Opinions

Morton Co. S.S.B., et al. v. Schumacher 2004 ND 31
Docket No.: 20030226
Filing Date: 2/2/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Use of a dangerous weapon without domestic violence is not enough to create a rebuttable presumption against awarding custody under N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.2(1)(j).
Under some circumstances, destroying property with a dangerous weapon could be domestic violence.
If a presumption against custody arises under N.D.C.C. 14-09-6.2(1)(j), the presumption must be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence.
Clear and convincing evidence to rebut a presumption against custody may require the accused to demonstrate why custody with the accuser is not in the child's best interests.
Clear and convincing evidence exists to rebut the presumption when none of the "best interests of the child" factors favor the other party.

State v. Bollingberg (Consolidated w/20020349 & 20020350) 2004 ND 30
Docket No.: 20020348
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A court may look to other parts of a search warrant to determine whether the command portion suffers from a clerical error.
When there is no indication of any logical reason why a requested search was prohibited in a search warrant, this may be evidence of a clerical error.

First Union National Bank v. RPB 2, LLC, et al. 2004 ND 29
Docket No.: 20030021
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Consideration is not required for the release or waiver of a mechanic's lien to be effective.
Once a lien claimant files a signed waiver or release of a mechanic's lien, the lien may not be revived by the subsequent filing of another lien.
Fraud in procuring release of a mechanic's lien must be proved by clear and convincing evidence.

Peters-Riemers v. Riemers 2004 ND 28
Docket No.: 20030081
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A pro se defendant in a contempt proceeding must be informed of the right to court-appointed counsel when a remedial contempt sanction includes the likelihood of incarceration.

Baier v. Job Service ND, et al. 2004 ND 27
Docket No.: 20030287
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Unemployment/Job Service
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A person is disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits if discharged for misconduct in connection with employment.
An employee who deliberately violates or disregards standards of behavior that the employer rightfully expects is guilty of disqualifying misconduct.

Pierce, et al. v. B.P.O. of Elks 2004 ND 26
Docket No.: 20030017
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Whether a lessee has surrendered a lease by operation of law or made a good-faith attempt to mitigate damages for the lessor's breach of the lease is a question of fact not subject to disposition by summary judgment.

Interest of J.P. and D.P. (CONFIDENTIAL)(Consolidated w/20030118) 2004 ND 25
Docket No.: 20030117
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Juvenile Law
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Under state law, a juvenile court may terminate parental rights if a child is deprived, the conditions and causes of the deprivation are likely to continue, and the child is suffering, or will in the future probably suffer, serious physical, mental, moral, or emotional harm.
Under the Indian Child Welfare Act, a petitioner for termination of parental rights must (1) demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that active efforts were made to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the Indian family and that those efforts were unsuccessful, and (2) prove continued custody of a child by a parent or Indian custodian is likely to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child by proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Gross v. ND Dept. of Human Services (cross-reference w/20020086) 2004 ND 24
Docket No.: 20030224
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The Dept. of Human Services may place a Medicaid recipient in the lock-in program for excessive utilization of medical services from more than one provider when those excessive medical services may increase the possibility of adverse affects to the recipient's health or may result in a decrease in the overall quality of care to the recipient and when there is little or no evidence of a medical need.

State v. Roth 2004 ND 23
Docket No.: 20030102
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Irrelevant information in an affidavit for a search warrant will not negate a magistrate's finding of probable cause, if there is also enough other information in the affidavit to support the finding of probable cause. It is the duty of the magistrate to filter out the non-probative information and examine the remaining information to determine whether probable cause exists for issuance of the search warrant.
There was no violation of defendant's right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures when, in executing a valid search warrant with an invalid no-knock provision, officers functionally excised the invalid portion of the search warrant by knocking and announcing their presence prior to entering the residence.

Chapman v. Chapman 2004 ND 22
Docket No.: 20030094
Filing Date: 1/28/2004
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A party is entitled to have a court decide the merits of a dispute only after demonstrating standing to litigate the issues placed before the court.
Only parties may appeal district court decisions.
Issues may not be raised for the first time on appeal.