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Cannaday v. Cannaday 2003 ND 58
Docket No.: 20020185
Filing Date: 4/15/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The rules for the division of property are the same in a separation action as in a divorce action, and the division must be an equitable one.
When the provisions of a separation judgment imply that the trial court intended the property division to be final, that judgment is binding upon the parties and it is improper for the court to subsequently alter the property division.

City of Bismarck v. Stockert (Consolidated w/20020332 & 20020333) 2003 ND 57
Docket No.: 20020331
Filing Date: 4/15/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Conviction for criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and unlawful registration of a motor vehicle is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

City of Devils Lake v. Alford 2003 ND 56
Docket No.: 20020264
Filing Date: 4/15/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denial of a motion to suppress evidence is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

Schmidt v. Schmidt 2003 ND 55
Docket No.: 20020202
Filing Date: 4/15/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A trial court determining the best interest and welfare of a child in making a custody decision may appropriately consider such things as the child's interaction and interrelationships with a party's extended family and other people, such as childcare providers and others who may significantly affect the child's best interests.
A party may include in a brief materials not in the record if they are judicially cognizable apart from the record as authorities marshaled in support of a legal argument, but may not include material seeking to supplement the evidentiary record.

Disciplinary Board v. Schoppert 2003 ND 54
Docket No.: 20030097
Filing Date: 4/2/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Interim suspension of lawyer ordered.

Lawrence v. Delkamp (CON w/20020291) 2003 ND 53
Docket No.: 20020244
Filing Date: 4/1/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Skjervem v. Minot State Univ. 2003 ND 52
Docket No.: 20020236
Filing Date: 3/31/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: When no pertinent evidence on an essential element of a party's claim is presented in resistance to a motion for summary judgment, it is presumed no such evidence exists.

Questa Resources, et al. v. Stott, et al. 2003 ND 51
Docket No.: 20020267
Filing Date: 3/31/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A foreign corporation creating and enforcing a security interest by way of a mortgage is not required to obtain a certificate of authority in this state prior to bringing an action to foreclose the mortgage.

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Co. v. Center Mutual Ins. Co. 2003 ND 50
Docket No.: 20020073
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Liability coverage for bodily injury because of an auto accident results under an insurance policy if the use of the auto arises out of the inherent nature of the auto.
For a person to be a gratuitous employee, that person's employer must have expressly or impliedly requested the employee's help.
Policy coverage cannot be defeated simply because a separate excluded risk constitutes an additional cause of the injury.
Implied indemnity for settlements is allowed if the indemnitee has a reasonable belief of potential liability, even though it is ultimately determined that the indemnitee had no interest to protect.
The right to sue for implied indemnity does not arise until the indemnitee has suffered actual loss through payment, settlement, or through the injured party's obtaining an enforceable judgment against the indemnitee.

Judicial Vacancy in District Judgeship No. 7, East Central District 2003 ND 49
Docket No.: 20030073
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Court orders Judgeship No. 7, with chambers in Hillsboro, East Central Judicial District, be retained and filled.

Amyotte v. Rolette Co. Housing Authority 2003 ND 48
Docket No.: 20020191
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A landlord's duty to protect others from harm by an animal on the premises arises only when the landlord knows that the animal is dangerous and presents an unreasonable risk of harm.
An issue of fact becomes a question of law if reasonable persons could reach only one conclusion from the evidence.

Weaver v. State 2003 ND 47
Docket No.: 20020312
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A trial court properly grants summary disposition of an application for post-conviction relief when the State's motion for summary disposition meets the initial burden of showing the application does not raise a genuine issue of material fact.

Steinbach v. State 2003 ND 46
Docket No.: 20020322
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A trial court can summarily dispose of a post-conviction relief application for misuse of process. Process is misused when the defendant: (1) inexcusably fails to raise an issue on direct appeal and now seeks review in an application for post-conviction relief; (2) inexcusably fails to pursue an issue on appeal which was raised at the trial court; (3) inexcusably fails to raise an issue in an initial post-conviction relief application.
Although a party seeking a summary disposition bears the initial burden of showing there is no genuine issue of material fact, that burden may be shifted to the nonmoving party once the moving party points out to the district court there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case.

