Opinions

State v. Walker 2015 ND 281
Docket No.: 20140441
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A receipt of a general consent to search a vehicle reasonably extends to any container in that vehicle which may contain the object of that search.

State v. Asbach 2015 ND 280
Docket No.: 20140471
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A defendant is not illegally seized while an officer is conducting duties related to the purpose of a traffic stop.
To prevail under the inevitable discovery exception to the exclusionary rule, the State must prove that the police have not acted in bad faith to accelerate the discovery of the challenged evidence and that the evidence would have otherwise been discovered by lawful means in the course of the investigation.

Chisholm v. State 2015 ND 279
Docket No.: 20150099
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: To prevail on a post-conviction claim of ineffective assistance, the petitioner must prove that (1) counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) the petitioner was prejudiced by counsel's deficient performance.

State v. Acker 2015 ND 278
Docket No.: 20150163
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Before admitting a defendant's prior conviction, the district court must weigh the conviction's probative value against its prejudicial effect in accordance with N.D.R.Ev. 609(a)(1)(B).
Non-constitutional trial error warrants reversal when it prejudices the defendant.

Sargent County Water Resource District v. Mathews, et al. 2015 ND 277
Docket No.: 20140451
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The primary purpose in interpreting a deed is to ascertain and effectuate the grantor's intent. When a deed is unambiguous, the parties' intent is determined from the instrument itself.
A deed that conveys a "right" or "right of way" generally indicates an intent to convey an easement. When the phrase "right of way" is included in the granting clause limiting the estate conveyed or specifying the purpose of the grant, the use of the language supports finding an easement was conveyed.

Bye v. Robinette 2015 ND 276
Docket No.: 20150109
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Findings of fact must demonstrate that the district court followed the child support guidelines when imputing income.
A child support calculation must take into account all of the children in a case or the fact that an obligor owes an additional duty of support to children living with the obligor.

Yahna v. Altru Health System 2015 ND 275
Docket No.: 20150083
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The presumption of at-will employment may be modified by an employment handbook creating contractual rights to employment, or by the statutory proscription against unlawful age discrimination.
A prima facie case of discrimination in the employment context requires a plaintiff to prove membership in a protected class, satisfactory performance of the duties of a job, an adverse employment decision, and others not in the protected class were treated more favorably.
An employment handbook must be read as a whole to determine whether it overcomes the presumption of employment at will.

Rooks v. Robb 2015 ND 274
Docket No.: 20150047
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Debtor/Creditor
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Affidavits must be made on personal knowledge and contain more than conclusory statements to raise a genuine issue of material fact.
For summary judgment, when a party has the burden of disputing a factual allegation for which no evidence is obtainable--e.g., the burden of proving something did not happen--the party may show there is a genuine dispute of material fact merely by pointing to the absence of probative evidence.

Williamson v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2015 ND 273
Docket No.: 20150179
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Foundation for the admission of blood test results may be laid by a designee of the director of the state crime lab who has been authorized to sign and certify records.
Evidence supporting the admission of blood test results includes the director of the state crime laboratory's authorization of a designee to sign and certify records until revoked or terminated, a designee's authorization to appoint inspectors for breath alcohol testing programs, a designee's execution of certification pages for approved lists of chemical test operators and devices, and testimony that the administration of the chemical test was fair.

Huether, et al. v. Nodak Mutual Ins. Co. (cross-reference w/20150029) 2015 ND 272
Docket No.: 20150161
Filing Date: 12/1/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Insurance coverage for "direct physical loss or damage" is not ambiguous as a matter of law. A district court does not err in finding the ordinary meaning of the phrase does not include loss-of-use coverage.
The reasonable expectations doctrine is not adopted.