Opinion ID: 900877
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Hold Second Summary Judgment Hearing

Text: [¶ 8.] Harris argues that SDCL 15-6-56(c) requires that a separate hearing be held on the IIED cause of action, a claim that did not appear in his initial complaint and could not, therefore, have been addressed in the June 18 hearing. Our summary judgment statute provides, in part: The motion shall be served at least ten days before the time fixed for the hearing. The adverse party prior to the day of hearing may serve opposing affidavits. The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. SDCL 15-6-56(c). Harris concludes that the court erred in failing to hold a second hearing on the IIED cause of action. [3] [¶ 9.] This argument is without merit. To hold otherwise, we would require trial courts to conduct supplemental summary judgment hearings, even when the parties have nothing to add. All the relevant facts were before the court at the time it made its final decision, and the matter had been fully briefed by counsel, with both initial and supplemental briefs. Furthermore, counsel points to nothing that could have been submitted at a hearing that was not already before the court. This is ample confirmation that the parties had nothing further of substance to offer on the subject. Accordingly, the circuit court did not violate SDCL 15-6-56(c).