Morris v. Job Service 2003 ND 45
Docket No.: 20020258
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Unemployment/Job Service
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A claimant for unemployment benefits has the burden of establishing the claimant, rather than the claimant's employers, contributed to a pension fund, to avoid the pension offset provisions of N.D.C.C. 52-06-02(15).
The pension offset provisions of N.D.C.C. 52-06-02(15) do not distinguish between amounts contributed to a pension fund by an employer and amounts contributed to a pension fund by an employer under the directives of a collective bargaining agreement.

Koehler v. County of Grand Forks, et al. 2003 ND 44
Docket No.: 20020188
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A plaintiff alleging a failure-to-promote discrimination claim under the North Dakota Human Rights Act must show: (1) she was a member of a protected group; (2) she was qualified and applied for a promotion to an available position; (3) she was rejected; and (4) a similarly qualified employee who was not part of a protected group was promoted instead.
An ongoing personality conflict does not transform into an actionable disability claim merely because one party becomes disabled.

American Ntl. Fire Ins. Co. v. Hughes 2003 ND 43
Docket No.: 20020207
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: An insurer is precluded from obtaining subrogation from its insured.
For purposes of subrogation, a closely held corporation's officers and employees may be implied co-insureds under a policy insuring the corporation's property.

Gronfur v. Workers Comp., et al. 2003 ND 42
Docket No.: 20020250
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When reapplying to resume discontinued disability benefits, a claimant must prove an actual wage loss caused by a significant change in the compensable medical condition.
For an actual wage loss, a claimant must have been earning wages from employment when the change in medical condition occurred causing at least a partial loss of those wages.

City of Grand Forks v. Ramstad 2003 ND 41
Docket No.: 20020120
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To establish a Brady violation, the defendant must show the prosecution withheld evidence which was favorable to him.
A defendant alleging a Brady violation must show he could not have obtained the undisclosed evidence with reasonable diligence.
Under N.D.R.Crim.P. 16, the prosecution has a duty to provide documents in the possession of the State Toxicologist's office, even if the defendant could have otherwise obtained the documents himself.

Wilson v. State 2003 ND 40
Docket No.: 20020353
Filing Date: 3/26/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A judgment summarily denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1) and (6).

Murchison v. State 2003 ND 38
Docket No.: 20020273
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A court may deny a post-conviction application on the grounds of misuse of process when a defendant inexcusably fails to pursue an issue leading to judgment of conviction, inexcusably fails to pursue an issue on appeal having raised the issue in the trial court, or inexcusably fails to raise an issue in an initial post-conviction proceeding.
A court may deny a post-conviction application on the grounds of res judicata if the same claims have been fully and finally determined in a previous proceeding.

Hegland v. McKechnie 2003 ND 37
Docket No.: 20020199
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: The details of prior private discipline should not be alleged in a petition for public discipline.
Expert testimony about whether or not a rule of professional conduct has been violated is inappropriate in disciplinary proceedings.

State v. Jahner 2003 ND 36
Docket No.: 20020143
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Failure to raise an appropriate objection in the trial court waives the right, and the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. Waiver applies to all rights and privileges to which a person is legally entitled when they are for the benefit of and rest in the individual who waived them.
A trial court is neither required to nor prohibited from instructing the jury on proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Strict standards of logical consistency need not be applied to jury verdicts in criminal cases. The standard for reconciling a jury verdict is whether the verdict is legally inconsistent.

City of Jamestown v. Tahran 2003 ND 35
Docket No.: 20020238
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Violation of City Ordinance
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A criminal ordinance prohibiting the storage of junk on any private property, except in an enclosed building or on the premises of a licensed junk dealer, in a city is not a zoning ordinance.

Berger v. Holt 2003 ND 34
Docket No.: 20020139
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A parent's legal obligation to support his or her child continues when the child is placed in foster care.

Superpumper, Inc. v. Nerland Oil, et al. 2003 ND 33
Docket No.: 20020214
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Lack of finality in an arbitration decision is not sufficient ground to overturn an award.
An arbitration decision may be upheld on appeal even if it is based on a mistake of fact or law or has a possibility of being brought to court at some later date on an issue not fully addressed by the arbitrator.

