Opinions

Keller v. Keller, et al. 2024 ND 27
Docket No.: 20230258
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contempt of Court
Author: Bahr, Douglas Alan

Highlight: A district court’s finding of contempt will only be overturned if the court abused its discretion.

A district court’s award of attorney’s fees will only be overturned if the court abused its discretion.

This Court does not consider arguments which are not adequately articulated, supported, and briefed.

WSI v. Kringlie, et al. 2024 ND 26
Docket No.: 20230184
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Bahr, Douglas Alan

Highlight: Under the Administrative Agencies Practice Act, courts exercise limited appellate review of administrative agency decisions.

A vocational rehabilitation plan is appropriate if it meets the statutory requirements and gives the injured worker a reasonable opportunity to obtain substantial gainful employment.

While the validity of a vocational rehabilitation plan is assessed at the time it was formulated, a claimant’s pre-existing, non-work-related medical limitations are taken into account as they existed at the time of the work-related injury.

Don's Garden Center, et al. v. The Garden District, et al. 2024 ND 25
Docket No.: 20230270
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Landlord/Tenant
Author: Bahr, Douglas Alan

Sherwood v. Sherwood 2024 ND 24
Docket No.: 20230230
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Bahr, Douglas Alan

Estate of Heath 2024 ND 23
Docket No.: 20230250
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Friends of the Rail Bridge, et al. v. N.D. Dep't of Water Resources, et al. 2024 ND 22
Docket No.: 20230240
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Mahad v. WSI, et al. 2024 ND 21
Docket No.: 20230332
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Bahr, Douglas Alan

Highlight: The time to appeal a final administrative order begins when notice of the final order is mailed.

The time to appeal a final administrative order is not extended because the order is mailed.

Lyons v. State 2024 ND 19
Docket No.: 20230151
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The requirements of the Uniform Postconviction Procedure Act, N.D.C.C. ch. 29-32.1, must be satisfied before an applicant can obtain relief under the Act.

When an applicant for postconviction relief is put to his proof, he must present competent admissible evidence by affidavit or other comparable means to obtain an evidentiary hearing. Unsupported conclusory allegations are insufficient.

State v. Good Bear 2024 ND 18
Docket No.: 20230193
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Jensen, Jon J.

Highlight: In determining if an out-of-court statement is admissible, the district court must first determine if the statement qualifies as hearsay under the rules of evidence. If not hearsay, then the statement is admissible; if it is hearsay, the court must then determine if it qualifies as an exception to the hearsay rule as outlined in the N.D.R.Ev. 803 and N.D.R.Ev. 804.

The excited utterance exception outlined in N.D.R.Ev. 803(2) is permitted regardless of the declarant’s availability to testify as a witness.

The amount of time that is permissible to lapse between the event and the statement, to allow the statement to qualify under the excited utterance exception, is more likely to be on the high end of the range permitted when the statement is made by a child, as a young child will likely remain excited longer than adults.

Even when a hearsay statement falls within an exception to the rule, it may not be admitted if the statement is testimonial in violation of the Sixth Amendment.

Landis v. State 2024 ND 17
Docket No.: 20230224
Filing Date: 2/8/2024
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: This Court only decides those issues which are thoroughly briefed and argued, and a party waives an issue by not providing adequate supporting argument.

Summary dismissal of an application for postconviction relief is appropriate if there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.