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Carpenter v. State 2021 ND 168
Docket No.: 20210104
Filing Date: 9/30/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Sims v. Sims 2021 ND 167
Docket No.: 20210039
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court order entering a domestic violence protection order is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

WSI v. Badger Roustabouts 2021 ND 166
Docket No.: 20210022
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: An individual who performs services for another for remuneration is presumed to be an employee of the person for which the services are performed, unless it is proven that the individual is an independent contractor under the common-law test.

Whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee is a mixed question of fact and law.

To be entitled to an award attorney’s fees under N.D.C.C. § 28-32-50, a non-agency party must meet a two-part test: 1) the non-administrative agency party must prevail, and 2) the agency must have acted without substantial justification.

Fleck v. State 2021 ND 165
Docket No.: 20210089
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Matter of Muscha 2021 ND 164
Docket No.: 20210071
Filing Date: 9/16/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A district court must specify facts on which its conclusions are based that a sexually dangerous individual continues to have serious difficulty controlling his behavior. Both past conduct and present conduct are relevant to determine whether an individual continues to have serious difficulty controlling his behavior. The conduct need not be sexual in nature.

Evidence of negative and inappropriate behaviors, including incidents demonstrating more than mere horseplay, may be sufficient to demonstrate serious difficulty controlling behavior.

Interest of K.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) (CONSOLIDATED W/20210110) 2021 ND 163
Docket No.: 20210109
Filing Date: 6/24/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: In addition to state law requirements for parental termination, the requirements of the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. § 1912, must be met in cases involving an Indian child as defined by the Act.

Because children are entitled to permanency and because ICWA presents an opportunity for collateral attack of a state court judgment if its requirements are not met, we will not strain to infer findings from a vague reference to the requirement. The juvenile court must make detailed findings sufficient to satisfy ICWA. A qualified expert witness’s expressed preference to deny termination of parental rights does not preclude the court from making findings sufficient to satisfy ICWA and ordering termination.

Manning v. Jaeger, et al. 2021 ND 162
Docket No.: 20200332
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: To intervene as a matter of right, a person must establish on timely motion that 1) the person has a cognizable interest in the subject matter of the litigation, 2) the interest may be impaired as a result of the litigation, and 3) the interest is not adequately represented by an existing party to the litigation.

Exercise of supervisory jurisdiction is purely discretionary and decided on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique circumstances of each case.

State v. Johnson 2021 ND 161
Docket No.: 20200252
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A conviction rests upon insufficient evidence only when no rational fact finder could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution and giving the prosecution the benefit of all inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor.

To convict for terrorizing, the State must prove that the defendant intended to cause another person to fear for his or another person’s safety or acted with reckless disregard of the risk of causing such fear and that the defendant made a threat to commit a crime of violence or act dangerous to human life.

Hartman, et al. v. Grager 2021 ND 160
Docket No.: 20200205
Filing Date: 9/2/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: Before a court may set aside a transaction on the ground of mental incapacity, the party attacking the validity of the transaction has the burden to prove the grantor, at the time of the transaction, was so weak mentally as not to be able to comprehend and understand the nature and effect of the transaction.

An agreement for the sale of real property must show who the contracting parties are, intelligently identify the subject matter involved, express the consideration, and disclose the terms and conditions upon which the contract is entered into. All things that in law or usage are considered as incidental to a contract or as necessary to carry it into effect are implied therefrom, unless some of them are mentioned expressly therein.

A valid inter vivos gift requires: (1) an intention by the donor to then and there give the property to the donee, coupled with an actual or constructive (2) delivery of the property to the donee, and (3) acceptance of the property by the donee.

In an action for specific performance, a purchaser may recover damages from a seller for delay in conveying real property. The detriment caused by the wrongful occupation of real property is deemed to be the value of the use of the property for the time of occupation, which can be shown by either identifying the fruits of the illegal possession, or through fair rental value of the property.

Estate of Finch 2021 ND 159
Docket No.: 20210029
Filing Date: 8/26/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A decision on a petition to remove a personal representative rests within the district court’s sound discretion.

