Opinions

Sims v. Sims 2021 ND 167
Docket No.: 20210039
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: OTHER (Civil)
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court order entering a domestic violence protection order is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

WSI v. Badger Roustabouts 2021 ND 166
Docket No.: 20210022
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: WORKERS COMPENSATION
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: An individual who performs services for another for remuneration is presumed to be an employee of the person for which the services are performed, unless it is proven that the individual is an independent contractor under the common-law test.

Whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee is a mixed question of fact and law.

To be entitled to an award attorney’s fees under N.D.C.C. § 28-32-50, a non-agency party must meet a two-part test: 1) the non-administrative agency party must prevail, and 2) the agency must have acted without substantial justification.

Fleck v. State 2021 ND 165
Docket No.: 20210089
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: POST-CONVICTION RELIEF
Author: Per Curiam

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).

Matter of Muscha 2021 ND 164
Docket No.: 20210071
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: CIVIL COMMIT OF SEXUAL PREDATOR
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A district court must specify facts on which its conclusions are based that a sexually dangerous individual continues to have serious difficulty controlling his behavior. Both past conduct and present conduct are relevant to determine whether an individual continues to have serious difficulty controlling his behavior. The conduct need not be sexual in nature.

Evidence of negative and inappropriate behaviors, including incidents demonstrating more than mere horseplay, may be sufficient to demonstrate serious difficulty controlling behavior.

Interest of K.B. 2021 ND 163
Docket No.: 20210109
Filing Date: 9/9/2021
Case Type: TERMINATION/PARENTAL RIGHTS
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: A juvenile court order removing two children from the care, custody, and control of their parents for nine months is affirmed.

Manning v. Jaeger, et al. 2021 ND 162
Docket No.: 20200332
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: OTHER (Civil)
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: To intervene as a matter of right, a person must establish on timely motion that 1) the person has a cognizable interest in the subject matter of the litigation, 2) the interest may be impaired as a result of the litigation, and 3) the interest is not adequately represented by an existing party to the litigation.

Exercise of supervisory jurisdiction is purely discretionary and decided on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique circumstances of each case.

State v. Johnson 2021 ND 161
Docket No.: 20200252
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: MISC. STATUTORY OFFENSE (FELONY)
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A conviction rests upon insufficient evidence only when no rational fact finder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution and giving the prosecution the benefit of all inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor.

To convict for terrorizing, the State must prove that the defendant intended to cause another person to fear for his or another person’s safety or acted with reckless disregard of the risk of causing such fear and that the defendant made a threat to commit a crime of violence or act dangerous to human life.

Hartman, et al. v. Grager 2021 ND 160
Docket No.: 20200205
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: OTHER (Civil)
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: Before a court may set aside a transaction on the ground of mental incapacity, the party attacking the validity of the transaction has the burden to prove the grantor, at the time of the transaction, was so weak mentally as not to be able to comprehend and understand the nature and effect of the transaction.

An agreement for the sale of real property must show who the contracting parties are, intelligently identify the subject matter involved, express the consideration, and disclose the terms and conditions upon which the contract is entered into. All things that in law or usage are considered as incidental to a contract or as necessary to carry it into effect are implied therefrom, unless some of them are mentioned expressly therein.

A valid inter vivos gift requires: (1) an intention by the donor to then and there give the property to the donee, coupled with an actual or constructive (2) delivery of the property to the donee, and (3) acceptance of the property by the donee.

In an action for specific performance, a purchaser may recover damages from a seller for delay in conveying real property. The detriment caused by the wrongful occupation of real property is deemed to be the value of the use of the property for the time of occupation, which can be shown by either identifying the fruits of the illegal possession, or through fair rental value of the property.

Estate of Finch 2021 ND 159
Docket No.: 20210029
Filing Date: 8/26/2021
Case Type: PROBATE - WILLS - TRUSTS
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A decision on a petition to remove a personal representative rests within the district court’s sound discretion.

A district court’s decision whether to award attorney’s fees incurred by a personal representative to be paid from the estate will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion.

Schulz v. Helmers 2021 ND 158
Docket No.: 20210025
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: OTHER (Civil)
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Contract damages for breaching a duty to maintain buildings in a lease are measured by the lesser of the cost to repair and the diminution in value of the property when avoiding windfalls or economic waste.