Court Opinion

ID: 9896068
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-09 15:08:22.416754+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:46.587019
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                      IN THE OFFICE OF THE
                                                                   CLERK OF SUPREME COURT
                                                                       SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
                                                                    STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                    IN THE SUPREME COURT
                    STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                                2023 ND 173

In the Matter of John V. Klein Family Trust, dated December 31, 2003 and
Amended on May 19, 2010

Gregory D. Klein and Wesley J. Klein,               Petitioners and Appellees
      v.
Jelena M. Bouret and John V. Klein, Jr.,          Respondents and Appellees
      and
Jeffrey G. Klein,                                                Respondent
      and
Bruce G. Klein,                                    Respondent and Appellant

                                No. 20230059

Appeal from the District Court of Dunn County, Southwest Judicial District,
the Honorable James D. Gion, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Per Curiam.

Christopher J. Nyhus, Bismarck, ND, for petitioners and appellees; submitted
on brief.

Clark J. Bormann and Katie L. Winbauer, Bismarck, ND, for respondent and
appellee Jelena M. Bouret, n.k.a. Jelena M. Barfield; submitted on brief.

John V. Klein, Jr., Max, ND, respondent and appellee; submitted on brief.
Bruce G. Klein, Upham, ND, respondent and appellant; submitted on brief.
                       Matter of John V. Klein Trust
                               No. 20230059

Per Curiam.

[¶1] Bruce Klein appeals from an order granting trustees’ petition for sale of
trust’s surface interests and distribution of mineral interests to beneficiaries.
He argues the district court erred by limiting testimony and argument from
John Klein, Jr., and improperly interpreting the trust documents. We conclude
the court did not abuse its discretion by limiting John Klein, Jr.’s testimony
and argument. Further, we conclude Bruce Klein did not raise the trust
interpretation issue in the district court and thus cannot raise it now on appeal
for the first time. Beeter v. Sawyer Disposal LLC, 2009 ND 153, ¶¶ 20-21, 771
N.W.2d 282 (concluding issues not raised in the district court cannot be raised
for the first time on appeal). We summarily affirm under N.D.R.App.P.
35.1(a)(4) and (7).

[¶2] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
     Lisa Fair McEvers
     Douglas A. Bahr
     Allan L. Schmalenberger, S.J.
     Norman G. Anderson, S.J.

[¶3] The Honorable Allan L. Schmalenberger, S.J., and the Honorable
Norman G. Anderson, S.J., sitting in place of Crothers, J., and Tufte, J.,
disqualified.

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