Court Opinion

ID: 9663485
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:40:10.594049+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:50.721399
License: Public Domain

MESCHKE, Justice,
concurring.
NDRCivP 40(b)(1) requires that the certificate of readiness certify, “to the best knowledge and belief of the filing attorney," (my emphasis), “(C) That all pretrial motions have been disposed of,” among other things. I am puzzled how counsel for United in this case could have filed a “certificate of readiness which stated that all pretrial motions have been disposed of,” as summarized in Chief Justice Erickstad’s opinion for this court. Quackenbush’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction was pending. Without disposition of that motion before further permitted pleadings, it is difficult to understand how counsel could also certify “[t]hat issues are joined and the case in all respects is ready for trial,” as NDRCivP 40(b)(1)(A) requires. These inaccurate certifications may have misled this trial court into its erroneous ruling on Quackenbush’s rights to file a demand for a jury and to file a counterclaim.