Opinions

Grey Bear v. ND Dept. of Human Services, et al. 2002 ND 139
Docket No.: 20010241
Filing Date: 8/23/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The statutory assignment granted to the Department of Human Services from a recipient of Medicaid benefits is for any third-party recovery a recipient may have for an injury, but is limited to the amount of medical costs provided by the Department for that injury.
A trial court does not abuse its discretion by refusing to delete an amendment to a judgment that was originally requested by the party seeking to delete the amendment.
A trial court lacks personal jurisdiction over a party when the party was neither served with a summons, nor made a voluntary general appearance.

Hoffman v. ND Workers Comp. Bureau, et al. 2002 ND 138
Docket No.: 20010310
Filing Date: 8/22/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: The Workers Compensation Bureau has an obligation to explain its disregard of evidence favorable to a claimant.
A willful failure to give a maximum consistent effort during a functional capacity evaluation can constitute an act of noncompliance with vocational rehabilitation.

U.S. Bank v. Koenig, et al. 2002 ND 137
Docket No.: 20020038
Filing Date: 8/20/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Grants in a deed are interpreted in favor of the grantee, except a reservation in any grant is interpreted in favor of the grantor.
Repugnant words in a deed must be reconciled by interpreting the deed in a manner that gives effect to the repugnant clause subordinate to the general intent and purpose of the deed.

Roe v. Doe (CONFIDENTIAL) 2002 ND 136
Docket No.: 20020016
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Paternity
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(iv), the burden is on the moving party to show sufficient grounds exist for disturbing the finality of a judgment.
A judgment entered without subject matter jurisdiction is void.
State courts may not exercise jurisdiction over a paternity and support action if state court jurisdiction would infringe on an Indian tribe's right to govern itself.
In general, tribal courts do not have exclusive jurisdiction over claims against tribal defendants that arise outside of the reservation.
To vacate a state court judgment on the paternity of an Indian child, the moving party must show that the state court lacked jurisdiction as a matter of law.

Geinert v. Geinert 2002 ND 135
Docket No.: 20020040
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: A modification of child support should generally be made effective from the date of the motion to modify, absent good reason to set some other date. If the trial court sets some later date, it must specifically explain its reasons for doing so.
Imputing income to a child support obligor who has voluntarily changed employment, but is not unemployed or underemployed, is within the discretion of the trial court.

Ziegelmann v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. 2002 ND 134
Docket No.: 20020041
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: An alleged product defect that has not manifested itself in such a way as to cause an observable adverse physical or economic harm does not constitute an injury that will support a class action lawsuit based on theories of negligence, fraud, and deceit.

State v. Keilen (Consolidated w/20020065 through 20020067) 2002 ND 133
Docket No.: 20020064
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: While the right to appeal is statutory, statutes conferring the right must be liberally construed.
The State has the burden to show a warrantless search falls within an exception to the warrant requirement.
There is no community caretaking role to fill when there is no disturbance and no one is in need of assistance.

Interest of D.Z. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2002 ND 132
Docket No.: 20020190
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To show a respondent is a person requiring treatment, the petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the person is mentally ill and there is a reasonable risk that, if the person is not treated, he poses a serious risk of harm to himself, others, or property.
A person who is found to require involuntary treatment has the right to the least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve the purposes of the treatment.

Howes v. Kelly Services, Inc. 2002 ND 131
Docket No.: 20020014
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: In considering a motion for judgment as a matter of law, a trial court must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and must accept the truth of the evidence presented by the non-moving party and the truth of all reasonable inferences from that evidence which supports the verdict.
Once one party files a demand for a nine-person jury, other parties are entitled to rely on that demand for the issues it covers, and they need not file their own demand for a nine- person jury.

State v. Bell 2002 ND 130
Docket No.: 20010311
Filing Date: 8/15/2002
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Neumann, William

Highlight: Expert witnesses may testify when no objection is made as to their expertise and qualifications.
Effective assistance of counsel is not denied when counsel fails to ask for an instruction that no longer applies.