Opinions

State v. Carlsen 2008 ND 16
Docket No.: 20070126
Filing Date: 2/4/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Conviction of reckless endangerment under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (4).

Judicial Vacancy in Judgeship No. 1, East Central Judicial District 2008 ND 15
Docket No.: 20070368
Filing Date: 2/4/2008
Case Type: Judicial Administration - Rule - Rule
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgeship retained at Fargo in the East Central Judicial District.

Wold v. Wold 2008 ND 14
Docket No.: 20060342
Filing Date: 1/23/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Generally, in a divorce, a court's property valuations are not clearly erroneous if they are within the range of the evidence presented.
Under N.D.C.C. 14-05-24.1, a district court in a divorce case may require one party to pay spousal support to the other for any period of time.
Spousal support awards must be made in consideration of the disadvantaged spouse's needs and the supporting spouse's needs and ability to pay, but it is not necessary for the court to determine a spouse is disadvantaged by the divorce to award spousal support to that spouse.
Property division and spousal support are interrelated and often must be considered together.
It is within the district court's discretion to order security for a spousal support obligation.

State v. Desjarlais (Consolidated w/20070157) 2008 ND 13
Docket No.: 20070156
Filing Date: 1/22/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: There is no obvious error under N.D.R.Crim.P. 52(b) unless there is a clear deviation from a clearly established rule of law.

Van Sickle, et al. v. Hallmark & Assoc., Inc., et al. 2008 ND 12
Docket No.: 20070154
Filing Date: 1/22/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Oil, Gas and Minerals
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy unless the creditor received notice of the bankruptcy proceedings.
State and federal courts have concurrent jurisdiction to decide whether a creditor's claim has been discharged in a bankruptcy proceeding if the creditor claims he did not have notice or actual knowledge of the bankruptcy proceeding.
Claims for conversion and breach of contract may arise under the same facts if the defendant's conduct would give rise to liability independent of the fact that a contract exists between the parties.
A claim for tortious interference ordinarily requires a showing that a person who is not a party to the contract interfered with the contract.
The Supreme Court does not issue advisory opinions.

Koble v. Koble 2008 ND 11
Docket No.: 20070198
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Leno v. Department of Transportation 2008 ND 10
Docket No.: 20070213
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The Department is not required to show an Intoxilyzer machine has been recalibrated following a movement of the machine to prove an Intoxilyzer test was fairly administered.
An agency's decision will be affirmed if its findings of fact are supported by a preponderance of the evidence. When deciding whether a preponderance of the evidence supports an agency's findings, we do not re-weigh the evidence or substitute our judgment for that of the agency.

Interest of J.S., et al. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2008 ND 9
Docket No.: 20070123
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Juvenile - Termination of Parental Rights
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Kourajian v. Kourajian 2008 ND 8
Docket No.: 20070175
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: A party seeking custody modification under N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.6(4) is entitled to an evidentiary hearing if the party brings a prima facie case, by alleging, with supporting affidavits, sufficient facts which, if uncontradicted, would support a custody modification in favor of that party.
The purpose of the prima facie case requirement in N.D.C.C. 14-09-06.6(4) is to avoid holding custody modification hearings based on mere allegations alone.

City of Minot v. Boger, et al. (Cross-reference w/ 20060163) 2008 ND 7
Docket No.: 20070158
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The due process clauses of the federal and state constitutions are not violated under the void-for-vagueness doctrine if the challenged language, when measured by common understanding and practice, gives adequate warning of the conduct proscribed and marks boundaries sufficiently distinct for fair administration of the law.
A local government has a substantial interest in aesthetics and has the right to maintain its aesthetics through zoning regulations.

Overland v. Overland 2008 ND 6
Docket No.: 20070070
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A district court's division of property does not need to be equal to be equitable, but any substantial disparity must be explained.
When awarding spousal support, a district court must consider the relevant factors under the Ruff-Fischer guidelines. A court must also consider the needs of the spouse seeking support and of the supporting spouse's needs and ability to pay.

City of Grand Forks v. Mitchell 2008 ND 5
Docket No.: 20070153
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A police officer's stop of a vehicle bearing no license plates with a white 8 ? x 11 sheet of paper with a date written in black marker posted in its rear window that the officer did not recognize as an authentic temporary registration certificate was constitutionally permissible because the officer had reasonable and articulable suspicion of a violation of the motor vehicle registration law.
A police officer's subjective intent is not germane for purposes of the objective inquiry used to determine whether a reasonable and articulable suspicion existed that an individual was violating the law.

