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4201 - 4300 of 12370 results

State v. Kraft 2010 ND 181
Docket No.: 20100005
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment of conviction of manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4) and (7).

Darby v. State 2010 ND 180
Docket No.: 20090347
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author:

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

State v. Penor 2010 ND 179
Docket No.: 20100042
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Interest of B.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 178
Docket No.: 20100161
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: District court judgment terminating parental rights instead of ordering a guardianship is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2), (4).

State v. Jackson 2010 ND 177
Docket No.: 20100059
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Driving under suspension conviction summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (4).

Rayas v. Marchus, et al. 2010 ND 176
Docket No.: 20100139
Filing Date: 9/21/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Dismissal of case barred by the applicable statute of limitations is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6).

Thompson v. Jaeger 2010 ND 174
Docket No.: 20100272
Filing Date: 9/7/2010
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Certiorari
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A word or a phrase repeated in a constitutional provision is generally given the same meaning throughout the constitution.
A petition for an initiated measure must contain the sponsors' names and addresses, and a petition circulated for signatures without that information is insufficient.
The complete failure to comply with a mandatory constitutional provision for initiated measures is not substantial compliance.
Administrative estoppel requires conduct by the person being estopped which amounts to a false representation or a concealment of material facts.

Adoption of S.M.G. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 173
Docket No.: 20100049
Filing Date: 9/3/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Adoption
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A district court's decision cannot be reviewed when the court does not provide any indication of the evidentiary and theoretical basis for its decis
ion. The trial court errs as a matter of law when it does not make the required findings.

Interest of S.L.W. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 172
Docket No.: 20100006
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Paternity
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: An alleged father cannot, in a subsequent paternity action, challenge a prior judgment disestablishing the paternity of a presumed or adjudicated father based upon an allegation that the prior action was barred by the statute of limitations.
In a paternity action seeking an order of child support, the district court may order child support effective prior to the date of service of the summons and complaint as reimbursement for governmental assistance provided to the child.

Interest of Maedche 2010 ND 171
Docket No.: 20090268
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: North Dakota's commitment of sexually dangerous individuals statute is not unconstitutionally void for vagueness.

Kannianen v. White 2010 ND 170
Docket No.: 20090368
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When interpreting the language of a prior judgment, a court must presume that the original trial judge considered existing statutes and relevant caselaw, and intended the judgment to conform to the applicable legal standards.

Investors Title Insurance Co. v. Herzig, et al. (Cross-Ref w/20090051) 2010 ND 169
Docket No.: 20090213
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: In construing a trust agreement, the primary objective is to ascertain the settlor's intent.
When a trust instrument is unambiguous, the settlor's intent is ascertained from the language of the trust document itself.
The North Dakota Uniform Trust Code recognizes and enforces valid spendthrift clauses.
The district court's decision to appoint a receiver rests in its sound discretion.
A lis pendens is notice of all facts apparent on the face of the pleadings, and of those facts of which the facts so stated necessarily put the purchaser on the inquiry.

Hector v. City of Fargo 2010 ND 168
Docket No.: 20100061
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: North Dakota law authorizes the creation of special improvement districts that include land outside the limits of a municipality.

Ackre v. Chapman & Chapman, P.C. 2010 ND 167
Docket No.: 20100044
Filing Date: 8/31/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: To have standing, a litigant must have suffered some threatened or actual injury resulting from the putatively illegal action, the asserted harm must not be a generalized grievance shared by all or a large class of citizens, and the litigant generally must assert his or her own legal rights and interests and cannot rest a claim for relief on the legal rights and interests of third parties.
A plaintiff may have standing to bring an unlawful practice claim against a business competitor if the plaintiff can show the putatively illegal action caused some threatened or actual injury to his or her legal rights and interests.

Schwarz, et al. v. Gierke 2010 ND 166
Docket No.: 20090220
Filing Date: 8/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A denial of a motion to compel arbitration is reviewed under the de novo standard, unless the lower court's decision was based on factual findings, in which case the clearly erroneous standard applies.
Recognizing a strong state and federal public policy favoring the arbitration process, courts resolve any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues in favor of arbitration when there is a broad arbitration clause and no exclusion clause.
Before a party may be compelled to arbitrate, a court must determine whether a valid agreement to arbitrate exists between the parties and whether the specific dispute falls within the substantive scope of that agreement.

Peterson v. Peterson 2010 ND 165
Docket No.: 20090173
Filing Date: 8/24/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In awarding spousal support, the district court must consider the relevant factors of the Ruff-Fischer guidelines.
An award of spousal support may be appropriate to recognize a spouse's role in contributing to the development of the other spouse's earning capacity during the marriage.

