Court of Appeals Opinions


Opinion Policies

Minnesota Court of Appeals opinions are issued weekly and are available to the public at 10:00 a.m. CST/CDT every Monday. When a Monday is a holiday, opinions are issued on Tuesday.   

On Wednesday of every week, the Court of Appeals will distribute a notice that informs counsel, self-represented (pro se) parties, and court personnel associated with a case that an opinion will be released the following Monday.  Opinions are available online or by visiting the Clerk of Appellate Courts, 305 Minnesota Judicial Center, 25 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, after the Monday release time.

In certain time-sensitive cases, the Court of Appeals may issue opinions on other business days.  In these instances, involved parties will be contacted just prior to the special release.

Please visit the Minnesota State Law Library's Appellate Opinions Archive for previously released Court of Appeals Opinions and previously released Special Term Orders.
 

NOTE: If you are having trouble accessing the tabs on your mobile device, you may view all Opinions on a single page.


Precedential OpinionsBy statute, the Court of Appeals issues a precedential (formerly called "published") opinion only in the most important and complex cases. Precedential opinions include an extensive analysis of the facts and law. They 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.

DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
FILED Monday, March 18, 2024


A23-0428   State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jennifer Marie Hansen, Appellant.
                    Aitkin County District Court, Hon. David F. Hermerding.
          A police search of garbage set out for collection does not violate the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution or article I, section 10 of the Minnesota Constitution even if a local municipal ordinance prohibits the inspection or removal of items from a private waste receptacle.
           Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.

A23-0373   JayCee Cooper, Respondent, vs. USA Powerlifting, Appellant, USA
A23-0621   Powerlifting Minnesota, Respondent on Related Appeal (A23-0373).
                    Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Patrick C. Diamond.
          1. The district court erred by granting plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment and concluding that defendant is liable to plaintiff on her claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation in public accommodations and in business under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.01-.44 (2018), because there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether defendant excluded plaintiff from the women’s division of its weightlifting competitions because of her transgender status.
          2. The district court erred by granting plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment and concluding that defendant is liable to plaintiff on her claims of discrimination based on sexual orientation and sex in business under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 363A.01-.44 (2018), because there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether defendant excluded plaintiff from the women’s division of its weightlifting competitions for
a legitimate business purpose.
          Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
          Concurring in part, dissenting in part, Judge Jennifer Frisch.


A23-0374   Andrea Anderson, Appellant, vs. Aitkin Pharmacy Services, LLC dba
A23-0484   Thrifty White Pharmacy, Respondent, George Badeaux, Respondent.
                    Aitkin County District Court, Hon. David F. Hermerding.
          1. A pharmacist engages in business discrimination within the meaning of Minnesota Statutes section 363A.17(3) (2018), when the pharmacist intentionally refuses to dispense a valid prescription for emergency contraception to a customer because the medication may interfere with a pregnancy.
          2. A district court errs by instructing a jury that the plaintiff must show a “material disadvantage” or “tangible change in conditions” to succeed on a public accommodations claim under Minnesota Statutes section 363A.11 (2018).
          Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.

A23-0495    Kristin M. Schantzen, et al., Plaintiffs, vs. Charlotte Erdmann, Appellant,  Valley Chiropractic Clinic, Ltd., Respondent.
                     Washington County District Court, Hon. Ellen L. Maas.
          1. A claim for indemnification by an employee of a Minnesota corporation is governed by Minn. Stat. § 302A.521 (2022). Minn. Stat. § 181.970 (2022) does not apply to such a claim.
          2. A person who has been indemnified by their individual liability insurer is not entitled to indemnification under Minn. Stat. § 302A.521, subd. 2, because an insurance company is an “organization” for purposes of Minn. Stat. § 302A.521, subd. 2(a)(1), which requires that the person seeking indemnification “has not been indemnified by another organization.”
          Affirmed. Judge Sarah Wheelock
Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are issued in cases that are less complicated, that involve legal issues that have already been decided in precedential opinions, or that will affect only the parties to that particular case. These opinions are usually shorter than precedential opinions, do not contain extensive discussion of the facts, and are not generally relied on by other courts to the same degree as precedential opinions.

NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS
FILED Monday, March 18, 2024

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


1.   A23-0963
      In re: The Matter of T. M. and the Commissioner Jodi Harpstead.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Sara R. Grewing.

2.   A23-0626
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Hurie Tyrone Boclair, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Lisa K. Janzen.

3.   A23-0605
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Brandon Lee Berry, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Otter Tail County District Court, Hon. Johnathan Judd.

4.   A23-0235
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Matthew Lee Rote, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Pine County District Court, Hon. Patrick W. Flanagan.

5.   A23-1482, A23-1486
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of: D. M. P. and J. T. P., Parents.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Becker County District Court, Hon. Michelle W. Lawson.

6.   A23-0938
      Daniel J. Keller, Appellant, vs. Monumental Sales, Inc., et al., Respondents.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Nathaniel Welte.

7.   A23-0503
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Donald Jerome Harris, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Kelly Olmstead.

8.   A23-0305
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Daryl Craig Kivi, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Daniel C. Moreno.

9.   A23-0932
      Request to Approve Issuance of State Taconite Iron Ore Mining Leases in Itasca County to Cleveland-Cliffs Minnesota Land Development LLC.
      Dismissed; motion denied. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

10.  A23-0522
       Leslie E. Sheehy Lee, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Travis W. Kalis, Respondent, County of Le Sueur, Respondent.
       Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
       LeSueur County District Court, Hon. Jan P. Davidson.
       LeSueur County District Court, Hon. Patrick Goggins.

11. A23-0920
      Jimmy Rosas, OBO Minor Child, Respondent, vs. Soledad Sanchez, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Kristi Stanislawski.

12. A23-0682
      Evelyn M. Marsh, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Eric Nyepon, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Laura Marie Thomas.

13. A23-0856
      Elfi E Janssen, et al., Appellants, vs. Lommen, Abdo, Cole, King & Stageberg P. A., et al., Respondents, Sibley Holdings, LLC, et al., Respondents.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Joseph R. Klein.

14. A23-0590
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Edgard Francisco Talave Latino, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Meeker County District Court, Hon. Stephanie L. Beckman.

15. A23-1112
      Nanette Brooks, et al., parents and natural guardians of minor A.B., Appellants, vs. Tracy Crudo individually, and as parent of minor V.C.,
      Respondent.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Anoka County District Court, Hon. James A. Cunningham, Jr.

16. A23-1132
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Margaret Ann Frank, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Waseca County District Court, Hon. Carol M. Hanks.

17. A23-1036
      Section 21 Southeast, LLC, Appellant, vs. Seiffert Farm L.L.C., a Minnesota Limited Liability Company, Respondent, Jeffery Seiffert, et al.,
      Defendants.
      Reversed; motion denied. Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Wilkin County District Court, Hon. Amy J. Doll.

18.  A23-0161
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Steven Paul Hess, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Nicollet County District Court, Hon. Todd W. Westphal.

19. A23-0561
      EP Land LLC, et al., Appellants, vs. City of Eden Prairie, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Sarah Wheelock.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Thomas J. Conley.

20. A23-0760
      August Ventures, LLC, et al., Respondents, vs. Gedney Foods Company, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jonathan P. Schmidt.
      Carver County District Court, Hon. Janet L. Barke Cain.

21. A23-0458
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Winlaw Barratt Bramley, III, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jonathan P. Schmidt.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Mary B. Mahler.

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.

RECENT ORDER OPINIONS
March 18, 2024


1.   A23-0781
      Shawn Allison Anderson, n/k/a Shawn Allison Trebnick, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Kenneth Charles Anderson, Appellant.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Washington County District Court, Hon. Siv Mjanger.

2.   A23-0747
      Anshul Bhardwaj, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Aprajita Sud, Respondent.
      Remanded. Judge Michael L. Kirk.*
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Nelson L. Peralta.

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

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, March 18, 2024

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.