Court Opinion

ID: 9710210
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:04:26.259347+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:55.085057
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring).
In Daugaard v. Baltic Co-op. Bldg. Supply Ass’n, 349 N.W.2d 419 (S.D.1984), we determined that two statutes of repose, namely SDCL 15-2-9 and SDCL 15-2-12.1, violated the open courts provision of South Dakota Constitution Article VI, § 20. Daugaard thereafter was cited in Salem Sch. Dist. 43-3 v. Puetz Constr., Inc., 353 N.W.2d 51, 53 (S.D.1984), as authority for vacating a summary judgment. In Wright v. Int’l Harvester Co., 736 F.2d 483 (8th Cir.1984), the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals also acted on our ruling in Daugaard and remanded that case for further proceedings in light of Daugaard.
Daugaard overruled McMacken v. State, 320 N.W.2d 131 (S.D.1982) (Justices Dunn and Henderson dissenting), and Mitchell Sch. Dist. No. 17-2 v. Welfl Constr., 329 N.W.2d 138 (S.D.1983) (Justices Dunn and Henderson dissenting).
Obviously, I spiritually agree with the writing of this Court. In my dissent in McMacken, I decried the preclusion of access to the courts setting forth numerous decisions in this nation. McMacken at 140. Furthermore, I pointed out in said dissent that Article VI, § 20 of the South Dakota Constitution manifests the intention of our forefathers that our courts shall remain open for an injury done to a man’s or woman’s property, person, or reputation. Girded with the various authorities set forth in said dissent, Daugaard was bom. Now, its verbiage and holding quoted and cited in the highest courts of Arizona and Utah strengthens my beliefs in the sound*142ness of the underlying rationale of Dau-gaard.