Bala, et al. v. State 2010 ND 164
Docket No.: 20090312
Filing Date: 8/23/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Eminent domain takes property because it is useful to the public, while the police power regulates the use of, or impairs rights in, property to prevent detriment to the public interest, and constitutional provisions against taking private property for public use without just compensation impose no barrier to the proper exercise of the police power.
The imposition of a tax, even an invalid one, generally is not a Fifth Amendment taking.

Matter of A.M. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 163
Docket No.: 20100014
Filing Date: 8/23/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Before an individual may be committed to the state hospital as a "sexually dangerous individual," the State must prove by clear and convincing evidence: (1) the individual has engaged in sexually predatory conduct; (2) the individual has a congenital or acquired condition that is manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction; (3) the condition makes the individual likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct which constitute a danger to the physical or mental health or safety of others; and (4) the individual has serious difficulty controlling his behavior.
A district court's finding that an individual is a "sexually dangerous individual" will not be overturned on appeal unless clearly erroneous.

Murphy v. Rossow 2010 ND 162
Docket No.: 20090299
Filing Date: 8/23/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A final judgment can be amended if it was the product of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.
Property distributed in a divorce is valued at the time of divorce.

Snyder v. Snyder 2010 ND 161
Docket No.: 20100021
Filing Date: 8/20/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A divorcing party near retirement is not per se entitled to a reduced support obligation upon retirement. When substantial uncertainty surrounds a future retirement, the proper remedy is to move for modification upon retirement.
A district court's order requiring security for a spousal support obligation is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
Requiring security for a spousal support obligation is only appropriate after considering the circumstances of a case. The circumstances to be considered include an award of permanent support, the duration of a marriage, the obligee's age and marketable skills, an award of income-producing property, the existence of potential security, and the cost of obtaining security.

Matter of J.D.F. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 160
Docket No.: 20100051
Filing Date: 8/20/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Rule 2.2, N.D.R.App.P., applies only to appeals from orders terminating parental rights.
The court may terminate the parental rights of a parent in connection with an adoption proceeding if the parent has abandoned the child.
Whether a child has been abandoned is a question of fact, and the district court's findings will not be reversed on appeal unless they are clearly erroneous.
A guardian ad litem is not a parenting investigator and is not required to write a report.
The court has discretion in allocating a guardian ad litem's expenses.

Estate of Cashmore 2010 ND 159
Docket No.: 20090315
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Once a final judgment or order has been entered approving a final accounting and distribution of estate property, the estate proceedings are concluded and the parties are not authorized to file a petition to approve an amended final accounting under the statute.
When there is a substantial, unanticipated change in the value of an asset after trial but before distribution of the property, the proper remedy is a motion to reopen to produce additional evidence at a hearing.
The reasonable amount of personal representative's fees and attorney's fees to be allowed is left in the sound discretion of the district court.

Lechler v. Lechler 2010 ND 158
Docket No.: 20090370
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In a custody dispute, a court may interview children in chambers provided no party objects.
Parents have the right to use reasonable force to discipline their children.

Interest of M.G. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 157
Docket No.: 20100207
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Long-term and intensive treatment for a parent is not required if it cannot be successfully undertaken in time to enable the children to be returned to the parental home without causing severe dislocation from emotional attachments formed during long-term foster care.

Praus v. Praus 2010 ND 156
Docket No.: 20090354
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Procedural unconscionability focuses on the formation of a settlement agreement and the fairness of the bargaining process, while substantive unconscionability focuses on the harshness or one-sidedness of the agreement's provisions.
A motion for relief from a judgment is not intended to be used to relieve a party from free, calculated, and deliberate choices he or she has made.

Zutz, et al. v. Kamrowski, et al. 2010 ND 155
Docket No.: 20090392
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Under Minnesota law, a county attorney's statutory duties include providing advice to county commissioners, and an absolute privilege attaches to allegedly defamatory statements made in a contract investigator's report to a county attorney on matters involved in a county commission's request for advice.

Matter of A.M.W. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 154
Docket No.: 20100013
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A party seeking termination of the parent-child relationship in the context of an adoption must prove the elements necessary to support termination by clear and convincing evidence.
Abandonment of a child is a question of fact, which will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clearly erroneous.

