Opinion ID: 1704286
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: relitigated issues

Text: Ziebarth again attempts to rehash issues that we have before decided adversely to her. One last time, we will for Ziebarth's benefit reiterate these well-settled rules of law that are res judicata in this case.
We earlier rejected Ziebarth's argument that the Bank was not entitled to maintain an action in state court because it was a foreign corporation required to register with the Secretary of State under NDCC 10-22-19. Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Ziebarth, 485 N.W.2d at 792. We have consistently rejected that argument in a series of challenges to the Bank's authority to sue in courts of this State. See, e.g., Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Brakke, 483 N.W.2d 167, 169 (N.D.1992); Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Rub, 481 N.W.2d 451, 457-458 (N.D.1992); Federal Land Bank of St. Paul v. Brakke, 447 N.W.2d 329, 330 (N.D.1989); Federal Land Bank of Saint Paul v. Anderson, 401 N.W.2d 709, 713 (N.D.1987); Federal Land Bank of Saint Paul v. Gefroh, 390 N.W.2d 46, 47 (N.D.1986). Furthermore, NDCC 10-22-03(2) exempts corporations engaged in banking or insurance from the registration requirements of NDCC 10-22-19. See Rott v. Jaeger, 510 N.W.2d 651, 653-654 (N.D.1994). The Bank was not required to register as a foreign corporation as a prerequisite to bringing the foreclosure action.
Ziebarth asserts that Article XI, Section 22 of the North Dakota Constitution prohibits the forced sale of a homestead to satisfy a mortgage. We have rejected thisargument in a series of cases, including an earlier appeal by Ziebarth. See Lake Region Credit Union v. Crystal Pure Water, Inc., 502 N.W.2d 524, 526-527 (N.D.1993); Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Ziebarth, 485 N.W.2d at 792; Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Brakke, 483 N.W.2d at 169-170; Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Rub, 481 N.W.2d at 459; State ex rel. Board of University and School Lands v. Bladow, 462 N.W.2d 453, 455 (N.D.1990); Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Stedman, 449 N.W.2d 562, 565-566 (N.D.1989); Podoll v. Brady, 423 N.W.2d 151, 153 (N.D.1988); Federal Land Bank of Saint Paul v. Gefroh, 418 N.W.2d 602, 603-605 (N.D.1988). The foreclosure and sale of Ziebarth's homestead was not unconstitutional.
Ziebarth asserts that the district court was without jurisdiction to enter summary judgment in July 1989 because the action was stayed by Ziebarth's pending appeal from dismissal of her bankruptcy filing. This question was raised in Ziebarth's original appeal from the judgment of foreclosure that we summarily affirmed in 1990. See Farm Credit Bank of St. Paul v. Ziebarth, 458 N.W.2d 513 (N.D.1990). We will address this issue to finally put it to rest. Although the record on this appeal does not include all of the relevant documents from Ziebarth's bankruptcy, the procedural and chronological history of her bankruptcy case is outlined in Binek v. Ziebarth, 456 N.W.2d at 516-517. The Bank brought this foreclosure action in 1987. On January 13, 1988, Ziebarth filed a bankruptcy petition, and all further proceedings in this action were stayed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(a). Ziebarth's bankruptcy petition was dismissed on April 5, 1989, and she appealed to federal district court. After the April 5 bankruptcy dismissal, the Bank served an amended summons and complaint in this action, and summary judgment was entered on July 12, 1989. The next day, July 13, the bankruptcy court issued a stay pending Ziebarth's appeal of the dismissal. Ziebarth argues that the filing of the notice of appeal from dismissal of her bankruptcy petition continued the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) and divested the state district court of jurisdiction over the foreclosure case. However, it is well settled that the automatic stay terminates upon dismissal of the bankruptcy petition [11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(2)(B)], and is not automatically revived by the filing of a notice of appeal from the dismissal. See, e.g., In re March, 988 F.2d 498, 499 (4th Cir.1993); In re Lashley, 825 F.2d 362, 364 (11th Cir.1987); In re Regency Woods Apartments, Ltd., 686 F.2d 899, 902-903 (11th Cir.1982); In re Weston, 110 B.R. 452, 456-457 (E.D.Cal.1989); In re Weathersfield Farms, Inc., 34 B.R. 435, 439 (Bankr.D.Vt.1983); Olson v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 86 T.C. 1314, 1318, 1986 WL 22148 (1986). See also F.R.B.P. 8005; Collier, Bankruptcy ¶¶ 8005.03, 8005.04 (1994). Furthermore, as In re Lashley, 825 F.2d at 364, reflects, the bankruptcy court's July 13 order of stay does not apply retroactively to stay the state court proceedings between April 5 and July 13. We conclude that the district court had jurisdiction when the summary judgment was entered on July 12, 1989.