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Valley Honey Co. v. Graves, et al. 2003 ND 125
Docket No.: 20020254
Filing Date: 7/21/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: If a condition appears on the face of a grant of real property, the grant takes effect on performance of the condition.
On a motion to amend judgment for additional costs, a party must provide the court with sufficient grounds for why it failed to bring the cost in its original affidavit of costs.

Lawrence v. Roberdeau, et al. (consolidated w/20030061) 2003 ND 124
Docket No.: 20030060
Filing Date: 7/18/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Witness immunity bars a suit challenging a witness's testimony.
A state employee is not personally liable for money damages in a negligence case when the injury is proximately caused by the employee acting within the scope of employment.

Bladow v. Bladow 2003 ND 123
Docket No.: 20030011
Filing Date: 7/18/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The proceeds of a personal injury settlement received during the marriage are part of the marital estate, and their distribution is part of the equitable distribution of property in a divorce.

Ringsaker v. Workforce Safety and Insurance 2003 ND 122
Docket No.: 20020335
Filing Date: 7/18/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Litigants have a duty to comply with clearly communicated case-management orders.
Service of a brief by mail is complete upon mailing, but filing requires actual receipt.
A trial court may take any appropriate action against any person failing to perform an act required by court order.

Gonzalez v. Tounjian, et al 2003 ND 121
Docket No.: 20020263
Filing Date: 7/18/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A lessor who retains control over common areas of an apartment building has a duty to exercise reasonable care to keep the common areas safe.
An expert witness need not be a specialist in a particularized field, have a formal title or specific certification, or be licensed in any particular field. Expert testimony is admissible if the trial court determines the expert's knowledge, training, education, or experience will assist the trier of fact.
The trier of fact in a tort case may award interest on past noneconomic damages.
Interest on future damages is not allowed in a tort case.

Smith v. Baumgartner 2003 ND 120
Docket No.: 20020323
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A statute may not be retroactively applied unless the statute explicitly states that it is to be applied retroactively or unless this Court can rationally infer from other sources that the legislature intended retroactive application of the statute.
The legislative policy behind the enactment of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act ("UIFSA") of ensuring uniform recognition and enforcement of child foreign child support orders among the states supports a rational inference that the legislature intended retroactive application.

State v. Schwab 2003 ND 119
Docket No.: 20020306
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Under N.D.R.Crim.P. 3(b), amendment of a complaint is within the district court's discretion.
On appeal, a trial court's jury selection process is reviewed using an abuse of discretion standard.
A potential juror's acquaintance with a possible witness is not implied bias.
In a fair-cross-section challenge, a defendant must show the group alleged to be excluded is a distinctive group in the community, the representation of the group is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community, and the group was systematically excluded in the jury selection process.

Syversen, et al. v. Hess, et al. 2003 ND 118
Docket No.: 20020361
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: When mistake is alleged, an unambiguous written deed can be altered by parol evidence.
A trial court decision will not be set aside merely because the court applied an incorrect reason, if the result is the same under the correct law and reasoning.

Tarnavsky v. McKenzie Co. Grazing Association 2003 ND 117
Docket No.: 20020311
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Statutes of limitation ordinarily begin to run from the commission of the wrongful act giving rise to the cause of action.
The discovery rule postpones the accrual of a claim until the plaintiff knew or with the exercise of reasonable diligence should have known the wrongful act and its resulting injury, and an objective standard is used for determining knowledge of a potential claim under the discovery rule.

State v. Steen (Consolidated w/20020356-20020360) 2003 ND 116
Docket No.: 20020355
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: An order correcting an illegal sentence involves a substantial right and is appealable.
A district court's failure to act, upon motion, to reduce a defendant's criminal sentence within 120 days after sentence is imposed, forecloses its power to reduce a criminal sentence.

Coons v. Coons 2003 ND 115
Docket No.: 20020169
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Where a presumption of domestic violence has been made and not yet rebutted, interim custody may be transferred from the presumed perpetrator until the presumption is rebutted by clear and convincing evidence.

Interest of K.P. 2003 ND 114
Docket No.: 20030175
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: To modify an alternative treatment order, a trial court must find by clear and convincing evidence: (1) the respondent is not complying with the alternative treatment order; or (2) the alternative treatment is not sufficient to prevent the respondent from harming the respondent or others.

Rist v. ND Dept. of Transportation 2003 ND 113
Docket No.: 20020303
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Community caretaking justifies law enforcement contact without reasonable suspicion of unlawful conduct.
If an officer learns something during a caretaking encounter that causes a reasonable suspicion or probable cause, the encounter can lead to further investigation, seizure, and even arrest.
Probable cause to arrest a person for being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor can exist without establishing the vehicle's operability or the location of the vehicle's ignition key.

