Minnesota Supreme Court Opinions

Orders on Petitions for Further Review

Granted

1.  In the Matter of a Petition for Clarification or Amendment of Appropriate Unit – A25-1678

Issues: (1) The Public Employment Labor Relations Act (PELRA) defines “professional employee” as someone working in a position that requires advanced knowledge in a field of science or learning. Under this advanced knowledge requirement, is it necessary that employees customarily engage in a comprehensive course of study before beginning the position? (2) Did the Court of Appeals err by holding that employees must “customarily engage in a comprehensive course of study,” and that this education must be required by their positions, to be considered “professional employees”?

2.  James W. Honcik vs. American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. – A25-1985

Issues: When a tortfeasor has the liability defense of common-law official immunity, is a valid plan of reparation security covering the tortfeasor’s vehicle nevertheless “not in effect” such that the at-fault vehicle meets the statutory definition of “uninsured motor vehicle” because of the liability defense?

3.  Plains Energy, LLC vs. Northstar Electric Cooperative, Inc., Roseau Electric Cooperative, Inc., Beltrami Electric Cooperative, Inc. – A25-1242, A25-1243, A25-1281

Issues: (1) Petitioners adopted a rule pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 216B.164, subdivision 11, requiring a cooperative member to own a solar facility in order for that member to interconnect the solar facility with their cooperative’s electric grid. Is that rule valid? (2) Did Plains Energy have standing to challenge petitioners’ ownership rule? (3) Must Plains Energy’s declaratory judgment claim be dismissed because Plains Energy failed to join interested parties and because its claim is not capable of resolving the controversy?

Issue for Cross Review: Does Plains Energy’s complaint state a claim for business disparagement relating to the Cooperative’s statements that Plains Energy was attempting to illegally sell electricity at retail?

4.  State of Minnesota vs. Christopher Robert Politano – A25-1347

Issues: For section 609.04 purposes, is fifth-degree assault an included offense of felony domestic assault?

5.  State of Minnesota vs. Richard Alan Quarles – A25-0979

Issues: (1) Did Minn. Stat. § 609.035, subd. 6, permit the district court to impose separate sentences for three charges that arose out of the same set of circumstances when the jury acquitted Quarles of committing the only criminal sexual conduct charge that required force? (2) If more than one sentence is permitted pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 609.035, subd. 6, does the plain language of that statute limit the permissible sentences to two?

Granted/Stayed

6.  State of Minnesota vs. Ahmed Ali Abdi – A25-1381

Issues: Did the trial court abuse its discretion and deprive Abdi of a fair trial by allowing the State to introduce testimony from officers narrating videos of the incident and opining that Abdi “closely matched” or was “indeed, the same person” as the shooter?

Stayed pending final disposition in State v. Solomon, No. A23-0946.

Lift Stay/Vacate/Remand

7.  Karl Alfredo Rosillo vs. State of Minnesota – A24-1990

Stay lifted, court of appeals opinion vacated, and remanded to the court of appeals for reconsideration in light of Siegel v. Evans, 38 N.W.3d 774 (Minn. 2026).

Denied

8.  Alpha News vs. City of Detroit Lakes, et al. – A25-1822

9.  Brett Cournoyer vs. Darren Troy Lang, et al., Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC, et al. – A26-0117

10.  Code Plus Construction, Inc. vs. Keith Beal, et al. – A25-1639

11.  Emily Pedersen, et al. vs. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Advanced Reproductive Technologies – A25-1643

12.  In re the Estate of Darlene Legred, Deceased – A26-1020

13.  In re the Marriage of: Angie Lynn Magnuson Swierzewski vs. David Matthew Swierzewski – A25 2002

14.  In re the Marriage of: Jeremy Thomas Pettit vs. Natalie Storm Pettit – A26-1269

15.  In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Edward Everett Urbanek – A25-0808

16.  Kevin Christopher Zook vs. Minnesota Masonic Home – A26-0084

17.  Matthew Charles Larkin vs. XCEL Energy; Northern States Power Company d/b/a Xcel Energy vs. Matthew Charles Larkin – A26-1313

18.  Michael Adam Davis vs. State of Minnesota – A25-1679

19.  Michael Wayne vs. Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, Paul Schnell, Commissioner of Corrections – A25-1906

20.  Richard Preston Blackwell vs. Cub Foods, et al. – A26-0093

21.  Ricky Lee McDeid vs. Nancy Johnston, CEO/Director, Minnesota Sex Offender Program, et al.; Shane P. Garry vs. Nancy Johnston, CEO/Director, Minnesota Sex Offender Program, et al. – A25-2082, A25-2083

22.  Ryan Timothy Kellen vs. State of Minnesota – A26-0002

23.  State of Minnesota vs. Adam Michael Deutsch – A25-1427

24.  State of Minnesota vs. Andrew Josef Brenner – A25-1855

25.  State of Minnesota vs. Clarence Jason Bibbs – A25-1280

26.  State of Minnesota vs. Dalal Bayle Idd – A26-1080

27.  State of Minnesota vs. Darrnell Maurice Samir Cooper – A25-1015

28.  State of Minnesota vs. David Jamar Jones, Jr. – A26-0070

29.  State of Minnesota vs. Deionte Jaewon Parker – A25-1137

30.  State of Minnesota vs. Dru Alexander Barrow – A25-0916

31.  State of Minnesota vs. Gerald Cortez Owens – A25-1406

32.  State of Minnesota vs. Jorge Luis Sandoval – A25-1268

33.  State of Minnesota vs. Kayvon Julian Madison – A25-2020

34.  State of Minnesota vs. Larondo Connell Willis – A25-1310

35.  State of Minnesota vs. Latalia Anjolie Margalli – A25-1480

36.  State of Minnesota vs. Marcellus Anthony Jones – A25-1235

37.  State of Minnesota vs. Roberto Ortega-Herrera – A24-1321

38.  State of Minnesota vs. Terence Duane Maurstad – A25-1259

Denied – Filed September 25, 2026

1.  In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child(ren) of: N.J M. and W.A.W., Parents – A26-0163, A26 0226

2.  In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: S.M.D., B.J.J., R.H., C.H. S.  (Deceased), Parents – A26-050

3.  State of Minnesota vs. Tamorris Mcquill Dempsey – A25-1287

4.  John Kevin Melina vs. State of Minnesota – A25-1488

5.  Vyacheslav Mostov vs. Nextten Stauer, LLC, Department of Employment and Economic Development – A25-1687

6.  Peter Richard Rickmyer vs. Xenos Letoi Brooks, Marva Wagner in her individual capacity, and in her official capacity with Metropolitan Council, et al. – A26-0989

7.  Sean William Roulo vs. State of Minnesota – A25-1769