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Ruggles v. Sabe 2003 ND 159
Docket No.: 20030147
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A vested remainderman has an action for waste against a life tenant.

Alerus Financial v. Lamb, et al. 2003 ND 158
Docket No.: 20030106
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When a motion for enlargement of time is untimely, a court, in its discretion, may grant an enlargement of time only if the failure to file timely was the result of excusable neglect.
An appellant must show the trial court manifestly abused its discretion to overturn a denial of a new trial based on new evidence.
A deficiency judgment is a judgment against a debtor personally for the unpaid balance after a foreclosure sale or a sale of repossessed property fails to satisfy the full amount of the debt.

State v. Faleide (Consol. w/20030076-20030077) 2003 ND 157
Docket No.: 20030075
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A revocation of probation is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Grewal v. ND Association of Counties, et al. 2003 ND 156
Docket No.: 20030099
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: An employer of an independent contractor is not liable for the acts or omissions of the independent contractor unless the employer retains control of the method, manner, and operative details of the independent contractor's work.

State v. Zephyrin 2003 ND 155
Docket No.: 20020352
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal convictions for robbery, felonious restraint, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3), (4) and (7).

Iglehart v. Iglehart 2003 ND 154
Docket No.: 20030063
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Summary judgment is appropriate in a negligence action when the record indicates the defendant did not owe a duty to the plaintiff and was not negligent.

State v. Ballweg (consolidated w/20030052 & 20030053) 2003 ND 153
Docket No.: 20030051
Filing Date: 10/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Facts in a search warrant affidavit are not misleading if there was no reckless or deliberate falsity nor omitted information that would have negated probable cause.
A high degree of suspicion attaches to the collective purchase of ingredients and supplies used to manufacture methamphetamine.
The combination of the presence of anhydrous ammonia, the collective purchase of an amount of Sudafed inconsistent with personal use and other supplies used to manufacture methamphetamine, and concealment of a garage creates a substantial basis to conclude probable cause exists to search a premises for a methamphetamine manufacturing operation.

Disciplinary Board v. Edin 2003 ND 152
Docket No.: 20030272
Filing Date: 9/24/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Interim suspension of lawyer ordered.

Interest of Z.C.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 151
Docket No.: 20030046
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A minor is not in custody and is not entitled to representation by his parents when he is asked common sense investigatory questions during a routine traffic stop.
When there is an odor of alcohol and a minor states he had a sip of alcohol, there is enough evidence to establish he is a minor in consumption of alcohol under N.D.C.C. 5-01-08.
There is no material distinction between consuming alcohol while driving and having recently consumed alcohol while driving. A petition that charges a minor with consuming alcohol while driving is sufficient to inform a minor of the charges against him and allow him to defend against them.

Torgerson v. Torgerson 2003 ND 150
Docket No.: 20030054
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: An obligor need not show a material change in circumstances if the motion to modify child support is brought more than one year after entry of the support order.
Income may not be imputed based on underemployment absent adequate evidence of the obligor's gross income from earnings and of the prevailing amounts earned in the community by persons with similar work history and occupational qualifications.
Under current child support guidelines, depreciation is not added back into an obligor's net income to determine support obligations.

United Valley Bank v. Lamb, et al. 2003 ND 149
Docket No.: 20030070
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Rule 38, N.D.R.App.P., authorizes the court to award just damages and single or double costs, including attorney's fees for a frivolous appeal.
An appeal is frivolous if it is flagrantly groundless, devoid of merit, or demonstrates persistence during litigation which evidences bad faith.

Lamb v. Riemers 2003 ND 148
Docket No.: 20030130
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Unless a contract specifically provides otherwise, the seller may retain earnest money only if the buyer breaches the agreement.

Guardianship of Shatzka 2003 ND 147
Docket No.: 20030047
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Guardian/Conservator
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: If a guardian is not appointed, the person for whom guardianship was sought may not be required to pay for a court-appointed visitor, lawyer, physician or temporary guardian.

