAVOR OF APPELLANTS
64 09/28/2023 Judgment View
65 10/05/2023 MOTION TO AMEND JUDGMENT View
66 10/08/2023 ACTION BY SUPREME COURT - Denied
67 10/20/2023 MANDATE