Opinions

Wolt v. Wolt (Cross-reference w/20090103 & 20090126) 2011 ND 170
Docket No.: 20100294
Filing Date: 8/26/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The district court's authority to modify an award of primary residential responsibility within two years of the original decision is limited under N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.6.
The party moving for a change of primary residential responsibility has the burden to establish a prima facie case to obtain an evidentiary hearing on the motion. A prima facie case is a bare minimum and requires facts which, if proved at an evidentiary hearing, would support a change of custody that could be affirmed if appealed.
A district court retains continuing jurisdiction to address post-judgment issues about parenting time, and the limitations in N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.6 for post-judgment modifications of primary residential responsibility do not apply to parenting time modifications under N.D.C.C. 14-05-22.
Under N.D.R.Ct. 3.2, a district court must grant a party's request for oral argument, if the party has timely served and filed a brief and requests oral argument.
Section 28-26-01(2), N.D.C.C., authorizes an award of attorney's fees if a claim for relief is frivolous and there is such a complete absence of actual facts or law that a reasonable person could not have thought a court would render judgment in that person's favor.

Agnes M. Gassmann Revocable Living Trust (Consolidated w/20100276) 2011 ND 169
Docket No.: 20100275
Filing Date: 8/23/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Testimony from the attorney who drafted the trust that a specific drafting error occurred and, as a result, the trust language did not conform to the settlor's true intent may, if believed by the trier of fact, constitute clear and convincing evidence sufficient to warrant reformation of the trust under N.D.C.C. 59-12-15.
When reviewing findings of fact made by the trial court under a clear and convincing evidence standard, the Supreme Court accords great deference to the trial court's determination of the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony and does not reweigh the evidence or reassess the credibility of witnesses.
In construing the provisions of a trust, the general rules of construction of written documents apply and the trust must be read as a whole so as to give effect to every part.

Carlson v. Carlson, et al. (consolidated w/20100319) 2011 ND 168
Docket No.: 20100318
Filing Date: 8/22/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Relations among the partners and between the partners and the partnership are governed by the partnership agreement, and the default provisions of N.D.C.C. 45-16-01 setting out a partner's rights and duties do not apply if the partners have otherwise provided for those matters.
The failure to make annual claims or accountings for unequal contributions and benefits is indicative the partners did not intend to equalize them.
The trial court's findings of fact must reflect the basis of its decision and must enable the appellate court to understand its reasoning.
A valid, presently enforceable debt against the transferor is an essential element of an action to set aside a fraudulent transfer under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, N.D.C.C. ch. 13-02.1.
During any transaction connected with conduct of the partnership, a partner has a fiduciary duty to act with utmost good faith and loyalty to the partnership and the other partners.

Kelly v. Kelly (Cross-reference w/20080103) 2011 ND 167
Docket No.: 20100388
Filing Date: 8/22/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A child's home state has priority for subject matter jurisdiction in an interstate custody dispute, but the home state may decline jurisdiction.
A home state's dismissal of a custody proceeding with prejudice constitutes a declination of jurisdiction.
In a divorce proceeding, a district court may restrain a party from interfering with a business awarded in a property distribution to protect the goodwill of the business.
Attorney fees may be awarded when a party's actions have unreasonably increased time spent on a divorce proceeding.

Miller v. Mees 2011 ND 166
Docket No.: 20110020
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: At a trial, witnesses' testimony generally must be taken in open court.
Harmless errors that do not affect substantial rights may be disregarded.
An appellate court will not reweigh evidence for a decision awarding primary residential responsibility of a child to one parent.

Matter of Rubey 2011 ND 165
Docket No.: 20100292
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A "sexually dangerous individual" means an individual who is shown to have engaged in sexually predatory conduct and who has a congenital or acquired condition that is manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction that makes that individual likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct which constitute a danger to the physical or mental health or safety of others.
Substantive due process requires proof that the respondent has serious difficulty controlling his behavior.

