Opinions
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City of Glen Ullin, et al. v. Schirado, et al.
2021 ND 72
Highlight: Summary judgment is appropriate where there is no dispute as to the material facts or the inferences to be drawn from the undisputed facts, or whenever only a question of law is involved. |
City of Jamestown v. Casarez
2021 ND 71
Highlight: An ordinance is not in conflict with a statute where it does not allow that which the statute expressly prohibits. |
Big Pines v. Baker, et al.
2021 ND 70
Highlight: A personal guaranty allowing the guarantee to proceed directly against the guarantor without first proceeding against the principal is absolute and unconditional. |
State v. Landis
2021 ND 69 Highlight: A district court’s criminal judgment following a jury verdict is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P 35.1(a)(3). |
State ex rel. Stenehjem v. Maras, et al.
2021 ND 68
Highlight: The notice requirements for claims against the State of North Dakota or a state employee under N.D.C.C. § 32-12.2-04(1) apply to counterclaims. |
Interest of A.G. (CONFIDENTIAL)
2021 ND 67 Highlight: Juvenile court order terminating parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4). |
State v. Rennie
2021 ND 66 Highlight: The district court did not abuse its discretion by not dismissing the case for failure to timely produce discovery materials. |
Interest of F.M.G. (CONFIDENTIAL)
2021 ND 65 Highlight: A district court’s continuing treatment order is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Interest of S.R. (CONFIDENTIAL)(consolidated w/20200215)
2021 ND 64 Highlight: A juvenile court’s findings of continued deprivation and orders keeping two children in the custody of Three Rivers Human Service Zone are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Kaspari v. Kaspari
2021 ND 63 Highlight: Under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1(1), an award of spousal support must be for “a limited period of time.” An award of spousal support “until death or remarriage” does not comply with N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1(1) because it is indefinite and lacks a fixed duration. |
Great Plains Royalty Corp. v. Earl Schwartz Co., et al.
2021 ND 62
Highlight: Standing is the concept used to determine whether a party is sufficiently affected to ensure a justiciable controversy exists. |
State v. Bee
2021 ND 61
Highlight: The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article I, § 8, of the North Dakota Constitution protect individuals in their houses against unreasonable searches and seizures. But a warrantless search is not unreasonable if the search of the home falls under one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement. |
State v. Glasser (consolidated w/20200221)
2021 ND 60 Highlight: Any attempt by the trial court to amend or modify a final judgment is void unless it is made upon grounds provided by statute or by the Rules of Criminal Procedure for correcting or amending a judgment. |
Command Center v. Renewable Resources, et al.
2021 ND 59
Highlight: In an appeal from a bench trial, the trial court’s findings of fact are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard and its conclusions of law are fully reviewable. |
Somerset Court, et al. v. Burgum, et al.
2021 ND 58
Highlight: A party waives an issue by not providing supporting arguments, reasoning, or citations to relevant legal authority. |
Ryberg, et al. v. Landsiedel
2021 ND 56
Highlight: A settlement agreement is a contract between parties, and thus contract law applies. |
State v. Richter
2021 ND 55 Highlight: Attempted promotion of obscenity to minors is not a cognizable offense. |
State v. Neugebauer
2021 ND 54
Highlight: Once a judgment is final, the district court generally loses jurisdiction to alter, amend, or modify that judgment. Unless grounds are provided by statute or by the Rules of Criminal Procedure for correcting or amending a judgment, any attempt by the district court to amend or modify a final judgment is void. |
Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Co. v. Bear Creek Gravel, et al.
