Opinion ID: 1230007
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: The South Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure state that if, on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in SDCL 15-6-56. [7] The settled record before us plainly indicates that matters outside the pleadings were presented to and considered by the trial court before the orders to dismiss were entered against plaintiffs. [8] Accordingly, on review we treat defendants' motions to dismiss as motions for summary judgment and the disposition a grant of those motions. Glanzer v. St. Joseph Indian School, 438 N.W.2d 204, 206 (S.D.1989). This court reviews summary judgments under the premise that affirmance of such a judgment is proper if there are no genuine issues of material fact and there exists any basis which would support the trial court's ruling. Production Credit Assn. of the Midlands v. Mary Wynne, et al., 474 N.W.2d 735 (S.D.1991); Trammell v. Prairie States Ins. Co., 473 N.W.2d 460 (S.D.1991); Breen v. Dakota Gear & Joint Co., Inc., 433 N.W.2d 221 (S.D.1988). In reviewing a grant or a denial of summary judgment under SDCL 15-6-56(c), [9] the evidence must be viewed most favorably to the non-moving party; the movant has the burden of proof to clearly show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; summary judgment is not a substitute for trial; a belief that the non-moving party will not prevail at trial is not an appropriate basis for granting the motion on issues not shown to be sham, frivolous, or unsubstantiated; summary judgment is an extreme remedy and should be awarded only when the truth is clear and reasonable doubts touching upon the existence of a genuine issue of material fact should be resolved against the movant. Pickering v. Pickering, 434 N.W.2d 758 (S.D.1989); Wilson v. Great Northern Railway Company, 83 S.D. 207, 157 N.W.2d 19 (1969). Where, however, no genuine issue of fact exists it is looked upon with favor and is particularly adaptable to expose sham claims and defenses. Ruane v. Murray, 380 N.W.2d 362 (S.D.1986). In addition to the foregoing tenets pertaining to summary judgments, the formal issues presented by the pleadings are not controlling and a party may not rest upon the mere allegations contained therein; the party opposing a motion for summary judgment must be diligent in resisting the motion, and mere general allegations and denials which do not set forth specific facts will not prevent issuance of a judgment; Breen v. Dakota Gear & Joint Co., Inc., supra ; and the non-moving party must present specific facts which demonstrate there is a genuine, material issue for trial. Ruane v. Murray, supra ; SDCL 15-6-56(e). With these considerations in mind, we address the merits of Tibke's appeal in chronological order.