Kortum, et al. v. Johnson, et al. (Cross-Ref w/20070186) 2010 ND 153
Docket No.: 20090275
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Corporations
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Issues which are beyond the scope of a remand in a prior appeal will not be addressed in a subsequent appeal after remand.
Under the law of the case doctrine, a party cannot on a second appeal relitigate issues which were resolved by the Court in a first appeal or which would have been resolved had they been property presented in the first appeal.

State v. Hammer 2010 ND 152
Docket No.: 20100025
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A bank customer does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in bank records, and the Fourth Amendment does not apply when the government obtains the customer's records from the bank by subpoena.
Before administrative proceedings are initiated, Workforce Safety & Insurance may obtain bank records as part of an investigation through an administrative subpoena duces tecum.
An administrative proceeding for the forfeiture of disability and medical benefits is civil in nature, and subsequent criminal prosecution for workers compensation fraud is not double jeopardy.

Huber v. Farmer's Union Service Ass'n, et al. 2010 ND 151
Docket No.: 20090388
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A provision of a contract must in and of itself be inherently illegal to be unlawful for purposes of N.D.C.C. 9-08-01.
The doctrines of frustration of purpose and impossibility of performance do not apply if either the frustration or the impossibility is caused by a party to the contract.
Prejudgment interest may be awarded where party fails to avail itself of procedures for depositing disputed funds with the court.

Richter v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2010 ND 150
Docket No.: 20100026
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A stop or seizure occurs under the Fourth Amendment when a law enforcement officer has in some way restrained the liberty of a citizen, and the mere approach and questioning of a person in a parked vehicle may not constitute a stop or seizure.
Criteria for evaluating whether a stop or seizure has occurred include the threatening presence of several law enforcement officers, a display of a weapon by an officer, some physical touching of the citizen, or the use of language or tone of voice indicating that compliance with the officer's request is compelled.
To the extent prior precedent holds a Fourth Amendment stop or seizure occurs whenever a law enforcement officer taps on a window of a parked motor vehicle, that precedent is overruled.
Specifications of error in an administrative appeal must identify what matters are truly at issue with sufficient specificity to fairly apprise the agency, other parties, and the court of the particular errors claimed.

S.H.B. v. T.A.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 149
Docket No.: 20090267
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: To establish abandonment under N.D.C.C. 27-20-02(1)(a), a petitioner seeking termination of a parent's parental rights must show that the parent intended to abandon the child.
If a party fails to properly raise an issue or argument in the trial court, the party is precluded from raising that issue or argument on appeal.

Pembina Co. Water Resource Brd. v. Cavalier Co. Water Resource Brd. 2010 ND 148
Docket No.: 20100037
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Mandamus
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A petitioner for a writ of mandamus must demonstrate that there is no other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law.

Interest of R.S. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 147
Docket No.: 20100036
Filing Date: 8/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Juvenile Law
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Under N.D.C.C. 27-20-02(8)(a), "deprived child" means "a child who . . . [i]s without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for the child's physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals, and the deprivation is not due primarily to the lack of financial means of the child's parents, guardian, or other custodian."

Petition to Change Judgeship No. 4 Chambers from New Rockford to Carrington 2010 ND 145
Docket No.: 20100169
Filing Date: 8/3/2010
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Petition to Change Judgeship No. 4 Chambers from New Rockford to Lisbon 2010 ND 145
Docket No.: 20100174
Filing Date: 8/3/2010
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Judicial Vacancy in Judgeship No. 4, SEJD (see 20100169 and 20100174) 2010 ND 145
Docket No.: 20100130
Filing Date: 8/3/2010
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgeship retained at New Rockford.

State v. Blunt (cross-reference w/20070247) 2010 ND 144
Docket No.: 20090110
Filing Date: 7/16/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In determining what constitutes an acquittal, the label used by the district court is not conclusive and the reviewing court will consider the substance of the district court's ruling to determine whether it actually represents a resolution of some or all of the factual elements of the offense charged.
The district court may withdraw from the jury's consideration particular factual issues or legal theories not supported by the evidence and submit the remaining factual issues and legal theories to the jury.
The State may elect to charge each misapplication of entrusted property as a separate offense, or the State may charge all misapplication of entrusted property as a single offense.

Woodward v. Woodward (Cross-Ref w/20080343 & 20090053) 2010 ND 143
Docket No.: 20090316
Filing Date: 7/15/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A district court judge shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, and the test for appearance of impartiality is one of reasonableness and recusal is not required in response to spurious or vague charges of impartiality.
Persistent and willful denial or interference with parenting time is grounds for modification of primary residential responsibility.

