Opinion ID: 1251117
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Denial of the Motion for a Continuance

Text: Section 14-07.1-02, NDCC provides that after due notice and full hearing, the court may enter a protection order if there is a showing of actual or imminent domestic violence. But, at the beginning of the March 4, 1992 hearing, both Connie and Bernard stated that they did not wish to present testimony. Thus they waived their right to present testimony. This right is waivable. NDCC §§ 1-02-28, [1] 31-11-05(4). [2] For a waiver to be effective, it must be a voluntary and intentional relinquishment and abandonment of a known existing right, advantage, benefit, claim or privilege which, except for such waiver, the party would have enjoyed. Production Credit Ass'n v. Henderson, 429 N.W.2d 421 (N.D. 1988); Gajewski v. Bratcher, 221 N.W.2d 614 (N.D.1974). Once the right is effectively waived, the right cannot later be reclaimed for if waived, his right is gone forever and cannot be recalled. Meyer v. National Fire Ins. Co. of Hartford, Conn., 67 N.D. 77, 269 N.W. 845, 852 (1936); 92 C.J.S. Waiver, p. 1068-69 (1955) [It is generally recognized that, if a person in possession of any right waives that right, he will be precluded thereafter from asserting it or from claiming anything by reason of it ... the waiver cannot be retracted, recalled, or expunged.] [footnotes omitted]. In this case, Bernard effectively waived his right to present testimony at the hearing, for no issue is raised that it was made involuntarily, unintentionally, or without knowledge of the existence of the right. The right was waived, and Bernard cannot try to reclaim it as a matter of right. Once a right is waived at a court proceeding, the trial court can reinstate that right should it choose. Here, Bernard moved for a continuance to present testimony, thereby asking the court to reinstate his right to present testimony in the protection order proceeding. The trial court denied this motion and we are asked to consider the merits of its denial. Our standard in reviewing a court's disposition on a motion for a continuance has been stated by this Court: A party's request for a continuance is a matter within the trial court's discretion, and we will not on appeal overturn its decision absent an abuse of discretion. Matter of Bo, 365 N.W.2d 847, 852 (N.D. 1985). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner. E.g., Ward v. Shipp, 340 N.W.2d 14, 17 (N.D. 1983). Construction Assoc. v. Fargo Water Equip., 446 N.W.2d 237, 239 (N.D.1989). This standard reflects the view that the lower courts have wide discretion on matters relating to the general conduct of proceedings in their court, which includes the granting or the denying of motions. Great Plains Supply Co. v. Erickson, 398 N.W.2d 732 (N.D.1986); Moll v. Moll, 231 N.W.2d 769 (N.D.1975). However, a court's discretion must be exercised in a manner which comports with substantial justice because a trial is a search for truth. Ward, supra, at 18. Allowing evidence to be entered after a party has rested is within the trial court's sound discretion. See Tom Beuchler Const. v. City of Williston, 392 N.W.2d 403 (N.D.1986) [trial court did not act unreasonably, arbitrarily, or unconscionably when, on its own initiative, ordered a supplemental hearing to take additional testimony]; cf. Great Plains Supply Co. v. Erickson, 398 N.W.2d 732 (N.D.1986) [trial court did not abuse its discretion when, at trial, it granted a party's motion for leave to take an additional deposition]; Leno v. Ehli, 339 N.W.2d 92 (N.D.1983) [not clearly erroneous for a trial court to reopen the case for clarification of the record]. Conversely, a court's refusal to reopen a case for testimony or grant a continuance after the court has announced its decision in the case, after the close of evidence, or after intentional refusal to offer testimony is not an abuse of discretion. Thus, when a moving party has had adequate opportunity to present testimony but deliberately fails to do so, the court's refusal to grant the continuance or reopen the case is viewed as well within the court's discretion. See Foerster v. Fischbach-Moore, Inc., 178 N.W.2d 258 (N.D.1970) [reopening case after parties rest is a matter within court's sound discretion]; Kuntz v. Stelmachuk, 136 N.W.2d 810 (N.D.1965) [if there is a deliberate decision of a party to not call a known witness during trial, denial of motion to reopen case for that testimony after parties rest is not reversible error]; Swanson v. Fort Worth Transit Co., 209 S.W.2d 772 (Tex.Civ.App.1948) [refusal to reopen case after testimony closed was not an abuse of discretion where there had been an agreement by both parties in open court that no testimony except depositions would be offered]. Bernard waived his right to present testimony, and after the trial court indicated its decision, he moved for a continuance. The trial judge denied the motion. As the cases illustrate, the trial court is granted great latitude in denying or granting a motion for a continuance. This discretion, exercised in light of (1) Bernard deliberately deciding not to present testimony, (2) Bernard not moving for a continuance until after the court indicated its decision, and (3) the extensive affidavits and briefs giving the trial judge sufficient bases upon which to decide the case, thereby making an extension for the purpose of admitting evidence unnecessary, all support the trial judge's denial of the motion. We are not left with the impression that the trial judge abused his discretion by acting in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner in denying the motion.