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1951 - 2000 of 12382 results

Thompson, et al. v. Johnson 2019 ND 111
Docket No.: 20180386
Filing Date: 4/17/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: District court erred on remand by finding child support obligor underemployed without explaining why its prior determination the obligor had a gross annual income of $171,560.66 and net annual income of $113,916 was incorrect.

Interest of K.S.D. (CONFIDENTIAL) (consolidated with 20180261) 2019 ND 110
Docket No.: 20180260
Filing Date: 4/15/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Motion to withdraw consent to termination of parental rights was untimely under N.D.C.C. § 27-20-45(6) because it was made more than thirty days after the order terminating parental rights was issued.

Rhodenbaugh v. Rhodenbaugh 2019 ND 109
Docket No.: 20180040
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: Interlocutory orders in an action are merged into the final judgment and may be reviewed on appeal of the judgment.

Review on appeal is limited to issues litigated below and the arguments presented on appeal.

An order holding a person in contempt is a final order for purposes of appeal. The time limit for filing a notice of appeal is jurisdictional, and we dismiss an appeal if we conclude we do not have jurisdiction.

A district court has broad discretion over the presentation of evidence and the conduct of trial, but it must exercise its discretion in a manner that best comports with substantial justice.

District courts have broad discretion to allow or refuse a party to reopen the record to introduce additional evidence.

State v. Valles 2019 ND 108
Docket No.: 20180320
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: For a warrantless search or seizure to fall into the abandonment exception, the State must show evidence of abandonment was present through objective facts known to the officer at the time of the search or seizure. Further, even when a cell phone is considered abandoned, a search of its contents is always considered unreasonable and thus is not permitted without a warrant.

Estate of Bartelson 2019 ND 107
Docket No.: 20180255
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: An appeal only from the denial of a motion for reconsideration does not permit the appellant to attack the underlying order from which the appeal could have been taken but was not brought.

State v. Stenhoff 2019 ND 106
Docket No.: 20180300
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: Search of supervised probationer’s residence was constitutional where the probationer was incarcerated due to a probation violation, the supervised probation conditions included a search clause, and law enforcement officers had reasonable suspicion unlawful activity was afoot due to a child’s statement alluding to the presence of drugs at the probationer’s residence.

Conditions of probation may apply when a person is incarcerated until such time as the probation is terminated or revoked.

State v. Odum 2019 ND 105
Docket No.: 20180384
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Under the totality of the circumstances, probable cause existed for a search warrant based on evidence found during garbage search.

A sufficient nexus to the residence for the purposes of probable cause does not always require indicia of residency be found in the garbage.

Lupo v. McNeeley, et al. 2019 ND 104
Docket No.: 20180381
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: The statute of limitations of a claim for relief is not tolled by the defendant’s absence from the state under N.D.C.C. § 28-01-32 when the state’s courts can obtain jurisdiction by completing service of process by publication.

Garcia v. State 2019 ND 103
Docket No.: 20180316
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A finalized criminal sentence may not be reduced by statute.

WSI v. Eight Ball Trucking, Inc., et al. 2019 ND 102
Docket No.: 20180267
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A summary judgment entered after a defendant fails to respond to the motion for summary judgment is an adjudication on the merits and not a default judgment.
A district court’s decision whether to vacate a judgment will not be disturbed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.

State v. Mohamud 2019 ND 101
Docket No.: 20180333
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion to dismiss for undue delay.

The district court did not err as a matter of law and did not come to any erroneous factual determinations in finding the defendant’s right to a speedy trial was not violated.

Evidence was sufficient to support guilty verdicts.

No-contact order was properly considered a condition of probation.

Lavallie v. State 2019 ND 100
Docket No.: 20180362
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: District court erred by reducing a criminal sentence based on a statute enacted after the conviction had been finalized.

State v. Comes 2019 ND 99
Docket No.: 20180312
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: Rule 35, N.D.R.Crim.P., requires notice of intent to correct a sentence be given to the parties.

Sabo, et al. v. Job Service 2019 ND 98
Docket No.: 20180354
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Unemployment/Job Service
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: The doctrine of administrative res judicata prevents collateral attacks on administrative agency final orders.

