Opinions

Finstad, et al. v. Ransom-Sargent Water Users, Inc., et al. 2014 ND 146
Docket No.: 20130222
Filing Date: 7/19/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Real Property
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: North Dakota law does not recognize the economic duress doctrine.
A provision of a contract must in and of itself be inherently illegal to be unlawful.

Nieuwenhuis v. Nieuwenhuis 2014 ND 145
Docket No.: 20130394
Filing Date: 7/17/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Duress occurs when an individual acts as a result of coercion or when the individual's actions are involuntary.
A district court abuses its discretion by vacating only portions of a judgment.
Implied findings are insufficient for an award of attorney's fees.

Middleton v. State 2014 ND 144
Docket No.: 20130395
Filing Date: 7/17/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: To demonstrate prejudice in an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the defendant must establish a reasonable probability that but for counsel's errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different, and the defendant must specify how and where trial counsel was incompetent and the probable different result.
A motion for new trial must specify the alleged defects and errors with particularity. The defendant must assert all alleged errors in a motion for new trial.
If a defendant moves for a new trial, he is limited on appeal to the grounds presented to the district court in the motion.
A per se presumption of prejudice is reserved to the narrow set of cases where counsel fails to perfect a requested appeal.

Estates of Vizenor and Vizenor v. Mesling, et al. 2014 ND 143
Docket No.: 20130161
Filing Date: 7/17/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A power of attorney is a written instrument that authorizes one person to act as another person's agent. An agency created under a durable power of attorney also entails a confidential relationship and fiduciary duties.
When a confidential relationship or fiduciary duty exists, the person in whom the confidence is reposed is deemed to be a trustee. All transactions between a trustee and a beneficiary, including gifts, are presumed to be without sufficient consideration and under undue influence.
A presumption substitutes for evidence of the presumed fact until the trier of fact finds from credible evidence that the presumed fact does not exist.

Vetter v. State (cross-reference w/20120015) 2014 ND 142
Docket No.: 20140028
Filing Date: 7/14/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order denying an application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (4).

Comes v. State 2014 ND 141
Docket No.: 20140068
Filing Date: 7/14/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Summary disposition of application for post-conviction relief is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6).

State v. Towry 2014 ND 140
Docket No.: 20130423
Filing Date: 7/14/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment for aggravated assault is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Reciprocal Discipline of Wynne 2014 ND 139
Docket No.: 20140227
Filing Date: 7/14/2014
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reprimanded.

Hering v. WSI, et al. 2014 ND 138
Docket No.: 20140030
Filing Date: 7/14/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court judgment affirming an administrative law judge's order, which affirmed WSI's order denying benefits to a claimant, is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(5).

Hann v. Disciplinary Board 2014 ND 137
Docket No.: 20140171
Filing Date: 7/2/2014
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reinstated.

State v. Cook 2014 ND 136
Docket No.: 20140040
Filing Date: 6/27/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: An appellant assumes the consequences and the risk for the failure to file a complete transcript. If the record on appeal does not allow for a meaningful and intelligent review of alleged error, the issue will not be reviewed.
When an appellant fails to comply with the rules of appellate procedure so that meaningful review of his issues is impossible, the appeal may be dismissed.

Matter of Emelia Hirsch Trust 2014 ND 135
Docket No.: 20130365
Filing Date: 6/26/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A district court has discretion to determine claims are frivolous and order payment of attorney's fees.
An appeal is frivolous if it is flagrantly groundless, devoid of merit, or demonstrates persistence in the course of litigation evidencing bad faith.

State v. Rogers 2014 ND 134
Docket No.: 20130357
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Whether a suspect is in custody, and therefore entitled to Miranda warnings, is a mixed question of fact and law which is fully reviewable on appeal.
Law enforcement is required to give Miranda warnings only when a person is subject to custodial interrogation.
A suspect is not in police custody simply because he or she is under a medical hold and does not have the ability to leave the hospital.

Lund v. Lund, et al. (cross reference with 20120210) 2014 ND 133
Docket No.: 20130373
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: Whether an implied-in-fact contract existed between parties is a question of fact subject to the clearly erroneous rule.
Unjust enrichment is an equitable doctrine based upon a quasi or constructive contract implied by law to prevent a person from being unjustly enriched at the expense of another.

Mairs v. Mairs 2014 ND 132
Docket No.: 20130293
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Any issue regarding whether a prima facie case has been established for modification of primary residential responsibility is moot once an evidentiary hearing is held.
Although a separate finding is not required for each statutory best-interest factor, the court's findings must contain sufficient specificity to show the factual basis for the residential responsibility decision.

Pokrzywinski v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2014 ND 131
Docket No.: 20140043
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A report and notice form that includes the driver crashed, an odor of alcoholic beverage was detected, and the driver admitted consuming alcohol may be sufficient to support an officer's reasonable grounds to believe a driver operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
Under the implied consent law, whether a driver was incapable of refusal is a question of fact.