A district court’s decision whether to award attorney’s fees incurred by a personal representative to be paid from the estate will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion.

Schulz v. Helmers 2021 ND 158
Docket No.: 20210025
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Contract damages for breaching a duty to maintain buildings in a lease are measured by the lesser of the cost to repair and the diminution in value of the property when avoiding windfalls or economic waste.

Interest of T.L.E. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2021 ND 157
Docket No.: 20210190
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court’s orders for hospitalization and involuntary treatment with medication are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Interest of T.L.E. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2021 ND 157
Docket No.: 20210190
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Per Curiam

Interest of G.J.E.P. (CONFIDENTIAL) (consolidated with 20210189) 2021 ND 156
Docket No.: 20210188
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A juvenile court order terminating parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).

Interest of G.J.E.P. (CONFIDENTIAL) (consolidated with 20210189) 2021 ND 156
Docket No.: 20210188
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

Pinkney v. State 2021 ND 155
Docket No.: 20200249
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Whether to grant a motion for a continuance rests within the district court’s discretion.

Post-conviction relief is not a device for investigating possible claims, but a means for vindicating actual claims.

State v. Lyman 2021 ND 154
Docket No.: 20200321
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: The district court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted blood test results into evidence over the Defendant’s foundational objections that the State failed to prove scrupulous compliance with the approved method for collecting and submitting a blood specimen.

Dubois v. State 2021 ND 153
Docket No.: 20210019
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Counsel’s failure to raise a novel or groundbreaking legal claim does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.

A district court is the best credibility evaluator in cases of conflicting testimony, and we will not second-guess the district court’s credibility determinations.

The procedures in Rule 11, N.D.R.Crim.P., does not apply to admissions on probation revocation.

Section 12.1-32-07(6), N.D.C.C., unambiguously restrains a district court’s authority in probation revocation cases to imposition of the sentence initially imposed but suspended.

State v. Gefroh, 458 N.W.2d 479, 483-84 (N.D. 1990) and State v. Lindgren, 483 N.W.2d 777, 779 (N.D. 1992) are overruled.

State v. Boger 2021 ND 152
Docket No.: 20200297
Filing Date: 8/19/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A mistake of fact may support reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop if the mistake was objectively reasonable.

When reviewing a district court’s decision on a motion to suppress, we defer to the court’s findings of fact and resolve conflicts in testimony in favor of affirmance.

Lerfald v. Lerfald 2021 ND 150
Docket No.: 20210008
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A party moving to modify parenting time must establish that a material change of circumstances has occurred since entry of the prior parenting time order and that modification is in the child’s best interests.

Klundt v. Benjamin, et al. 2021 ND 149
Docket No.: 20210048
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: In proceedings relating to a motion to modify primary residential responsibility, a prima facie case warranting an evidentiary hearing consists of factual allegations sufficient to support a finding of a material change in circumstances and that a change is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.

To establish a prima facie case that modification of primary residential responsibility is necessary to serve the best interests of the child requires more than the improved circumstances of the moving party.

Isxaaq v. State (consolidated w/ 20210067 & 20210068) 2021 ND 148
Docket No.: 20210066
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: Whether an applicant for post-conviction relief adequately understands English without an interpreter is a finding of fact that will be affirmed on appeal if not clearly erroneous. An applicant cannot establish prejudice on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim alleging their attorney did not properly advise them on the immigration consequences of pleading guilty if the applicant offers only self-serving, subjective testimony that, with competent advice, they would have rejected a plea and proceeded to trial. An applicant must offer some evidence contemporaneous with the entry of the guilty plea to substantiate that the applicant would have gone to trial if he had known the deportation consequences of pleading guilty.

Bahmiller v. WSI, et. al. 2021 ND 147
Docket No.: 20210033
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A workers’ compensation claimant is not entitled to receive benefits if the claimant fails to file a written claim for benefits within the specified time under N.D.C.C. § 65-05-01.

To have a compensable injury, a claimant must know or have reason to know the significance, or seriousness, of their condition and that the injury is work-related.