State v. Wegley 2008 ND 4
Docket No.: 20070027
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: Even if a defendant objects to hearsay testimony about a child's out-of-court statement at a pre-trial hearing, the defendant's failure to object at trial limits review to determining whether the admission of that testimony into evidence constitutes obvious error affecting substantial rights.
To establish obvious error, a defendant must show error that is plain and affects substantial rights, and to affect substantial rights a plain error must have been prejudicial, or have affected the outcome of the proceeding.
Nonverbal conduct is a statement under the hearsay rules if the nonverbal conduct was intended as an assertion.
A declarant's out-of-court statement is not hearsay if the declarant testifies at trial and is subject to cross-examination concerning the statement, and the statement is consistent with the declarant's testimony and is offered to rebut an express or implied charge against the declarant of recent fabrication or improper influence or motive.

State v. Emery 2008 ND 3
Docket No.: 20070147
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Ordering the surrender of license plates does not fit the maximum penalty for a first DUI offense.
A DUI conviction cannot be used to enhance the penalty of a subsequent DUI conviction when there is no proof that the defendant waived his right to counsel before pleading guilty to the earlier DUI charge.

State v. Odom (Cross-Ref w/20060106) 2008 ND 2
Docket No.: 20070187
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author:

Highlight: A district court drug-offenses criminal judgment is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3) and (7).

State v. St. Claire 2008 ND 1
Docket No.: 20070222
Filing Date: 1/17/2008
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment in a drug case following denial of motion to suppress evidence is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2) and (3).

Brewer v. Ziegler 2007 ND 207
Docket No.: 20070152
Filing Date: 12/20/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A highway patrol officer has the express power to enforce the state motor vehicle laws and to enforce all laws relating to the use or presence of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles, and, therefore, has the power to arrest a person who is located on private property while violating the provisions of those laws.
The failure to give an implied consent advisory does not require exclusion of the preliminary breath test results.
Horizontal gaze nystagmus test results may be used as circumstantial evidence of intoxication without requiring scientific foundation by expert testimony.

Manitoba Public Ins. Corp. v. Dakota Fire Ins. Co. 2007 ND 206
Docket No.: 20070061
Filing Date: 12/20/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Insurance
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: A procedural remedy is not a vested right and is subject to repeal, modification, or change.

Hsu v. Marian Manor Apartments 2007 ND 205
Docket No.: 20070040
Filing Date: 12/20/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A contract providing for the lease of a clinic owned by a nursing home to a licensed physician, which named the physician lessee using the suffix "M.D.," and which provided that the lessee shall obtain and maintain all necessary licenses to operate a clinic, unambiguously required the physician to maintain a license to practice medicine.
Revocation of a physician's license to practice medicine is a breach of a lease unambiguously requiring the physician to maintain a license to practice medicine entitling the lessor to refuse to renew the lease.

Disciplinary Board v. Nemec 2007 ND 204
Docket No.: 20070358
Filing Date: 12/19/2007
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Interim suspension of lawyer ordered.

Disciplinary Board v. Johnson (Consolidated w/ 20070108) 2007 ND 203
Docket No.: 20070107
Filing Date: 12/19/2007
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: A lawyer may be disciplined for writing a letter to a third party containing false statements that have no substantial purpose other than to delay or to embarrass or burden the third party.
A lawyer may be disciplined for making false statements to the court.
Defiance of a disciplinary admonition may increase the sanction imposed on a lawyer.
Lawyer suspended from the practice of law for 60 days and ordered to pay the costs and expenses of the disciplinary proceeding.

Nagel v. Workforce Safety and Ins., et al. 2007 ND 202
Docket No.: 20070120
Filing Date: 12/19/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Workers Compensation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Equitable estoppel may be applied to bar an assertion that a claim was untimely under N.D.C.C. 65-05-01.
In certain situations, such as a relapse of a condition caused by a work-related injury, the disallowance of a workers compensation claim following relapse may be a notifying event which ends the tolling of the statute of limitations for the injured worker.

Bartch v. ND Dept. of Transportation 2007 ND 201
Docket No.: 20070160
Filing Date: 12/17/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: Display of an expired registration tab on a license plate justifies a traffic stop.

Bowman v. ND Workforce Safety and Insurance 2007 ND 200
Docket No.: 20070227
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author:

Highlight: A judgment affirming an order of Workforce Safety and Insurance denying an application for workers compensation benefits is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(5).

Christofferson v. N.D. Dept. of Health 2007 ND 199
Docket No.: 20070129
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Administrative Proceeding
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: A tire collection that may benefit agricultural activities may not be a "beneficial use" because of "accumulations in total, on human and animal health, the environment, and on local and state government, which may be ultimately financially responsible to dispose of the tires."