Krank v. Krank 2003 ND 146
Docket No.: 20030071
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: In making its custody decision, the trial court is not required to make specific findings of fact on each factor under N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.2(1), but the court should consider all relevant factors in making the decision.

Orvedal v. Orvedal 2003 ND 145
Docket No.: 20030043
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When the trial judge who enters an original divorce decree clarifies that decree, the court on appeal affords the clarification considerable deference.
When a divorce decree provides for liberal visitation as agreed to by the parties, the inability of the parties to agree is a substantial change of circumstances for modification of visitation.
When a child support obligor is unemployed or underemployed, the trial court is permitted under the child support guidelines to impute income to the obligor.

Kjolsrud v. MKB Management Corp. 2003 ND 144
Docket No.: 20030023
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: North Dakota's false advertising law authorizes "any person acting for the interests of itself, its members, or the general public" to bring an action to enjoin violations only if that person satisfies standing requirements.

State v. Ricker 2003 ND 143
Docket No.: 20030045
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denial of a motion to suppress evidence is summarily affirmed under Rule 35.1(a)(2) and (3), N.D.R.App.P.

Deptuch v. Lindberg 2003 ND 142
Docket No.: 20030016
Filing Date: 9/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment upon jury verdict in a contract dispute is summarily affirmed under 35.1(a)(3).

Barnes v. Workforce Safety and Insurance 2003 ND 141
Docket No.: 20030012
Filing Date: 9/2/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Nothing in the Rules of Evidence or the statutes governing administrative procedure precludes an employee of an agency from testifying as an expert witness in an administrative proceeding before the agency.

Kautzman v. Kautzman (Cross-Ref w/980004,990328,990386,20000083,&20010296) 2003 ND 140
Docket No.: 20030038
Filing Date: 8/22/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: For an effective appeal on any proper issue, the matter must have been raised in the trial court, so the trial court could rule on it, and a failure to object to an irregularity at trial is a waiver of the issue.
A party making a constitutional claim must provide persuasive authority and reasoning.
N.D.C.C. 9-12-07, dealing with the application of performance by a debtor under several obligations to another, applies only if there is voluntary performance.
When a debtor, at the time of payment, does not indicate to which obligation a payment applies, the creditor may apply it to any obligation then due from the debtor.

Volz v. Peterson 2003 ND 139
Docket No.: 20030067
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A party seeking modification of child custody is entitled to an evidentiary hearing if she presents a prima facie case by alleging, with supporting affidavits, sufficient facts which, if uncontradicted, would support a custody modification in her favor.
Potential endangerment to a child's physical or mental health, or a mature child's reasonable preference to live with one parent, may constitute a significant change of circumstances supporting a modification of custody.

Interest of J.S. (CONFIDENTIAL) (see Docket Memo) 2003 ND 138
Docket No.: 20030210
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A person requiring mental health treatment has the right to the least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve the purposes of the treatment.

State v. Stoppleworth (Consolidated w/20020346) 2003 ND 137
Docket No.: 20020345
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When a victim is unable or unwilling to identify the defendant at trial, the victim's prior out-of-court statements identifying the defendant as his assailant are admissible if the victim testifies and is available for cross-examination at trial.

McKechnie v. Berg, et al. 2003 ND 136
Docket No.: 20030028
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Admitting incompetent evidence in a bench trial is not reversible error unless it induced an improper finding.
The law on partition of property controls the distribution of property accumulated by unmarried partners and cohabitants.
Although legal ownership of property is strong evidence of an intention to not share property, legal ownership is not dispositive when the person who is not the legal owner has financially contributed to the acquisition of the property.

Montgomery v. Montgomery (Cross-reference w/19910217) 2003 ND 135
Docket No.: 20030010
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The trier of fact is entitled to weigh and evaluate testimony, and is not required to accept even undisputed testimony.
A trial court exercises broad discretion in determining whether to hold an individual in contempt.

