Precedential OpinionsUnder Minn. Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 136.01, the Court of Appeals issues a precedential opinion (formerly called "published opinions") only to clarify or develop the law.  In deciding whether to issue a precedential opinion, the court considers multiple factors listed in Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 136.01, subd. (1)(b), incluing whether the case establishes a new principle or rule of law, clarifies existing case law, decides a novel issue involving a constitutional provision, statute, administrative rule or rule of court, or resolves a significant or recurring legal issue.  Precedential opinions will be considered and used by courts faced with similar issues in the future, and they are published in books of caselaw found in most law libraries.  Under Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(f), parties may advise the court whether a precedential opinion would be helpful. 

DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
FILED Monday, January 13, 2025

A24-1122   Gopher Mats, LLC d/b/a Viking Mat Company, Cross-Appellant, vs. Kalesnikoff Lumber Company, Ltd., Appellant, Respondent on
                    Related Appeal, Kalesnikoff Mass Timber, Inc., Respondent on Related Appeal, Weekes Forest Products Inc., Respondent.
                    Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kristin Siegesmund.
          1. In assessing a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, a court resolves conflicting evidence in favor of the party asserting jurisdiction.
          2. A foreign corporation’s business dealings with its exclusive product distributor in Minnesota may be relevant to assess the foreign corporation’s contacts with Minnesota where those business dealings give rise or relate to a claim for liability connected to that product.
          Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Chief Judge Jennifer Frisch.

A24-0699   Rebecca A. Niebuhr, Appellant, vs. Jacob Sieberg, Defendant, Timothy Sieberg, et al., Respondents.
                    Blue Earth County District Court, Hon. Mark Edward Betters.
          Vehicle owners may be held vicariously liable as principals under the Minnesota Safety Responsibility Act, Minnesota Statutes section 169.09, subdivision 5a (2022), even if their deemed agent, the driver of the vehicle involved in an accident, is immune from liability as a coemployee under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Act, Minnesota Statutes section 176.061, subdivision 5(e) (2022).
          Reversed and remanded. Judge Elizabeth G. Bentley.

Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are typically issued in cases that do not contain issues of first impression or involve the application of established law to the particular set of facts and circumstances in that case.  See Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01.  Nonprecedential opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, but nonprecedential opinions may be cited as persuasive authority." Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01. 

NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS
FILED Monday, January 13, 2025

Pursuant to Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 136.01, subd. 1 (c)

1.   A24-0468
      Oluwafunbi Ige Olusina, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Ann Oludolapo Olusina, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Motions denied. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Scott County District Court, Hon. Mark Vandelist.

2.   A24-0209
      James P Gerchy, Respondent, vs. Autumn Antlers Trophy Whitetail Lodge, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, et al., Appellants.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Shan C. Wang.

3.   A24-0352
      Zutz Farms, et al., Appellants, vs. Middle Snake Tamarac Rivers Watershed District, Respondent, Christian Erickson, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Marshall County District Court, Hon. Corey Harbott.

4.   A24-0115
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Scott Wayne Erickson, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      McLeod County District Court, Hon. Jessica J.W. Maher.

5.   A24-0631
      Michael Kwabena Asiedu, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Gladys Barkey Asiedu, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Motion granted. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Christina Kilbo Stevens.

6.   A24-0189
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Charles Edward Love, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Reynaldo Aligada, Jr.

7.   A23-0004
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Carmen Marie Burth, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Chisago County District Court, Hon. Bridgid E. Dowdal.

8.   A24-0184
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Oluwatobi Samson Taiwo, Appellant.
       Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Anoka County District Court, Hon. Kristin C. Larson.

9.   A23-1911
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Anthony Dimitri Limogianni, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Crow Wing County District Court, Hon. Erik J. Askegaard.

10. A24-0678, A24-0704
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Thomas John Forcier, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Benton County District Court, Hon. Michael S. Jesse.

11. A23-1779, A23-1981
      Brent Lee Florine, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Lauren Marie Florine, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Rachna Sullivan.

12. A24-0832
      Matthew Ryan Foede, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Courtney Ann-Nicole Vaughn, Appellant, County of Sherburne, Intervenor.
       Affirmed. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
      Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Karen Schommer.

13. A24-0208
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Michael Daniel Keller, Appellant.
       Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Judge Sarah Hudleston.

14. A24-1045
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: G. U. T., Parent.
      Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Rachel Hughey.

15. A24-1004
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Churojut Peter Thuok, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Mary B. Mahler.

16. A24-0966
      In re the Estate of: Jose Antonio Chimborazo Quizhpi, decedent.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Jon Schmidt.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Julia Dayton Klein.

17. A24-0864
      Dalvin Cook, Respondent, vs. Gracelyn Trimble, et al., Defendants, Coley Grostyan, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Joseph R. Klein.

18. A24-0404
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Stefan Scott Tucker, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
      Crow Wing County District Court, Hon. Charles D. Halverson.

19. A24-1142
      In re the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of: C. B. H. and R. V. S., Parents.
      Affirmed. Judge Elizabeth G. Bentley.
      Chisago County District Court, Hon. Heather Wynn.

20. A24-0550
      Rebecca L Bersch, Appellant, vs. Sharon K Hills, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Motion granted in part, denied in part. Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
      Dakota County District Court, Hon. Paula D. Vraa.

21. A24-0020
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joshua Shaine Defoe, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
      Itasca County District Court, Hon. Sarah McBroom.

22. A24-0518
      Summer Rae Cada on Behalf of Minor Children, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Brian Gerald Cada, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge John P. Smith.*
      Winona County District Court, Hon. Nancy L. Buytendorp.

23. A24-0346
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Edin Arnold Sanchez, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge John P. Smith.*
      Lyon County District Court, Hon. Michelle A. Dietrich.

* Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.

Order OpinionsCases that involve a few simple issues may be decided by order opinions, which include little discussion of the facts of the case and a brief analysis of the laws that are involved. Order opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel." Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01. 

RECENT ORDER OPINIONS
January 13, 2025

Opinions released on a day other than the court’s weekly release date will appear on the Special Release Opinions tab. Special release opinions may be precedential, nonprecedential, or order opinions.  

NO SPECIAL RELEASE OPINIONS FILED

Opinion SetsAs of June 1, 2023, the Court of Appeals no longer provides opinion sets in Word Document format and Rich Text Format. Opinions are available in PDF format under the Opinions tabs on this site.

Opinion Sets For Opinions
Filed Monday, January 13, 2025

Opinion Set in a Zipped PDF Format

1. Click the above link.
2. Save the unzipped file to your computer.
3. Choose the "Open" option on the Download Complete screen.
4. Extract the files to a location of your choice.
5. Open the extracted file.