Title 15, CIVIL PROCEDURE

In an action affecting the title to real property, the plaintiff, at the time of filing the complaint or at any time afterwards, or the defendant, when he sets up an affirmative cause of action in his answer and demands substantive relief, at the time of filing his answer or at a…

An order made pursuant to § 15-10-6 or 15-10-7 granting or denying a motion to expunge a notice of pendency of action, may direct that the prevailing party be awarded reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. Source: SL 1980, ch 162 , § 6.

Nothing in §§ 15-10-6 to 15-10-10 , inclusive, affects or limits the liability of a person recording a notice of pendency of action for damages proximately caused thereby. Source: SL 1980, ch 162 , § 7.

For the purpose of this chapter an action shall be deemed to be pending from the time of filing the notice referred to in § 15-10-1 ; provided that such notice shall be of no avail unless it shall be followed by the first publication of the summons, or by the personal service the…

From the time of filing only shall the pendency of the action be constructive notice to a purchaser or encumbrancer of the property affected thereby. Every person whose conveyance or encumbrance is subsequently executed or subsequently recorded shall be deemed a subsequent purcha…

Whenever notice of the pendency of any action has been filed or recorded in the office of the register of deeds in any county, the party plaintiff or defendant filing the same or at whose instance the same was filed, or his attorney or attorneys, in whose name or names the notice…

Any time after the notice of pendency of an action has been filed for record pursuant to § 15-10-1 or other law, the court in which the action is pending shall, upon motion of a party to the action supported by affidavit, order that the notice be expunged unless the party who fil…

Any time after the notice of pendency of an action has been filed for record pursuant to § 15-10-1 or other law, the court in which the action is pending may, upon motion of a party to the action supported by affidavit, order that the notice be expunged if the moving party gives …

A notice of motion to expunge shall be served not less than ten days prior to the hearing. The court shall determine the matter on the affidavits and counter - affidavits on file and upon such other proof as it may permit. Source: SL 1980, ch 162 , § 4.

When a certified copy of an order expunging a notice of pendency of an action is filed for record in the office of the register of deeds in which the notice of the pendency was recorded, neither the notice of the pendency of the action nor any information derived therefrom, prior…

The clerk of courts shall keep a trial calendar under the direction of the presiding judge of the circuit. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1112; Supreme Court Rule 80-13.

Every continuance or postponement granted upon application shall be upon such terms as the court may impose. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1117.

After a certificate of readiness has been filed in a civil matter, all of the parties to the action may stipulate in writing for a continuance. After the stipulation has expired, the court shall notify the parties and set the matter for trial. Source: SL 1984, ch 145 .

The court may dismiss any civil case for want of prosecution upon written notice to counsel of record where the record reflects that there has been no activity for one year, unless good cause is shown to the contrary. The term "record," for purposes of establishing good cause, sh…

The court will from time to time designate days upon which issues of law will be tried. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1112; Supreme Court Rule 80-15.

When an action or proceeding is called for trial or hearing, or at any time previous thereto, the court or judge may, upon good cause shown, direct the trial or hearing to be postponed to another day of the same or next term, or to such time as shall be just in view of all the ci…

Whenever any action or proceeding, including a contested small claims action other than for attachment, garnishment, arrest and bail, claim and delivery, injunction, receivership, and deposit in court, to which any member of the Legislature is a party or in which any member of th…

All applications for continuance must be made, by motion, not less than ten calendar days prior to the day set for commencement of the trial, unless the cause for continuance shall have arisen or come to the knowledge of the party subsequent to that time, in which case the motion…

An application for continuance on account of the absence of a witness must be supported by the affidavit of the party, his agent, or attorney, stating: (1) The name and residence of such witness, or if unknown, the efforts made to ascertain the same; (2) The testimony such witnes…

No counteraffidavits shall be allowed upon an application for a continuance, except those offered to show want of diligence or that the application is not made in good faith. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1117.

Unless, in the opinion of the court, justice shall require it, the trial will not be continued or postponed on account of the absence of a witness, if the adverse party will admit that the witness, if present, would testify as stated in the affidavit; but in such case the applica…

The judge who presided at a trial may, after he ceases to be such judge by reason of his resignation or the expiration of his term of office, settle the record of such trial. If, before the settled record is completed, such judge is removed from office, or for any reason cannot o…

Terms, as used in §§ 15-12-20 to 15-12-37 , inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, mean: (1) "Action," any action or special proceeding in the trial court, whether civil or criminal or quasi - criminal; (2) "Canon" or "Canons," the canons set forth in the South Dakota …

Unless the right is waived or is denied by this chapter, an affidavit for change of a judge or magistrate may be filed in any action pending in the court whether originating therein or pending upon appeal from an inferior court or tribunal to the circuit court. No affidavit for s…

