Opinions

Striefel v. Striefel 2004 ND 210
Docket No.: 20040072
Filing Date: 11/19/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The Ruff-Fischer guidelines apply to both property division and spousal support, which ordinarily must be considered together.
Pensions and retirement benefits are marital assets subject to equitable distribution by the court.

State v. Whitetail 2004 ND 209
Docket No.: 20040187
Filing Date: 11/19/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Conviction for delivery of alcoholic beverages to persons under 21 is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Packineau v. State 2004 ND 208
Docket No.: 20030345
Filing Date: 11/4/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denial of application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Forster v. West Dakota Veterinary Clinic, et al. 2004 ND 207
Docket No.: 20040061
Filing Date: 11/4/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In a defamation action, the court determines whether a communication is capable of bearing particular meaning and whether that meaning is defamatory, and the jury determines whether a communication capable of a defamatory meaning was so understood by its recipient.
Direct evidence of the recipient's understanding of the defamatory nature of a libel is not required if other evidence is sufficient to permit an inference of that understanding.
When the circumstances of the occasion for a communication are not in dispute, the determination whether there is a qualified privilege is a question of law for the court, but the determination whether a qualified privilege has been abused is generally a question of fact.
Plaintiffs in a defamation action have a duty to mitigate damages.
Evidence of a plaintiff's general bad reputation or bad character is admissible in a defamation action only if it affects the aspects of reputation asserted to have been defamed.
While cumulative evidence may sometimes strengthen the weight and credibility of a witness's testimony, a district court does not necessarily abuse its discretion by excluding cumulative evidence.
Expert testimony is allowed if the witness is shown to have some degree of expertise in the field in which he is to testify.
Employment without a definite term is presumed to be at will, and an at-will employee may be terminated with or without cause.
A prior written agreement providing it can be modified only in writing does not prevent the parties from entering into a new oral agreement.

Disciplinary Board v. Madlom 2004 ND 206
Docket No.: 20040280
Filing Date: 11/4/2004
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reprimanded and ordered to pay restitution and pay costs of disciplinary proceedings.

Disciplinary Board v. Peterson (Con. w/20040168&169)(Cross-ref. w/20040134) 2004 ND 205
Docket No.: 20040167
Filing Date: 11/4/2004
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer disbarred.

Heng v. Rotech Medical Corp. 2004 ND 204
Docket No.: 20040082
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When an employee policy manual expressly states that it does not create a contract, the employee is on notice that the manual preserves the presumption of employment at will.
A prima facie case for retaliatory discharge under the whistle-blower statute is established by showing (1) the employee engaged in protected activity; (2) the employer took adverse action against the employee; and (3) the existence of a causal connection between the employee's protected activity and the employer's adverse action.
Reporting a suspected violation of law to an employer is protected activity, and the violation need not be reported to outside authorities.
Whether an employee has made a report in good faith is a question of fact, and summary judgment dismissing the employee's retaliatory discharge claim is appropriate only if reasonable minds could only conclude that the reports were made solely for a purpose other than reporting an illegality.
Circumstantial evidence, including proximity in time between the protected activity and the adverse employment action, may provide an inference of causation.

Roberson v. Roberson 2004 ND 203
Docket No.: 20040125
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Conflicting testimony will not be reweighed and credibility will not be reassessed on appeal.
While the wholesale adoption of one party's proposed findings of fact discouraged, if the adopted findings adequately explain the basis of the trial court's decision, we will uphold them unless clearly erroneous.

Interest of E.R. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2004 ND 202
Docket No.: 20040122
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Although incarceration, by itself, does not establish abandonment of a child for purposes of terminating parental rights, a probability of harm to the child may be established by prognostic evidence that a parent's current inability to care for the child will continue long enough to render improbable the successful assimilation of the child into a family if the parent's rights are not terminated.

State v. Donovan 2004 ND 201
Docket No.: 20040066
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Suppression of evidence in a criminal case is proper when the defendant is able to show the search warrant was issued in reliance upon an affidavit containing false or misleading statements.
Credibility of an informant who is a member of the "criminal milieu" must be established by more than easily obtainable facts.