State ex. rel. Schlect v. Wolff (Cross-reference with 20100034) 2011 ND 164
Docket No.: 20110036
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The State has standing and is a real party in interest in child support proceedings if the State was initially a real party in interest in the action because the child received public assistance, the obligee assigned his or her right to child support to the State, the child support services case remained open after the child was no longer receiving public assistance, and the obligee has never requested the child support services case be closed.
A judgment that relieves an obligor of any current or future duty of child support and limits the power of the court to modify future child support is void and may not be enforced.

Smestad v. State 2011 ND 163
Docket No.: 20110006
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A post-conviction claim for relief is barred by res judicata if it is a variation of a claim that has been rejected in prior proceedings.
A defendant claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must establish that counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that the defendant was prejudiced by counsel's deficient performance.

Gaede v. State 2011 ND 162
Docket No.: 20100312
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Arguments to a jury referencing biblical text or characters may be considered by courts to be improper.

Holkesvig v. Welte (Consolidated w/20100316 & 20100317) 2011 ND 161
Docket No.: 20100315
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A criminal proceeding has not terminated in the plaintiff's favor for purposes of maintaining a malicious prosecution action if the plaintiff has pleaded guilty to the underlying criminal charge.

James Valley Grain v. David 2011 ND 160
Docket No.: 20110050
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A party must challenge an arbitration within ninety days from receiving a copy of the arbitration award unless the grounds for challenging the award are based on corruption, fraud, or other undue means.
Filing a motion to confirm an arbitration award does not extend the time limit for moving to vacate an arbitration award.

Paulson v. Paulson (Cross-reference w/20090225) 2011 ND 159
Docket No.: 20100399
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A spousal support determination is a finding of fact, which will not be reversed on appeal unless it is clearly erroneous.
Issues not raised in the district court may not be raised for the first time on appeal.

Leverson v. Leverson 2011 ND 158
Docket No.: 20100396
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Under the law of the case doctrine, a court's decision on legal issues should govern the same issues in later stages of the same case.
Interpretation of a judgment is a question of law, and an unambiguous judgment may not be modified, enlarged, restricted, or diminished.
Agreements between divorcing parties are encouraged and stipulated spousal support awards should be changed only with great reluctance.

State v. Clark (consolidated w/20100373) (cross-reference 20090235) 2011 ND 157
Docket No.: 20100372
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When sentences for separate offenses are merged under N.D.C.C. 12.1-32-11(1), they run concurrently and remain separate terms of imprisonment.
A delay in time between when a petition to revoke probation is filed and an arrest warrant is executed generally does not violate the probationer's due process rights, unless the probationer can show he was prejudiced by the delay.

Martinson v. Martinson 2011 ND 156
Docket No.: 20100339
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In determining whether to award attorney fees and costs in a divorce action, the court must balance one party's needs against the other's ability to pay, and fault is a consideration only to the extent one party has unreasonably escalated the fees and costs.

State v. Pederson (Consolidated w/20100365) 2011 ND 155
Docket No.: 20100364
Filing Date: 8/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: When police have probable cause to arrest a suspect, the exclusionary rule does not bar the prosecution's use of a statement made by the defendant outside of his home, even though the statement is taken after an arrest made in the home and police unlawfully entered the home.
During an interrogation, a suspect must unambiguously invoke his right to counsel to stop the interrogation.

Brigham Oil et al. v. Lario Oil et al. (consolidated w/20110016) 2011 ND 154
Docket No.: 20100211
Filing Date: 8/15/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Oil, Gas and Minerals
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Property passes upon death, not upon distribution, subject to administration of the estate.
Family settlement agreements are binding only on the parties to the agreement.
Whether intervention is sought permissively or as a matter of right, the application for intervention must be timely.
The failure to join an indispensable party or the failure to allow an indispensable party to intervene does not render a judgment void.

State v. Gefroh 2011 ND 153
Docket No.: 20100391
Filing Date: 8/15/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The automobile exception to the warrant requirement does not justify the warrantless search of a person.