McMorrow v. State 2003 ND 134
Docket No.: 20030007
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: An applicant for post-conviction relief has the burden of establishing grounds for relief.
A defendant alleging selective prosecution must show that the State has not generally prosecuted other similarly situated persons and that the State selected the defendant for prosecution for discriminatory reasons.
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden of proving counsel's performance was deficient and the deficient performance prejudiced the defendant.
A party waives an issue by not providing supporting argument, and without supportive reasoning or citations to relevant authorities, an argument is without merit.

State v. Ehli 2003 ND 133
Docket No.: 20030092
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Due process requires that parties be given notice and afforded a meaningful opportunity to present objections.

Langness v. Fencil Urethane Systems, et al. 2003 ND 132
Docket No.: 20030004
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: N.D.R.Ev. 702 envisions generous allowance of the use of expert testimony if proffered witnesses have some degree of expertise in the field in which they are to testify, and they need not have a formal title or be licensed in any particular field to qualify as an expert if their actual qualifications establish knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education in the field.
A trial court may allow the introduction of evidence that there was a settlement to explain the absence of a former party to a lawsuit.
A witness may not be questioned about wholly irrelevant matters merely for the purpose of contradicting those matters with other extrinsic evidence, and if irrelevant questions are asked and answered, the answer cannot be contradicted by cross-examination.

Benson v. Benson 2003 ND 131
Docket No.: 20030033
Filing Date: 8/30/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When a North Dakota court issues an initial custody decree, the state retains exclusive, continuing jurisdiction to modify the decree unless: (1) a North Dakota court determines the child and at least one parent no longer have a significant connection with the state and the state no longer has substantial evidence concerning the child, or (2) it is determined by North Dakota or another state that all of the parties to the custody dispute have moved away from the state.
A North Dakota court may decline to exercise jurisdiction upon determining that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.

McClure v. McClure 2003 ND 130
Docket No.: 20020351
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: In imputing income under N.D. Admin. Code sec. 75-02-04.1-07(3) for determining a child support obligation, the subdivision resulting in the greatest imputed income must be used.

Collette v. Clausen 2003 ND 129
Docket No.: 20030026
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A supplier of a chattel can be liable for negligent entrustment if the supplier knows or has reason to know the person who he supplies the chattel to is likely to use the chattel in a manner involving unreasonable risk of physical harm to himself or others.
A supplier of a chattel has a duty to warn of dangers if the supplier knows or has reason to know the chattel is or is likely to be dangerous for the use for which it is supplied; has no reason to believe those for whose use the chattel is supplied will realize its dangerous condition; and fails to exercise reasonable care to inform the users of its dangerous condition or of the facts which make it likely to be dangerous.

Weiss, et al. v. Collection Center, Inc., et al. 2003 ND 128
Docket No.: 20020327
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The least-sophisticated-consumer standard is used to determine whether a debt collector has used false or misleading practices to collect a debt.
A cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress requires proof of extreme and outrageous conduct that is intentional or reckless and causes severe emotional distress.

Interest of D.P.O.(CONFIDENTIAL) (Consolidated w/20030020) 2003 ND 127
Docket No.: 20030002
Filing Date: 8/20/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Establishment of a psychological parent relationship does not end the trial court's inquiry in making a custody decision, but merely furnishes a justification for the award of custody to a party other than the natural parent.
When a psychological parent and a natural parent each seek a court-ordered award of custody, the natural parent's paramount right to custody prevails unless the court finds it in the child's best interests to award custody to the psychological parent to prevent serious harm or detriment to the child.
As a prerequisite to awarding grandparent visitation, the trial court must determine whether the visitation would be in the best interests of the child and whether the visitation would interfere with the parent-child relationship.

Matter of Fosaaen (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 126
Docket No.: 20030195
Filing Date: 8/15/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer transferred to incapacitated status.

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).