Cossette v. Cass County Joint Water Resource District

[¶ 18] I concur with the portion of the majority opinion dismissing the Cossettes’ request for declaratory relief. I respectfully dissent from that part reversing the district court on the issue of whether the Cossettes are “aggrieved” and thus entitled to appeal.

[¶ 19] Section 61-16.1-54, N.D.C.C., permits an appeal “to the district court from any order or decision of the water resource board by any person aggrieved.” Because “aggrieved” is not a defined term, we interpret it in its ordinary sense. N.D.C.C. § 1-02-02. A dictionary frequently provides us with a reliable starting point in…