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Court of Appeals Opinions

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

Appellate Courts will begin transmitting all notices, orders, and opinions electronically.

Beginning no later than July 1, 2011, the appellate courts will send notices, orders, opinions, and correspondence related to pending cases to attorneys in those cases by e-mail rather than postal mail.  All attorneys with pending appellate cases who have not already registered an e-mail address should do so immediately.  Unrepresented parties with pending appellate cases may also participate in this e-notification system by registering an e-mail address.  Please visit the Clerk of Appellate Courts page for instructions on how to register your e-mail address.
 

Opinion Policies

Minnesota Court of Appeals opinions are issued weekly and are available to the public at 10 a.m. CST/CDT every Monday.

On Wednesday of every week, the Court of Appeals will mail a notice that informs counsel, 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.  Copies of the opinions are mailed to involved parties on Mondays.

In certain time-sensitive cases, the Court of Appeals may issue opinions on a business day other than Monday.  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.

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

Published OpinionsBy statute, the Court of Appeals issues a published opinion only in the most important and complex cases. Published 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 found in most law libraries.

DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
FILED Monday, December 10, 2018



A18-0539       State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Michael Allen Franson, Appellant.
                       Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Jamie L. Anderson.
            A district court has jurisdiction to reimpose a mandatory conditional-release term if it was authorized by law at the time the district court removed it from the sentence and the defendant had not developed a crystallized expectation as to the finality of his sentence.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.
            Dissenting, Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*


A18-0353       State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. James Wilmar Poehler, Appellant.
                        Isanti County District Court, Hon. Todd R. Schoffelman.
            A police officer who stopped a car being driven with a cracked windshield, but who identified no circumstances to indicate that he reasonably suspected that the crack limited or obstructed the driver’s vision under Minnesota Statutes, section 169.71, subdivision 1(a)(1) (2018), has not established that he had reasonable suspicion to stop the car.
            Affirmed.  Judge Kevin G. Ross.


A17-1840       State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. David James Jones, Appellant.
A17-1841       Cass County District Court, Hon. David Harrington.
            In a first-degree burglary prosecution, the state is not required to prove that the defendant entered the building without a claim of right under Minn. Stat. § 609.582, subd. 1(b) (2016); therefore, misdemeanor trespass under Minn. Stat. § 609.605, subd. 1(b)(4) (2016), is not a lesser-included offense of first-degree burglary.  The continuing offense of possession of a firearm by an ineligible person committed inside of the building is a sufficient independent crime to support a first-degree burglary conviction.
            Affirmed.  Judge John R. Rodenberg.
 
* Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
 
Unpublished OpinionsUnpublished opinions are issued in cases that are less complicated, that involve legal issues that have already been decided in published opinions, or that will affect only the parties to that particular case. These opinions are usually shorter, do not contain extensive discussion of the facts, and are not generally relied on by other courts to the same degree as published opinions.

UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS
FILED Monday, December 10, 2018

Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2014)



1.         A18-0590
            State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Jared Lee Radermacher, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.
            Renville County District Court, Hon. Randall J. Slieter.

2.         A17-1997
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. William Aaron Wozna, III, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.
            Traverse County District Court, Hon. Charles Crawford Glasrud.

3.         A18-0179
            In re the Mariiage of:  Deann Kay Wells, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Joseph Daniel
            Wells, III, Respondent.
            Affirmed in part and reversed in part.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Mary A. Yunker.

4.         A18-0014
            Andrew Carlos Hegranes, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Kevin G. Ross.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Nicole J. Starr.

5.         A18-0537
            Louis Ambrose, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. G. Tony Atwal.

6.         A18-0242
            Eric Joseph Vacko, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Teri Ann Shults, Respondent, County of
             Anoka, Intervenor.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.
            Anoka County District Court, Hon. Douglas B. Meslow.

7.         A18-0203
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Ardana Jo Beaulieu, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Francis J. Connolly.
            Mille Lacs County District Court, Hon. Gail T. Kulick.

8.         A18-0223
            In re the Matter of:  Matthew Lawson Thornton, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Jessica Ortiz
            Bosquez, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. James J. Street.
 