An issue is not ripe for review if it depends on future contingencies which, although they might occur, necessarily may not, thus making addressing the question premature.

Pavlicek v. American Steel Systems, Inc., et al. 2019 ND 97
Docket No.: 20180168
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: A district court may grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law if a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on that issue.

In considering a motion for judgment as a matter of law, the court must apply a rigorous standard with a view toward preserving a jury verdict.

Heitkamp v. Kabella 2019 ND 96
Docket No.: 20180288
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: When an ambiguous contract is at issue, the parties’ intent becomes a question of fact.

Issue was remanded for a finding on the nature of the parties’ agreement.

Cuozzo v. State, d/b/a University of North Dakota, et al. 2019 ND 95
Docket No.: 20180337
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Board of Higher Education policies, rules and regulations adopted as part of its policy manual govern termination of university faculty members and are part of the employment contract between the institution and the faculty member.

Generally, substantial compliance with the procedural requirements for termination is sufficient if their purpose is fulfilled.

The separation of powers doctrine does not permit judicial examination of the adequacy of a university president’s review of the record.

Candee, et al. v. Candee 2019 ND 94
Docket No.: 20180246
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A district court’s decision regarding attorney fees will not be set aside on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.

A settlement agreement and mutual release of claims was not “evidence of debt” under N.D.C.C. § 28-26-04, so as to preclude enforcement a contractual provision providing for recovery of attorney fees and costs.

Horst v. Horst 2019 ND 93
Docket No.: 20180402
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court judgment awarding a divorce, establishing primary residential responsibility, child support, and parenting time are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2), (3) and(4).

An argument that is not adequately articulated, supported, and briefed will not be considered on appeal.

Interest of C.D.C. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2019 ND 92
Docket No.: 20180371
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Paternity
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Appeal from an order denying motion to vacate judgment is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

State v. Johnson 2019 ND 91
Docket No.: 20180349
Filing Date: 4/11/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment finding defendant guilty of unlawful possession of a controlled substance in violation of N.D.C.C. § 19-03.1-23 and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in violation of N.D.C.C. § 19-03.4-03 is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (7).

Disciplinary Board v. Turcotte 2019 ND 90
Docket No.: 20190042
Filing Date: 4/8/2019
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Attorney reprimanded.

Bearce, et al. v. Yellowstone Energy Development, LLC 2019 ND 89
Docket No.: 20180256
Filing Date: 3/22/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: The proper remedy for fraud is recision of the contract.

Parties agreed to continue with the sale of the real property after failure of condition precedent.

Finding that a contract for deed was ambiguous required remand for interpretation of that contract for deed using extrinsic evidence.

A contract is ambiguous when reasonable arguments can be made for different positions on its meaning.

Interest of D.M.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2019 ND 88
Docket No.: 20180313
Filing Date: 3/21/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Juvenile Law
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: When awarding a guardianship, the district court must determine whether the parents should be awarded visitation. The district court may not delegate determination of a visitation schedule.

Estate of Brandt 2019 ND 87
Docket No.: 20180160
Filing Date: 3/18/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A personal representative is not precluded from filing petitions as an interested person in the supervised administration of an estate while simultaneously performing fiduciary duties to distribute property according to a will and the best interests of an estate.

A probate court has jurisdiction to determine title to property alleged to belong to an estate and the value of that property.

Petitions and accompanying documents filed with the probate court are deemed to include an oath or affirmation of truthfulness.

An appellate court reviews a final report and accounting allocating estate assets under an abuse-of-discretion standard.

State v. Hamre 2019 ND 86
Docket No.: 20180055
Filing Date: 3/18/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: In considering a speedy trial claim, a district court must balance the length of the delay, the reason for the delay, the accused’s assertion of the right to a speedy trial, and the prejudice to the accused.

State v. Guthmiller 2019 ND 85
Docket No.: 20180225
Filing Date: 3/18/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A district court order denying a defendant’s motion to withdraw a guilty plea is affirmed if the defendant fails to show a “fair and just” reason for withdrawal.

Issues not adequately raised at the trial level will not be addressed for the first time on appeal.