Matter of Midgett 2007 ND 198
Docket No.: 20070109
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Civil Commitment of Sexually Dangerous Individual
Author: Crothers, Daniel John

Highlight: The Sixth Amendment does not apply to a civil commitment proceeding for a sexually dangerous individual.
In a civil commitment proceeding for a sexually dangerous individual, evidence of prior sexually predatory conduct or criminal conduct, including a record of the juvenile court, is admissible.

State v. Schmeets 2007 ND 197
Docket No.: 20060375
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Felony
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The threshold question for determining whether a person tampered with constitutes a "witness" is whether the individual charged with tampering with that person had a reasonably founded belief that the person tampered with would testify.
The person tampered with in a witness tampering case need not be included on a witness list filed in a case in order for an individual to be convicted of tampering with that witness.

Christian v. Christian 2007 ND 196
Docket No.: 20070053
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Divorce - Property
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Permanent spousal support is appropriate when the economically disadvantaged spouse cannot be equitably rehabilitated to make up for the opportunities and development she lost during the course of the marriage.
When the parties to a divorce have reached an agreement on all matters pertaining to division of their property, there is no reason for the district court to hear evidence of the value of marital property.
In deciding whether to award attorney fees in a divorce action, the district court must balance one party's needs against the other party's ability to pay.
Submission of an affidavit to support an award of attorney fees is not necessary when the award is supported by testimony and other documentary evidence received in an evidentiary hearing.
Evidence that is discoverable before trial does not qualify as newly discovered evidence.
A property settlement agreement that is unconscionable may be set aside.

State v. Haugen 2007 ND 195
Docket No.: 20070141
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: Carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle is a strict liability offense, punishable without regard to intent, knowledge, willfulness, or negligence.
An appellant assumes the consequences and risks for failure to file a complete transcript, and an issue will not be reviewed if the record on appeal does not allow for a meaningful and intelligent review of the alleged error.

Evenson v. Evenson 2007 ND 194
Docket No.: 20060148
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Child Support
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: Marital property valuations within the range of evidence presented to the district court are not clearly erroneous.
In deciding whether to award attorney fees in a divorce proceeding, the district court should consider the property owned by each party, their relative incomes, whether property is liquid or fixed assets, and whether the actions of either party have increased the time spent on the case.
Evidence must have been in existence at the time of trial to constitute newly discovered evidence.
A new trial normally will not be granted to enable the movant to present her case under a different theory than she adopted at trial.

State v. Sabo 2007 ND 193
Docket No.: 20070090
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Misc. Misdemeanor
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A conviction rests upon insufficient evidence only when, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and giving the prosecution the benefit of all inferences reasonably to be drawn in its favor, no rational fact finder could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The government's closing rebuttal argument is limited to addressing only the issues the defendant raised in his closing argument.

State v. Hurt 2007 ND 192
Docket No.: 20070081
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Kapsner, Carol

Highlight: In a review of a district court's decision to grant or deny a motion to suppress, the district court's findings of fact are given deference, and conflicts in testimony are resolved in favor of affirmance.
One exception to the warrant requirement is voluntary consent by the individual whose property is searched, or by a third party who possesses common authority over the premises.
The Fourth Amendment does not require law enforcement to provide co-occupants opportunity to assert their Fourth Amendment rights at the door; rather, the protections provide that a physically present co-occupant, who expressly refuses to permit the search despite the consent of his fellow occupant, renders the warrantless search unreasonable as to him.
The co-occupant who is not present at the door and does not refuse the search at the time his fellow occupant provides consent "loses out" on his opportunity to exclude evidence gathered in a common-area, co-occupant consent search.

Witzke v. Gonzales 2007 ND 191
Docket No.: 20070162
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Torts (Negligence, Liab., Nuis.)
Author:

Highlight: Summary judgment for claims of private nuisance and defamation is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(6).

State v. Matuska 2007 ND 190
Docket No.: 20070124
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: An order denying a request to withdraw a guilty plea may be summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

City of Jamestown v. Baker 2007 ND 189
Docket No.: 20070220
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Theft
Author:

Highlight: A criminal judgment for theft is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

State v. $3719 U.S. Currency 2007 ND 188
Docket No.: 20070149
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Other
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order granting forfeiture of $3,719 is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

State v. Gandesbery 2007 ND 187
Docket No.: 20070197
Filing Date: 12/13/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Per Curiam

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

Interest of B.D.K. (CONFIDENTIAL) 2007 ND 186
Docket No.: 20070320
Filing Date: 12/5/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Mental Health
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A court is not required to order a less restrictive treatment than hospitalization when a mentally ill person requiring treatment under N.D.C.C. 25-03.1-07 makes the bare assertion that he will hire his own psychiatrist, because such assertion does not constitute a viable alternative to hospitalization.

