Peterson v. State

2008 ND 225, 758 N.W.2d 749, 2008 N.D. LEXIS 207
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 16, 2008
DocketNo. 20080094
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2008 ND 225 (Peterson v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Peterson v. State, 2008 ND 225, 758 N.W.2d 749, 2008 N.D. LEXIS 207 (N.D. 2008).

Opinion

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice.

[¶ 1] Lila Peterson appealed from a district court order cancelling a hearing on the disposition of dogs seized at her residence. Peterson argues the district court erred in determining she voluntarily agreed to relinquish ownership of her dogs and she was not entitled to a hearing under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06. We conclude Peterson was entitled to a hearing, and we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

[750]*750I

[¶ 2] On March 1, 2008, Burleigh County deputy sheriffs went to Peterson’s home to investigate allegations regarding the care of multiple dogs at her residence and to remove the dogs from her care. Peterson signed a form entitled “relinquishment of ownership,” which stated “I ... voluntarily agree to relinquish ownership of dogs to the Burleigh County Sheriffs Department. I understand that this donation is permanent and I have no further claims or interests in these animals or their offspring.” The deputies also gave Peterson a form entitled “notice of confiscation of animals,” which said:

Notice is hereby given that all of the dogs being confined at your residence ... are hereby confiscated by the Bur-leigh County Sheriffs Department, pursuant to the authority of Section 36-21.1-06 of the North Dakota Century Code for failure to provide necessary care for said animals.
You are further advised that said dogs may be sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to court order if they have not been redeemed within 5 days, and that the animals will only be returned to you if the Burleigh County District Court determines that you can provide adequate care for said animals.
You must contact the Burleigh County Sheriffs Department within 5 days from the date of this order of your intent to redeem said animals.

The notice of confiscation was signed by the Burleigh County sheriff.

[¶ 3] Peterson sent the sheriff a response to the notice of confiscation on March 6, 2008. She claimed the sheriffs department was not authorized to take the animals, there was no evidence the animals were exposed to cold or inclement weather or that they were not properly fed and watered, and she did not own some of the animals. She demanded an immediate return of the animals or a court hearing to determine whether the animals were properly confiscated.

[¶ 4] On March 11, 2008, Peterson petitioned the district court for a hearing on the disposition of the animals under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06. A hearing was scheduled. The State responded, requesting the “hearing be dismissed.” The State argued the dogs were not confiscated under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06(1), Peterson voluntarily relinquished ownership of the dogs, she did not have a cause of action under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06, and she was not entitled to a hearing. A copy of the signed relinquishment of ownership was attached to the State’s response. On March 17, 2008, the district court cancelled the hearing finding, “Lila Peterson voluntarily agreed to relinquish ownership of her dogs to the Burleigh County Sheriffs Department. She is not entitled to a hearing under Section 36-21.1-06, N.D.C.C.”

[¶ 5] Peterson appealed on April 21, 2008. In June 2008, Peterson moved to supplement the record on appeal under N.D.R.App.P. 10(h) to include the notice of confiscation, Peterson’s March 6, 2008, response to the sheriff, and her response to the State’s response to the petition for hearing and request for the hearing to be reset. Affidavits from Peterson, her husband, and a friend were attached to Peterson’s response. Peterson’s response and request to reset the hearing was dated March 18, 2008, and as part of her motion to supplement the record, she said her response and the affidavits were sent to the State and the court administrator’s office but were not included with the record on appeal. The parties agreed to supplement the record, and the district court ordered the exhibits be made part of the court record.

[751]*751II

[¶ 6] Peterson argues the district court erred in finding she voluntarily relinquished her ownership rights to the dogs and the court was required to hold a hearing before determining voluntariness. She seeks a remand for further proceedings.

[If 7] Animals may be confiscated in certain circumstances under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06, which provides, in part:

1. Any sheriff, police officer, licensed veterinarian, or investigator may take custody of and care for any animal unjustifiably exposed to cold or inclement weather or not properly fed and watered....
3. If the owner or the owner’s agent is known, the individual must be immediately notified. If the owner or the owner’s agent is unknown, notice must be given by publication in the manner prescribed by law. The notice must inform the owner or the owner’s agent that the animal may be sold, or otherwise disposed of, pursuant to court order if the animal is not redeemed within five days from the date of the notice.
4. The sheriff, police officer, licensed veterinarian, investigator, or whoever has custody of the animal has a lien on the animal and that lien is superior to any other claim or lien, for the animal’s care and keeping, the reasonable value of the food and drink furnished, and the expenses of notifying the owner or the owner’s agent. If the lien is not discharged and satisfied by the owner or the owner’s agent within five days after receipt of the notice, the person holding the claim may apply to the district court for an order to sell the animal and discharge the lien.
5. Upon order of the court, the animal may be sold at a public market to pay the charges for its keeping, and the title to the animal passes by the sale.
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8. Before the animal is returned to its owner, the court shall determine whether the owner or the owner’s agent can provide adequate care for the animal. The court has ten days within which to make this determination. The owner shall pay the cost of taking the animal into custody before the animal is released to the owner or the owner’s agent.

When an animal has been confiscated for one of the reasons enumerated in N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06(1), the plain language of that statute contemplates court proceedings either for an order allowing the animal to be disposed of or sold, or for the court to determine whether the animal can be returned to the owner. N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06(3), (5), and (8). See also Hearing on S.B. 2300 Before the Senate Agriculture Comm., 57th N.D. Legis. Sess. (Feb. 1, 2001) (testimony of Larry Schuler, State Veterinarian and Executive Officer of the State Board of Animal Health) (written and oral testimony about time line for court hearing).

[¶ 8] The State argues Peterson’s dogs were not confiscated under N.D.C.C. § 36-21.1-06(1) and the confiscation statute does not apply because Peterson voluntarily relinquished her ownership rights to the animals. A person generally may waive her property rights. See N.D.C.C. § 1-01-08; Lawrence v. Delkamp, 2006 ND 257, ¶ 8, 725 N.W.2d 211. “ ‘A waiver occurs when a person voluntarily and intentionally relinquishes a known right or privilege.’ ” Lawrence, at ¶ 8 (quoting Pfeifle v. Tanabe, 2000 ND 219, ¶ 18, 620 N.W.2d 167). The existence of a waiver is generally a question of fact. Paulson v. Paulson, 2005 ND 72, ¶ 6, 694 N.W.2d 681.

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Related

In Re Peterson's Dogs
2008 ND 225 (North Dakota Supreme Court, 2008)

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Bluebook (online)
2008 ND 225, 758 N.W.2d 749, 2008 N.D. LEXIS 207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/peterson-v-state-nd-2008.