Justia Family Law Opinion Summaries

In 1988, Respondent Linda Dahlin obtained a judgment for unpaid spousal support against Appellant Randall Kroening. In 1998, the judgment was extended for an additional ten years pursuant to state law. In 2008, Respondent filed suit with the district court to renew the judgment for another ten years. The court denied the request holding that the judgment could only be renewed once. A divided appellate court reversed the district court, holding that the judgment could be renewed. The Supreme Court settled the split in the lower courts by holding that Respondent could renew her judgment, and that the state law did not limit action on a judgment to one renewal. The Court affirmed the appellate courtâs decision.