Court Opinion

ID: 9663210
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:31:52.090953+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:46.754835
License: Public Domain

*124VANDE WALLE, Justice,
concurring specially.
I concur in the result reached by Justice Pederson in the majority opinion. Insofar as the majority opinion may imply that Rule 59(c), N.D.R.Civ.P., establishes an absolute time within which a motion for new trial may be made, regardless of whether or not the movant has knowledge of the rendition of the decision, I disavow that holding. Rule 59(c) provides:
“(c) Time for Motion for New Trial. A motion for a new trial must be made within the following time after the return of the verdict or rendition of the decision:
“1. Upon the ground of newly discovered evidence, within 6 months; and
“2. Upon any other ground, within 60 days, unless the court, for good cause shown, shall extend the time.”
In this instance there was no jury trial. As Justice Pederson has noted in footnote No. 1, in Zimmerman v. Kitzan, 77 N.D. 477, 43 N.W.2d 822 (1950), this court determined that the filing of findings, conclusions, and order for judgment is a necessary part and the final act in the rendition of the decision. There is no indication that the Kubisiaks were aware that findings, conclusions, and an order had been filed. There are no affidavits of mailing or of service to so indicate. I do not believe that we should interpret the rule to mean that the time in which to file a motion for new trial expires regardless of whether or not the movant has knowledge that a decision has been rendered as defined in Zimmerman.
ERICKSTAD, C. J., and PAULSON, J., concur.