Reciprocal Discipline of Kenny 2010 ND 142
Docket No.: 20100194
Filing Date: 7/19/2010
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reprimanded under Rule 4.4, N.D.R. Lawyer Discipl., governing reciprocal discipline.

Thornton v. Klose 2010 ND 141
Docket No.: 20090320
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A temporary child support order amending a prior divorce judgment and setting the parties' child support obligations for a period of one year is appealable.
When a divorce judgment explicitly orders a child custody schedule which results in an unequal division of custodial time between the parents, it does not order "equal physical custody" and the child support offset provision does not apply.
Judgment provisions allowing the parties to mutually agree to a different custodial schedule or declaring the parties are considered to have equal physical custody for purposes of calculating child support do not trump an ordered custody schedule or convert the unequal division of custody into "equal physical custody."

Melchior v. Lystad, et al. 2010 ND 140
Docket No.: 20100045
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Summary judgment is appropriate if either litigant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law and if no dispute exists as to either the material facts or the inferences to be drawn from undisputed facts, or if resolving factual disputes will not alter the result.
Where a grantor conveys land in such a manner as to include all of the minerals, and then reserves to himself fifty percent of the minerals, the reservation is not operative when the grantor owns only fifty percent of the minerals. Both the grant and the reservation cannot be given effect, so the grantor loses because the risk of title loss is on the grantor.
For a mutual mistake to justify reformation of a contract, it must be shown that at the time of the execution of the agreement, both parties intended to say something different from what was said in the instrument.

State v. Meador 2010 ND 139
Docket No.: 20100063
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The retroactive application of the sexual offender registration statute is remedial and non-punitive and does not violate federal or state constitutional prohibitions against ex post facto laws.
A party waives an issue if the party does not provide supporting argument, and an argument is without merit if the party does not provide supportive reasoning or citations to relevant authorities.

Investors Title Insurance Co. v. Herzig, et al. (Consol. w/20090052) 2010 ND 138
Docket No.: 20090051
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: If a party dies and the claim is not thereby extinguished, the court may order substitution of the proper parties.
At common law, a cause of action to enforce a penalty does not survive the death of either party unless the penalty is contractual. Causes that are remedial or contractual survive.
A remedial sanction includes a sanction that is conditioned upon performance or nonperformance of an act required by court order. A sanction requiring payment of money is remedial if imposed to compensate a party or complainant, other than the court, for loss or injury suffered as a result of the contempt.

State v. Poitra 2010 ND 137
Docket No.: 20090339
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A defendant claiming statements in an affidavit for a search warrant are false or misleading because important information was omitted must show: (1) law enforcement omitted facts with the intent or in reckless disregard of whether they made the affidavit misleading, and (2) the affidavit would not have been sufficient to support a finding of probable cause if the omitted information had been included.
A juvenile does not have a statutory right to have an attorney present when a search warrant is executed.
A person cannot take advantage of his own wrong.

Schirado v. Foote, et al. 2010 ND 136
Docket No.: 20090282
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A nonparent seeking to qualify as a person acting as a parent under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act must claim a right to legal custody under the laws of North Dakota. At a minimum, this requires claiming right to legal custody prior to or simultaneous with commencement of the pending litigation.

Interest of M.W. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 135
Docket No.: 20100047
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When a child attains the age of twenty years, all juvenile court orders affecting the child then in force terminate and the child is discharged from further obligation or control.
When a child attains the age of twenty years, the juvenile court is without jurisdiction to issue an order transferring charges to the district court.

State v. Lehman 2010 ND 134
Docket No.: 20100002
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: To grant a judgment of acquittal, a court must find there is insufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.
The parties must object to an instruction, or failure to give an instruction, on the record.
The standard of review for reconciling a jury verdict is whether the verdict is legally inconsistent.

Halvorson, et al. v. Starr, et al. 2010 ND 133
Docket No.: 20100068
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Oil, Gas and Minerals
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The computation of time for statutory notice of lapse of mineral interest is governed by N.D.C.C. 1-02-15, not the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure.

State v. Irwin 2010 ND 132
Docket No.: 20100082
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A defendant does not suffer a manifest injustice when pleading guilty to a fifth DUI in seven years, although at the time of arrest he has not yet been convicted of his fourth DUI in seven years.

Interest of C.H. (Confidential) 2010 ND 131
Docket No.: 20100162
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In determining whether an individual is a "person requiring treatment," a district court must consider (1) whether the individual is "mentally ill," and (2) whether there is a reasonable expectation that, if the individual is not hospitalized, there exists a serious risk of harm to himself, others, or property.

