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 Monday, October 7, 2024

A24-0406   Carley Pesente, Appellant, vs. Minnesota Life Insurance Company, Respondent.
                    Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Patrick C. Diamond.
          1. Connecticut law, not Minnesota law, governs the enforceability of an insured’s designation of a spouse as a beneficiary under a group life-insurance policy when the policy was issued in Connecticut and the insured lived in Connecticut, notwithstanding that the couple’s marriage was dissolved by a Minnesota court after the spouse moved to the state.
          2. When deciding a choice-of-law question involving interpretation of a group life-insurance policy, the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 192 cmt. h (Am. L. Inst. 1971) does not supersede the analysis based on the choice-influencing factors set forth in Milkovich v. Saari, 203 N.W.2d 408 (Minn. 1973).
          Reversed and remanded. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.

Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are typically issued in cases that do not contain issues of first impression or involve the application of established law to the particular set of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  Nonprecedential opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, but nonprecedential opinions may be cited as persuasive authority."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NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS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 Monday, October 7, 2024

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

1.   A24-0136
      In the Matter of the Appeal of the Discharge of M.W. from the Minnesota Veterans Home Minneapolis.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.

2.   A24-0031
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Breana Joan Donovan Siemers, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Benton County District Court, Hon. Michael S. Jesse.

3.   A23-1967
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Nathan Christopher Braun, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Stearns County District Court, Hon. Heidi E. Schultz.

4.   A23-1913
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. James Chavers, Jr., Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Andrew R. Peterson.

5.   A23-1801
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Derek Lee Preston, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Lisa K. Janzen.

6.   A24-0389
      Benjamin Unke, et al., Appellants, vs. Michael Braun, et al., Defendants, Neil Constine, et al., Respondents.
      Affirmed. Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
      Dakota County District Court, Hon. Christopher J. Lehmann.

7.   A23-1977
      Anne L Doering, Relator, vs. 2Care4U South, LLC, Respondent, 4U Home Health Care South, LLC, Respondent, Department of Employment and
      Economic Development, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
      Department of Employment and Economic Development.

8.   A23-1902
      Angeleah Joy Brandt, Appellant, vs. Garrett James Brandt, et al., Respondents.
      Affirmed. Judge Edward J. Cleary.*
      Blue Earth County District Court, Hon. Mark Edward Betters.

* 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
October 7, 2024

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 Monday, October 7, 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.