Jensen v. State (Cross-reference w/20010097 & 20020166) 2004 ND 200
Docket No.: 20040137
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In a post-conviction proceeding, a claim is res judicata if it was fully and finally determined in a previous proceeding.
A misuse of process occurs when the applicant presents a claim for relief that the applicant inexcusably failed to raise in prior proceedings, or if the applicant has filed multiple applications containing claims so lacking in factual support or legal basis as to be frivolous.

Knoll v. Kuleck 2004 ND 199
Docket No.: 20040087
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The child support guidelines require a child support order to include a statement of the net income of the obligor used to determine the child support obligation, and how that net income was determined.
The child support guidelines require documentation of a child support obligor's income.

Rott v. Connecticut General Life Ins. Co., et al. 2004 ND 198
Docket No.: 20040172
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A quitclaim deed transfers the grantor's interest, if any, in the property to the grantee.
If no action is taken to substitute the appropriate entity as a party to an appeal, the appeal may be dismissed.

R.R. v. G. H., et al. (CONFIDENTIAL) (Cross-Ref. w/20040288 & 20040325) 2004 ND 197
Docket No.: 20040139
Filing Date: 11/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Paternity
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Visitation order is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Estate of Bergman (Consolidated w/20030357) 2004 ND 196
Docket No.: 20030356
Filing Date: 10/20/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Assets conveyed by an institutionalized spouse to a community spouse before the institutionalized spouse's death and traceable to the community spouse's estate are subject to a claim for Medicaid benefits provided to the institutionalized spouse.
Transfers by a surviving community spouse before death, which are made for less than a reasonably equivalent value and which render the community spouse's estate insolvent, may be voided under N.D.C.C. ch. 13-02.1.

Staley v. Staley 2004 ND 195
Docket No.: 20040047
Filing Date: 10/20/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Rehabilitative spousal support is appropriate when it is possible to restore an economically disadvantaged spouse to independent economic status, or to equalize the burden of divorce by increasing the disadvantaged spouse's earning capacity.

Long v. Jaszczak (Consolidated with 20040089) 2004 ND 194
Docket No.: 20040088
Filing Date: 10/18/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: For purposes of the statute of limitations, an action commences when the summons, with the intent it shall be served, is delivered to the sheriff or officer of the county where the defendant resides.
A primary physician, ordering a diagnostic procedure to further a patient's care, has a legal duty to obtain the patient's informed consent.
Generally, in cases of informed consent, materiality of risk and causation are questions for the trier of fact.
Expert testimony is not required to prove whether a reasonable patient would attach significance to a particular risk.
A hospital does not owe a legal duty to obtain its patients' informed consent, it is a physician's responsibility.

State v. Murchison 2004 ND 193
Docket No.: 20030328
Filing Date: 10/15/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The preliminary hearing is a critical stage of the proceedings at which the defendant has a constitutional right to representation by counsel.
A defendant has the burden of establishing he is indigent and qualifies for appointment of counsel.
In deciding whether to grant a motion for recusal, the trial judge must determine whether a reasonable person could, on the basis of all the facts, reasonably question the judge's impartiality. Recusal is not required in response to spurious or vague charges of partiality.
A trial judge is allowed the widest range of discretion in fixing a criminal sentence and appellate review is generally confined to whether the court acted within the statutory sentencing limits or substantially relied upon an impermissible factor in determining the severity of the sentence.

Riemers v. Grand Forks Herald, et al. 2004 ND 192
Docket No.: 20040069
Filing Date: 10/15/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Privilege is based upon the sound public policy that some communications are so socially important that the full and unrestricted exchange of information requires some latitude for mistake. A privileged communication does not enjoy absolute immunity, however.
To prevent abuse, the privilege is a qualified privilege. A qualified privilege is abused if statements are made with actual malice, without reasonable grounds for believing them to be true, and on a subject matter irrelevant to the common interest or duty.