Zepeda, et al. v. Cool, et al. 2021 ND 146
Docket No.: 20200193
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: Before dismissing an action for failure to prosecute under N.D.R.Civ.P. 41(b), a district court must consider several competing factors including a court’s need to manage its docket, the public interest in expeditious resolution of litigation, and the risk of prejudice to adverse parties from delay. The court must balance these factors against the great reluctance to impose the harsh remedy of dismissal based upon our policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits.

A district court’s decision to dismiss a claim for failure to prosecute will not be overturned absent an abuse of discretion.

While North Dakota law does not formally recognize motions to reconsider, motions for reconsideration may be treated as motions to alter or amend a judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 59(j), or motions for relief from a judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b).

City of Fargo v. Roehrich 2021 ND 145
Docket No.: 20210023
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Whether a law is unconstitutional is a question of law, which is fully reviewable on appeal.

Municipal harassment ordinance is not unconstitutionally vague on its face or as applied to defendant.

Bilger v. Bilger 2021 ND 144
Docket No.: 20210072
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Arguments not raised before the district court cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.

Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a servicemember may apply for a stay of the action if the requirements of military duty affects the servicemember’s ability to appear.

Bearce v. Yellowstone Energy Development 2021 ND 143
Docket No.: 20210010
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: Where you have a closely held company, the law imposes a fiduciary duty upon the governors and majority shareholders to act in good faith, and affords remedies to minority shareholders if those in control act fraudulently, illegally, or in a manner unfairly prejudicial toward any shareholder.

The date a person acquires interest in a company is a question of fact reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard.

Matter of Emelia Hirsch Trust 2021 ND 142
Docket No.: 20210144
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order denying a motion to vacate an order reforming a trust is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1), (4), and (7).

Matter of Emelia Hirsch Trust 2021 ND 142
Docket No.: 20210144
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Per Curiam

State v. Cochran 2021 ND 141
Docket No.: 20200355
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: Law enforcement may not search an individual’s home without a warrant unless the search falls within one of the recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement. Under the common-area, co-occupant consent exception, a co-occupant of a shared residence may consent to searches of the common areas of the residence.

This Court will not set aside a district court’s decision simply because the court may have applied an incorrect reason if the result is the same under the correct law and reasoning.

Dwyer v. Sell, et al. 2021 ND 139
Docket No.: 20200188
Filing Date: 8/5/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: General rules of interpretation of written instruments apply to the construction of trust documents.

When a trust agreement is unambiguous, the settlor’s intent is ascertained from the language of the agreement itself.

Under N.D.C.C. § 47-05-17, the right of access to land to hunt game animals or game birds may not be severed from the surface estate.

In the Matter of the Adoption of M.E. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2021 ND 138
Docket No.: 20210172
Filing Date: 7/29/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order terminating parental rights in connection with a petition for adoption is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.AppP. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).

In the Matter of the Adoption of M.E. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2021 ND 138
Docket No.: 20210172
Filing Date: 7/29/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

State v. Schmidt, et al. 2021 ND 137
Docket No.: 20210156
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Supervision
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: Rule 32(c)(2), N.D.R.Crim.P., does not provide the district court with authority to order that defense counsel be allowed to be present for a psycho-sexual evaluation. The district court has no authority under section 12.1-01-04(26), N.D.C.C., to order the Department of Human Services to allow defense counsel to be present during such an evaluation. A defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel is satisfied when defense counsel is given notice and an opportunity to consult with the defendant prior to the evaluation.

State v. Schmidt, et al. 2021 ND 137
Docket No.: 20210156
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Supervision
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

City of West Fargo v. McAllister, et al. 2021 ND 136
Docket No.: 20200324
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A certification under N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) should not be routinely granted and is reserved for cases involving unusual circumstances where failure to allow an immediate appeal would create a demonstrated prejudice or hardship.

A district court should articulate in writing the reasons supporting its decision to grant certification under N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b).

State v. Stands 2021 ND 135
Docket No.: 20210053
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A person standing in an open doorway is in a public place and may be arrested without a warrant permitting entry into the home.