Prior to filing an affidavit for change of judge, the party or his attorney shall informally request the judge or magistrate who, in the ordinary course, would preside at the hearing or trial, to disqualify himself. He shall not be required to state his reasons, but may if he des…

When entitled to do so, any party to an action, or his attorney of record, in any circuit or magistrate court may within the time prescribed by this chapter, file an affidavit as provided by this chapter seeking to disqualify the judge or magistrate who is to preside or is presid…

All parties who are united in interest or representation must unite in the filing of an affidavit for change of judge or magistrate and the filing of such affidavit by one party is deemed to be filed by all of such parties. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1212; SDCL, § 15-12-3…

The submission to a judge or magistrate of argument or proof in support of a motion or application, or upon trial, is a waiver of the right thereafter to file an affidavit for change of such judge or magistrate by any party or his counsel who submitted the same or who after notic…

Not more than one change of judge or magistrate shall be granted on request and/or affidavit made by or on behalf of the same party or parties united in interest, but the filing of an affidavit and the first change of judge or magistrate shall not prevent any other party to the a…

An affidavit for change of judge or magistrate shall state the title of the action and shall recite that the affidavit is made in good faith and not for the purpose of securing delay, that in the ordinary course of litigation such action or some issue therein is expected to come …

An affidavit for change of judge or magistrate, if against the judge or magistrate who, in the ordinary course, would preside at the hearing or trial, must be filed within the following times: (1) If there be any motion or application to be heard upon notice, the party resisting …

If the affidavit for change is against a judge or magistrate who is to preside who was not regularly scheduled to do so, the provision of § 15-12-27 shall govern if there be sufficient time after the party has knowledge or notice of such change of judge or magistrate, and if ther…

If counsel is appointed or retained after the time has passed for compliance with § 15-12-27 , the request for disqualification and the affidavit must be promptly filed and the right to file shall be deemed waived if not filed within five days after counsel is so appointed or emp…

The affidavit for change of circuit judge or magistrate shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the action is pending. The clerk shall deliver a copy of such affidavit to the presiding judge of the circuit. Such clerk shall also forthwith deliver…

On the same day that an affidavit for change of judge or magistrate is filed, the party by whom or on whose behalf it is so filed, or his attorney, shall serve a copy of such affidavit, either personally or by mailing, upon all adverse parties, or their attorneys of record. The f…

The presiding judge of the circuit court or in his absence or disqualification as the judge sought to be changed, the senior judge of the circuit shall review the affidavit and certification, if any, and it is determined that the affidavit is timely and that the right to file the…

When an order appointing a substitute judge or magistrate has been filed with the clerk of the circuit court, that clerk shall notify the appointed judge or magistrate of the appointment by electronic mailing or by personally delivering a copy of such order of appointment and a s…

In the event it shall be determined that all the judges of the circuit are disqualified or are unable to act in such action, the presiding judge of the circuit shall make and file in the office of the clerk of courts of the court involved an order to that effect. The clerk with w…

Upon receipt of the matter required by § 15-12-34 , the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall assign some other judge to preside in such action by filing an order with the clerk of the Supreme Court, and from the filing of such order the judge therein designated shall have ful…

The judge or magistrate assigned to replace a disqualified judge or magistrate shall hear the action involved at the time set in any previous order, notice of any calendar assignment or at such other time as he may designate, to the end that the filing of such affidavit for chang…

A judge or magistrate having knowledge of a ground for self - disqualification under the guidelines established by Canon 3E shall not, unless Canon 3F is utilized, await the filing of an affidavit but shall remove himself on written motion to be filed in duplicate by the judge or…

A reference may be ordered upon the agreement of the parties filed with the clerk or entered in the minutes: (1) To try any or all the issues in an action or proceeding, whether of fact or law and to report a finding and conclusion thereon; (2) To ascertain a fact necessary to en…

When the parties do not consent the court may, upon the application of either, or of its own motion, direct a reference in the following cases: (1) When the trial of an issue of fact requires the examination of a long account on either side; in which case the referee may be direc…

The referee may appoint a shorthand reporter whose qualifications and duties shall be the same as those of the shorthand reporter of the court. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1514.

The fees and necessary expense of the referee and the compensation of the shorthand reporter shall be fixed by the court, after filing the report, and shall be audited and paid by the county wherein the court is held which made the reference; provided that the compensation of suc…

In civil jury cases, prior to the jury having been selected and sworn, the court may read a written statement of the case agreed upon by the parties to the prospective jurors. The statement may include a summary of the uncontested facts of the case, the claims of the parties and …