Opinions

Matter of Voisine 2010 ND 17
Docket No.: 20090182
Filing Date: 1/26/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A person can be committed as a sexually dangerous individual when the State demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the three-prong commitment analysis has been satisfied. The first prong requires a showing that the individual has engaged in sexually predatory conduct. The second prong requires a showing that the individual has a congenital or acquired condition that is manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction. The third prong requires a showing that the individual is likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct and that the individual has serious difficulty controlling his behavior.
Only sexually predatory conduct can be considered in determining whether an individual satisfies the first prong of the sexually dangerous individual commitment analysis. All conduct of a sexually predatory nature can be considered in determining the second prong. All relevant conduct can be considered in determining the third prong.
Incest between consenting adults is not sexually predatory conduct as defined by N.D.C.C. 25-03.3-01(9).

Rakowski v. City of Fargo 2010 ND 16
Docket No.: 20090155
Filing Date: 1/26/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When a party fails to file a timely appeal from an adverse decision of a local zoning board, the decision is final and the party may not collaterally attack the decision in a different proceeding.

City v. Bullinger 2010 ND 15
Docket No.: 20090308
Filing Date: 1/26/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A driver need not consent to the location where a blood draw for purposes of testing blood alcohol content will be conducted.
A driver must suffer the consequences of an officer's reasonable interpretation of the driver's conditional response to a request to submit to chemical testing.

Cartier, et al. v. Northwestern Electric, Inc. 2010 ND 14
Docket No.: 20090045
Filing Date: 1/25/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A denial of a motion for new trial is reviewed under the abuse-of-discretion standard.
When a district court has chosen a specific jury instruction, a reviewing court should not be quick to second-guess its choice if there is evidence or inferences from the evidence to support the instruction. Only scant evidence may be needed to support a jury instruction.
Under North Dakota law, counsel must object specifically to a contested jury instruction.
When a motion for a new trial is made, the party making the motion is limited on appeal to a review of the grounds presented to the lower court.

Shotbolt v. N.D. Workforce Safety and Insurance 2010 ND 13
Docket No.: 20090120
Filing Date: 1/15/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The clear intent of N.D.C.C. ch. 65-05.1 is to rehabilitate an injured worker so the worker may return to substantial gainful employment, meaning actual rehabilitation with a realistic opportunity to return to work.
A rehabilitation plan is appropriate when it meets the requirements of N.D.C.C. ch. 65-05.1 and gives the claimant a reasonable opportunity to obtain employment.
WSI must take a claimant's preexisting functional limitations into account when determining whether certain employment options present an opportunity for substantial gainful employment.

Reciprocal Discipline of Varriano (cross ref. 20090258) 2010 ND 12
Docket No.: 20090385
Filing Date: 1/14/2010
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Suspension of lawyer ordered.

Lamb v. State Board of Law Examiners 2010 ND 11
Docket No.: 20090131
Filing Date: 1/12/2010
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Mandamus
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Admission to Practice Rule 13 is neither subordinate to N.D.C.C. 44-04-18 nor unconstitutional under N.D. Const. art. XI, sec. 6.
The Supreme Court has the authority to admit attorneys to the Bar of North Dakota.
Where courts of this State have construed a statute and such construction is supported by the long acquiescence on the part of the legislative assembly and by the failure of the assembly to amend the law, it will be presumed that such interpretation of the statute is in accordance with legislative intent.

State v. Thompson 2010 ND 10
Docket No.: 20090117
Filing Date: 1/12/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: At trial, a party must renew an objection made in a pretrial motion to exclude evidence to properly preserve the issue for appellate review.
Authentication of evidence is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.
The proponent of offered evidence need not rule out all possibilities inconsistent with authenticity or conclusively prove the evidence is what it purports to be; rather, the proponent must provide sufficient proof, including circumstantial evidence, for a reasonable juror to find the evidence is what it purports to be.
A party's own statement is not hearsay.

Interest of B.B. (CONFIDENTIAL) (Cross Ref w/20070233) 2010 ND 9
Docket No.: 20090118
Filing Date: 1/12/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Juvenile Law
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A pattern of parental conduct can form a basis for a reasonable prediction of future behavior.
The juvenile court may extend a dispositional order if it finds the child is deprived and reasonable efforts have been provided to finalize the permanent plan or reunify the child with the parents.
The custodian has an obligation and right to determine the nature of care, placement, and treatment of a child considering the child's best interests.

Matter of Hanenberg 2010 ND 8
Docket No.: 20090135
Filing Date: 1/12/2010
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The definition of a sexually dangerous individual, in addition to the three statutory requirements, requires a nexus between the disorder and dangerousness, including evidence showing the individual to be committed has serious difficulty controlling his behavior, which distinguishes a sexually dangerous individual from other dangerous persons.