Boeckel v. Boeckel 2010 ND 130
Docket No.: 20090302
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Where evidence of domestic violence exists, the district court must make specific and detailed findings regarding the application of the presumption against awarding custody to the perpetrator of domestic violence.

State v. Everett 2010 ND 129
Docket No.: 20090386
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Revocation of probation is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4) and (7).

State v. Colby 2010 ND 128
Docket No.: 20100057
Filing Date: 7/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

Disciplinary Board v. Kuhn 2010 ND 127
Docket No.: 20100060
Filing Date: 7/7/2010
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer suspended from the practice of law for ninety days and ordered to pay the costs and expenses of the proceeding for violating N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.14, Client With Limited Capacity.
Drafting a will for a client who has been declared incapacitated without obtaining permission or authorization from the client's court-appointed guardian is a violation of N.D.R. Prof. Conduct 1.14.

Workforce Safety & Insurance v. Auck 2010 ND 126
Docket No.: 20090223
Filing Date: 7/2/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In an administrative agency case, the factual findings from a final decision by an independent administrative law judge are reviewed under the same standard of review used for agency decisions. The legal conclusions from a final decision by an independent administrative law judge are not entitled to similar deference and are reviewed in the same manner as legal conclusions generally.
Where a reasoning mind reasonably could have determined the weight of the evidence from the record supported the finding that a heart attack resulting in death was caused by unusual stress resulting from an employee's employment with reasonable medical certainty and that the unusual stress was at least fifty percent of the cause of the heart attack as compared with all other contributing causes combined, the reviewing court will affirm.

Lenton v. Lenton 2010 ND 125
Docket No.: 20090294
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: When a finding of domestic violence is based solely on fear of physical harm, the fear must be of imminent physical harm.
A finding of domestic violence may be based on actual harm, or the infliction of fear of imminent harm, or both, but may not be based solely on the infliction of fear of actual harm that may occur at some indefinite time in the future.

American Bank Center v. Schuh, et al. 2010 ND 124
Docket No.: 20090367
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A party seeking relief from a default judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(i) must make some showing of why he was justified in failing to avoid mistake or inadvertence.

State v. Bernsdorf 2010 ND 123
Docket No.: 20100017
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The State cannot appeal a judgment of acquittal.

Aurora Medical Park v. Kidney & Hypertension Center 2010 ND 122
Docket No.: 20090331
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: In an eviction action the right to the possession of the real estate is the only fact that can be rightfully litigated unless damages or rent is claimed.
It is for the legislature to weigh conflicting public policy arguments and to enact accordingly.

State v. Wanner 2010 ND 121
Docket No.: 20090280
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The purpose of sequestration is to prevent one witness's testimony from influencing another.
If the objecting party clearly shows by offer of proof or other appropriate means, a witness's testimony would be influenced by prior testimony the witness heard in violation of a sequestration order, it would be an abuse of discretion for the court to allow the witness to testify.

State v. Mohl 2010 ND 120
Docket No.: 20100009
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: An officer observing a vehicle touch the fog line approximately sixteen times and the center line approximately eight times in three miles has reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle.

Brummund v. Brummund (Cross Ref w/ 20080170) 2010 ND 119
Docket No.: 20090219
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Under the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, prospective spouses may contract with respect to their rights in the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired, and may specify the disposition of property upon divorce.

Burris Carpet Plus, Inc. v. Burris, et al. 2010 ND 118
Docket No.: 20090104
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To prevail on a trademark infringement claim, a plaintiff must first show it has a valid mark that merits protection.
A valid trademark is a distinctive mark, symbol, or designation used by a producer or manufacturer to identify and distinguish its services or goods from the services or goods of others.
Ownership rights in a trademark accrue when the mark is used or displayed in the marketplace.
The use of a corporate name in connection with goods or services is not "use" of each word in the name for trademark purposes.
A name that a business entity uses that is not required to be registered as a trade name may still be registered to receive the protections of the trade name statutes.
State and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction over claims arising under the Lanham Act.
When there is no express constitutional or statutory declaration upon a subject, the common law is applied.

State v. Emil (Consolidated w/20090287) 2010 ND 117
Docket No.: 20090286
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The State may appeal from an order suppressing evidence only "when accompanied by a statement of the prosecuting attorney asserting that the appeal is not taken for purpose of delay and that the evidence is a substantial proof of a fact material in the proceeding."
To meet the statutory requirements, the prosecutor's statement must explain the relevance of the suppressed evidence, or the relevance must be clear from the record.

