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6201 - 6250 of 12446 results

State v. Randall 2002 ND 16
Docket No.: 20000325
Filing Date: 2/19/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Under N.D.R.Ev. 609 (a)(i), the burden is on the State to point to a danger of prejudice that substantially outweighs the probative value of prior convictions offered by a defendant in a criminal case to impeach a witness for the State.
Error is harmless under N.D.R.Ev. 609(a)(i) if the witness's credibility was sufficiently impeached by other evidence, or if the State's case was strong enough to support a conviction even apart from the witness's testimony.

Judicial Conduct Commission v. Tessmann 2002 ND 15
Docket No.: 20020009
Filing Date: 1/22/2002
Case Type: Discipline - Judge - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Former municipal judge censured for violation of N.D. Code Jud. Conduct Canon 2, and prohibited from serving as a judge.

State v. Perreault 2002 ND 14
Docket No.: 20010180
Filing Date: 1/18/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A motion to dismiss tests the sufficiency of the information, but does not serve as a device for summary trial of the evidence.
A trial court may not grant a pretrial motion to dismiss based on a defense which raises factual questions embraced in the general issue of the defendant's guilt.

Bender v. Aviko USA L.L.C. 2002 ND 13
Docket No.: 20010162
Filing Date: 1/18/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In opposing a summary judgment motion, a party may not simply rely on unsupported and conclusory allegations or denials in the pleadings, but must, instead, set forth specific facts illustrating the existence of a genuine issue for trial.

Judicial Vacancy in the Northwest District 2002 ND 12
Docket No.: 20020004
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgeship ordered retained in Minot.

State v. BlackCloud 2002 ND 11
Docket No.: 20010196
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Trial court's order revoking probation is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

St. Claire v. State 2002 ND 10
Docket No.: 20010133
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A trial court may summarily dismiss an application for post-conviction relief if there is no genuine issue of fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

Disciplinary Board v. Crary 2002 ND 9
Docket No.: 20010200
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A lawyer may not draft a will that includes a substantial testamentary gift to the lawyer or the lawyer's parent, child, sibling, or spouse, unless the client is related to the beneficiary. Disbarment orderd.

City of Fargo v. Tipler 2002 ND 8
Docket No.: 20010209
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Juries do not have a right to decide a case contrary to law or fact, but instead, must accept the law from the trial court and apply the law to the facts.

Interest of J.S. (CONFIDENTIAL) (see Docket Memo) 2002 ND 7
Docket No.: 20010314
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Before a court may order the extension of a continuing-treatment order it must find the patient is mentally ill, and there is a reasonable expectation that, if not treated, there exists a serious risk of harm to the patient, others, or property.
In some cases, a reporting doctor may reasonably conclude that less restrictive alternatives to hospitalization simply do not exist.

Disciplinary Board v. Swanson (CON. W/20010161)(CROSS-REF W/990357-990358) 2002 ND 6
Docket No.: 20010160
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author:

Highlight: Disbarment is an appropriate sanction when an attorney violates numerous rules of professional conduct involving a lack of diligence, and the attorney has a prior disciplinary history involving similar conduct.

State v. Palmer (CONSOLIDATED W/20010124,20010125,& 20010126) 2002 ND 5
Docket No.: 20010123
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: To establish a failure to comply with the statutory process for drawing a jury, the complaining party must provide a factual basis showing the process was prejudicial, actually excluded, systematically excluded, or statistically excluded a fair cross section of the population.
Ordinarily, a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel should be resolved in a post- conviction relief proceeding where the parties can fully develop a record on the issue of counsel's performance and its impact on the defendant's case.

State v. Weaver 2002 ND 4
Docket No.: 20010083
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: In reviewing a trial court's denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution and the appellate court determines only whether there is evidence which could have allowed the jury to draw an inference reasonably tending to prove guilt and fairly warranting a conviction.
When a defendant adopts an all-or-nothing trial strategy and fails to request instructions on lesser included offenses, the trial court's failure to instruct on lesser included offenses does not constitute obvious error.