Sundby v. Disciplinary Board 2007 ND 185
Docket No.: 20070332
Filing Date: 12/3/2007
Case Type: Discipline - Attorney - Original Proceeding
Author:

Highlight: Lawyer reinstatement ordered.

Estate of Egeland (Cross-ref. w/ 20060319) 2007 ND 184
Docket No.: 20070075
Filing Date: 11/27/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: A court appropriately considers the benefit received by joint obligors in determining the right to contribution between them under N.D.C.C. 9-01-08.
On appeal due regard is givien to the trial court's opportunity to assess the credibility of the witnesses, and the trial court's choice between two permissible views of the evidence is not clearly erroneous.

Tarnavsky v. Tarnavsky, et al. 2007 ND 183
Docket No.: 20070021
Filing Date: 11/26/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Order denying "motion to expunge" under N.D.R.Civ.P. 60(b)(iii) and (iv) summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(1) and (4).

Estate of Truax 2007 ND 182
Docket No.: 20070121
Filing Date: 11/19/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Probate, Wills, Trusts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment denying a motion to amend a judgment is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(4).

Hendricks Prop. Mgmt. Corp. v. Birchwood Prop. Ltd. Partnership, et al. 2007 ND 181
Docket No.: 20070028
Filing Date: 11/19/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Maring, Mary

Highlight: The interpretation of an agency agreement is governed by laws for construing contracts except to the extent the agent's fiduciary relationship with the principal requires a special rule, or the parties agree otherwise.
A district court's findings of fact and conclusions of law must be stated with sufficient specificity to provide reviewing courts with a clear understanding of the district court's decision, and a district court's findings of fact are adequate if the reviewing court is able to understand the factual basis for the district court's decision.
A liquidated damage clause is valid if the damages stemming from a breach are impractical or extremely difficult to estimate when the contract was entered, the parties reasonably endeavored to fix their damages, and the amount stipulated bears a reasonable relation to the probable damages and is not disproportionate to any damages reasonably anticipated.
Face-to-face negotiations are not necessary to uphold a liquidated damage clause.

Intercept Corp. v. Calima Financial LLC, et al. 2007 ND 180
Docket No.: 20060307
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: The corporate veil of a limited liability company may be pierced if the same conditions and circumstances under which the corporate veil of a corporation may be pierced under North Dakota law are present.
A lack-of-personal-jurisdiction defense is waived if it is neither made by motion nor included in a responsive pleading.

Axtmann, et al. v. Chillemi, et al. 2007 ND 179
Docket No.: 20070006
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Corporations
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: The officers and directors of a corporation generally are not liable for the ordinary debts of the corporation, but a corporation's corporate veil may be disregarded when the corporation has insufficient capitalization for purposes of the corporate undertaking.
A district court's decision to pierce a corporate veil and impose personal liability on an officer or director is reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard.

State v. McAvoy 2007 ND 178
Docket No.: 20070095
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Sexual Offense
Author: Sandstrom, Dale

Highlight: Conditions of probation are interpreted as mandatory.
When a violation of probation is contested, the State needs to prove a probation violation by a preponderance of the evidence.

Hawes v. ND Department of Transportation (consolidated w/20070060) 2007 ND 177
Docket No.: 20070059
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Administrative - Department of Transportation
Author: VandeWalle, Gerald

Highlight: That the defendant's vehicle is out of gas does not render the vehicle inoperable as a matter of law.
When there has been no objection to a prosecutor's argument, the judgment will not be reversed unless it was an obvious error affecting a defendant's substantial rights.

State v. Jacobs 2007 ND 176
Docket No.: 20070033
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - Drugs/Contraband
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Amended criminal judgment for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7).

Mountrail Bethel Home v. Lovdahl (Cross-reference w/ 20060002) 2007 ND 175
Docket No.: 20070148
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Civil - Contracts
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Judgment finding enforceable contract did not exist is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).

State v. Skarsgard (Consolidated w/20070084) 2007 ND 174
Docket No.: 20070083
Filing Date: 11/14/2007
Case Type: Appeal - Criminal - DUI/DUS/APC
Author: Per Curiam

Highlight: Criminal judgments for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license are summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(3), (4), and (7).