Van Klootwyk, et al. v. Baptist Home 2003 ND 112
Docket No.: 20020325
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The three-month period for providing an admissible expert opinion under N.D.C.C. 28-01-46 applies only when a lawsuit based upon professional negligence is brought against a physician, nurse, or hospital, not a nursing home.

State v. Dimmitt 2003 ND 111
Docket No.: 20030018
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: If a judge impermissibly participates in plea negotiations, and a defendant shows his guilty plea resulted from the influence or confusion caused by the trial court's involvement in the negotiations, the defendant must be permitted to withdraw his guilty plea.
The State's failure to make an agreed upon sentence recommendation may result in a manifest injustice in the sentencing process entitling the defendant to withdraw his guilty plea.

Tarnavsky v. Tarnavsky, et al. 2003 ND 110
Docket No.: 20020292
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A partnership is an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners in business for profit and requires an intention to be partners, co-ownership of the business, and a profit motive.
A trial court has discretion to grant a motion to amend pleadings to conform to the evidence under N.D.R.Civ.P. 15(b).

John T. Jones Construction Co. v. City of Grand Forks 2003 ND 109
Docket No.: 20020195
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Parties to an arbitration agreement cannot contractually expand the scope of judicial review of an arbitration award beyond that provided by the Uniform Arbitration Act.
The Uniform Arbitration Act does not authorize Supreme Court review of an arbitration award that has not been subject to review in the district court.

State v. Matthews 2003 ND 108
Docket No.: 20020261
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A warrantless search of a dwelling for the purpose of investigation may be upheld under the emergency doctrine when the primary intent of the investigation is to render aid or assistance to someone in a dangerous situation.
An emergency doctrine search requires that: (1) the police have reasonable grounds to believe there is an emergency at hand and there is an immediate need for police assistance for the protection of life or property; (2) the search must not be motivated primarily by intent to arrest and seize evidence; (3) there must be some reasonable basis, approximating probable cause, to associate the emergency with the area or place to be searched.

State v. Heupel 2003 ND 107
Docket No.: 20020328
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Convictions for theft by deception and tampering with physical evidence are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (7).

State v. Schmidt 2003 ND 106
Docket No.: 20020277
Filing Date: 7/16/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal trespass conviction is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (4).

Hogan v. Hogan 2003 ND 105
Docket No.: 20020240
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: That the trial court's decision did not follow the custody investigator's recommendation is not convincing evidence that the court failed to adequately consider the report or erred in exercising its judgment in its custody award.
A party who fails to present specific evidence of a property's value lacks evidence that a trial court erred in granting a percentage of the marital or nonmarital estate in a property division if, at the time of the trial, the court finds the valuation is too speculative.

Public Service Commission v. Wimbledon Grain Co., et al. 2003 ND 104
Docket No.: 20020274
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Farmers with unpaid credit-sale contracts with an insolvent grain buyer are "claimants" entitled to participate in the non-bond assets of the trust fund under N.D.C.C. 60-02.1-30, and the Public Service Commission is obligated to marshal the non-bond trust fund assets for their benefit.

Holman, et al. v. Berglund, et al. 2003 ND 103
Docket No.: 20020329
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Dismissal of a malpractice claim is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7). Dismissal of a lack of informed consent claim is summarily reversed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(b).

Damron v. State 2003 ND 102
Docket No.: 20020295
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: To claim ineffective assistance of counsel in a plea agreement, a defendant must prove a serious dereliction on the part of the defendant's attorney that prevented the guilty plea from being anything other than knowingly and intelligently made.

Interest of I.K. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 101
Docket No.: 20030131
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Before a court may order an extension of a continuing alternative treatment order, it must find from specific evidence that the patient is mentally ill and that there is a reasonable expectation that if the individual went untreated, there exists a serious risk of harm to the patient, to others, or to property.
Statutory mandates must be followed before a court can order an individual requiring treatment to take prescribed medication.

Olander Contracting Co. v. Gail Wachter Investments, et al. 2003 ND 100
Docket No.: 20020330
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: After becoming final, an appellate judgment on the merits of a dispute should be set aside under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) only in exceptional circumstances.
N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) can be used to relieve a party from a judgment by vacating it, but it cannot be used to award additional affirmative relief.