Investigatory stops are justified if there is reasonable and articulable suspicion a person has committed or is about to commit a crime.

Evidence should not be suppressed or excluded as fruit of the poisonous tree unless the alleged illegality is at least a but-for cause of obtaining the evidence.

Williams v. Williams, et al. 2021 ND 134
Docket No.: 20210014
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A district court’s decision to modify parenting time may be affirmed, despite sparse findings of fact, when its rationale is clear from the record.

Section 14-09.2-08, N.D.C.C., only requires a specific good-cause finding when the district court terminates or modifies a parenting coordinator’s appointment on its own motion.

Due process requires parties receive adequate notice and a fair opportunity to be heard.

Froehlich v. Froehlich, et al. 2021 ND 133
Docket No.: 20200308
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: Under N.D.R.App.P. 4(a)(1), a party has 60 days from service of notice of entry of the judgment to file an appeal.

Only judgments constituting a final judgment of the rights of the parties and certain orders enumerated by statute are appealable.

Yoney v. State 2021 ND 132
Docket No.: 20200359
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: This Court, on its own motion, may notice errors to which no objection has been taken if the errors are obvious or if they otherwise seriously affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings.

Smith v. Isakson, et al. (consolidated with 20210057) 2021 ND 131
Docket No.: 20210004
Filing Date: 7/22/2021
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Supervision
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Citizens of our state may have greater protections under the North Dakota Constitution than the United States Constitution.

The North Dakota Constitution guarantees the right to a jury trial for an infraction-level violation of a Bismarck ordinance restricting the use of public property.

The Sixth Amendment does not extend the right to a jury trial for a violation of a Bismarck ordinance restricting the use of public property.

Vacancy in Judgeship No. 9, South Central Judicial District 2021 ND 130
Docket No.: 20210177
Filing Date: 7/15/2021
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgeship retained at Mandan.

Vacancy in Judgeship No. 9, South Central Judicial District 2021 ND 130
Docket No.: 20210177
Filing Date: 7/15/2021
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Matter of O.H.W. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2021 ND 129
Docket No.: 20210006
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court’s order denying an application for discharge from civil commitment as a sexually dangerous individual is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Scott v. Scott 2021 ND 128
Docket No.: 20200344
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A party moving to modify joint residential responsibility more than two years after the initial order establishing residential responsibility bears the burden of showing a material change in circumstances has occurred. A court’s decision on whether a material change has occurred is a finding of fact which will not be reversed unless it is clearly erroneous. A court is not required to analyze the best interest factors if a material change is not shown.

City of Lincoln v. McCorkell 2021 ND 127
Docket No.: 20200319
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A criminal judgment for driving under suspension is summarily affirmed under N.D R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

Hussiene v. NDDOT 2021 ND 126
Docket No.: 20210045
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Evidence supported a hearing officer’s finding that a highway patrol trooper had a reasonable and articulable suspicion to stop a motorist for failure to stop at a red light.

The weight of the evidence showed a motorist refused to submit to a chemical breath test.

State v. Crites 2021 ND 125
Docket No.: 20200356
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court’s criminal judgment following a jury verdict is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P 35.1(a)(3) and (4).

Eubanks v. Fisketjon, et al. 2021 ND 124
Docket No.: 20200288
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The district court erred when it included half of an obligor and his roommate’s share of rent owed to a landlord as the obligor’s income for purposes of calculating child support.

Parenting decisions must be made in light of the child’s best interests.

City of Lincoln v. Schuler 2021 ND 123
Docket No.: 20200314
Filing Date: 7/8/2021
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: This Court will affirm a district court decision regarding a motion to suppress if there is sufficient competent evidence fairly capable of supporting the district court’s findings, and the decision is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.

Interpretation of a statute is a question of law fully reviewable on appeal.

Section 39-10-38, N.D.C.C., requires that no person may turn a vehicle or move right or left on a roadway without giving an appropriate signal and make such turn or movement with reasonable safety.

Reasonable suspicion and criminality are different inquiries and the actual commission of a crime is not required to support a finding of reasonable suspicion.

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