Interest of K.B., a child (CONF.)(Consol. w/20110093-20110095) 2011 ND 152
Docket No.: 20110092
Filing Date: 8/11/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: "Proper parental care" means the parents' conduct in raising their children must satisfy the minimum standard of care which the community will tolerate.
The definition of a "deprived child" is broad enough to encompass a child whose parent, while never having had the opportunity to care for the child, is shown to be presently incapable of providing proper parental care for the child.
All children in a particular home environment may be found deprived, despite varying degrees of deprivation among the children. A court need not wait for the happening of tragic events to protect a child, particularly when a sibling has been found to deprived.
Abuse of one child is relevant to the care a parent will provide to other siblings.

State v. Sommer 2011 ND 151
Docket No.: 20100348
Filing Date: 8/11/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The dispositive question concerning application of the automobile exception is whether probable cause supported the search.
The recognition that vehicles are inherently mobile and that vehicles garner a lesser expectation of privacy excuses the need for a warrant.

Gustafson, et al. v. Poitra, et al. 2011 ND 150
Docket No.: 20100277
Filing Date: 8/10/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The appellate court may consider whether the district court had subject matter jurisdiction and may consider the issue sua sponte.
A state court does not have subject matter jurisdiction where a non-Indian claimant initiates an action against Indian defendants over a lease of fee land owned by the Indian defendants within the exterior boundaries of the reservation.

Makelky v. Makelky 2011 ND 149
Docket No.: 20100406
Filing Date: 7/25/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Divorce judgment summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Mertz v. City of Elgin 2011 ND 148
Docket No.: 20110054
Filing Date: 7/21/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The decision of a local governing body must be affirmed unless it acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or unreasonably, or if there is not evidence to support its decision.
The interpretation of a zoning ordinance is governed by the rules of statutory construction.
The interpretation of a zoning ordinance by a governmental entity is a quasi-judicial act, and a reviewing court should give deference to the judgment and interpretation of the governing body rather than substitute its judgment for that of the enacting body.

State v. Starke (Consolidated w/20100327) 2011 ND 147
Docket No.: 20100062
Filing Date: 7/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on an ordinary defense for which credible evidence has been introduced. The jury must find that the State has proved the non-existence of this defense beyond a reasonable doubt in order to convict.
Under the defense of premises statute, "trespass" is not confined merely to uninvited entrants, but include the unlawful remaining in the premises of another.
The use of force in defending one's premises must be reasonable under the circumstances.

Wahl v. Northern Improvement Company, et al. 2011 ND 146
Docket No.: 20100295
Filing Date: 7/18/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Personal Injury
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A district court has broad discretion over the presentation of evidence and the conduct of trial.
The factors used to determine the reasonableness of attorney fees should be used as guidelines to determine whether expert witness fees are reasonable.

Glass v. Glass 2011 ND 145
Docket No.: 20100260
Filing Date: 7/15/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A material change of circumstances can occur if a child's environment may endanger the child's physical or emotional health, or impair the child's emotional development.
Cases that are "close calls" may result in a change of primary residential responsibility when other considerations are weightier than the custodial stability factor.
A party challenging the denial of a request for continuance must show prejudice resulted from the denial.

Estate of Vestre 2011 ND 144
Docket No.: 20100400
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A trial court has broad discretion to grant relief from the waiver of the right to a jury trial.
If a case goes to trial after a motion for summary judgment is denied, the question whether the trial court erred in denying summary judgment is moot; the appropriate question on appeal is whether the trial court erred in denying the movant's subsequent motion for judgment as a matter of law.
To establish undue influence, the person challenging the will must prove: 1) a testator subject to undue influence; 2) the existence of the opportunity to exercise undue influence; 3) a disposition to exercise undue influence; and 4) a result that appears to be the effect of undue influence.

State v. Gonzalez 2011 ND 143
Docket No.: 20110051
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Appellate review of a sentencing court's decision is confined to whether the sentencing court acted within the limits prescribed by statute or substantially relied on an impermissible factor.

Interest of D.J. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2011 ND 142
Docket No.: 20100403
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Juvenile Law
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A juvenile court may require production of court-ordered reports or evaluations for purposes of making necessary findings on the requirements for a juvenile to register as a sexual offender.