State v. Tognotti 2003 ND 99
Docket No.: 20030015
Filing Date: 6/14/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: An officer arresting a passenger in a vehicle can search the driver's purse incident to the arrest without violating the driver's Fourth Amendment rights. State v. Gilberts, 497 N.W.2d 93 (N.D. 1993), is overruled to the extent it is contrary to this holding.
A police officer cannot, consistent with the Fourth Amendment, direct a person to leave a purse in a vehicle and then proceed to search the purse incident to the arrest of another passenger in the vehicle.

Interest of A.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 98
Docket No.: 20020309
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A juvenile court does not reversibly err in reversing a judicial referee's recommendation where the record before the juvenile court includes the undisputed factual matters necessary for resolution of the case and the issues involved in the case are legal issues.
Under the Indian Child Welfare Act, good cause not to transfer a child custody proceeding to tribal court exists if the proceeding is at an advanced stage when the petition to transfer is received, or if the evidence to decide the case cannot be adequately presented in the tribal court without undue hardship to the parties or the witnesses.
The Indian Child Welfare Act does not violate the substantive due process rights or equal protection rights of an Indian child.

Cue v. State 2003 ND 97
Docket No.: 20030013
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A court is required to give a criminal defendant, upon sentencing, credit for all time spent in custody as a result of the criminal charge or conduct for which the sentence is being imposed.
A defendant has the burden of showing he is entitled to additional sentence credit for time served in custody.

Peters-Riemers v. Riemers 2003 ND 96
Docket No.: 20020225
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A moot issue will be determined if the controversy is one of great public interest and involves the authority and power of public officials or if the matter is capable of repetition, yet evading review.
An appeal does not stay proceedings for enforcement of a judgment.
An indigent pro se defendant in a privately-initiated contempt proceeding must be informed of the right to court-appointed counsel when a remedial contempt sanction includes the likelihood of incarceration.

Boser v. Hanson, et al. 2003 ND 95
Docket No.: 20020206
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Jury instructions must fairly and adequately inform the jury of the applicable law.
A trial court may properly refuse to submit an inapplicable or irrelevant instruction to the jury.
Except as otherwise provided, N.D.C.C. 39-24-09 prohibits operating a snowmobile on a street or highway except while crossing a street or highway encountered as an obstacle to be overcome, rather than in its intended purpose of transportation along it.

Spath v. State (cross-ref. w/990302 & 970230) 2003 ND 94
Docket No.: 20030022
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

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

Marcotte's Builders Supply v. Strobel, et al. 2003 ND 93
Docket No.: 20020354
Filing Date: 6/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment in a home construction contract dispute is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Haugenoe, et al. v. Bambrick, et al. 2003 ND 92
Docket No.: 20020252
Filing Date: 6/6/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: If, in a medical malpractice case, the alleged malpractice is beyond the understanding of a layperson, an expert opinion must be obtained within three months of the commencement of the action to support the allegation of medical malpractice.
Issues not briefed by an appellant are deemed abandoned.
The requirement of obtaining an expert opinion within three months of the commencement of a medical malpractice action does not apply to informed consent claims.

Northern Plains Alliance, L.L.C. v. Mitzel, et al. 2003 ND 91
Docket No.: 20020324
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When parties enter an agreement for the sale of property which is expressly subject to a right of first refusal by a third party, the contract is conditional and becomes binding on the seller only if the right of first refusal is not exercised.
Acceptance of an option for the sale of land within the time allowed and according to its terms converts the option into a binding executory contract of sale.

Sonsthagen v. Sprynczynatyk 2003 ND 90
Docket No.: 20020297
Filing Date: 6/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: For a law enforcement officer to testify about the results of a sobriety test, the proper foundation to be established is evidence of the officer's training and experience in administering the test and evidence that the test was properly administered.
Probable cause to arrest for driving under the influence of drugs exists when an officer: 1) observes signs of a driver's physical or mental impairment; and 2) has reason to believe the impairment is caused by drugs.

State v. Corum 2003 ND 89
Docket No.: 20020230
Filing Date: 6/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Illegally obtained evidence cannot be the basis for a magistrate's finding of probable cause to support a search warrant.
To challenge a search warrant on the basis that police intentionally omitted relevant information when applying for the warrant, the defendant must show that probable cause would not have existed if the omitted information had been provided to the magistrate.
Failure to inform a magistrate about an informant's criminal history and pending criminal charges is not fatal to the validity of a search warrant.

K.L.B., et al. v. S.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 88
Docket No.: 20030034
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Paternity
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The court can vacate a default judgment when circumstances justify it under a properly raised motion for relief from the judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b).
Under N.D.C.C. 14-17-10 the district court is required to order genetic tests only if the request for tests is made when proceedings are pending to adjudicate parentage under the chapter.