State v. Morsette 2019 ND 84
Docket No.: 20180076
Filing Date: 3/15/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A district court’s finding that the facts support a reasonable and articulable suspicion is fully reviewable on appeal.

Merely observing a driver tapping the illuminated screen of his cell phone for two seconds does not create reasonable and articulable suspicion that a violation of N.D.C.C. 39-08-23 has occurred.

It is not reasonable to conclude an officer made a reasonable mistake of fact if he is unable to articulate why he thought an individual’s conduct violated the law.

Lies v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2019 ND 83
Docket No.: 20180393
Filing Date: 3/15/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Burden is on moving party to prove vehicle properly identified by evidence.
Reasonable suspicion not present where officers could not reasonably identify vehicle after tip.

Baker v. Autos, Inc., et al. 2019 ND 82
Docket No.: 20180238
Filing Date: 3/15/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A retail installment contract must disclose charges and fees that are finance charges as finance charges to comply with the disclosure requirements of the Retail Installment Sales Act.

Lincoln Land Development, LLP v. City of Lincoln 2019 ND 81
Docket No.: 20180117
Filing Date: 3/15/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The extent of a prescriptive easement is fixed by the use through which it was created, and use beyond the easement’s originally created use may be a governmental taking.

A trial court may award reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, or litigation costs to the prevailing party in an eminent domain action.

A landowner’s reasonable attorney fees may include the cost of adjudicating an appeal.

Ebach v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2019 ND 80
Docket No.: 20180290
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: At a hearing under N.D.C.C. 39-20-05, the regularly kept records of the director and state crime laboratory may be introduced; once introduced, those records establish prima facie their contents without further foundation.

Once a chemical breath test record is admitted into evidence, establishing prima facie its contents, a party may rebut the presumption of fair administration by establishing a deviation from approved procedures or a lack of fair administration despite compliance with approved procedures.

Unless the defendant produces enough evidence to rebut the foundation of fair administration, evidence discrediting chemical breath test results will affect the weight given the test results not their admissibility.

Steps not expressly included in the approved method published by the State Toxicologist are not foundational requirements for the admission of chemical breath test records.

City of Fargo v. Nikle 2019 ND 79
Docket No.: 20180292
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: An affirmative defense jury instruction will only be given if there is evidence to support it.

A district court does not abuse its discretion by denying a requested jury instruction on the affirmative defense of necessity when the proponent of the instruction fails to present evidence on one of the elements of the necessity defense.

The necessity defense has not yet been recognized or precluded in a criminal case by this Court.

Orwig v. Orwig (consolidated w/20170455) 2019 ND 78
Docket No.: 20170454
Filing Date: 3/14/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A party appealing from a contempt order must file a notice of appeal with the clerk of the supreme court within 60 days after entry of the judgment or order being appealed.

A district court’s decision on contempt will not be reversed on appeal unless the court abused its discretion.

Cockfield v. City of Fargo 2019 ND 77
Docket No.: 20180336
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Mandamus
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: A public employee, who has a property interest in his employment, may not have his employment terminated without due process.
Due process requirements are met when the employee is provided with appropriate pre-termination and post-termination proceedings.

Baker Boyer National Bank v. JPF Enterprises, LLC 2019 ND 76
Docket No.: 20180222
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The relationship between a bank and its customers is a debtor-creditor relationship, which ordinarily does not impose a fiduciary duty upon the bank.

A fiduciary relationship may arise between a bank and its borrowers under circumstances reflecting a borrower’s reposing of faith, confidence and trust in a bank with a resulting domination, control or influence exercised by the bank over the borrower’s affairs.

Purdy v. Purdy, et al. 2019 ND 75
Docket No.: 20180133
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A district court’s decision on a motion to modify primary residential responsibility is a finding of fact, subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review.

City of Bismarck v. King 2019 ND 74
Docket No.: 20180138
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: The criminal offense of refusal to submit to chemical testing is a strict liability offense.

State v. Nice 2019 ND 73
Docket No.: 20180350
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A defendant may not challenge the constitutionality of a statute they were not charged under.

A defendant who refuses to take a chemical test cannot rely solely on multiple recitations of the implied consent advisory to prove violations of due process rights.