2021 ND 53
Highlight: Whether a vehicle has been furnished for regular use is a conclusion of fact. |
State v. Borland
2021 ND 52
Highlight: A defendant waives the constitutional protection against being placed in double jeopardy after a verdict or judgment against them is set aside at their own instance, either by motion in trial court or upon successful appeal. |
Tebay v. State (consolidated w/ 20200317)
2021 ND 51
Highlight: A district court order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6). |
Gerving v. Gerving
2021 ND 50 |
State v. Walbert
2021 ND 49
Highlight: Courts possess broad power to control their courtrooms, minimize disruptive behavior, and maintain security. |
Gil v. WSI
2021 ND 48 Highlight: Timely filing a notice of appeal is jurisdictional and procedural rules may not be used to enlarge periods of time conferring jurisdiction that are definitely fixed by statute. |
Saucedo v. State
2021 ND 47 Highlight: An order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7). |
State v. Stands
2021 ND 46
Highlight: Sufficient competent evidence existed to show a defendant consented to a search of his person when he shrugged, mumbled, nodded, and lifted his hands. |
Campbell v. State
2021 ND 45
Highlight: The issue of ineffective assistance of counsel presents a mixed question of law and fact and is fully reviewable on appeal. |
Solberg v. McKennett
2021 ND 44
Highlight: Determining when a cause of action accrues is normally a question of fact, but it becomes a question of law when the material facts are undisputed. |
Breeze v. NDDOT
2021 ND 43 Highlight: An officer must be in an immediate pursuit of a person who is endeavoring to avoid arrest for hot pursuit to apply. |
State v. Moore (consolidated w/20200081 & 20200082)
2021 ND 42
Highlight: A district court should not automatically approve public trial waivers without considering the broader interests in open courts and public trials by conducting pre-closure Waller analysis. A defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial may be waived if the record reflects a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver. A defendant’s failure to object or acquiescence to a trial closure without a knowing, intelligent, voluntary waiver will be reviewed on appeal as a forfeited error subject only to obvious error review. |
State v. Martinez
2021 ND 42
Highlight: A district court should not automatically approve public trial waivers without considering the broader interests in open courts and public trials by conducting pre-closure Waller analysis. A defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to a public trial may be waived if the record reflects a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver. A defendant’s failure to object or acquiescence to a trial closure without a knowing, intelligent, voluntary waiver will be reviewed on appeal as a forfeited error subject only to obvious error review. |
State v. Molina
2021 ND 41 Highlight: A district court order denying a petition for writ of prohibition is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4). |
Interest of L.T.D. (CONFIDENTIAL) (consolidated w/20210035)
2021 ND 40 Highlight: An appeal from a juvenile court order terminating parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4) and (7). |
WSI v. Sandberg, et al.
2021 ND 39
Highlight: Claimants must prove by a preponderance of evidence that they have sustained a compensable injury and are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. |
Lund v. Swanson, et al.
2021 ND 38
Highlight: A settlement agreement is a contract between parties, and thus contract law applies. |
Friesz v. State
2021 ND 37 Highlight: In a post-conviction relief proceeding, a petitioner is entitled to a fourteen-day window to respond to a request for dismissal of their petition for post-conviction relief. |
WSI v. Cherokee Services Group, et al.
2021 ND 36
Highlight: Tribal sovereign immunity protects Indian tribes against lawsuits, even ones brought by the State. |
AE2S Construction v. Hellervik Oilfield Technologies, et al.
2021 ND 35
Highlight: An appearance for purposes of N.D.R.Civ.P. 55(a) is any response sufficient to give the plaintiff or his or her attorney notice of an intent to contest the claim. |
Atkins v. State
2021 ND 34
Highlight: If an applicant files a N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) motion for relief following an order denying post-conviction relief, the motion will be treated as another post-conviction relief application and will not toll the time for appealing the order denying post-conviction relief. |
Orwig v. Orwig (consolidated w/20200124)
2021 ND 33
Highlight: In a court trial, any error in admitting a deposition is harmless unless the deposition testimony induced the court to make an essential finding which would not otherwise have been made or otherwise affected a party’s substantial rights. |
Paulson v. Paulson
2021 ND 32 Highlight: A district court’s decision on whether to vacate a divorce judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) will not be overturned on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. A party seeking to vacate a divorce judgment entered pursuant to a settlement agreement under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b) must demonstrate extraordinary circumstances justifying relief. When considering whether a divorce judgment based on a settlement agreement should be vacated, the district court should inquire: (1) whether the agreement is free from mistake, duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence; and (2) whether the agreement is unconscionable. The party seeking relief from judgment based on fraud has the burden to establish fraud by clear and convincing evidence. Unconscionability may be considered as a ground for relief under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(6). To vacate a divorce judgment as unconscionable, there must be a showing of both procedural and substantive unconscionability. A disparate settlement is not necessarily substantively unconscionable, particularly in a short-term marriage |
Burr v. N.D. State Board of Dental Examiners
2021 ND 31 Highlight: The test we apply when determining governmental liability and discretionary acts distinguishes between immune discretionary acts and non-immune ministerial acts. In examining the nature of the challenged conduct, the first inquiry a court must consider is whether the action is a matter of choice for the acting employee. Even if ‘the challenged conduct involves an element of judgment or choice, the second inquiry a court must consider is whether that judgment or choice is of the kind that the discretionary function exception was designed to shield. |
Oden v. Minot Builders Supply, et al.