9.         A18-0380
            Dwayne Eugene Jackson, Relator, vs. Commissioner of Human Services, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
            Minnesota Department of Human Services.

10.       A18-0224
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Cyrus Noel Trevino, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
            Steele County District Court, Hon. Joseph A. Bueltel.

11.       A18-0424
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Tyler Henry Boser, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
            Otter Tail County District Court, Hon. Sharon G. Benson.
 
12.       A17-1980
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Duane John BlackBull, Appellant.
            Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.  Judge John R. Rodenberg.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Jay Quam.

13.       A18-0847
            Cesar De La Garza, petitioner, Appellant, vs Commissioner of Corrections, Tom Roy,
            Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Washington County District Court, Hon. Douglas B. Meslow.

14.       A18-0339
            Walter Nachtigall, Relator, vs. Marriott International, Inc., Respondent, Department of
            Employment and Economic Development, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Department of Employment and Economic Development.

15.       A18-0564
            Ellis Olkon, et al., Appellants, vs. City of Medina, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kevin S. Burke.

16.       A18-0074
            In re the Marriage of:  Sheree Rosett Curry, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Michael David
            Levy, Respondent.
            Affirmed; motion denied.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Patrick D. Robben.

17.       A17-1773, A18-0170
            Janet H. Krasner, Appellant, vs. Gregory Hoffman, et al., Respondents, Scott Neff, et al.,
            Respondents, Luke Koski, Respondent, Lori Schultze, et al., Respondents.
            Affirmed.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Gary J. Pagliaccetti.
 
 18.       A17-1993, A17-1995
            State of Minnesota, Appellant (A17-1993), Respondent (A17-1995), vs. Deandre Martell
            Weaver, Respondent (A17-1993), Appellant (A17-1995).
            Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson
            Concurring in part, dissenting in part, Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Joseph F. Chase.
 
19.       A18-0374
            Amber McCorison, Relator, vs. Pizza Luce III, Inc., Respondent, Department of
            Employment and Economic Development, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Tracy M. Smith.
            Department of Employment and Economic Development.

20.       A17-1423
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Anthony John Sawina, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Tracy M. Smith.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kathryn L. Quaintance.

21.       A18-0063
            Joel Wells, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Jeffrey Michael Fischbach, Respondent.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge James B. Florey.
            Apple Valley, Dakota County District Court, Hon. Jamie L. Cork.

22.       A17-2016
            In re:  Estate of Sandra Sandland, Deceased.
            Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.  Judge Roger M. Klaphake.*
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Elizabeth V. Cutter.
 
23.       A18-0013
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Antonio Albert Schally, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Richard H. Kyle, Jr.

24.       A17-0848
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Brandon Jerome Doby, Appellant.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Tamara G. Garcia.

25.       A18-0085
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jason Lee Cooley, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge John P. Smith.*
            Crow Wing County District Court, Hon. Earl E. Maus.
 
26.       A17-2082
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Wilondae Daron Easter, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge John P. Smith.*
            Blue Earth County District Court, Hon. Krista J. Jass.
 
* 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
December 10, 2018



1.         A18-0435
            In the Matter of the Welfare of:  D. G. S., Child.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
            Waseca County District Court, Hon. Judge Carol M. Hanks.

2.         A18-0327
            Christensen Law Office, PLLC, Respondent, vs. Daniel Olean, Appellant,  Daniel L.
            Blees, Defendant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Roger M. Klaphake.*
            Pine County District Court, Hon. Heather Wynn.

3.         A17-1324
            Jason Cole Penniman, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*
            Washington County District Court, Hon. Gary R. Schurrer.

4.         A18-0562
            Patrick Takuanyi, Appellant, vs. Wells Fargo Bank, N. A., Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Larry B. Stauber, Jr.*
            Dakota County District Court, Hon. Martha M. Simonett.
 
* Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
 

NO SPECIAL RELEASE OPINIONS FILED

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

Opinion Sets For Opinions
Filed Monday, December 10, 2018

Opinion Set in a Zipped Word Document Format

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  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.

Opinion Set in a Zipped Rich Text Format

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  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.