D.D.I., Inc., et al. v. State Tax Commissioner 2003 ND 32
Docket No.: 20020241
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Constitutional Law
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A facially discriminatory tax may survive Commerce Clause scrutiny if the tax is a compensatory or complementary tax designed to make interstate commerce bear a burden already born by intrastate commerce.
For a facially discriminatory tax to be a valid compensatory tax, the state must identify the intrastate tax burden for which the state is attempting to compensate, the tax on interstate commerce must be shown roughly to approximate, but not exceed, the amount of the tax on intrastate commerce, and the events on which the interstate and intrastate taxes are imposed must be substantially equivalent.
In determining whether a tax is discriminatory, the risk of multiple taxation may be considered in assessing a Commerce Clause claim and the internal consistency doctrine does not require other states to actually impose a tax similar to the challenged tax.
N.D.C.C. 57-38-01.3(1)(g) is unconstitutional.

Simpson, et al. v. Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co., et al. 2003 ND 31
Docket No.: 20020171
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A trial court's discovery decision and denial of a motion for new trial will not be reversed on appeal unless the court abused its discretion.

State v. Anderson 2003 ND 30
Docket No.: 20020229
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Even if there was a motion in limine, failure to object at trial operates as a waiver of the claim of error unless the alleged error amounts to an obvious error affecting the substantial rights of the defendant.
A trial court does not err in admitting letters a defendant wrote to the victim if the letters were evidence of the ongoing course of conduct between the defendant and the victim with which the defendant was charged in the complaint.

Neidviecky v. Neidviecky 2003 ND 29
Docket No.: 20020176
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: In reviewing a trial court's award of custody between two fit parents, the Supreme Court will not retry the case or substitute its judgment for that of the trial court.
Prior to making an equitable distribution of the marital property in a divorce action, the trial court must include as part of the marital estate all of the parties' assets, regardless of the source, and the court must include as marital debt all loans, including those incurred prior to the marriage or after the parties separated.

Jensen v. State (Consol. w/20020147-148) 2003 ND 28
Docket No.: 20020146
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order summarily denying an amended application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6).

Peltier v. State (Consolidated w/20020233, 20020234 & 20020235) 2003 ND 27
Docket No.: 20020232
Filing Date: 3/5/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Upon revocation of probation, the court is not bound by the terms of the plea agreement and may sentence a defendant to any sentence that was available at the time of the initial sentencing.

Continental Resources, Inc. v. Schmalenberger, et al. 2003 ND 26
Docket No.: 20020179
Filing Date: 2/21/2003
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Mandamus
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Without a former client's consent, a lawyer may not represent another client in the same or a substantially related matter in which that client's interests are materially adverse to the interest of the former client.

Interest of T.M.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2003 ND 25
Docket No.: 20020138
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Sufficient evidence existed to support placement of a delinquent minor in a residential facility rather than at the minor's parent's home.

Hartman v. Estate of Miller, et al. 2003 ND 24
Docket No.: 20020167
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: An insurer has a duty to act fairly and in good faith in dealing with its insured, including a duty of fair dealing in paying claims, providing defenses to claims, negotiating settlements, and fulfilling all other contractual obligations.
An insurer is held to know North Dakota law regarding the interpretation of an insurance contract.
In a personal injury protection endorsement for no-fault benefits, bodily injury includes post-traumatic stress disorder accompanied by physical manifestations.

State v. Olson (consol. w/20020092) 2003 ND 23
Docket No.: 20020091
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Probation revocation is not a stage of a criminal proceeding.
Insanity is not a defense in determining whether the defendant violated a condition of probation, but it may be a relevant mitigating factor in determining whether probation should be revoked.

Disciplinary Board v. McKechnie 2003 ND 22
Docket No.: 20020194
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A lawyer is publicly reprimanded and ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary proceedings for violating N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.4(b).
Details of prior private discipline should not be alleged in a petition for public discipline.
Expert testimony on the standard of care required in a legal malpractice action is not required to aid the trier of fact in determining whether an attorney's actions violate the rules of professional conduct.
An attorney-client relationship may arise when a putative client reasonably believes that a particular lawyer is representing him and the lawyer does not disabuse the individual of this belief.
An isolated instance of ordinary negligence does not constitute incompetent representation under the rules of professional conduct.

First Western Bank & Trust v. First Lutheran Church Foundation, et al. 2003 ND 21
Docket No.: 20020170
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The parties have the primary duty to bring to the court's attention the proper rules of law applicable to a case.
To warrant a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, it must appear the evidence is in fact newly discovered, and not merely the importance of it.

