Opinions

Interest of Spicer 2006 ND 79
Docket No.: 20050366
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When a district court fails to specifically state its findings, its decision will not be upset when valid reasons for the decision are discernable, either by deduction or inference.
A district court's finding that a non-custodial parent consented to the custodial parent relocating out of state with the parties' child is subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review.
A district court's decision on modification of visitation is a finding of fact that will not be reversed unless clearly erroneous.

Larson v. Schuetzle 2006 ND 78
Docket No.: 20050418
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Civil - Writ of Certiorari
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The State Penitentiary warden has authority and control over the penitentiary and its inmates.
Simply because prison inmates retain certain constitutional rights does not mean those rights are not subject to restrictions and limitations.
Maintaining institutional security, safety, and internal order may require limitation or retraction of the retained constitutional rights of convicted prisoners and pretrial detainees.
Prison administrators are entitled to deference in the adoption and execution of policies intended to preserve the security, safety, internal order, and discipline of the prison.
When a prison regulation impinges on inmates' constitutional rights, the regulation is valid if it is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests.

State v. Genre (Cons. w/20050239,20050247& 20050248) 2006 ND 77
Docket No.: 20050238
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Voluntary consent to search is an exception to the warrant requirement.
An officer is generally not required to administer the Miranda warning during a traffic stop because the person is not in custody.
Statements made to law enforcement in an effort to cooperate with the hope of receiving some benefit are not statements made during a plea discussion and are admissible.

Flanagan v. State (Cross-Ref. w/20030247) 2006 ND 76
Docket No.: 20050226
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: An application for post-conviction relief may be denied as res judicata if the claim is a variation of a claim that was fully and finally determined in a previous proceeding.
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must establish counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and the defendant was prejudiced by counsel's deficient performance.
To establish prejudice, a defendant must establish a reasonable probability that but for counsel's errors the result of the criminal proceeding would have been different, and a reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome of the criminal proceeding.

Gustafson v. ND Department of Human Services 2006 ND 75
Docket No.: 20050390
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Under the 2003 version of the statute, for Medicaid eligibility, the purchase of an annuity is considered an uncompensated assignment or transfer of assets if it is not expected to return the full principal and interest within the purchaser's life expectancy.
Once a Medicaid applicant supplies a physician's estimate of reasonable life expectancy, the burden shifts to the Department of Human Services to accept or determine a reasonable life expectancy.

State v. Davenport (cross-ref. w/2000148) 2006 ND 74
Docket No.: 20050274
Filing Date: 4/19/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order revoking probation is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).

Edin v. Disciplinary Board 2006 ND 73
Docket No.: 20060102
Filing Date: 4/13/2006
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reinstatement ordered.

Hopfauf, et al. v. Hieb, et al. 2006 ND 72
Docket No.: 20050203
Filing Date: 4/6/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Malpractice
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Summary judgment is properly granted if the information available to the trial court precluded the existence of a genuine issue of material fact, entitling the moving party to summary judgment as a matter of law.
A district court's denial of a request for additional time for discovery under N.D.R.Civ.P. 56(f) is not overturned on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.
An element of negligent failure to obtain informed consent, as in any negligence action, is the existence and extent of a duty. A duty to disclose can only arise if the physician knew or should have known of the risks to be disclosed.

Bernabucci, et al. v. Huber, et al. 2006 ND 71
Docket No.: 20050275
Filing Date: 4/3/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Corporations
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: If extrinsic evidence is conclusive and undisputed, the determination of the meaning of a contract is a function for the court to resolve as a matter of law.
A court does not abuse its discretion when it denies a requested amendment to a complaint which would be futile.

Thompson v. Workforce Safety and Insurance, et al. 2006 ND 69
Docket No.: 20050392
Filing Date: 3/31/2006
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: When reviewing the decision of an administrative agency, courts do not make independent findings of fact or substitute their judgment for that of the agency, but determine whether a reasoning mind could reasonably have determined that the factual conclusions reached were supported by the weight of the record.
If the decision of the administrative agency was consistent with the opinion of the sole testifying physician, the agency's decision was supported by the weight of the record.