Court Opinion

ID: 9690121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:54:28.10612+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:53.656337
License: Public Domain

MESCHKE, Justice,
concurring.
I concur in the result.
I would not rest the decision about enforceability of the memorandum agreement on evidentiary grounds. While Justice Levine’s opinion recognizes that questions of authentication under Rule 901 are matters of conditional relevance to be determined according to Rule 104(b), it fails to recognize that on questions of conditional relevancy under Rule 104(b), the finder of fact “is to determine whether the preliminary fact exists.” Explanatory Note to N.D. R.Ev. 104, North Dakota Court Rules, 1986 Desk Copy. Since N.D.R.Ev. 901(b)(4) recognizes that contents or substance, “taken in conjunction with circumstances,” is “evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims,” I would defer to the sound discretion and finding of the trial court.
*389Rather, I am persuaded that “the alleged agreement should be found unenforceable as to GEM”, as Gem also argues, although I have difficulty with the lack of notice reasons advanced by Gem. There is no basis shown why Gem should be liable on an agreement to pay money which was signed by a third person, the Rose Patterson Estate. Absent agreement by Gem to assume or to pay the obligation to R & D, I see no basis to hold Gem liable. Therefore, I concur in reversing the judgment awarding R & D recovery against Gem.
I would also affirm dismissal of Gem’s counterclaim for the reason given by the trial court: “[T]he defendant’s evidence has failed to establish said claim by a preponderance of the evidence.” N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a).