Heckelsmiller v. State (Cross-Ref. w/20030179) 2004 ND 191
Docket No.: 20040111
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Ineffective assistance of counsel exists where trial counsel, after calling witnesses to the stand and discovering that they have not complied with a defense-requested sequestration order, makes no offer of proof as to the substance of these witnesses' critical testimony, thus denying defendant a meaningful appeal on the issue of whether these witnesses should have been allowed to testify.

Estate of Gross v. ND Dept. of Human Services 2004 ND 190
Docket No.: 20040071
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The monthly payments from a nonassignable annuity are a holder's interest in a contractual right to receive money payments and are an available asset under medicaid law.
There is a presumption that a holder's interest in a contractual right to receive money payments is saleable without working an undue hardship, and the presumption may be rebutted by evidence demonstrating the contractual right to receive money payments is not saleable without working an undue hardship.

Schmidt, et al. v. Wittinger 2004 ND 189
Docket No.: 20040051
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A trial court can order a partition of real property if a partition in kind cannot be made without great prejudice to the owners.
For the partition in kind of real property, great prejudice exists when the value of the share of each in case of a partition would be materially less than the share of the money equivalent that each could probably obtain from the whole.
A joint tenant must account to cotenants for receiving more than a proportionate share of the rents and profits.
A cotenant's failure to participate in the federal conservation reserve program is not a legal breach entitling the joint tenants to compensatory damages.

Riemers v. Omdahl, et al. 2004 ND 188
Docket No.: 20040099
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: In a legal malpractice action, the statute of limitations begins to run when the plaintiff knows, or with reasonable diligence should know, of the injury, its cause, and the defendant's possible negligence.
In a legal malpractice action, the continuous representation rule tolls the statute of limitations or defers accrual of the cause of action while the attorney continues to represent the client and the representation relates to the same transaction or subject matter as the allegedly negligent acts.

State v. Charette 2004 ND 187
Docket No.: 20040001
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Circumstantial evidence can, without more, be sufficient to warrant a conviction, assuming the circumstantial evidence is of such probative force to enable the trier of fact to find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The existence of conflicting evidence does not prohibit a jury from finding a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The decision to admit or exclude demonstrative evidence is subject to abuse-of-discretion review.
A trial court does not abuse its discretion when it refuses to allow defendant to try on clothing evidence found at a murder scene when defendant has gained weight since the date of the murder.
Rule 16, N.D.R.Crim.P., specifically addresses discovery of formal, recorded statements, and the State does not violate this rule if it fails to disclose a witness's informal, pre-trial statements.

Kouba v. State of North Dakota, et al. 2004 ND 186
Docket No.: 20040129
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Public policy demands that the State retain immunity for the exercise of discretionary acts in its official capacity, including legislative, judicial, quasi-legislative, and quasi-judicial functions.
The adjudicative acts performed by State officials in carrying out their duties are quasi-judicial in nature, and, therefore, immune from liability.
When a governmental agency systemically disregards the requirements of law, reversal may be required to ensure the government acts consistently and predictably in accordance with the law.

Kouba v. Hoeven, et al. 2004 ND 185
Docket No.: 20040138
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Mandamus
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A petitioner for a writ of mandamus must demonstrate a clear legal right to performance of the act sought to be compelled by the writ and must demonstrate there is no other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law.

Baity v. Workforce Safety & Insurance, et al. 2004 ND 184
Docket No.: 20040096
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Supplementary disability benefits may be awarded only after Workforce Safety and Insurance has determined the claimant is incapable of rehabilitation of earnings capacity and is therefore permanently and totally disabled.
An agency's systemic disregard of the law may warrant reversing the agency decision without a showing of prejudice by the party relying on the improper conduct, but evidence of a single improper act is not sufficient to establish systemic disregard.

Interest of R.R. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2004 ND 183
Docket No.: 20040265
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court is required only to determine whether treatment other than hospitalization is appropriate, not which unit in the hospital is appropriate.
A district court order requiring treatment at the State Hospital is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Interest of K.G. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2004 ND 182
Docket No.: 20040264
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court order revoking alternative treatment and requiring treatment at the State Hospital is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Ernst v. Burdick, et al. (Consolidated w/20040105) 2004 ND 181
Docket No.: 20040104
Filing Date: 10/12/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The statutory provisions for criminal history record collection and dissemination under N.D.C.C. ch. 12-60 do not create a private cause of action for violations.

