Affidavit: any written document in which the signer swears under oath before a notary public or someone authorized to take oaths (like a County Clerk), that the statements in the document are true. In many states a declaration under penalty of perjury, which does not require the oath-taking before a notary, is the equivalent of an affidavit.
Emergency Tenant Remedies Action (ETRA): an action a tenant may file for emergency relief under Minn. Stat. § 504B.395, subdivision 1. A person may file an ETRA to petition the court for relief in cases of emergencies that include but are not limited to: Loss of Running Water, Loss of Hot Water, Loss of Heat, Loss of Electricity, Loss of Sanitary Facilities (i.e. toilet, shower/bathtub, etc.), Loss of Other Essential Services or Facilities that the landlord is responsible for providing to the tenant.
Expungement: removing the record of a case from the public view.
Hearing: any proceeding before a judge or other judicial officer without a jury in which evidence and/or argument is presented to determine some issue of fact or both issues of fact and law.
Initial Appearance: first court hearing a party may have.
Mediation: the attempt to settle a legal dispute through active participation of a third party (mediator) who works to find points of agreement and make those in conflict agree on a fair result.
Motion: a formal request made to a judge for an order or judgment. Motions are made in court all the time for many purposes: to continue (postpone) a trial to a later date, to get a modification of an order, for a judgment, for dismissal of the opposing party's case, for a rehearing, for sanctions (payment of the moving party's costs or attorney's fees), or for dozens of other purposes. Most motions require a written petition, a written brief of legal reasons for granting the motion (often called "points and authorities"), written notice to the attorney for the opposing party and a hearing before a judge. However, during a trial or a hearing, an oral motion may be permitted.
Referee: a judicial officer who presides over civil hearings. Referees are appointed by the chief judge in a judicial district in which the judge presides. Referees aid the judge by hearing certain matters and by making recommendations concerning special or complicated issues.
Rent abatement: a return of rent paid for a unit that was in disrepair.
Rent Escrow: an action or petition that may be filed by a tenant that involves non-emergency repairs per Minn. Stat. § 504B.385. A Rent Escrow action is intended to remedy non-emergency repairs that impair the enjoyment or habitability of the property. These non-emergency repairs may include but are not limited to: Fire Prevention Violation, Bed Bugs, Housing Maintenance Violations, Vermin Infestations
Tenant Remedy Action (TRA): an action that is similar in nature to a Rent Escrow, but typically contains more complicated procedures than a Rent Escrow Action per Minn.Stat. § 504B.395. Typically a Tenant Remedy Action may be regarding issues such as: A health or housing code violation, A violation of the Landlord's obligation to keep the rental unit in reasonable repair, A violation of an oral or written rental agreement or lease.