State v. Marshall (Consolidated w/20010253) 2002 ND 3
Docket No.: 20010193
Filing Date: 1/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denials of N.D.R.Crim.P. 35(a) motion for correction of sentence and N.D.R.Crim.P. 36 motion for correction of a clerical mistake in sentence are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1).

Terry v. Terry 2002 ND 2
Docket No.: 20010039
Filing Date: 1/4/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A party seeking to set aside a judgment based upon a stipulation must show that, under the law of contracts, there is justification for setting aside the stipulation.
Rule 60(b), N.D.R.Civ.P., which sets forth the grounds for vacating a judgment, is not to be used to relieve a party from free, calculated, and deliberate choices.

Jaskoviak v. Gruver, et al. 2002 ND 1
Docket No.: 20010065
Filing Date: 1/3/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Evidence submitted with a motion for reconsideration after summary judgment has been granted is untimely.
Generally, an integral part of the physician's overall obligation to the patient is the duty of reasonable disclosure of the available choices with respect to the proposed therapy and of the material and known risks potentially involved in each.
In an informed consent case, expert testimony is generally necessary to identify the risks of treatment, their gravity, likelihood of occurrence, and reasonable alternatives.

Disciplinary Board v. Boulger 2001 ND 210
Docket No.: 20010093
Filing Date: 12/31/2001
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A lawyer commits an ethical violation when the lawyer drafts a will for an unrelated client giving the lawyer a contingent bequest of a substantial gift.

Consolidated Telephone v. Western Wireless Corporation, et al. 2001 ND 209
Docket No.: 20010146
Filing Date: 12/28/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Unless the Federal Communications Commission's rulings and regulations have been appropriately challenged in the proper federal forum, a state court is not at liberty to review the FCC's statutory interpretation even if its soundness is doubted, and the state court must apply the rulings and regulations as written.
State regulatory bodies and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction to determine preemption questions arising under the federal Communications Act.
A "commercial mobile radio service" as defined by federal law need not obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission to compete with a landline local exchange telephone service in the state.

Dimond v. State Board of Higher Education (Consolidated w/20010155) 2001 ND 208
Docket No.: 20010154
Filing Date: 12/24/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A breach of contract action against the State is governed by the three-year statute of limitations in N.D.C.C. 28-01-22.1.

Gepner, et al. v. Fujicolor Processing, Inc., et al. 2001 ND 207
Docket No.: 20010022
Filing Date: 12/21/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) is to be liberally construed and applied, and trial courts should be more lenient in granting motions to vacate default judgments than in vacating judgments in cases which have been tried on their merits.
The Workers Compensation Bureau's determination of benefits to be awarded under the Act are not res judicata on the issue of damages available in an injured worker's separate civil action against an uninsured employer under N.D.C.C. 65-09-02.
A defendant may seek an independent mental examination of the plaintiff under N.D.R.Civ.P. 35(a) by presenting evidence placing the plaintiff's mental condition in controversy.

Belgarde, et al. v. Askim, et al. 2001 ND 206
Docket No.: 20010179
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Before dismissing a cause of action to sanction a party for destruction of evidence, the trial court must consider the culpability of the party against whom sanctions are being imposed, the prejudice to the party moving for sanctions, and the availability of less severe alternative sanctions.

Interest of M.C.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) (CROSS-REF. W/20010132) 2001 ND 205
Docket No.: 20010194
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Juveniles between the ages of seven and fourteen have no common law right to a presumption of incapacity to commit a crime, because the criminal capacity of children between the ages of seven and fourteen has been declared by statute.

City of Fargo v. Roberson (see Docket Memo) 2001 ND 204
Docket No.: 20010038
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The Supreme Court will not consider questions that were not presented to the trial court and are raised for the first time on appeal.

