Opinion ID: 2684716
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Otherwise contrary to good morals.”

Text: “If any part of a single consideration for one or more objects, or of several considerations for a single object, is unlawful, the entire contract is void.” N.D.C.C. § 9-05-04. [¶18] In Huber v. Farmers Union Serv. Ass’n , 2010 ND 151, 787 N.W.2d 268, this Court rejected the argument that the parties’ local agent’s agreements were void as a matter of law under N.D.C.C. § 9-08-01 because the agreements violated federal and state laws, reasoning: “[T]his Court’s decisions clearly demonstrate that a provision of a contract must in and of itself be inherently illegal to be unlawful for purposes of N.D.C.C. § 9-08-01. For example, in North Central Jobbers v. Snortland , 329 N.W.2d 614, 618-19 (N.D. 1983), this Court held there was nothing inherently illegal in a contract to transfer title to trucks and trailers even if the contract was entered into merely as a subterfuge to evade provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act. In State Bank of Towner, Inc. v. Rauh , 288 N.W.2d 299, 307 (N.D. 1980), this Court held there was nothing inherently illegal in a contract to purchase cattle, feed, and to sell cattle even if the contract was a facade to evade taxes. So too, in Beck v. Lind , 235 N.W.2d 239, 245 (N.D. 1975), this Court ruled a contract of employment for performing personal services was not per se illegal and invalid even if it involved an arrangement to avoid paying contributions to Social Security. In this case, there is nothing inherently unlawful in the provisions of the parties’ local agent’s agreements.” Huber , at ¶ 12. [¶19] Even if the parties intended to obtain arguably illegally PFC payments on the land through use of the farm rental contract and the agreement and release, there is nothing inherently illegal in either of those contracts. We conclude these contracts were not unlawful under N.D.C.C. § 9-08-01.