Ramey v. Twin Butte School Dist. 2003 ND 87
Docket No.: 20020342
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: To establish a prima facie case of discrimination for failure-to-hire under the North Dakota Human Rights Act, a plaintiff must show: (1) she is a member of a protected class under the Human Rights Act; (2) she sought and was qualified for the position; (3) she suffered an adverse employment decision; and (4) others not in the protected class were treated more favorably.

Trinity Health v. North Central Emergency Services 2003 ND 86
Docket No.: 20020317
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Whether a contract has been substantially performed and whether a party has breached a contract are questions of fact.
When there has been a motion for summary judgment, but no cross-motion, the court already is engaged in determining if a genuine issue of material fact exists, the parties have been given an opportunity to present evidence to support or refute the request, and summary judgment may be rendered in favor of the party opposing the motion without a formal cross- motion.

Fercho v. Remmick 2003 ND 85
Docket No.: 20020286
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: An appellate court decides the threshold issue of mootness before reaching the merits of an appeal.
An appeal is moot if an appellate court is unable to render effective relief due to the lapse of time, or the occurrence of an event before the appellate court renders its decision.
An appeal will be dismissed if the issue becomes moot and there is no actual controversy to be decided.

Matter of Garrison State Bank and Trust 2003 ND 84
Docket No.: 20020341
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: If the party moving for summary judgment meets its initial burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, the nonmoving party may not rely on mere allegations, but must present competent evidence by affidavit or other comparable means creating a material factual dispute.

State v. Moore 2003 ND 83
Docket No.: 20020305
Filing Date: 5/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The right to appeal and the deadline for filing an appeal are statutory.
A defendant may not appeal the dismissal of a charge without prejudice.

Disciplinary Board v. Giese 2003 ND 82
Docket No.: 20020315
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An attorney is suspended from the practice of law and ordered to pay costs and restitution for violating N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.8, 3.1, 3.2, and 8.4(e) and N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl. 1.2(a)(3).
The prohibition of transactions between an attorney and a client continues as long as the influence arising from the attorney-client relationship continues.
An attorney's prior advice to seek independent counsel for a prohibited transaction does not govern a subsequent variation of that transaction.
An attorney is an officer of the court and may be disciplined for conduct as a litigant in a civil action.

State v. Fields 2003 ND 81
Docket No.: 20020269
Filing Date: 6/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: During an investigatory stop of a vehicle, a traffic violator can be temporarily detained until the legitimate investigative purposes of the traffic stop have been completed.
Once the legitimate purposes of a traffic stop are completed, a continued seizure of a traffic violator violates the Fourth Amendment unless the officer has a reasonable and articulable suspicion to believe that criminal activity is afoot.

Weninger v. Grzeskowiak 2003 ND 80
Docket No.: 20030009
Filing Date: 5/3/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Disorderly conduct restraining order is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

Hoffner, et al. v. Johnson, et al. 2003 ND 79
Docket No.: 20020208
Filing Date: 5/12/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The six-year statute of repose for medical malpractice actions under N.D.C.C. 28-01-18(3) does not violate equal protection.
For equitable estoppel precluding application of a statute of limitation or repose, the plaintiff must show affirmative deception by the defendant.

Morton Co. Social Service Bd. v. Hakanson 2003 ND 78
Docket No.: 20020278
Filing Date: 5/6/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A child support order is modified when past due child support obligations are forgiven.
When a child support judgment is transcribed and filed with the clerk of court in another county for the purpose of enforcement, the original county does not lose continuing jurisdiction for all other child support matters, such as modification of the original judgment.

Sommers v. Sommers 2003 ND 77
Docket No.: 20020149
Filing Date: 5/6/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A party moving to dismiss an appeal for acceptance of benefits of a judgment must clearly establish waiver of the right to appeal by the other party.
Ordinarily, fair market value, not liquidation value, is the proper method of valuing property in a divorce.
In valuing a business that is not going to be liquidated, expenses and theoretical tax liabilities that would only be incurred upon liquidation should not be deducted.

State v. Thorson 2003 ND 76
Docket No.: 20020212
Filing Date: 5/6/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: To establish obvious error, the defendant has the burden to show (1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights.
Under N.D.R.Crim.P. 16, the prosecution must disclose, upon the defendant's request, names and statements of witnesses the prosecution intends to call and also the relevant statements within the prosecution's possession or control of other persons.
The defendant's failure to discover evidence from a lack of reasonable diligence defeats a Brady claim that the prosecution withheld that evidence.