2021 ND 30
Highlight: Foreign judgments are not entitled to full faith and credit under certain circumstances such as when the rendering court lacks jurisdiction. |
Grand Prairie Agriculture v. Pelican Township Board of Supervisors
2021 ND 29
Highlight: A township’s decision on a petition for approval of a proposed site for an animal feeding operation may be reversed on appeal if the township misinterprets or misapplies the law. |
Whetsel v. State
2021 ND 28
Highlight: Once the State has responded to a petition for post-conviction relief, sua sponte summary disposition by the court is no longer available, and the State is required to move for summary disposition. |
Thompson-Widmer v. Larson, et al.
2021 ND 27
Highlight: A publication or communication must be false to be defamatory. |
McClintock v. NDDOT
2021 ND 26
Highlight: To facilitate compliance with statutory requirements and the foundational element requiring a test be fairly administered, the state toxicologist has established approved methods for administering chemical breath tests. |
State v. Spillum
2021 ND 25
Highlight: If a motion for judgment of acquittal was made at trial on specified grounds, and those grounds did not include the claim on appeal, the defendant does not preserve that issue for this Court’s review. |
Davis v. Davis, et al.
2021 ND 24
Highlight: Failure to provide a non-moving party the allotted time to respond under N.D.R.Ct. 3.2(a)(2) is a misapplication of law. |
Stoddard v. Singer
2021 ND 23
Highlight: A district court’s findings of fact will not be reversed on appeal unless clearly erroneous. |
Estate of Johnson
2021 ND 22
Highlight: In an informal, unsupervised probate, an order settling all claims of one claimant is final, even if there are pending claims by other claimants. |
Swanson v. Larson, et al.
2021 ND 0216
Highlight: Generally, when a contract is silent as to its duration, it is terminable at will by either party. |
Swanson v. Larson, et al.
2021 ND 0216 |
State v. Youngbird
2021 ND 21
Highlight: A district court has jurisdiction to amend a criminal judgment to include restitution when the State files the motion to amend within the time limit imposed by the court during sentencing. |
Johnson v. Menard
2021 ND 19
Highlight: During trial, a party can make a motion for judgment as a matter of law alleging insufficient evidence under N.D.R.Civ.P. 50(a). However, after the jury returns its verdict the party must renew the motion under N.D.R.Civ.P. 50(b) to preserve the sufficiency of the evidence issue for review on appeal. |
State v. Watson
2021 ND 18 Highlight: A defendant may not withdraw a guilty plea after the court has imposed a sentence unless the defendant proves that withdrawal is necessary to correct a manifest injustice. |
Willprecht v. Willprecht
2021 ND 17
Highlight: A district court’s use, on remand, of its previous Ruff-Fischer guidelines analysis is not by itself clearly erroneous. |
State v. Bear King
2021 ND 16 Highlight: The criminal judgment entered after a jury verdict is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (7). |
Interest of A.R.S. (CONFIDENTIAL)(consolidated w/ 20200200)
2021 ND 15 Highlight: District court judgment finding children are deprived is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
Munzal v. State
2021 ND 14 Highlight: An order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (7). |
Matter of Didier
2021 ND 13 Highlight: A district court order denying request for discharge from civil commitment as a sexually dangerous individual is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
R & F Financial Services v. North American Building Solutions, et al.
