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, June 27, 2022

A21-1338        Pamela Maslowski, Respondent, vs. Prospect Funding Partners LLC, et al., Appellants, vs. James Schwebel, Esq., et al., Respondents.
                         Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Laurie J. Miller.
            1. A litigation financier has unconscionably interfered in the underlying legal claim that is the subject of the financier’s litigation-financing agreement with the contracting litigant if that agreement contains obligations that seek to control the litigant’s ability to select counsel or to settle the underlying legal claim.
            2. A litigation-financing agreement is a transaction subject to the usury statute.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.


A21-1119        In the Matter of the Appeal by Amy Waters of the Maltreatment  Determination and Disqualification, and by John and
                         Amy Waters Order of Revocation of their Child Foster Care License DHS Case Number 36496.
                         Minnesota Department of Human Services.
            A maltreatment determination of the commissioner of human services is arbitrary or capricious when the decision adopts an administrative-law judge’s findings about circumstances surrounding an injury to a foster child but then rejects the administrative-law judge’s conclusions of law and recommendation based on those findings without explaining the basis for the decision.
            Reversed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.


A21-1600        In the Matter of: Mara Jareth Butler, and on behalf of minors, Respondent, vs. Andrew John Jakes, Appellant.
                         Dakota County District Court, Hon. Vicki Taylor.
            A party forfeits an argument on appeal in a civil case based on any technological problem they experienced during a virtual proceeding before a district court when that problem does not appear in the record and the party did not attempt to correct or supplement the record.
            Affirmed.  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Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are issued in cases that are less complicated, that involve legal issues that have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, June 27, 2022

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

1.         A22-0081
            Goldmount Veterinary Center, P.A., Respondent, vs. Watonwan County, Defendant,
            Animal Humane Society, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Martin County District Court, Hon. Darci Bentz.

2.         A21-0990
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Norbert Pius D'Cruz, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Washington County District Court, Hon. Juanita C. Freeman.

3.         A21-1688
            In the Matter of the Welfare of: M. W. H., Child.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Michelle M Anderson.

4.         A21-1650
            John Lo, Relator, vs. Pye-Barker Fire & Safety LLC, Respondent, Department of
            Employment and Economic Development, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.
            Department of Employment and Economic Development.

5.         A21-0911
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Teshome Sok Sameru, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Japaul J. Harris.

6.         A20-1129
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. John Edward Juneau, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
            Anoka County District Court, Hon. Todd R. Schoffelman.

7.         A21-1580
            State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Franky Esquivel Torres, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
            Kandiyohi County District Court, Hon. Melissa Listug.

8.         A21-1665
            Michael Bartell, Respondent, vs. Tara Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Appellant,
            Donnelly Agency, Inc., Respondent.
            Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Douglas County District Court, Hon. Michelle L. Clark.

9.         A21-1604
            In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: James Allen Martin.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Commitment Appeal Panel.

10.       A21-1147
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Erik Harrison Gawtry, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Dakota County District Court, Hon. Tanya O'Brien.

11.       A21-1231
            In re the Estate of: Joann Roselia Gregory, aka JoAnn R. Gregory and aka JoAnn
            Gregory, Deceased.
            Affirmed.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson.
            Scott County District Court, Hon. Mark Vandelist.

12.       A20-0573
            Steven Lee Mittelstaedt, et al., Appellants, vs. William H. Henney, et al., Respondents.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson.
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Gary J. Pagliaccetti.

13.       A21-1569
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Akpene Yaa Asempa, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Joy D. Bartscher.

14.       A21-1541
            State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Amanda Mae Coleman, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Randall J. Slieter.
            Redwood County District Court, Hon. Patrick R Rohland.

15.       A22-0110
            State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Matthew Warren Luepke, Respondent.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Jennifer Frisch.
            Nicollet County District Court, Hon. Todd W. Westphal.

16.       A21-1288
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Raphael Ulisses Gurneau, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jennifer Frisch.
            Cass County District Court, Hon. Jana M. Austad.

17.       A21-0798, A21-1064
            In re the Marriage of: Catrina M. Rued, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Joseph D. Rued,
            Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jennifer Frisch.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Michael Furnstahl and Hon. Nelson L.
            Peralta.

18.       A21-1294
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. John Herbert Hodge, Jr., Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
            Grant County District Court, Hon. Amy J. Doll.

19.       A21-1274
            Billie Edmonds, Relator, vs. Intermediate School District #917, Respondent, Department
            of Employment and Economic Development, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
            Department of Employment and Economic Development.

20.       A21-0094
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. James NMN William, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Theodora K. Gaitas.
            Clay County District Court, Hon. Tammy L Merkins.

21.       A21-1074
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Lance Jeffery Johnson, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Robert C. Friday.

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
June 27, 2022

 
1.         A21-1651
            Cory Lee Melde, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson.
            Stearns County District Court, Hon. Laura Moehrle.
 

NO SPECIAL RELEASE OPINIONS FILED

Opinion SetsOpinion sets contain all precedential, nonprecedential, and order opinions. The sets are compressed into files that must be unpacked before opening them.

Opinion Sets For Opinions
Filed Monday, June 27, 2022

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