Interest of D.P. (Confidential) 2001 ND 203
Docket No.: 20010285
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: For hospitalization in a mental health case, the district court must find by clear and convincing evidence that alternative treatment is not adequate or hospitalization is the least restrictive alternative.

State v. Baumgartner 2001 ND 202
Docket No.: 20010169
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: One cannot be an accomplice without having the requisite criminal intent for the underlying offense, even if he or she is a co-conspirator.
Law enforcement officers who feign complicity in a crime in the pursuit of evidence are not accomplices.
The purpose of a motion to dismiss is to test the sufficiency of the information or indictment. It is not a device for summary trial of the evidence, and facts not appearing on the face of the information cannot be considered.

State v. Barth (Consolidated w/20010110) 2001 ND 201
Docket No.: 20010109
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A trial court has broad discretion in selecting a method to impanel a jury, if it permits the defendant to exercise peremptory challenges without embarrassment and does not intimidate him from exercising them.
A person is guilty of preventing an arrest if, with intent to prevent a public servant from effecting an arrest, he creates a substantial risk of bodily injury to the public servant or to anyone else except himself, or employs means justifying or requiring substantial force to overcome resistance to making the arrest.

Heick v. Erickson 2001 ND 200
Docket No.: 20010212
Filing Date: 12/20/2001
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Certiorari
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: In reviewing the denial of an application for a writ of certiorari, the Supreme Court does not delve into the merits of the trial court's decision but only determines whether the lower court exceeded its jurisdiction in acting.

Judicial Vacancy in the Northwest Judicial District 2001 ND 199
Docket No.: 20010229
Filing Date: 12/14/2001
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgeship moved from Northwest to East Central Judicial District.

Disciplinary Board v. Dooley 2001 ND 198
Docket No.: 20010278
Filing Date: 12/14/2001
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer suspended from the practice of law for 30 days

Security State Bank of ND v. Orvik 2001 ND 197
Docket No.: 20010064
Filing Date: 12/10/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The exception to the requirement to file crop liens applies to crop-share agreements and not to cash rent leases, and gives a landlord with an unrecorded crop-share agreement priority against subsequent purchasers or encumbrancers up to the landlord's share of the crops.

State v. Gates (Cross-ref. w/940388) 2001 ND 196
Docket No.: 20010167
Filing Date: 12/10/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: The trial court's denial of a motion to deem a class C felony theft conviction to be a misdemeanor under N.D.C.C. 12.1-32-02(9) is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a).

Gaab v. Ochsner (CONFIDENTIAL) 2001 ND 195
Docket No.: 20010112
Filing Date: 12/10/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A party is not required to prove actual or imminent domestic violence in order to obtain an extension of an existing protection order.

State v. Clark 2001 ND 194
Docket No.: 20010102
Filing Date: 12/10/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Failure to file a transcript may prevent a party from being successful on appeal.
A trial court may modify conditions of probation if a defendant fails to pay adequate restitution.

Toni v. Toni 2001 ND 193
Docket No.: 20010084
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Agreements by divorcing parties to divest the trial court of jurisdiction to modify the amount and term of spousal support, which are adopted and incorporated into the divorce decree, are enforceable.

Bellefeuille v. Bellefeuille 2001 ND 192
Docket No.: 20010028
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A trial court does not abuse its discretion in denying a motion for relief from judgment, when the motion was made twenty-one years after the judgment was filed.
A trial court does not have jurisdiction to modify rehabilitative spousal support after the scheduled payments are completed, unless the trial court retains jurisdiction to do so within the decree.

Sommer v. Sommer 2001 ND 191
Docket No.: 20010044
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Permanent spousal support may be awarded when a marriage has been of long duration and the dependant spouse has health problems or is of such an age that adequate rehabilitation is unlikely.
Under some circumstances, voluntary retirement by a supporting spouse that results in a material change in circumstance may be a valid basis for modification of spousal support.

