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, April 14, 2025

A24-0474   State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Weheliye Abdulcadir Abucar Gaal, Appellant.
                    Kandiyohi County District Court, Hon. Stephen J. Wentzell.
          Minnesota Statutes section 624.713, subdivision 1(2) (2022), which prohibits the possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person who has been convicted of a crime of violence, and Minnesota Statutes section 609.667(1) (2022), which prohibits the obliteration, removal, change, or alteration of the serial number of a firearm, do not on their face violate the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
          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Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are typically issued in cases that do not contain issues of first impression or involve the application of established law to the particular set of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  Nonprecedential opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, but nonprecedential opinions may be cited as persuasive authority."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NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS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 Monday, April 14, 2025

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

1.   A24-0779
      Sarah Elizabeth Lavins, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Brock Laverne Lavins, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Renee L. Worke.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Patrick D. Robben.

2.   A24-1643
      In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Samuel Omwando Nyaboga.
      Affirmed; motion denied. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Commitment Appeal Panel.

3.   A24-1401
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Benjamin Alexander Russell, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
      Anoka County District Court, Hon. Jenny Walker Jasper.

4.   A24-0619
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Oscar Elias Padilla Jovel, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
      Dakota County District Court, Hon. Stacey E. Sorensen Green.

5.   A24-0609
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Robert James Cerney, Jr., Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Winona County District Court, Hon. Mary C. Leahy.

6.   A24-1298
      Cornerstone Management Services, LLC, Respondent, vs. BAHEYA, LLC, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Christina Kilbo Stevens.

7.   A24-0575
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Mark Anthony Burciaga, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Steele County District Court, Hon. Jeffrey Kritzer.

8.   A23-0404
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Derek Leake, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Paul Scoggin.

9.   A24-0834
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Ras-Solomon Marquis Braxton, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Gina M. Brandt.

10. A24-0638
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. John Arland Kirst, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Nobles County District Court, Hon. Sherry Haley.

11. A24-0324
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Dywon Jackson, Appellant.
      Reversed. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kerry Meyer.

12. A24-0052
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Charles Todd Bragg, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.
      Mille Lacs County District Court, Hon. Matthew M. Quinn.

13. A23-1912
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Troy Allan Hill, Appellant.
      Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.
      Kanabec County District Court, Hon. Stoney L. Hiljus.

14. A24-1147
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Devin Kendal Zitzloff, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
      Meeker County District Court, Hon. Judge Allison T. Whalen.

15. A24-0665, A24-0666
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Alicia Marie Neely, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
      Freeborn County District Court, Hon. Christy Hormann.

16. A24-0629
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Carlos Raul Orellana Duta, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Hilary L. Caligiuri.

17. A24-0845
      In the Matter of the Formal Complaint and Request for Relief by the Minnesota Solar Advocates.
      Affirmed. Judge Keala C. Ede.
      Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

18. A24-1447
      Absolute Resolutions Investments, LLC, Respondent, vs. Ari D Clark, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Rachel F. Bond.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Bridget Sullivan.

19. A24-1509
      Jay Maurice, as Trustee for the next-of-kin of Jon Maurice, Appellant, vs. Granite Falls Municipal Hospital aka Granite Falls Health, Respondent,
      Patrick Juenemann, et al., Defendants.
      Affirmed. Judge James B. Florey.*
      Yellow Medicine County District Court, Hon. Keith Helgeson.

* 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. Order opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel." Minn. R. Civ. App. 136.01. 

RECENT ORDER OPINIONS
April 14, 2025

1.   A23-1383
      Brian David Fleming, Appellant, vs. Commissioner of Douglas County Human Services, Respondent.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
      Douglas County District Court, Hon. Timothy M. Churchwell.

Opinions released on a day other than the court’s weekly release date will appear on the Special Release Opinions tab. Special release opinions may be precedential, nonprecedential, or order opinions.  

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, April 14, 2025

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.