Opinions

Judicial Conduct Commission v. Hagar (consol. w/ 20110378 - 380) 2012 ND 19
Docket No.: 20110331
Filing Date: 1/18/2012
Case Type: Discipline - Judge - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: District judge censured.

Koenig v. N.D. Dept. of Transportation 2012 ND 18
Docket No.: 20110249
Filing Date: 1/18/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: An individual arrested for driving under the influence has the right to obtain an independent blood or chemical test, and this right is generally considered the right to be free from police interference in obtaining the test through his or her own efforts and expense.
Whether law enforcement officers have denied an individual the right to an independent test is considered under the totality of the circumstances.

Interest of G.K.S. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2012 ND 17
Docket No.: 20110367
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Appeal from vacated order for involuntary commitment is dismissed as moot.

Estate of Hollingsworth 2012 ND 16
Docket No.: 20110141
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In an unsupervised probate, an order or judgment determining some, but not all, of one person's claims or disputes in an estate is not appealable without a N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) certification.

Thompson v. Thompson 2012 ND 15
Docket No.: 20110215
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When there is a motion to modify primary residential responsibility, claims that the parties' actual residential responsibility arrangement is substantially different from the arrangement contemplated in the prior order establishing residential responsibility may be sufficient to establish a prima facie case justifying modification.

Holkesvig v. Welte(Consol. w/20110103 & 20110104)(Cross-ref. w/20100315-2010317) 2012 ND 14
Docket No.: 20110102
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A district court may impose a remedial sanction for contempt only after notice and hearing.

American Family Insurance, et al. v. Waupaca Elevator Co. 2012 ND 13
Docket No.: 20110198
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: When calculating a statute of limitations beginning date under N.D.R.Civ.P. 6(a), the date of injury accrual is excluded, and the next day begins the countdown.
When calculating a statute of limitations ending date under N.D.R.Civ.P. 6(a), the last day of the period is included, unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday.
A party may begin a lawsuit as late as the end of the last day of the statute of limitations period.
Under N.D.C.C. 28-01-38, it is proper for a party to deliver its summons and complaint, with the intent it shall be actually served, to the sheriff, "if the defendant is a corporation, of the county in which was situated the principal place of business of such corporation, or in which its general business was transacted, or in which it kept an office for the transaction of business."

Interest of W.J.C.A. (Confidential) 2012 ND 12
Docket No.: 20110361
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A medical expert must often rely on second-hand information unless it is demonstrably unreliable, and testimony regarding staff reports and personal observations is proper to establish the basis of a medical opinion.
District courts may properly rely on testimony that is not based solely on the allegations in a petition for involuntary commitment but which has been confirmed through independent sources.

State v. Pena Garcia 2012 ND 11
Docket No.: 20110090
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A reviewing court will not reverse a criminal conviction based on a claim that the prosecutor engaged in misconduct if any prejudice from alleged misconduct was cured.

State v. Evans (consolidated w/20110199) (cross reference w/20110200) 2012 ND 10
Docket No.: 20110086
Filing Date: 1/12/2012
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Untimely filing of a notice of appeal is grounds for dismissal of the appeal.
Timely filing is mandatory and jurisdictional, and cannot be waived.