Hanson v. Hanson 2003 ND 20
Docket No.: 20020175
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: N.D.R.Civ.P. 59(j) does not apply to a motion for change of custody. Rather, a motion to modify custody is properly brought under N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.6.
A trial court's decision to modify custody is a finding of fact that will not be overturned unless it is clearly erroneous.

State v. Holzer 2003 ND 19
Docket No.: 20020180
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When challenging the validity of a search warrant based on an allegation of information being omitted from the application for the warrant, the defendant must show (1) that the police omitted facts with the intent to make, or in reckless disregard of whether they thereby made, the affidavit misleading, and (2) that the affidavit if supplemented by the omitted information would not have been sufficient to support a finding of probable cause.

Wagner v. Squibb, et al. 2003 ND 18
Docket No.: 20020237
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Without a sufficient transcript of the trial court proceedings, this Court cannot make a meaningful and intelligent review of a trial court's decision.

Moen v. State 2003 ND 17
Docket No.: 20020226
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To pursue a claim against the State or a state employee, a person must give notice of the claim within 180 days "after the alleged injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered."
Without the timely filing of a notice of claim as required by N.D.C.C. 32-12.2-04, a court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a lawsuit against the State.

Shields v. Shields 2003 ND 16
Docket No.: 20020142
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Spousal support is appropriate for a disadvantaged spouse who has foregone opportunities or lost advantages as a consequence of the marriage and who has contributed during the marriage to the supporting spouse's increased earning capacity.

State v. Leppert 2003 ND 15
Docket No.: 20020160
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Other
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The 2001 amendments to N.D.C.C. 31-13-03 authorize DNA testing of persons convicted of nonsexual felonies and establish a DNA data base for the test results of persons convicted of those offenses.
DNA testing for persons convicted of enumerated violent, nonsexual felonies is rationally related to a legitimate purpose and does not violate equal protection.

Rittenour, et al. v. Gibson 2003 ND 14
Docket No.: 20020053
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A tenant knowing of a dangerous condition on the premises has a duty to warn a social guest.
A district court abuses its discretion when it submits instructions to the jury that, taken as a whole, contain an error in the law that makes a material difference in how the jury might have understood the law.

Lee, et al. v. Owan 2003 ND 13
Docket No.: 20020253
Filing Date: 2/19/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A trial court judgment finding the terms of an oral contract were definite and the parties' performance was sufficient to remove the contract from the statute of frauds is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Howe, et al. v. Microsoft Corporation, et al. 2003 ND 12
Docket No.: 20020075
Filing Date: 1/28/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Class certification is not automatically precluded because individual issues will remain after the common questions of law and fact have been resolved.
A trial court is to determine whether to certify a class action without delving into the merits of the case.
A motion for class certification is not to be treated as a motion for summary judgment, and the plaintiffs are not required to present evidence to support each element of their claims.
At the class certification stage, a trial court may consider expert evidence as long as the basis of the expert's opinion is not so blatantly flawed that, on its face, it would be inadmissible as a matter of law.

Disciplinary Board v. Lee 2003 ND 11
Docket No.: 20020326
Filing Date: 1/23/2003
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer suspended from the practice of law for one year.

Dennison v. ND Dept. of Human Services 2003 ND 10
Docket No.: 20020186
Filing Date: 1/23/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The State's recorded homestead statement for old age assistance benefits under N.D.R.C. 50-0707 (1943) runs against the recipient of benefits and not against the land, and the State's claim against the recipient's estate may be extinguished if not pursued in a timely manner.

Jundt v. Jurassic Resources, et al. 2003 ND 9
Docket No.: 20010313
Filing Date: 1/22/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A trial court abuses its discretion only when it acts in an unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable manner, when its decision is not the product of a rational mental process leading to a reasoned decision, or when it misinterprets or misapplies the law.
A governor of a limited liability company must discharge his or her duties in good faith.
All members in a closely held limited liability company owe one another a duty to act in an honest, fair, and reasonable manner in the operation of the limited liability company.

Wilson v. Farmers Insurance Group 2003 ND 8
Docket No.: 20020209
Filing Date: 1/17/2003
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Except when the evidence is such that a reasoning mind could draw only one conclusion, whether an insured substantially complied with an insurance policy provision is a question of fact precluding summary judgment.