Court of Appeals Opinions


Opinion Policies

Minnesota Court of Appeals opinions are issued weekly and are available to the public at 10:00 a.m. CST/CDT every Monday. When a Monday is a holiday, opinions are issued on Tuesday.   

On Wednesday of every week, the Court of Appeals will distribute a notice that informs counsel, self-represented (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.

In certain time-sensitive cases, the Court of Appeals may issue opinions on other business days.  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 and previously released Special Term Orders.
 

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


Precedential OpinionsUnder Minn. Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure 136.01, the Court of Appeals issues a precedential opinion (formerly called "published opinions") only to clarify or develop the law.  In deciding whether to issue a precedential opinion, the court considers multiple factors listed in Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 136.01, subd. (1)(b), incluing whether the case establishes a new principle or rule of law, clarifies existing case law, decides a novel issue involving a constitutional provision, statute, administrative rule or rule of court, or resolves a significant or recurring legal issue.  Precedential opinions 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.  Under Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 128.02, subd. 1(f), parties may advise the court whether a precedential opinion would be helpful. 

DECISIONS OF THE COURT OF APPEALS
FILED Tuesday, September 3, 2024


A23-0750   State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Ibn Marchone Abdullah, Appellant.
                    Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Michael E. Burns.
          If the state introduces a defendant’s confession into evidence at a criminal trial, Minnesota Statutes section 634.03 (2020) requires the state to corroborate the confession by presenting evidence independent of the confession that reasonably tends to prove that the specific crime charged in the complaint actually occurred. If the defendant is charged with homicide, the state must present evidence independent of the defendant’s confession that reasonably tends to prove that someone, but not necessarily the defendant, caused the death of another person in a criminal manner.
          Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are typically issued in cases that do not contain issues of first impression or involve the application of established law to the particular set of facts and circumstances in that case.  See Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01.  Nonprecedential opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, but nonprecedential opinions may be cited as persuasive authority." Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01. 

NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS
FILED Tuesday, September 3, 2024

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


1.   A23-1385
      Twin City Underwriters, Inc., Respondent, vs. Heppner Insurance Agency, LLC, et al., Appellants.
      Affirmed in part, and reversed in part. Chief Judge Susan L. Segal.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Timothy T. Mulrooney.

2.   A24-0586
      In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Angie Samantha Mattinas.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Crow Wing County District Court, Hon. Heidi Davies.

3.   A24-0033
      Travis J Maahs, a Minnesota resident, Appellant, vs. Menard, Inc., a foreign corporation, registered in Minnesota, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Walter Kaminsky.

4.   A24-0280
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joseph Michael Dax, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Morrison County District Court, Hon. Antoinette C. Wetzel.

5.   A24-0246
      In the Matter of: Tessa Mortenson, Respondent, vs. Action for East African People, Employer, Debra Hilstrom, Relator, Department of Employment
      and Economic Development, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Department of Employment and Economic Development.

6.   A24-0610
      In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Joseph Harvey Bellanger.
      Affirmed. Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
      Cass County District Court, Hon. Jana M. Austad.

7.   A24-0080
      Stacy Ann Bednar, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Craig Richard Bednar, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded. Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Theresa Couri.

8.   A24-0030
      Leo Gadbois, Appellant, vs. Irvine Hill Condominium Association, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Timothy T. Mulrooney.

9.   A23-1928
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: H. V., Parent.
      Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Washington County District Court, Hon. Francis Green, III.

10. A23-1626
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Kenny Lenard Peaches, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Jacob Kraus.

11. A24-0297
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Devon James Block, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Crow Wing County District Court, Hon. Patricia A. Aanes.

12. A24-0029
      Ruth Jamison, Relator, vs. Youable Emotional Health, Respondent, Department of Employment and Economic Development, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Department of Employment and Economic Development.

13. A23-1834
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Leslie Nicole Moore, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. DeAnne M. Hilgers.

14. A23-1531
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Laron Doshon Underwood, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Elena L. Ostby.

15. A23-1378
     State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Edward Wilson, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Jacob Kraus.

16. A23-1930
      Jonathan Samael Greyblood, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Morrison County District Court, Hon. Antoinette C. Wetzel.

17. A23-1591
      Maria Bernice Dunn, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Michael Wayne Dunn, Appellant, County of Anoka, Intervenor.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Anoka County District Court, Hon. Kevin J. Mueller.

18. A23-1281
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Anthony N. Poyirier, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.
      Cook County District Court, Hon. Michael J. Cuzzo.

19. A24-0364
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of: S. H. M. R., Parent.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Chisago County District Court, Hon. Heather Wynn.

20. A23-0450
      In the Matter of the Welfare of S. D. G., Child.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Tanya Mozell Bransford.

21. A23-1638
      Jon Peter Smith, Appellant, vs. $17,554.00 in U.S. Currency and All Physical Property Listed on PropertyReceipt (Vizio Flat Screen TV, Vizio
      FlatScreen TV, Nightowl DVR, Six VideoSurveillance Cameras and Associated Cords, and Cassida Tiger Money Counter), Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Elise Larson.
      Isanti County District Court, Hon. John D. Klossner.

22. A23-1295
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Brian Harry Kjellberg, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Elise Larson.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Leonardo Castro.

23. A23-1571
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Abdoulay Sackor, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Keala C. Ede.
      Dakota County District Court, Hon. Arlene Perkkio.

24. A24-0051
      Jennifer A. Hindermann, as executrix of the Estate of David K. Hindermann and as beneficiary of the Revocable Living Trust of David K.
      Hindermann dated October 3, 2012, Appellant, vs. Judith Dimich, et al., Defendants, Mark Hindermann, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Denise D. Reilly.*
      Itasca County District Court, Hon. Sarah McBroom.

25. A23-1521
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Robert Kinte Dawon Battle, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Denise D. Reilly.*
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Reynaldo Aligada, Jr.

26. A23-1147
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. J Nicholas Cramer, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
      St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Robert C. Friday.

27. A24-0277
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Children of: H. M. S. and A. A. C., Parents.
      Affirmed. Judge John P. Smith.*
      Rice County District Court, Hon. Karie M. Anderson.

* 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
September 3, 2024


1.   A23-1573
      Teresa Corinne MacNabb, petitioner, Respondent, vs. John Michael Kysylyczyn, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Chief Judge Susan L. Segal.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. JaPaul J. Harris.

2.   A24-0534
      Shamso Hussein, Appellant, vs. Public Storage Institutional Fund III, a California Limited Partnership, d/b/a Public Storage, Respondent, Leeraya
      Rogers, Defendant.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Jamie L. Anderson.

3.   A24-0499
      Freddie Louis Dillard, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Leonardo Castro.

4.   A24-0466
      Travis Clay Andersen, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge John P. Smith.*
      Carver County District Court, Hon. Michael Wentzell.

* Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.

NO SPECIAL RELEASE OPINIONS FILED

Opinion SetsAs of June 1, 2023, the Court of Appeals no longer provides opinion sets in Word Document format and Rich Text Format. Opinions are available in PDF format under the Opinions tabs on this site.

Opinion Sets For Opinions
Filed Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Opinion Set in a Zipped PDF Format

  1. Click the above link.
  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.