Title: Guardianship/Conservatorship of D.F.S.

State: north-dakota

Issuer: North Dakota Supreme Court

Document:

Guardianship/Conservatorship of D.F.S.  Court Description: Judgment dismissing with prejudice a petition for appointment as a guardian and conservator because of improper service is summarily affirmed under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7). A district court without personal jurisdiction over a defendant may not dismiss the claim with prejudice. IN THE SUPREME COURT STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 2012 ND 68 In the Matter of the Conservatorship and Guardianship of D.F.S. G.A.S., Petitioner and Appellant v. D.F.S., Respondent and Appellee No. 20110335 Appeal from the District Court of Cass County, East Central Judicial District, the Honorable Wickham Corwin, Judge. MODIFIED AND AFFIRMED. Per Curiam. Gary A. Stibbe (on brief), self-represented, P.O. Box 5102, Fargo, N.D. 58105, petitioner and appellant. Guardianship/Conservatorship of D.F.S.No. 20110335 Per Curiam. [¶1] Gary Stibbe appeals from a district court judgment dismissing with prejudice, for improper service, his petition for appointment as a guardian and conservator of his father. Stibbe argues the district court should have allowed him to proceed with his action and testify telephonically in support of his petition. We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(7), and we modify the district court's judgment to be without prejudice for a lack of personal jurisdiction. See Western Life Trust v. State, 536 N.W.2d 709, 712 (N.D. 1995) (A district court without personal jurisdiction over a defendant "is powerless to do anything beyond dismissing without prejudice."). [¶2] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J. Dale V. Sandstrom Daniel J. Crothers Mary Muehlen Maring Carol Ronning Kapsner