State v. Kleppe (consolidated w/20110029) 2011 ND 141
Docket No.: 20100354
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The defense of depredation does not apply to the offense of unlawfully taking and possessing big game because deer is not a fur-bearer.
The offense of unlawfully taking and possessing big game is a strict liability offense because the statute defining the offense does not contain a culpability requirement. A statute establishing a strict liability offense, however, does not always preclude an affirmative defense.
A defendant may be entitled to a jury instruction on excuse and his conduct may be excused if the evidence shows the defendant believed the facts were such that his conduct was necessary and appropriate for any of the purposes that would establish a justification or excuse under N.D.C.C. ch. 12.1-05, even though his belief was mistaken. A mistaken belief of the law is rarely available as a defense and is generally precluded when the offense is a strict liability offense that contains no culpability requirement.
At a restitution hearing, the State has the burden of proving the amount of restitution by a preponderance of the evidence.

Silbernagel, et al. v. Silbernagel, et al. (Consol. w/ 20100394 & 20100395) 2011 ND 140
Docket No.: 20100393
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: When a settlement agreement is merged into a judgment, the agreement is interpreted and enforced as a final judgment and not as a separate contract between the parties.
A judgment is construed to give effect to each and every part of it and bring all different parts into harmony as far as can be done by a fair and reasonable interpretation.
Parties' objective manifestations from a settlement agreement and judgment, rather than their secret or subjective manifestations of intent, control the interpretation of the judgment.

State v. Stroh 2011 ND 139
Docket No.: 20100157
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: The admissibility of an Intoxilyzer test result is governed by N.D.C.C. 39-20-07(5).
Fair administration of an Intoxilyzer test may be established by proof that the State Toxicologist's approved method for conducting the test has been scrupulously followed. However, "scrupulous" compliance does not mean "hypertechnical" compliance.
The admissibility of a test result for alcohol concentration is a preliminary question left to the discretion of the trial court.
Observing the person to be tested is not the only manner of "ascertaining" that the subject had nothing to eat, drink, or smoke within twenty minutes prior to the collection of the breath sample.

Vanlishout v. ND Dept. of Transportation 2011 ND 138
Docket No.: 20110017
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Actual physical control does not require that the defendant be able to instantaneously operate the vehicle. Rather, defendant must be able to manipulate the controls of the vehicle and must be under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or other substances.

State v. McElya 2011 ND 137
Docket No.: 20100349
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Double jeopardy is a defense that may be waived and must be raised at some point in proceedings before the district court.

Crandall v. Crandall 2011 ND 136
Docket No.: 20100402
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The child support guidelines require a parent who does not have primary residential responsibility of a child to pay child support to the parent awarded primary residential responsibility.
Financial misconduct and dissipation of assets are grounds for an unequal property distribution.

Willits v. Job Service of ND, et al. 2011 ND 135
Docket No.: 20100375
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Unemployment/Job Service
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: To be eligible for unemployment benefits, the employee must make reasonable efforts to preserve one's employment.
An employee who voluntarily quits before the employer has been given a reasonable chance to resolve identified problems is not entitled to unemployment benefits.

Krueger v. Krueger 2011 ND 134
Docket No.: 20100264
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: While the district court may not solely rely on a child's preferences regarding visitation, they may be a relevant consideration in the best interests of the child analysis.
In calculating a parent's child support obligation, the district court must clearly set forth how it arrived at a net income figure.

Gussiaas v. Neustel (cross-reference 20100086) 2011 ND 133
Docket No.: 20100386
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Change of primary residential responsibility is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Smith v. Martinez 2011 ND 132
Docket No.: 20100309
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A court must address the presumption against awarding primary residential responsibility to the perpetrator of domestic violence when there is evidence of domestic violence on the record.

State v. Aabrekke 2011 ND 131
Docket No.: 20100170
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith, but may be admissible for other purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident.
In considering whether evidence of prior crimes, wrongs, or bad acts is admissible, a court must apply a three-step analysis to determine: (1) the purpose for which the evidence is introduced; (2) that the evidence of the prior acts is substantially reliable or clear and convincing; and (3) in criminal cases that there is proof of the crime charged which permits the trier of fact to establish the defendant's guilt or innocence independently on the evidence presented without consideration of the evidence of the prior acts.
A court must give a cautionary instruction about the limited purpose for the use of prior bad acts evidence and must further determine whether the probative value of the evidence substantially outweighs any possible prejudicial effect of the evidence.