State v. Kensmoe 2001 ND 190
Docket No.: 20010183
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A trial court acts within its statutory authority when extending a defendant's probationary period following a restitution hearing.
An extension of a probation period does not subject a defendant to multiple punishments in violation of the prohibition against double jeopardy.
A challenge to the constitutionality of a statute must be properly preserved for appeal, and the record on appeal must allow for a meaningful and intelligent review of the alleged unconstitutionality of the statute.

State v. Martin 2001 ND 189
Docket No.: 20000366
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To be convicted of continual sexual abuse of a child, one must be shown to have engaged in three or more sexual acts or contacts during a period of three months or more. This period has no maximum time limit.

Bell v. State 2001 ND 188
Docket No.: 20010138
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A trial court may deny appointment of counsel for an indigent post-conviction applicant who is able to file an application without assistance, if the application, read in the light most favorable to the applicant, does not raise any substantial issue of law or fact.
It is a misuse of process to raise issues in a post-conviction application that were not raised in the original criminal prosecution, or, if raised, were not pursued in a properly perfected appeal.

Lenthe Investments v. Service Oil, et al. 2001 ND 187
Docket No.: 20010085
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Mutual assent to a contract is determined by the words of the contract and the parties' objective manifestations of assent.
An agreement to agree is enforceable if its terms are reasonably certain and definite.

Fortis Benefits Ins. Co. v. Hauer 2001 ND 186
Docket No.: 20010052
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: If the language of an insurance policy is clear and explicit, the language should not be strained in order to impose liability upon the insurer.
When a conflict exists between a specific provision and a general provision in a contract, the specific provision ordinarily prevails over the general provision.

Gleich v. Gleich 2001 ND 185
Docket No.: 20010010
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

State v. Johnson (Consolidated w/20010026 & 20010027) 2001 ND 184
Docket No.: 20010025
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Lack of criminal responsibility is not an affirmative defense, and the nonexistence of the defense is an element of the offense which the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt.
Appellate courts may notice obvious error affecting a substantial right of a party even if the error was not raised by the parties on appeal.

Interest of D.R., et al. (CONFIDENTIAL)(Consolidated w/20010099) 2001 ND 183
Docket No.: 20010098
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: In deciding whether to terminate parental rights, the court can give substantial credence to evidence indicating a pattern of conduct by a parent that forms a basis for reasonable prediction the deprivation of the child is likely to continue and result in serious physical, mental, or emotional harm.

DeCoteau v. Nodak Mutual Insurance Co. (Cross-reference w/19990100) 2001 ND 182
Docket No.: 20010066
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: When a named plaintiff whose individual claim becomes moot has not even moved for class action certification prior to evaporation of his personal stake in the lawsuit, the plaintiff may not avail himself of the class action exception to the mootness doctrine.

Hellerud v. ND Dept. of Transportation 2001 ND 181
Docket No.: 20010173
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment of the district court affirming the decision of the Department of Transportation to revoke appellant's driver's license for refusing to submit to an on-site chemical screening test is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(5).

Chadwick v. N.D. Dept. of Transportation 2001 ND 180
Docket No.: 20010174
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A police officer has reasonable grounds to believe a person is in actual physical control of a vehicle when that person is found conscious in the driver's seat of an idling vehicle.

Alerus Financial v. Lamb, et al. (CONSOLIDATED W/20010178) 2001 ND 179
Docket No.: 20010177
Filing Date: 12/5/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Summary judgments granting foreclosure of mortgages on rental properties are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6).

Dvorak v. Dvorak 2001 ND 178
Docket No.: 20000343
Filing Date: 11/2/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Trial courts may decline to consider arguments raised for the first time on a motion for reconsideration when those arguments could have been raised in earlier proceedings.
The purpose of N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(iii) is not to correct outcomes that may be factually incorrect, but rather to protect against a party prevailing by unfair means.

Trottier v. Bird 2001 ND 177
Docket No.: 20010150
Filing Date: 11/2/2001
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When a court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, it must dismiss the action under Rule 12(h)(3).