2021 ND 12
Highlight: All contracts entered into by the parties must be construed together, and only the provisions in the latter contracts which are inconsistent with the prior contracts will supersede. |
State v. Casatelli
2021 ND 11
Highlight: A district court’s decision on a motion to suppress will be affirmed if there is sufficient competent evidence fairly capable of supporting the trial court’s findings and the decision is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. |
Interest of M.M. (CONFIDENTIAL) (consolidated w/20200336 - 20200339)
2021 ND 10 Highlight: An order terminating mother’s parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2). |
State v. Rivera-Rieffel
2021 ND 9 Highlight: Criminal conviction for murder and child abuse is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3). |
Young v. Burleigh Morton Detention Center, et al.
2021 ND 8
Highlight: A violation of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel does not occur unless the government knowingly intrudes into the attorney-client relationship and the intrusion prejudices the defendant or creates a substantial threat of prejudice. |
State v. Aune
2021 ND 7 Highlight: A defendant may not challenge a jury verdict as inconsistent based upon an alleged error he invited by requesting an instruction on a lesser included offense. If a defendant does not object to the introduction of prior convictions at sentencing, and the prior convictions were not relied upon to enhance the term of incarceration, the appropriate standard of review is obvious error. It is not error to consider a defendant’s prior convictions as a part of their criminal history under N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-04 if there has been no showing that the prior convictions were uncounseled and without proper waiver. |
Estate of Seidel v. Seidel, et al.
2021 ND 6
Highlight: The primary purpose in interpreting a deed is to ascertain and effectuate the grantor’s intent at the time of the conveyance. The intent must be ascertained from the writing alone, if possible. |
Neppel, et al. v. Development Homes, et al.
2021 ND 5
Highlight: The district court did not abuse its discretion when it denied an untimely motion to amend the complaint. |
State v. Evanson (consolidated w/20200057)
2021 ND 4 Highlight: When a defendant fails to object to the introduction of prior convictions at sentencing, and the court did not substantially rely on the convictions as the basis for enhancing a defendant’s sentence or increasing their offense level, obvious error is the appropriate standard of review. A defendant cannot establish obvious error if they cannot first establish that an error has occurred. |
Brendel Construction v. WSI
2021 ND 3
Highlight: On review of an administrative law judge’s findings of fact, this Court determines only whether a reasoning mind reasonably could have determined the findings were proven by the weight of the evidence from the entire record. |
Potts v. City of Devils Lake, et al.
2021 ND 2 Highlight: Under North Dakota law no public policy exception to the at-will employment doctrine exists for law enforcement officers who act in self-defense. |
Melaas v. Diamond Resorts U.S. Collection Development
2021 ND 1
Highlight: An order compelling arbitration and dismissing the action is appealable. |
Interest of Buller
2020 ND 270
Highlight: The State’s second petition seeking civil commitment of a sexually dangerous individual was not barred by res judicata. |
Atkins v. State
2020 ND 269 Highlight: Court-appointed appellate counsel is not permitted to file an Anders brief in post-conviction relief proceedings. |
State v. Hirschkorn
2020 ND 268
Highlight: A district court’s decision to exclude evidence on the basis it lacks adequate foundation lies within its sound discretion and will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion that affected substantial rights. |
McCarvel, et al. v. Perhus, et al.
2020 ND 267
Highlight: A district court’s finding that plaintiffs obtained property through boundary by acquiescence is affirmed. |
State v. Foote
2020 ND 266
Highlight: This Court, in its review, will not weigh conflicting evidence or judge the credibility of witnesses. We will affirm a district court’s decision on a motion to suppress if there is sufficient competent evidence fairly capable of supporting the trial court’s findings, and the decision is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. |
State v. Sackenreuter
2020 ND 265
Highlight: N.D.C.C. § 39-08-01(1)(f) is clear and unambiguous. |
Twete v. Mullin, et al.