Disciplinary Board v. Secrest 2004 ND 180
Docket No.: 20040243
Filing Date: 10/4/2004
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reprimanded and ordered to pay costs of disciplinary proceedings for violating N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.4(b).

Hansen, et al. v. Scott, et al. (Cross-reference w/20010195) 2004 ND 179
Docket No.: 20040044
Filing Date: 9/23/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: When applying principles of comity, it is not against North Dakota public policy to grant a sister state's employees the same level of immunity North Dakota state employees enjoy.

Evenson v. Quantum Industries, Inc., et al. 2004 ND 178
Docket No.: 20040033
Filing Date: 9/17/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The parol evidence rule precludes the use of evidence of prior oral negotiations and agreements to vary or add to the terms expressed in a written contract.
Preliminary oral statements and promises related to the terms of the contract do not provide the basis for a fraud claim if there is a subsequent written contract.

Jackson v. State 2004 ND 177
Docket No.: 20030365
Filing Date: 9/15/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denial of application for post-conviction relief based on alleged ineffective assistance of trial counsel is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

State v. Lee 2004 ND 176
Docket No.: 20030336
Filing Date: 9/15/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: If a party does not object to an alleged error at the time it occurs, and does not give the court time to remedy any possible prejudice that may result, the party waives any ground of complaint against its admission upon appeal.
If a party does not object to an alleged error during trial, the party alleging an error has the burden of proving the alleged error was obvious by showing it is plain and it affects substantial rights of the party. The alleged error is not obvious unless it is a clear deviation from an applicable legal rule under current law.

City of Wahpeton v. Timmerman (Consolidated w/ 20040076 & 20040077) 2004 ND 175
Docket No.: 20040075
Filing Date: 9/15/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Convictions of driving without a license and resisting arrest and subsequent denials of motions to dismiss charges and withdraw guilty pleas are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1), (2) and (4).

Nodak Mutual Ins. Co. v. Wamsley, et al. 2004 ND 174
Docket No.: 20030374
Filing Date: 9/13/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The significant-contacts approach to choice-of-law questions is appropriate in contract cases with multistate factual contacts.
In insurance contract cases, consideration of predictability of results favors application of the law of the state in which the insurance policy was negotiated, issued, and the premiums paid.

Flatt v. Kantak, et al. 2004 ND 173
Docket No.: 20030285
Filing Date: 9/3/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A physician must disclose material risks to obtain a patient's informed consent for a medical procedure.
On appeal, a trial court's rulings on expert testimony are reviewed under the abuse-of-discretion standard.
A trial court is not required to instruct a jury in the exact language sought by a party if the court's instructions correctly and adequately inform the jury of the applicable law.
A physician's duty of disclosure in an informed consent case is measured under the reasonable patient standard.
A party challenging the constitutionality of a statute must allege an injury traceable to the statute.

Judicial Conduct Commission v. Giese 2004 ND 172
Docket No.: 20040177
Filing Date: 9/2/2004
Case Type: Discipline - Judge - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Former municipal judge censured.

Judicial Conduct Commission v. McGuire 2004 ND 171
Docket No.: 20040073
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Discipline - Judge - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Clear and convincing evidence in a judicial disciplinary proceeding means evidence which leads to a firm belief or conviction that the allegations are true.
In judicial disciplinary proceedings, the party seeking discovery has to show a need for the information beyond mere relevance.
Extra-judicial conduct is not simply conduct arising geographically outside of the courtroom, but is conduct which arises from something outside of the events of the courtroom itself.
Suspending a judge from office without pay does not violate the constitutional directive that a judge's salary shall not be diminished during this term of office.
The purpose of discipline in judicial conduct cases is not to punish a judge, but is to preserve the integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in the system and, when necessary, safeguard the bench and public from those who are unfit.
A respondent in a judicial disciplinary proceeding is not initially responsible for payment of the cost of a hearing transcript, but if the respondent is ultimately found to have committed misconduct, the cost of the hearing transcript may be assessed against the respondent.

