Opinions

Ziesch v. Workforce Safety & Insurance, et al. 2006 ND 99
Docket No.: 20050256
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Workforce Safety and Insurance's practice of awarding lump sum disability benefits for a closed, limited time and simultaneously issuing a retroactive notice of intention to discontinue benefits does not violate due process if the claimant was not receiving ongoing disability benefits at the time of WSI's decision.
The purpose of administrative res judicata is to preserve resources and avoid wasteful expense and delay.

State v. Pace 2006 ND 98
Docket No.: 20050342
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A driving-under-the-influence arrestee being asked to submit to a chemical test is, upon request, entitled to a reasonable opportunity to contact a lawyer before deciding whether to take the test.
The reasonableness of the opportunity to consult with a lawyer before taking a chemical test for DUI is evaluated under the totality of the circumstances.
A law enforcement officer need not offer other suggestions to a DUI arrestee who is unable to reach his lawyer and makes no further requests.

Knutson, et al. v. City of Fargo 2006 ND 97
Docket No.: 20050355
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Under the North Dakota Constitution, inverse condemnation requires a public entity's taking or damaging an owner's property by some deliberate act, whether done intentionally, negligently, or innocently.
For intentional trespass, the plaintiff must establish the defendant intentionally entered the land of another, or caused a thing or third person to do so, without the consent of the landowner.
Public entities are not liable in negligence for discretionary functions or duties.
To decide whether a governmental act is protected by discretionary immunity, the court must examine whether the action is a matter of choice for the acting employee and whether that judgment or choice is of the kind that discretionary immunity was designed to shield.

Interest of J.M. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2006 ND 96
Docket No.: 20050383
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: In a proceeding for commitment as a sexually dangerous person, the evidence must clearly show a respondent's disorder is likely to manifest itself in a serious difficulty in controlling sexually predatory behavior.
A commitment hearing must be held within sixty days of the finding of probable cause, but the district court may grant an extension if good cause is shown.
A trial court's failure to make a finding of good cause to extend the time for holding a commitment hearing within sixty days of the finding of probable cause does not require a subsequent order for commitment be vacated.
Scheduling constraints alone do not automatically establish "good cause" for extending time before the hearing.

State v. Wheeler (Cons. w/20050258 & 20050259) 2006 ND 95
Docket No.: 20050257
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Convictions of gross sexual imposition, encouraging the deprivation of a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1) and (3).
A judgment should accurately reflect the proceedings and under N.D.R.Crim.P. 36, a court may correct a clerical error in a judgment due to oversight.

State v. Ruud 2006 ND 94
Docket No.: 20050314
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author:

Highlight: Conviction for theft of property is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Clifford v. Redmann 2006 ND 93
Docket No.: 20050419
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order denying petition for writ of habeas corpus is dismissed as an unappealable order.
Dismissal of application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1).

Kaiser v. State (Cross-reference w/20040135) 2006 ND 92
Docket No.: 20050319
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Denial of application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

City of Minot v. Hellebust 2006 ND 91
Docket No.: 20050372
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A criminal judgment after conviction by a jury of driving under the influence is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (4).

City of Lisbon v. Dahl 2006 ND 90
Docket No.: 20050388
Filing Date: 5/11/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A criminal judgment for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).