The Court will not address inadequately briefed issues.

State v. Laverdure 2019 ND 72
Docket No.: 20180228
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Sufficient probable cause existed to support the magistrate’s issuance of a search warrant.

State v. Rai 2019 ND 71
Docket No.: 20180244
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: District court did not err in admitting lawfully obtained text message conversation from an undercover officer’s cell phone into evidence.

District court did not err in finding Miranda warnings were knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived by defendant.

Defendant did not meet his burden of proof for N.D.R.Crim.P. Rule 29(a) motion for acquittal.

A rational fact-finder could find defendant failed to prove entrapment by a preponderance of the evidence.

Chisholm v. State 2019 ND 70
Docket No.: 20180340
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: We distinguish peremptory demands for a change of judge from a demand for a change of judge based on bias.

Under N.D.C.C. § 29-15-21, subsequent applications for post-conviction relief are a continuation of the underlying action and considered a single proceeding.

Motions seeking the recusal of a judge for bias or prejudice must be considered by the judge who is sought to be disqualified.

Brewer v. State 2019 ND 69
Docket No.: 20180254
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: An attorney’s failure to object to admission of evidence at trial because the attorney believes the record created in a pretrial motion in limine has preserved the issue falls outside the wide range of reasonable attorney performance. Where prejudice is also shown, such a failure to object to prior bad acts evidence at trial constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel.

Becker, et al. v. Burleigh County, et al. 2019 ND 68
Docket No.: 20180259
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: Injunctive relief may be granted against public entities without exhaustion of administrative remedies where the plaintiff challenges the legality and validity of a decision rather than the public entity’s wisdom, propriety, or correctness in making the decision.

Raising the grade of streets is consistent with travel or transportation, the primary use of streets.

A statutory dedication transfers the fee of the property to the public.

Publicly filed documents are presumed regular and correct until shown otherwise by evidence.

A party who fails to timely object to the clerk’s taxation of costs is precluded from seeking review of these costs on appeal.

Interest of Carter (cross-referenced w/20100180 & 20160236) 2019 ND 67
Docket No.: 20180189
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Tufte, Jerod E.

Highlight: A district court must find an individual has serious difficulty controlling his behavior to continue that person’s commitment as a sexually dangerous individual.

The conduct relied upon to demonstrate the individual’s serious difficulty controlling his behavior need not be sexual in nature.

State v. Alberts 2019 ND 66
Docket No.: 20180187
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Issues raised for the first time on appeal will not be considered unless they rise to the level of obvious error.
An unambiguous oral sentencing pronouncement will control over an ambiguous written sentence.
The district court has discretion in sentencing a criminal defendant, and review of a sentence on appeal is limited to determining whether the district court acted within the limits prescribed by statute or substantially relied on an impermissible factor.

State v. Thorsteinson 2019 ND 65
Docket No.: 20180233
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith, but may be admissible to show motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.

In considering whether evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or bad acts is admissible, a court must determine: (1) the purpose for which the evidence is introduced; (2) whether the evidence of the prior bad acts is substantially reliable or clear and convincing; and (3) whether proof of the crime charged permits the trier of fact to establish the defendant’s guilt or innocence independently on the evidence presented without considering the prior bad acts.

A court must give a cautionary instruction about the limited use of prior bad acts evidence, and must examine whether the probative value of the evidence substantially outweighs its possible prejudicial effect.

Jury instructions must correctly and adequately inform the jury of applicable law and it is not error to refuse to give defendant’s jury instruction if it may mislead or confuse the jury.

Gonzales v. WSI 2019 ND 63
Docket No.: 20180365
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: District court judgment affirming a Workforce Safety and Insurance order denying workplace injury benefits is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(5).

White v. State 2019 ND 62
Docket No.: 20180307
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: District court’s finding that applicant for post-conviction relief failed to establish his counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness was not clearly erroneous.

Interest of C.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) (CONSOLIDATED W/20190019-20180021) 2019 ND 61
Docket No.: 20190018
Filing Date: 3/13/2019
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Juvenile court’s finding that the children were exposed to aggravated circumstances was not clearly erroneous.

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