State v. Ennen 2011 ND 130
Docket No.: 20110003
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgment for surreptitious intrusion is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (7).

Interest of A.S. (CONFIDENTIAL) (CONSOL. W/ 20110117 - 20110120) 2011 ND 129
Docket No.: 20110116
Filing Date: 7/13/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author:

Highlight: Juvenile court judgment terminating parental rights is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

Nemec v. Disciplinary Board 2011 ND 128
Docket No.: 20110136
Filing Date: 7/11/2011
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Lawyer reinstatement ordered.

State v. Blunt (Cross-reference w/20070247 & 20090110) 2011 ND 127
Docket No.: 20100308
Filing Date: 6/28/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The district court has discretion in applying a remedy when a violation of the discovery rules has been shown, and the court's decision will not be reversed on appeal unless the court abuses its discretion.
The court's decision on a discovery violation is reversible error only if the defendant has been denied a substantial right, and a substantial right has not been denied if the defendant is not significantly prejudiced.

Murchison v. State (Cross-reference 20030328) 2011 ND 126
Docket No.: 20100281
Filing Date: 6/27/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Post-Conviction Relief
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: A court may deny an application for post-conviction relief if the same or similar issues supporting the application were considered on a direct appeal from a criminal judgment and are barred by res judicata.
A defendant bears a heavy burden in proving he received ineffective assistance of counsel, and he may be denied relief where he failed to prove any prejudice resulted.

Day v. Haskell, et al. 2011 ND 125
Docket No.: 20110096
Filing Date: 6/24/2011
Case Type: Original Proceeding - Criminal - Writ of Supervision
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: When a criminal proceeding terminates after jeopardy attaches but before a verdict, double jeopardy does not prohibit the retrial of the accused if there was a manifest necessity for granting the mistrial.
There is no mechanical formula for deciding whether the termination of a criminal trial was supported by a manifest necessity, but the court should consider whether counsel were afforded an opportunity to be heard on the issue, whether alternatives to a mistrial were explored, and whether the court's decision was made after sufficient reflection.

Kaspari v. N.D. Dep't. of Human Services 2011 ND 124
Docket No.: 20100379
Filing Date: 6/24/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Administrative regulations are derivatives of statutes and are construed under rules for statutory construction.
A Medicaid applicant's recipient liability is the amount of monthly net income remaining after all appropriate deductions, disregards, and Medicaid income levels specified in the applicable Medicaid regulations have been allowed, and an applicant is not entitled to deductions for mortgage interest and real estate taxes paid for the applicant's interest in a life estate.

State v. Seewalker 2011 ND 123
Docket No.: 20100201
Filing Date: 6/24/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order denying motion to withdraw guilty pleas is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

Zink, et al. v. Enzminger Steel LLC 2011 ND 122
Docket No.: 20100359
Filing Date: 6/21/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: In the cautious exercise of its discretion, a district court may unilaterally dismiss a complaint for failure to state a valid claim. The court must, however, give the parties notice of its intentions and allow for an opportunity to respond.
If a motion to dismiss demands proof outside of the pleadings, the motion is treated as one for summary judgment.

Godon v. Kindred School District 2011 ND 121
Docket No.: 20100356
Filing Date: 6/23/2011
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A written contract can be altered by a contract in writing or by an executed agreement, and the agreement to alter the terms of the contract must generally be supported by new or additional consideration.
A party asserting breach of contract has the burden of proving the elements of a prima facie case for breach, which are: (1) the existence of a contract; (2) breach of the contract; and (3) damages which flow from the breach.
Frustration of purpose occurs when after a contract is made, a party's principal purpose is substantially frustrated without his fault by the occurrence of an event the non-occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made.
Class-of-one protection does not apply to public employees under the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution.