Opinions

Chegwidden, et al. v. Evenson, et al. 2015 ND 131
Docket No.: 20140340
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Landlord/Tenant
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: On termination of a lease, a lessor may apply the security deposit, plus accrued interest, towards any unpaid rent.
In a negligence action, the determination of whether a duty exists is generally a preliminary question of fact for the court to decide.
Liability for intentional infliction of emotional distress does not extend to mere indignities, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities.

Marhula v. Grand Forks Curling Club 2015 ND 130
Docket No.: 20140298
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The threshold membership requirements do not apply to a member's individual action against a nonprofit corporation claiming he was improperly terminated from membership.

Williams v. Williams 2015 ND 129
Docket No.: 20140313
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Rehabilitative spousal support is to equalize the burdens of divorce.

Rounkles v. Levi 2015 ND 128
Docket No.: 20140192
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: Issues raised in an amended specifications of error filed outside the seven-day period for filing a specifications of error will not be considered.

Broten, et al. v. Broten 2015 ND 127
Docket No.: 20140177
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Judicial estoppel is a doctrine designed to protect the integrity of the judicial process by prohibiting a party from assuming inconsistent or contradictory positions during the course of litigation..
Election of remedies is applied when there are two or more remedies, inconsistency between the remedies, and a choice of one remedy
A trial court may postpone the election of remedies until final judgment is entered.

State v. Lowe 2015 ND 126
Docket No.: 20140401
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Denial of a N.D.R.Crim.P. 35(b) motion for reduction of sentence is not appealable.

Estate of Hogen 2015 ND 125
Docket No.: 20140119
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A devisee's right to a decedent's real property is subject to administration by a personal representative, which continues until termination of the personal representative's appointment.
A devisee's cash rent and crop-share obligations to a decedent are a noncontingent indebtedness for purposes of a retainer against the devisee's interest in real property in the estate and may be pursued in a probate proceeding.
A personal representative may be entitled to a retainer against real property even if the personal representative does not take actual possession of the real property during administration of an estate.
A district court has discretion to award personal representative fees and attorney fees from an estate.

State v. Kopperud 2015 ND 124
Docket No.: 20150024
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A district court may not assess jury expenses to a defendant in a criminal case when the defendant fails to appear for trial.

Funke, et al. v. Aggregate Construction, Inc., et al. (cross-ref. 20120405) 2015 ND 123
Docket No.: 20140052
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Landlord/Tenant
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Only judgments and decrees which constitute a final judgment of the rights of the parties and certain orders enumerated by statute are appealable.
A statute providing for supplemental relief applies when the additional relief is requested after a declaratory judgment has been granted to supplement or enforce the declaratory judgment.
Basic rules of contract construction apply to leases in deciding the scope and effect of provisions within a lease.
Ratification requires full knowledge of all the material facts on the part of the corporate principal.

Estate of Nelson 2015 ND 122
Docket No.: 20140377
Filing Date: 5/27/2015
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Appellate review is not possible when the rationale of the district court's decision is not clear.