Landlocked-Access Determinations Are Quasi-Judicial and Require Trial De Novo Case commentary: Zirbel v. Deuel County, 2026 S.D. 54, Supreme Court of South Dakota. Central holding: A county...
Advance Knowledge of a Dangerous Weapon Is Required to Aid and Abet First-Degree Robbery Case: State v. Bromley, 2026 S.D. 53 Court: Supreme Court of South Dakota Decided: October 21, 2026 Opinion:...
Tax-Deed Quiet Title Actions Under SDCL Chapter 21-41 Do Not Carry Chapter 21-42’s Redemption Right Case: Bialota v. Lakota Lakes, LLC, 2026 S.D. 52 Court: Supreme Court of South Dakota Date: October...
A Notice of Review Cannot Independently Invoke Appellate Jurisdiction Case: In Re the Six Cataracts Trust, 2026 S.D. 49 Court: Supreme Court of South Dakota Date: September 23, 2026 Introduction In...
Requesting Presumptive Probation Preserves Appellate Review, and Nonviolent Recidivism May Justify Departure Case: State v. Lucero, 2026 S.D. 48 Court: Supreme Court of South Dakota Date: September...
Waiver by Conduct of a Parent’s Statutory and Due-Process Right to Appointed Counsel in South Dakota Termination Proceedings Introduction Interest of P.R.M., 2026 S.D. 47, is a South Dakota Supreme...
Continuances Based on Speculative Compassionate Release and Limits on Appellate Judicial Notice in Termination Proceedings (Interest of A.L. and D.L.) 1. Introduction In Interest of A.L. and D.L.,...
SDCL 15-17-51 Frivolous-Fee Awards Are Premature Absent Dismissal of the Action; Only Contracting Parties May Seek Rescission Case: Estate of O'farrell v. O'farrell, 2026 S.D. 44 (S.D. July 9, 2026)...
Inverse Condemnation in South Dakota Requires Government Action that Takes or Damages Private Property for a Public Use—State Mining on State-Owned Land and Mere Mineral-Rights Retention Do Not...
South Dakota’s “Form-at-Inception” Insurable-Interest Rule (and One-Year Trust Statute of Repose) in Alleged STOLI/Premium-Financed Life Insurance Case: Viva Capital Trust v. Garrett, 2026 S.D. 42...
Rule 45(b) Objections Forestall Subpoena Compliance; Bad-Faith Subpoena Misuse Supports Rule 41(b) Dismissal Case: Gibson v. Gibson, 2026 S.D. 43 (S.D. July 1, 2026) Court: Supreme Court of South...
State v. Kujawa (2026 S.D. 41): Rule 609 Impeachment Requires “Essential Facts” (Name/Nature and Date) and Rejects Blanket “Unnamed Felony” Limits Introduction In State v. Kujawa, the South Dakota...
South Dakota Cannot Exercise Concurrent Criminal Jurisdiction on Nebraska Side of Missouri River Absent a Reciprocal Nebraska Act or Compact Introduction State v. Ogden, 2026 S.D. 40 (S.D. June 24,...
Judicial Estoppel Bars a Statute-of-Frauds Defense to Loan Indebtedness Previously Sworn to in Earlier Litigation 1. Introduction In Fischer v. Fischer-Olson, 2026 S.D. 39, the South Dakota Supreme...
Habeas Rule 12(b)(5) Dismissals Must Use the Twombly/Sisney “Plausibility” Standard—South Dakota Retires the “No Set of Facts” Formulation in Habeas Case: Guzman v. Sullivan, 2026 S.D. 38 (S.D. June...
Pretrial Self-Defense Immunity Under SDCL 22-18-4.8 Is Moot After Conviction: The Bendel Rule 1. Introduction In State v. Bendel, 2026 S.D. 35, the Supreme Court of South Dakota addressed a homicide...
“When Required” Means Sometimes Not Required: Traffic Stops Cannot Rest on Objectively Unreasonable Mistakes of South Dakota Turn-Signal Law (SDCL 32-26-18.1 & 32-26-22) Introduction In State v....
Final Conviction Moots Appellate Review of SDCL 22-18-4.8 Pretrial Self‑Defense Immunity Rulings Introduction In State v. Braveheart, 2026 S.D. 36, the Supreme Court of South Dakota addressed a...
Finality Under SDCL 62-7-33 Requires a Complete Payment-Modification Determination (Not Just a Change-in-Condition Finding) 1. Introduction Case: Wetch v. Midcontinent Media, Inc., 2026 S.D. 34 (S.D....
Contingent Fee Agreements Terminate Upon Attorney Death; Estate’s Remedy Sounds in Quantum Meruit, and Interpleader Deposits Do Not Earn Prejudgment Interest 1. Introduction Groves v. Goodsell &...