State v. Cone 2014 ND 130
Docket No.: 20130236
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A district court has discretion in applying a remedy for a discovery violation, and a court's decision not to exclude evidence or impose another sanction does not constitute an abuse of discretion unless the defendant shows he was significantly prejudiced by the violation.
The admission of evidence the defendant previously moved to exclude is not reversible error if the defendant presented the evidence before the court ruled on the defendant's motion.

Herrman v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2014 ND 129
Docket No.: 20130338
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Constitutional questions will not be decided on appeal if a dispute may be decided on other grounds.
Absent authority and a reasoned analysis to support it, the mere assertion of a statute's unconstitutionality is insufficient to adequately raise a constitutional question.
If an arrested person requests to consult with an attorney before deciding to take a chemical test, the person must be given a reasonable opportunity to do so if it does not materially interfere with the administration of the test.

C&C Plumbing and Heating, LLP v. Williams County, et al. 2014 ND 128
Docket No.: 20130297
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: If a party fails to plead and adequately brief unconscionability to the district court, the issue will not be considered on appeal.
A no damages for delay clause exculpates an owner from liability for damages resulting from delays in the performance of the contractor's work.
Active interference is a well-recognized exception to the enforceability of a no damages for delay clause.
A district court's determination of the amount of damages caused by a breach of contract is a finding of fact subject to the clearly erroneous standard of review.

Meier v. Meier 2014 ND 127
Docket No.: 20130353
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A motion for relief from judgment must be made within a reasonable time.

Hale, et al. v. Ward County, et al. (cross-ref. w/20110171) 2014 ND 126
Docket No.: 20130348
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: A private person may maintain an action for a public nuisance if the public nuisance is specially injurious to that person or that person's property, but not otherwise.
A public nuisance is specially injurious to a private person if the person suffers harm of a kind different from that suffered by other members of the public exercising a right subject to the interference and common to the general public.

Chisholm v. State 2014 ND 125
Docket No.: 20130406
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A district court may summarily deny a meritless application for post-conviction relief if the claims in the application are facially invalid.
An applicant for post-conviction relief must be given notice and an opportunity to present evidence supporting his application before the court dismisses his application relying on matters outside the application.

State v. Daniels 2014 ND 124
Docket No.: 20130339
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The scope of consent is measured objectively by what a reasonable person would have understood by the exchange between the police and the suspect.
To sustain a finding of consent, the State must show affirmative conduct by the person alleged to have consented that is consistent with the giving of consent, rather than merely showing that the person took no affirmative actions to stop the police from searching.

Tank v. Citation Oil & Gas Corp., et al. 2014 ND 123
Docket No.: 20130375
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Oil, Gas and Minerals
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A Pugh clause in an oil and gas lease severs a lease where less than all of the leasehold is included in a single unit and allows the lease to expire on a portion of the leased property if certain conditions are met.
Undeveloped land is is land that does not have a completed well capable of producing oil or gas in paying quantities.

Devine v. Hennessee 2014 ND 122
Docket No.: 20130347
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: To properly determine an obligor's child support obligation, income must be sufficiently documented through the use of tax returns, current wage statements, and other information to fully apprise the court of all gross income.
Because a proper finding of income is essential to determine the correct amount of child support under the child support guidelines, the trial court must clearly set forth how it arrived at the amount of income and the level of support.

Keltner v. Levi 2014 ND 121
Docket No.: 20130380
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: District court judgment affirming a Department of Transportation hearing officer's decision suspending driving privileges is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

Hinojosa v. State 2014 ND 120
Docket No.: 20130378
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Appeal from denial of petition for post-conviction relief summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

McCoy v. N.D. Dep't of Transportation 2014 ND 119
Docket No.: 20130300
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A law enforcement officer's administration of a breath test to determine alcohol consumption is a search.
Consent is one recognized exception to the warrant requirement. To be effective, consent must be voluntarily given under the totality of the circumstances and must not be coerced by explicit or implicit means or by implied threat or covert force.
Absent authority and a reasoned analysis to support it, the mere assertion of a statute's unconstitutionality is insufficient to adequately raise a constitutional question.
A party pursuing a constitutional claim must make a strong case supported by both fact and law or forego the claim.

Interest of J.M. (CONFIDENTIAL)(cross-ref. w/20050383, 20100398, 20120253) 2014 ND 118
Docket No.: 20140006
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order denying request for discharge from civil commitment as a sexually dangerous individual is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Winarske v. State 2014 ND 117
Docket No.: 20130390
Filing Date: 6/24/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

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

Frith v. WSI, et al. 2014 ND 116
Docket No.: 20130286
Filing Date: 6/23/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A district court judgment affirming an administrative law judge's order, which affirmed WSI's order denying benefits to a claimant, is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(5).

