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, April 22, 2024

A23-1080   Shaira Mattingly, Appellant, vs. American Family Insurance, Defendant, Kathleen Plasch, Respondent.
                    Washington County District Court, Hon. Juanita C. Freeman
          A plaintiff asserting a personal-injury claim based on the allegedly tortious conduct of a deceased person must sue the personal representative of the deceased person’s estate, as authorized by Minnesota Statutes section 573.01 (Supp. 2023). A plaintiff does not properly commence such a personal-injury action by suing a person appointed trustee to pursue a wrongful-death claim for the benefit of the deceased person’s surviving spouse and next of kin pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 573.02, subdivision 3 (2022).
          Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson

A23-1024   City of Eden Prairie, Respondent, vs. Travis R. Serafin, Relator, Public Employees Retirement Association, Respondent.
                    Office of Administrative Hearings
          An administrative-law judge does not have the statutory authority under Minn. Stat.
§ 299A.465, subd. 1(b) (2022), to decide whether an individual has contractually waived a claim to continued health-insurance coverage.
          Reversed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.

Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are issued in cases that are less complicated, that involve legal issues that have already been decided in precedential opinions, or that will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NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS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, April 22, 2024

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

1.   A23-1899
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Marquis Deonte Gardner, Defendant, Midwest Bonding, LLC, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Michael E. Burns.

2.   A23-0837
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. David Powers, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Concurring, Judge Jennifer Frisch, and Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Washington County District Court, Hon. Juanita C. Freeman.

3.   A22-0234
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. James Lockhart Lang, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Elizabeth V. Cutter.

4.   A23-0745
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Shawn Dione Davenport, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Dakota County District Court, Hon. Jamie L. Cork.

5.   A23-1258
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Ryan Emmett Moore, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Pope County District Court, Hon. Melissa Listug.

6.   A23-1178
      In the Matter of the Appeal of Rate Calculation for Community-University Health Care Center.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Minnesota Department of Human Services.

7.   A23-0912
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Shawn Eric Clement, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Christina Kilbo Stevens

8.   A23-1109
      Stockholm Township, Respondent, vs. Glenn A. Schmidt, et al., Appellants, Bancommunity Service Corporation, et al., Defendants.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Wright County District Court, Hon. Kari Willis.

9.   A23-1118
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Kenneth Bernard Lax, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Kelly Olmstead.

10. A23-0960
      Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Inc., Appellant, vs. Joint Revocable Trust Agreement of John N. Charais and Sveindis Charais, et al.,
      Respondents.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Concurring, Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Beltrami County District Court, Hon. John G. Melbye.

11. A23-1177
      In the Matter of the Welfare of: A. A. S., Child.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Rice County District Court, Hon. Jeffrey M. Johnson

12. A23-0399
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jawan Contrail Carroll, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Paul Scoggin.

13. A22-1785
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Walter Pierre Thomas, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Benton County District Court, Hon. Robert Raupp.

14. A23-0616
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jeffrey Scott Gunderson, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Becker County District Court, Hon. Gretchen Thilmony.

15. A23-0496
      In the Matter of the Appeal by Primrose School of Arden Hills and Shoreview of the Order of License Revocation.
      Affirmed. Judge Sarah Wheelock.
      Minnesota Department of Human Services.

16. A23-0901
      Brad Hammerberg, as trustee for the Leonard J. and Margaret T. Schubert Irrevocable Trust, dated June 23, 2005, Respondent, vs. Minnesota
      Department of Human Services, et al., Appellants.
      Reversed. Judge Elise Larson.
      Mille Lacs County District Court, Hon. Gail T. Kulick.

17. A23-1809
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of: J. M. B. (Mth) and I. C. R. (Alleged Fth) and any Unknown Father, Parents.
      Reversed. Judge Keala C. Ede.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Matthew E. Engelking.

18. A23-1454
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Bryant Jerome Stephenson, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Keala C. Ede.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. William J. Cashman .

19. A23-1334
      In the Matter of the Welfare of: C. J. C., Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Roger M. Klaphake.*
      Chisago County District Court, Hon. Jesse Seabrooks, II.

 
1.   A23-0860
      In the Matter of the Appeal by Serenity Adult Day Center of the Order of License Revocation License No. 1094723 (Rule 223).
      Affirmed. Judge Jonathan P. Schmidt.
      Minnesota Department of Human Services.


* 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.

RECENT ORDER OPINIONS
April 22, 2024

1.   A23-1346
      Hanna Ladin Voss, Respondent, vs. Marsha June Voss, Appellant.
      Reversed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Goodhue County District Court, Hon. Douglas Bayley.

2 .  A23-1179
      Bret William Smith, Appellant, vs. Robyn L. Johnson, Respondent Below, Terry Allen Johnson, Respondent.
      Affirmed as modified; motion to supplement the record denied; motion to dismiss construed as untimely reply brief. Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Charlene Hatcher.

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, April 22, 2024

Opinion Set in a Zipped PDF Format

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