Holbach v. Holbach, et al. 2010 ND 116
Docket No.: 20090319
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When a settlement agreement is wholly incorporated into a divorce judgment, the settlement is merged into the judgment and ceases to be independently viable.
Contracts to devise property are enforceable and become irrevocable upon the death of one of the parties.
An agreement to agree is enforceable if the essential terms of the agreement are reasonably certain and definite.
Contractual terms are reasonably certain and definite if they provide a basis for determining the existence of a breach and for giving an appropriate remedy.

State v. Gunderson 2010 ND 115
Docket No.: 20100050
Filing Date: 6/30/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order requiring restitution is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

Ellis v. North Dakota State University 2010 ND 114
Docket No.: 20090313
Filing Date: 6/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When this Court has decided a legal question and remanded the case for further proceedings, the question will not be decided differently on a subsequent appeal in the same case where the facts remain the same.

Hanneman v. Nygaard 2010 ND 113
Docket No.: 20090278
Filing Date: 6/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: An involuntary dismissal of a plaintiff's action, which does not otherwise specify, operates as an adjudication on the merits.
Res judicata prevents relitigation of claims that were raised, or could have been raised, in prior actions between the same parties or their privies, but does not preclude litigation of additional new claims.
A district court must make findings of fact that are sufficient to enable an appellate court to understand the factual determinations made by the district court and the basis for the conclusions of law, and a district court's findings of fact should be stated with sufficient specificity to assist the appellate court's review and to afford a clear understanding of the district court's decision.

City of Mandan v. Gerhardt 2010 ND 112
Docket No.: 20090274
Filing Date: 6/15/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Permissible types of law enforcement-citizen encounters include: (1) arrests, which must be supported by probable cause; (2) "Terry" stops, seizures which must be supported by a reasonable and articulable suspicion of criminal activity; and (3) community caretaking encounters, which do not constitute Fourth Amendment seizures.
Community caretaking allows law enforcement-citizen contact, including stops, without an officer's reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct.
Even a casual encounter can evolve into a seizure when a reasonable person would view a law enforcement officer's actions--if done by another private citizen--as threatening or offensive.
An officer may also develop a reasonable and articulable suspicion of unlawful conduct from the officer's initial community caretaking encounter.

State v. McKay (Consolidated w/20090296 - 20090298 & 20090342) 2010 ND 111
Docket No.: 20090295
Filing Date: 6/14/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment of conviction for aggravated assault and order revoking probation are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Martinson v. Martinson 2010 ND 110
Docket No.: 20090324
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In deciding a request for attorney fees and costs under N.D.C.C. 14-05-23, a court must balance one party's needs against the other party's ability to pay and consider whether either party's actions unreasonably increased the time and expenditures on the case.

State v. Bauer 2010 ND 109
Docket No.: 20090212
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The nonexistence of self-defense instruction given by the trial court correctly provides that the burden of proof is on the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not acting in self-defense.
The pattern jury instructions are not controlling law, and are published with the caution that they are neither a restatement nor an encyclopedia of the prevailing law.

State v. Dahl (consolidated w/20090262) 2010 ND 108
Docket No.: 20090261
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A criminal defendant is incompetent to stand trial when he lacks sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or when he lacks a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him. The essence of being able to consult with a lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding is the ability to coherently confer with counsel and provide necessary and relevant information to formulate a defense.
When evaluating a defendant's competence to stand trial, the most recently completed psychological evaluation is not automatically given more weight than older evaluations. Absent other factors, the contents of a report are controlling.
Whether district court's failure on its own to hold a competency hearing constitutes obvious error requires analyzing four nonexclusive factors: 1) defendant's irrational behavior, 2) defendant's demeanor before the trial court, 3) any prior medical opinions on competence to stand trial and 4) trial counsel's questioning of defendant's competency before the trial court.

Eberle v. Eberle 2010 ND 107
Docket No.: 20090332
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A fee for transcript preparation for appellate review is properly taxed by the clerk as a necessary disbursement for the prevailing party on appeal.
A district court's decision on parenting time is a finding of fact reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard of review.

State v. Clark (Consolidated w/20090234-20090238) 2010 ND 106
Docket No.: 20090233
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: When no plea is taken and judgment is pronounced on the theory that a guilty plea has been entered, the judgment is a nullity and thus void.
When a defendant's knowledge that he was waiving his rights and voluntarily and knowingly pleading guilty is clearly reflected from the whole record, he is not denied the constitutional right to due process.