Interest of R.H. 2004 ND 170
Docket No.: 20040053
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A party against whom a presumption is directed has the burden of proving that the nonexistence of the presumed fact is more probable than its existence.

Smith Enterprises v. In-Touch Phone Cards, et al. 2004 ND 169
Docket No.: 20040039
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A determination of the terms of an oral contract is a question of fact and will be reversed on appeal only if clearly erroneous.
To prevail on a claim of unlawful interference with business, a plaintiff must prove: (1) the existence of a valid business relationship or expectancy; (2) knowledge by the interferer of the relationship or expectancy; (3) an independently tortious or otherwise unlawful act of interference by the interferer; (4) proof the interference caused the harm sustained; and (5) actual damages to the party whose relationship or expectancy was disrupted.

State v. Spidahl (Consolidated w/20030349-20030352) 2004 ND 168
Docket No.: 20030348
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Probable cause to arrest does not require that commission of the offense be established with absolute certainty, or proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Investors Real Estate Trust Properties v. Terra Pacific Midwest, et al. 2004 ND 167
Docket No.: 20030363
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A plaintiff alleging negligence must present affirmative evidence that the defendant's conduct caused the injury, and may not establish causation solely by discrediting other possible causes.
A plaintiff relying upon the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur must show the defendant had exclusive control of the specific instrumentality that caused a fire, not merely control of the location or area where the fire occurred.

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co. v. Lynne, et al. 2004 ND 166
Docket No.: 20030217
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: To successfully oppose a motion for summary judgment, a party must not rely upon unsupported or conclusory allegations.
An insurance policy is not ambiguous when the plain language of the policy precludes coverage.
A causal relationship exists when damage to property arises out of the inherent nature of the work performed.
A house is real property and a fixture when the actions of the owner manifest an intention to have the house remain on the property permanently.

Horner v. Horner 2004 ND 165
Docket No.: 20030367
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Duration of a marriage is only one factor of the Ruff-Fischer guidelines and is not controlling in a distribution of marital property.
A party's dissipation of marital assets is a particularly relevant factor in arriving at an equitable distribution of the property.
Periodic cash payments awarded without interest need to be discounted to present value in determining whether a property distribution is equitable.
Distributing farm assets to one spouse with an offsetting monetary award to the other spouse is an acceptable method of preserving the viability of a family farm.

Dietz v. Kautzman, et al. 2004 ND 164
Docket No.: 20030362
Filing Date: 8/31/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: An order or judgment awarding attorney fees and costs as a discovery sanction is ordinarily interlocutory and not appealable, but it is appealable when accompanied by a finding of contempt.
A district court has a broad spectrum of available sanctions for discovery violations, and any sanctions imposed will not be set aside on appeal unless the district court abused its discretion.

State v. Haibeck 2004 ND 163
Docket No.: 20040060
Filing Date: 8/9/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, contraband goods concealed and illegally transported in an automobile or other vehicle may be searched for without a warrant where probable cause exists.
When conducting a search under the automobile exception, law enforcement does not need separate findings of probable cause to support multiple searches of a vehicle when the searches are virtually contemporaneous.
A Miranda violation does not require suppression of the physical fruits of a suspect's unwarned but voluntary statements.
The fact that an officer may have authority to arrest a suspect does not mean that a suspect is in custody for purposes of Miranda.

Grandbois and Grandbois, Inc., et al. v. City of Watford City, et al. 2004 ND 162
Docket No.: 20030250
Filing Date: 8/5/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Summary judgment is proper against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to the party's case and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.
The plaintiff has the burden of showing actual damage and establishing that the actual damage was proximately caused by the alleged fraudulent or deceitful act.

Grand Forks Co. v. Tollefson, et al. 2004 ND 161
Docket No.: 20030370
Filing Date: 8/4/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: An employee's benefit year, for purposes of calculating a former employer's liability for unemployment benefits, begins when the employee first files a request for determination of insured status, and a subsequent benefit year cannot be established until the expiration of the current benefit year.
In an administrative proceeding, a party's failure to request that a witness be subpoenaed waives the right to have the witness present and available for cross-examination.