Streff v. State Farm Mut’l Auto. Ins. Co., 2017 SD 83.  SDCL 58-11-9.4 requires underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage in “motor vehicle liability polic[ies]” of insurance.  The Streffs purchased a motor vehicle liability policy from one insurer and also purchased a personal liability umbrella policy from a separate but related insurer.  Both policies provided UIM coverage, but both excluded coverage for accidents caused by government vehicles.  When Jody was injured in an accident involving a government vehicle, a dispute arose concerning the enforceability of the exclusions.  The circuit court ruled that the exclusion was not enforceable in the motor vehicle liability policy but was enforceable in the umbrella policy.  The Streffs appealed, and the Court, per Justice Severson (on reassignment), reversed, holding that the South Dakota UIM statute is not limited to primary insurance policies, and that the statute contemplates additional coverage.  Thus, by extension, umbrella policies that include UIM coverage are subject to the same public policy prohibitions on the exception of government vehicles from UIM coverage.  Justices Zinter and Kern dissented.

Continue Reading December 14, 2017, Case Summaries

The Court has released the list of its November 2017 summary dispositions:

Case Number Date Disposition Judge
Siems v. Pilot Travel Centers, LLC 28254 11-13-17 Affirmed Long
State v. Hanson 28178 11-13-17 Affirmed Sabers
Wright v. Theophilus 28108 11-13-17 Affirmed Pekas
State v. Bortock 28131 11-13-17 Affirmed Long
Schwartz, on behalf of M.N. v. Neuenschwander 28081 11-13-17 Affirmed Linngren
Schwartz, on behalf of M.N. v. Neuenschwander 28082 11-13-17 Affirmed Linngren
State v. Shepard 28142 11-13-17 Affirmed Davis
State v. Fitzgerald 28170 11-13-17 Affirmed Eckrich
State v. Hamling 28171 11-13-17 Affirmed Eckrich
State v. Weber 28184 11-13-17 Affirmed Myren
Ollila, et al. v. Ginsbach, et al. 28206 11-13-17 Affirmed Percy
State v. Eberhardt 28225 11-13-17 Affirmed Means
State v. Popkes 28244 11-13-17 Affirmed Zell
Curran v. Curran 28182 11-13-17 Affirmed Pfeifle
Horn n/k/a Haub v. Horn 28233 11-30-17 Affirmed Day

Oyen v. Lawrence Cnty. Comm’n, 2017 SD 81.  Various landowners petitioned the Lawrence County Commission requesting that the County maintain a road providing access to their homes.  The County denied the landowners’ request.  Oyen appealed the County’s action to circuit court.  The County filed a motion to join the United States of America as an indispensable party.  The court denied the motion, finding the County responsible for the road and directing the County to provide maintenance.  The County appealed, and the Court, per Justice Severson, reversed and remanded for the circuit court to join, if feasible, the United States of America as an indispensable party.  If joinder is not possible, then the circuit court is to determine whether to dismiss the case.

State v. Humpal, 2017 SD 82.  The sentencing court imposed a five-year penitentiary term upon the defendant while he was serving a probationary sentence in a different criminal file.  The defendant appealed, arguing that the court imposed an illegal sentence when it placed him under the dual supervision of the judicial and executive branches.  On appeal, the Court, per Retired Justice Wilbur held that, although the sentencing court erred when it placed defendant under simultaneous supervision of two branches of government, defendant is currently only under the supervision of the executive branch.  His sentence was therefore affirmed.

State v. Draskovich, 2017 SD 76.  Draskovich was convicted of threatening a judicial officer and disorderly conduct as a result of statements he made in the Minnehaha County Courthouse.  The circuit court ruled that the statements were “true threats,” rather than First Amendment-protected speech.  He had told the clerk of courts that he could “see why people shoot up courthouses,” and, when discussing a judge’s refusal to grant him a work permit, he commented to Court Administration, “Well, that deserves 180 pounds of lead between the eyes.”  On appeal, the Court, per Justice Zinter, affirmed, concluding that a reasonable recipient would view his statements as “a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence” against court staff and the circuit court judge.

Continue Reading November 22, 2017, Case Summaries

In re Guardianship of Novotny, 2017 S.D. 74. The sole beneficiary of an irrevocable trust petitioned the circuit court to terminate the trust and distribute the trust property to her.  After a hearing on the beneficiary’s motion for summary judgment, the circuit court refused to terminate the trust and entered summary judgment in favor of the trustees.  The beneficiary appealed, the Court, per Justice Wilbur, reversed and remanded, concluding that the trust purpose had been fulfilled, and that termination of the trust would “substantially further the trustor’s purposes in creating the trust.”  The circuit court was therefore directed on remand to terminate the trust and distribute the trust property, which was “in accordance with the trustors’ probable intention.”

Erickson v. Dep’t of Public Safety, 2017 S.D. 75.  Erickson, who holds a commercial driver’s license, pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more (SDCL 32-23-1(1)) – as opposed to driving under the influence of alcohol (SDCL 32-23-1(1)).  The South Dakota Department of Public Safety subsequently disqualified him from operating commercial motor vehicles for one year.  Erickson appealed the Department’s decision to circuit court, which reversed the Department’s decision without remanding.  The Department appealed, and the Court, per Chief Justice Gilbertson, reversed the circuit court’s decision, concluding that SDCL 32-12A-36(1), which disqualifies a person from driving a motor vehicle if they have been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, includes convictions for both driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or more (SDCL 32-23-1(1)) and convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol (SDCL 32-23-1(1)).  The Department therefore properly disqualified Erickson from holding a commercial driver’s license for one year.

The Court has released the list of its October 2017 summary dispositions:

Case Number Date Disposition Judge
State v. Sharp 28026 10-10-17 Affirmed Long
State v. Oquendo Cedeno 28140 10-10-17 Affirmed Brown
State v. Beynon 28141 10-10-17 Affirmed Spears
Interest of A.M. and E.M.

25115

28112

 10-11-17 Affirmed Eckrich
Interests of O.A., E.A., and L.A.

28133

28143

 10-27-17 Affirmed Means

 

Surat v. America Township, Brule Cnty. Bd. Of Supervisors, 2017 S.D. 69.  The board of supervisors downgraded a seven-mile stretch of road from full maintenance to minimum maintenance.  A portion of the road provided the Surat family and Surat Farmers access to South Dakota Highway 50.  Surat appealed the Board’s decision to the circuit court.  The circuit court reversed the board’s decision, and the Township appealed.

Continue Reading November 9, 2017, Case Summaries

Reede Construction, Inc. v. South Dakota Dep’t of Transportation, 2017 SD 63.  The South Dakota DOT contracted with Reede Construction to perform highway construction work in Sioux Falls.  DOT refused to issue a letter of acceptance after requesting numerous repairs, many of which Reede never performed.  Reede eventually left the job and demanded payment for the repairs it had completed.  Reede sued, and DOT counterclaimed.  At trial, the jury returned a verdict awarding no damages to either party.  DOT filed a motion for a new trial, arguing insufficient evidence supported the jury’s verdict.  The circuit court denied the motion, and the Court, per Chief Justice Gilbertson, affirmed.

Continue Reading November 2, 2017, Case Summaries