State v. Pixler (Consolidated w/20090311) 2010 ND 105
Docket No.: 20090310
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The age, education, and mental capacity of the defendant, his background and experience, and his conduct at the time of the alleged waiver are probative factors bearing on whether an accused has validly waived counsel and pled guilty.
Some degree of mental disorder does not necessarily mean a defendant is incompetent or incapable of knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily entering a guilty plea.

Estate of Eggl 2010 ND 104
Docket No.: 20100048
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In an unsupervised probate, a district court order settling all of a claimant's claims is appealable without a N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) certification.
A court's primary objective in construing a will is to ascertain the testator's intent.
Whether a will is ambiguous is a question of law.
A will is ambiguous if, after giving effect to each word and phrase, its language is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation.
In a "per capita" distribution, the members of the designated class receive equal shares.

Interest of D.H. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 103
Docket No.: 20100109
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Parental rights may be terminated when a child is deprived, and the court finds (1) that the conditions and causes of the deprivation are likely to continue, and (2) that such continued deprivation will probably cause the child to suffer serious physical, mental, moral, or emotional harm.

M.M., et al. v. Fargo Public School Dist. #1, et al. 2010 ND 102
Docket No.: 20090121
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The recreational use immunity statutes do not bar suits against school districts brought by students injured on school grounds during the school day.
A person can "suggest" without making a statement.
A district court is not required to instruct the jury in the exact language sought by a party if the court's instructions correctly and adequately inform the jury of the applicable law.

State ex. rel. Schlect v. Wolff 2010 ND 101
Docket No.: 20100034
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: An appellate court will not engage in unassisted searches through parties' briefs for a rationale supporting a court's decision.
A district court must provide an explanation of its decision sufficient to inform the parties and allow a proper review of its decision.

Paulson v. Paulson 2010 ND 100
Docket No.: 20090225
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Because a discretionary trust interest is an expectancy that gave no assurance of any future benefit, the trial court did not err in excluding the trust from the marital estate.
The trial court may consider how long the parties have lived together and then marry in its spousal support determination.

Dutton v. Workforce Safety & Insurance 2010 ND 99
Docket No.: 20090177
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A permanent partial impairment evaluation must be conducted by an independent, unbiased physician.
In determining whether a claimant is entitled to attorney fees and costs under N.D.C.C. 28-32-50(1), an administrative agency's position is substantially justified if a reasonable person could think the position is correct and the position has a reasonable basis in law and fact.

Matter of Midgett (Cross-Ref w/20080255 & 20070109) 2010 ND 98
Docket No.: 20090253
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Where the district court makes sufficiently detailed findings of fact, supported by the record, on whether a committed individual has serious difficulty controlling his behavior, the reviewing court will not reverse on that issue.

City of Fargo v. Knodle 2010 ND 97
Docket No.: 20100004
Filing Date: 6/10/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment entered after defendant was found guilty of driving while under the influence is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Disciplinary Board v. Wolff (Interim Suspension) 2010 ND 96
Docket No.: 20100150
Filing Date: 6/7/2010
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Interim suspension of lawyer ordered.

Botner v. Bismarck Parks, et al. 2010 ND 95
Docket No.: 20090337
Filing Date: 5/18/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Whether the district court properly granted summary judgment is a question of law reviewed de novo on the entire record.
Under premises liability law, a landowner owes a general duty to lawful entrants to maintain their property in a reasonably safe condition in view of all the circumstances, including the likelihood of injury to another, the seriousness of the injury, and the burden of avoiding the risk.
A public swimming pool owner owes a general duty to supervise swimmers.

Sonnenberg v. Sonnenberg 2010 ND 94
Docket No.: 20090353
Filing Date: 5/17/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When an obligor owes a duty of support to at least one obligee, as well as a duty of support to a child living with the obligor who is not also a child of that obligee, the child support guidelines require that the district court make an allowance for the child living with the obligor.
When calculating an obligor's annual gross income, the district court must use the obligor's previous year's tax return unless the court makes a specific finding that the income reflected on the tax return is not a reliable indicator of future income.
The district court should generally make a modification of child support effective from the date of the motion to modify, although the court retains discretion to set some later effective date, so long as its reasons for doing so are clear or explained.
The district court may retroactively modify a child support obligation when both parties agree to a change in primary residential responsibility and the obligor moves for relief from the judgment under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(vi).

Estate of Loomer (cross ref. w/20070018) 2010 ND 93
Docket No.: 20090175
Filing Date: 5/14/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Partition is an equitable remedy governed by equitable principles, and district courts have wide judicial discretion in partition actions to do equity and to make a fair and just division of the property or proceeds between the parties.
A district court's findings in a partition action will not be reversed on appeal unless clearly erroneous.

