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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, June 19, 2017



A16-1469        West McDonald Lake Association, Relator, vs. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Respondent.
                         Department of Natural Resources.
            The federal water-transfer rule, 40 C.F.R. § 122.3(i) (2015), is not an exemption incorporated by reference in Minnesota’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, pursuant to Minn. R. 7001.1030 (2015).  Therefore, the federal water-transfer rule does not apply in Minnesota.
            Reversed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.


A16-1686        Melissa Douglas, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Stillwater Area Public Schools, Independent School District 834, et al.,
                         Respondents.
                         Washington County District Court, Hon. John R. McBride.
            1.   Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 475.58, subd. 4 (2016), the ballot language alone defines the scope of the purpose of a municipality’s bond referendum.
            2.   A municipality may abandon portions of a project approved by a bond referendum if the abandonment does not radically alter the purpose stated in the ballot language.
            Affirmed.  Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.


A16-1260        State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joe Anthony Darnell Ellis-Strong, Appellant.
                         Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Gary W. Bastian.
            Affirmative misadvice on a collateral consequence of a conviction renders a guilty plea constitutionally invalid and manifestly unjust when such misadvice amounts to ineffective assistance of counsel.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Michael L. Kirk.


A16-2001        State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Scott Ross Hunn, Respondent.
                         Mower County District Court, Hon. Kevin Siefken.
          Where the implied-consent statute is not invoked, advisement of the limited right to counsel is not a prerequisite to admitting chemical-test results in a criminal prosecution for driving while impaired (DWI) because the suspect does not face immediate license revocation for test refusal.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.


A16-1734        Bruce Randall, et al., Appellants, vs. William D. Paul, Respondent.
                         St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Jill Eichenwald.
            I.   A debt collector engaged in the business of debt collection within the meaning of the Federal Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6) (2016), who serves a debtor with a mechanic’s lien statement in compliance with the Minnesota mechanic’s lien statute, Minn. Stat. § 514.08 (2016), is not immune from the FDCPA’s requirements.
            II.   A debt collector’s communication with a debtor is made “in connection with the collection of a debt,” triggering FDCPA notice requirements, if the communication’s “animating purpose” is to induce payment by the debtor.  Therefore, we adopt the approach set forth by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in McIvor v. Credit Control Servs., Inc., 773 F.3d 909, 913 (8th Cir. 2014).
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Roger Klaphake.*
 
 
* 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, June 19, 2017

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



1.         A16-1531
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. James Francis Muelken, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Chief Judge Edward J. Cleary.
            Scott County District Court, Hon. Christian Wilton.

2.         A17-0258
            In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: B. C., S. L.W., Sr., C. J. L., J. L. L., R. J. M., D. M. B., Parents.
            Affirmed.  Judge Randolph W. Peterson.
            Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Walter Kaminsky.

3.         A17-0034
            Paul Robert Mix, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Commissioner of Public Safety, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Washington County District Court, Hon. Mary Hannon.

4.         A16-1813
            Jeremiah Akinnola, Appellant, vs. Southampton Apartments, et al., Respondents.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Diane B. Bratvold.

5.         A16-1673
            Joshua Alvin Peterson, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Commissioner of Public Safety, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Otter Tail County District Court, Hon. Dwayne Knutsen.
 
6.         A16-1143
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Pierre Lamont Flowers, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Renee L. Worke.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kathryn L. Quaintance.

7.         A16-0839
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Dustin Spencer Casey, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Kevin G. Ross.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Salvador Rosas.

8.         A16-0589
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joshua Steven Mittelsted, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
            Mower County District Court, Hon. Jeffrey Kritzer.

9.         A16-0762
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Tramaine Smith, a/k/a Darryl Green, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Mel I. Dickstein.

10.       A16-1437
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Solomon Washington McIntyde, Appellant.
            Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.  Judge John R. Rodenberg.
            Kandiyohi County District Court, Hon. Jennifer Fischer.

11.       A17-0170
            Michael Robert Robinson, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Michael L. Kirk.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Tanya M. Bransford.

12.       A16-1877
            Vene Lor, as conservator and natural mother of Ricky Yang, and Vene Lor, individually,
            Respondents, vs. Michael Lee Hewitt, et al., Defendants, Gregory J. Walsh, et al.,
            Appellants, Walsh & Gaertner, P.A., Co-appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Michael L. Kirk.
            Redwood County District Court, Hon. Patrick Rohland.

13.       A16-1643
            Eric D. Humphreys, et al., Respondents, vs. Janet Humphreys Krasner, Appellant.
            Affirmed; motion denied.  Judge Michael L. Kirk.
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Gary J. Pagliaccetti.

14.       A16-1852
            Maksud Ul Mahbub, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Judith M. Tilsen.

15.       A16-1762
            Margots Kapacs, Appellant, vs. Kelly Umhoefer, et al., Respondents.
            Affirmed.  Judge Denise D. Reilly.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Bruce A. Peterson.

16.       A16-1112
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Raven Kimo Marinez, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Leonardo Castro.

17.       A16-1010
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Antonyo White, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
            Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Dennis J. Murphy.

18.       A17-0217
            In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of:  J. G.-A. and Unknown Father, Parents.
            Affirmed.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson.
            Benton County District Court, Hon. Robert Raupp.

19.       A16-2011
            Minnkota Architectural Products Co., Inc., Respondent, vs. Rice Lake Construction
            Group, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Lucinda E. Jesson.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Mary R. Vasaly.

20.       A16-1298
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Edward Keith Dembry, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Tracy M. Smith.
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Nicole A. Engisch.

21.       A16-2004
            Livingston Financial, LLC, as successor in interest to US Bank, Respondent, vs. Daniel
            O. Ward, II, Appellant.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
            Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Lezlie Ott Marek.

22.       A16-0931
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Sammy Antonio White, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
            Goodhue County District Court, Hon. Lawrence F. Clark.

23.       A16-1416
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jessica Elaine Quirt, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Roger Klaphake.*
            Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Tamara G. Garcia.

24.       A16-1175
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Matthew Scott Clark, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge Roger Klaphake.*
            Otter Tail County District Court, Hon. Barbara R. Hanson.

25.       A16-1876
            In the Matter of the Welfare of:  A. G., Child.
            Reversed and remanded.  Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*
            Steele County District Court, Hon. Karen R. Duncan.

26.       A16-1312
            State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Jacob Lee Kivela-Sandnas, Appellant.
            Affirmed.  Judge R. A. (Jim) Randall.*
            St. Louis County District Court, Hon. James B. Florey.      
 
* 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
June 19, 2017



1.         A17-0207
            In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Peter Allan, Sr.
            Affirmed.  Judge Roger Klaphake.*
            Supreme Court Appeal Panel.
 
 
* 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, June 19, 2017

Opinion Set in a Zipped Word Document Format

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Opinion Set in a Zipped Rich Text Format

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