Opinions

State v. Grzeskowiak (Consolidated w/20060355) 2007 ND 150
Docket No.: 20060354
Filing Date: 10/16/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author:

Highlight: Orders deferring imposition of sentence for unlawful display of license plates and failure to transfer title of a vehicle are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1) and (4).

Swenson v. Workforce Safety and Insurance Fund, et al. 2007 ND 149
Docket No.: 20070049
Filing Date: 9/5/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A claimant must prove by objective medical evidence that he suffered a compensable injury. Objective medical evidence may include a physician's medical opinion based on an examination, a patient's medical history, and the physician's education and experience.
Although a medical opinion supported by a treatise or other scientific authority may be more persuasive, physicians are not required to offer such support.

State v. Newman 2007 ND 148
Docket No.: 20060294
Filing Date: 9/5/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Persons accused of crimes have a constitutional right to a trial by an impartial jury.
An appellate court will not set aside a verdict merely on a whimsy or fanciful notion that prejudicial misconduct occurred.
A defendant on a criminal charge has a constitutional right to be present in the courtroom at every stage of the trial, but the right is not absolute and can be waived by the defendant.

Lee v. Lee 2007 ND 147
Docket No.: 20060321
Filing Date: 8/30/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A trial court has subject matter jurisdiction to order a party to pay spousal support beyond the party's original spousal support obligation, even when the original obligation has already ended, when reconsideration of an interrelated child support obligation could constitute a change in circumstances for purposes of the spousal support obligation.
A change in a child support obligation may constitute a material change in circumstances requiring reconsideration of an interrelated spousal support obligation.
Attorney's fees will not be awarded absent a showing of need or a showing that an appeal was frivolous.

State v. Tibor 2007 ND 146
Docket No.: 20060274
Filing Date: 8/30/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A court does not abuse its discretion in allowing expert testimony about child sexual abuse accommodation syndrome if it finds the testimony may assist the jury in understanding the evidence or determine a fact in issue.
Mere repetition of a child's out-of-court statements does not make them unduly prejudicial.
A conviction rests upon insufficient evidence only when, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and giving the prosecution the benefit of all inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor, no rational fact-finder could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

State v. Demars 2007 ND 145
Docket No.: 20070015
Filing Date: 8/30/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Denial of a motion to suppress evidence will not be reversed if there is sufficient competent evidence capable of supporting the court's findings, and if its decision is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.

Peterson, et al. v. Dakota Molding, Inc., et al. 2007 ND 144
Docket No.: 20060356
Filing Date: 8/30/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: In a garnishment proceeding, where a garnishee denies liability, the plaintiff may move the court for leave to file a supplemental complaint making the garnishee a party to the action, and setting forth the facts upon which the plaintiff claims to charge the garnishee. If probable cause is shown, the motion shall be granted.
The question whether probable cause has been shown, so as to require leave to file a supplemental complaint making a garnishee a party to an action, depends on whether the evidence shows probable grounds for believing that the garnishee might be held liable.
A term in an insurance policy should be construed to mean what a reasonable person in the position of the insured would think it meant. Limitations or exclusions from broad coverage must be clear and explicit. When the language of an insurance policy is clear and explicit, the language should not be strained in order to impose liability on the insurer.

State v. Kunze 2007 ND 143
Docket No.: 20060377
Filing Date: 8/30/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When a trial court concludes it is necessary to physically restrain a defendant at trial in front of the jury, the court must consider less restrictive, less prejudicial methods of restraint.
To provide for meaningful appellate review, a trial court must articulate its reasons for placing the defendant in physical restraints on the record, including a discussion of less prejudicial alternatives.

Tedford v. Workforce Safety and Insurance, et al. 2007 ND 142
Docket No.: 20060320
Filing Date: 8/27/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The retirement offset provision, N.D.C.C. 65-05-09.2, authorizing offset of social security retirement benefits against workers compensation disability benefits, does not apply to injured employees who were receiving benefits for a total disability prior to the statute's effective date.
In determining whether an administrative agency acted without substantial justification, triggering an award of actual attorney fees and costs under N.D.C.C. 28-32-50(1), the fact that a judge at an earlier stage of the proceedings agreed with the agency's position is persuasive evidence that the position was substantially justified.

Superior, Inc. v. Behlen Mfg. 2007 ND 141
Docket No.: 20060308
Filing Date: 8/24/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A contractual right to indemnification may be implied based on the special nature of the relationship between the parties, or when there are unique factors demonstrating that the parties intended the would-be indemnitor to bear the ultimate responsibility for a certain matter.
Implied contractual indemnity is an equitable remedy that is available only if a party does not have an adequate remedy at law.
Under the Uniform Commercial Code, a buyer may seek consequential damages from the seller when it incurs liability to a third party as a result of the use or resale of the seller's product.