Medalen v. Medalen 2014 ND 114
Docket No.: 20130403
Filing Date: 6/18/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An amended judgment finding a party in contempt of court and ordering her to pay costs and expenses is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

State v. Thomas 2014 ND 113
Docket No.: 20130377
Filing Date: 6/18/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Arson
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment entered on a jury verdict finding defendant guilty of arson and endangering by fire or explosion is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

IRET Properties v. Tano, et al. 2014 ND 112
Docket No.: 20130359
Filing Date: 6/18/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Landlord/Tenant
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order denying motion to vacate or set aside default judgment is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4) and (7).

Francis v. Francis 2014 ND 111
Docket No.: 20130317
Filing Date: 6/4/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A domestic violence advocate is limited to participating in proceedings only to the extent provided for in N.D. Supreme Court Administrative Rule 34, section 5.

Disciplinary Board v. Lawler (Consol. w/ 20140054-20140062 2014 ND 110
Docket No.: 20140053
Filing Date: 6/2/2014
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer disbarred.

State v. Brown 2014 ND 108
Docket No.: 20130401
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Schlieve v. Schlieve 2014 ND 107
Docket No.: 20130368
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A court's award of primary residential responsibility is a finding of fact, which will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clearly erroneous or it is not sufficiently specific to show the factual basis for the decision.
A court' may give significant weight to the preferences of mature minor children.
A court is not required to do a line-by-line best-interest analysis for each individual child, but when the factors are different for each child, such an analysis is permissible and may be necessary.
A religious provision in a parenting plan may not require a parent to take a child to certain religious services.

Schroeder v. Schroeder 2014 ND 106
Docket No.: 20130351
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: An evidentiary hearing for modification of primary residential responsibility is appropriate only if a prima facie case is established for both a material change in circumstances and modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Gruebele, et al. 2014 ND 105
Docket No.: 20130413
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Negligence imputed to a parent after signing his or her minor child's driver's license application sponsorship form does not automatically create coverage under the signing parent's insurance contract.

State v. Roe 2014 ND 104
Docket No.: 20130326
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Generally, parties or their counsel may stipulate as to evidentiary matters such as the admission, exclusion or withdrawal of evidence, but stipulations that are clearly against public policy will not be validated.
A defendant may waive his confrontation rights by stipulating to the admission of evidence.

Lehman v. State 2014 ND 103
Docket No.: 20130295
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Generally, an application for post-conviction relief must be filed within two years of the date the conviction becomes final.
A statute is not regarded as operating retroactively because of the mere fact that it relates to antecedent events.

Datz v. Dosch (cross-reference w/ 20120167 & 20120435) 2014 ND 102
Docket No.: 20130364
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: McEvers, Lisa K. Fair

Highlight: The Supreme Court retains jurisdiction until the mandate is issued.
The issuance of the mandate returns jurisdiction to the district court.

State v. Kalmio 2014 ND 101
Docket No.: 20130074
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Homicide
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Standing objections must be sufficiently definite to preserve the issues for judicial review.
The test in Schumacker v. Schumacker is used when evaluating admissibility of hearsay under the state-of-mind exception.
Alibi defenses require written notice to the prosecuting attorney within the time provided for pretrial motions.
Jurors are presumed to follow admonitions and disregard improper statements.

State v. Gates 2014 ND 99
Docket No.: 20130358
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3).

Voisine v. State 2014 ND 98
Docket No.: 20140010
Filing Date: 5/28/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Appeal from denial of petition for postconviction relief summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

State ex rel. Storbakken v. Scott's Electric 2014 ND 97
Docket No.: 20130264
Filing Date: 5/12/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Employer/Employee Dispute
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Arguments not raised before the district court cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.
Whether an activity is excluded from hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended by the Portal-to-Portal Act, is a mixed question of law and fact.

State v. Simmons 2014 ND 96
Docket No.: 20130356
Filing Date: 5/9/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Assault
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order revoking probation summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

State v. Kuruc (consolidated w/ 20130337) 2014 ND 95
Docket No.: 20130334
Filing Date: 5/8/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The independent-source doctrine allows the introduction of evidence that was initially discovered during, or as a result of an unlawful search, but that was later obtained independently from lawful activities that have not been tainted by the initial illegality.
Out-of-state medical marijuana prescriptions are not valid defenses to possession of marijuana or possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

Tharaldson Ethanol Plant I, LLC, et al. v. VEI Global, Inc. 2014 ND 94
Docket No.: 20130325
Filing Date: 5/6/2014
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Foreclosure
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Certification under N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) should rarely be granted and is reserved for cases involving unusual circumstances in which failure to allow an immediate appeal would create a demonstrated prejudice or hardship.
Potential mootness is a just reason for delay in N.D.R.Civ.P. 54(b) analysis.