2020 ND 264 Highlight: As adopted in North Dakota, the Uniform Trust Code (U.T.C.) does not provide for a statutory award of attorney’s fees in cases of breach of trust. The adoption of the U.T.C. without Section 1006 did not displace the limited authority to award attorney’s fees under the common law in cases of breach of trust. The common fund exception does not apply to cases of breach of trust in which the action was brought by the sole beneficiary of the trust. |
NBS Consulting v. Harris, et al.
2020 ND 263 Highlight: An eviction is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7). |
Lindstaedt v. George
2020 ND 262
Highlight: A district court’s finding of domestic violence is a finding of fact that will not be overturned unless it is clearly erroneous. |
State v. Rodriguez
2020 ND 261 Highlight: A defendant cannot successfully argue their waiver of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel was not voluntary, knowing, and intelligent when the record demonstrates the defendant’s clear desire to represent himself despite an understanding of the risks therein. To challenge a conviction based on the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, a defendant must move for a judgment of acquittal under N.D.R.Crim.P. 29 at trial. This Court may not consider whether a district court obviously erred if an appellant fails to argue obvious error on appeal. |
Discover Bank v. Hornbacher
2020 ND 260 Highlight: A stipulation providing for entry of judgment in an amount certain followed by an agreed payment schedule to avoid execution is sufficient to require a district court to enter judgment according to the stipulation. |
Sather v. Sather
2020 ND 259
Highlight: A divorce judgment is final if the district court adjudicates all claims in the divorce proceeding, and does not reserve disposition of an issue. |
Three Aces Properties v. United Rentals (North America)
2020 ND 258 Highlight: Cost of repairs or diminution of value are both appropriate measure of damages for a breach of contract claim related to a duty to repair under a lease. |
Everett v. State
2020 ND 257 Highlight: Orders denying leave to file are not appealable. |
Curtiss v. State
2020 ND 256
Highlight: Any attempt to avoid, defeat or evade a judgment, or to deny its force and effect, in some incidental proceeding not provided for by law, with the express purpose of obtaining relief from that judgment is a collateral attack. |
State v. Bolme
2020 ND 255
Highlight: Under the reasonable suspicion standard, an officer is not required to see a motorist violating a traffic law or rule out every potential innocent excuse for the behavior in question before stopping a vehicle for investigation. |
Rentz v. BNSF Railway Co.
2020 ND 254
Highlight: Rule 615, N.D.R.Ev., serves the twin purposes of (1) preventing one witness’ testimony from influencing the testimony of other witnesses; and (2) aiding in detecting false testimony and credibility issues. |
Kuntz v. Leiss, et al.
2020 ND 253
Highlight: A property owner must prove actual injury to recover more than nominal damages on a trespass claim. |
City of Fargo v. Hofer
2020 ND 252 Highlight: A search warrant does not cure defects in an implied consent advisory if the officer is administering a chemical test under the implied consent statute. |
Burgum v. Jaeger, et al.
2020 ND 251
Highlight: Votes cast for an ineligible candidate are counted and considered a protest against the eligible candidate. |
Wisham v. State
2020 ND 250 Highlight: The court did not err in summarily disposing of an application for post-conviction relief after petitioner failed to respond to the State’s motion for summary disposition. |
Estate of Moore
2020 ND 249
Highlight: In a case involving expert opinions, a choice between two permissible views of the weight of the evidence is not clearly erroneous. |
State v. Polk
2020 ND 248
Highlight: A victim’s testimony alone is sufficient to establish all the elements of a crime. |
State v. Conry
2020 ND 247 Highlight: The State possesses no statutory right to appeal a restitution order in a criminal case. |
State v. Richardson
2020 ND 246 Highlight: Criminal conviction for felony reckless endangerment summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P 35.1(a)(3). |
Christianson v. NDDOT
2020 ND 245
Highlight: The Canadian statute making it illegal to drive while intoxicated defines an offense equivalent to North Dakota’s driving under the influence offense for purposes of N.D.C.C. § 39-06-27(1). The Department has jurisdiction to suspend an operator’s license for a conviction under the Canadian statute. |
State v. Wilkinson
2020 ND 244 Highlight: Criminal conviction for gross sexual imposition is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3). |