Skogen, et al. v. Hemen Township Board, et al. 2010 ND 92
Docket No.: 20090301
Filing Date: 5/14/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A township has a mandatory duty to construct or reconstruct a township road in a manner that does not obstruct the natural flow and drainage of surface waters in accordance with the stream crossing standards prepared by the department of transportation and the state engineer.
A township that reconstructs a township road without complying with stream crossing standards prepared by the department of transportation and the state engineer may be liable for damages.

Stenehjem, ex rel. v. Crosslands, Inc. 2010 ND 91
Docket No.: 20090199
Filing Date: 5/13/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: For the purposes of the corporate farming law, "the land in question" refers to the entire tract purchased and requires the court to view the property as a single tract.
A remedial statute must be construed liberally with a view to effecting its objects, promoting justice, and effectuating the public policy articulated therein.

State v. Moe 2010 ND 90
Docket No.: 20090257
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The standard for reconciling a jury verdict is whether the verdict is legally inconsistent. Verdicts are not legally inconsistent when they can legally coexist and when the jury's findings are not clearly contrary to the evidence.

State v. Smith 2010 ND 89
Docket No.: 20090309
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Whether the trial court's findings of fact reach the level of probable cause is a question of law, fully reviewable on appeal.
The preliminary hearing is a tool to ferret out groundless and improvident prosecutions.
A motion to dismiss is not a device for summary trial of the evidence, and facts not appearing on the face of the information cannot be considered.

State ex rel. Harris v. Lee, et al. 2010 ND 88
Docket No.: 20090218
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Supervision
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The Supreme Court exercises its authority to issue supervisory writs rarely and cautiously, and only to rectify errors and prevent injustice in extraordinary cases when no adequate alternative remedy exists.
The general powers of a highway patrol officer extend over violations of law committed upon any "highway" within the state, including streets within city limits.
Even when a home rule city enacts an equivalent ordinance, all state criminal laws, including criminal and noncriminal vehicular offenses, remain in full force and effect within the city limits.
The district court has jurisdiction over all criminal offenses committed within its judicial district.

Dupay v. Dupay 2010 ND 87
Docket No.: 20090266
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Proceeds from a personal injury settlement must be considered in calculating an obligor's income for child support purposes.
A court may allocate proceeds from a lump sum personal injury settlement over a child's minority for purposes of determining a child support obligation.
An appellee who fails to cross-appeal is precluded from seeking greater relief than she received in the district court.

Erickson, et al. v. Erickson, et al. 2010 ND 86
Docket No.: 20090325
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A claim of constructive fraud requires reviewing the circumstances leading to the formation of the contract.
Constructive fraud is not a basis to rescind a contract formed with free consent.

Sheets v. Farhart Law Firm, et al. 2010 ND 85
Docket No.: 20090231
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: On appeal from a bench trial, a district court's findings of fact will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous.
A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if induced by an erroneous view of the law, no evidence exists to support it, or we are left with a definite and firm conviction the district court made a mistake.

Interest of A.R. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2010 ND 84
Docket No.: 20090197
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A violation of the disorderly conduct statute does not necessarily depend on the particular content of the speech involved, but on the behavior.
The First Amendment protections do not prevent the State from punishing fighting words that tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.
A fundamental element of adequate notice is that allegations must be stated with particularity, giving notice of specific grounds and factual claims.

Arnegard, et al. v. Cayko, et al. 2010 ND 83
Docket No.: 20090222
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Tax Realted
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The primary objective in interpreting a statute is to determine the intent of the legislature by first looking at the language of the statute and giving words their plain, ordinary, and commonly understood meaning, unless the words are defined in the code or the drafters clearly intended otherwise.
An individual claiming a tax exemption has the burden of establishing exempt status.
A residence does not qualify for a farm residence tax exemption under N.D.C.C. 57-02-08(15) if it is occupied by an individual whose nonfarm income exceeds his or her farm income for three consecutive years preceding the year for which the exemption is applied or the individual's nonfarm income exceeds $40,000 each year during the three preceding years.

State v. Gietzen 2010 ND 82
Docket No.: 20090307
Filing Date: 5/11/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: After a chemical analysis is received into evidence, the propriety of the blood draw is a question of fact affecting the weight to be given the results of the chemical analysis.
Form 104 can establish the evidentiary foundation for the admission of chemical analyses.
Form 104 provides evidentiary foundation and does not seek to conclusively establish an element of the charged crime.

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