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.
Published Opinions
By 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, May 19, 2025
A23-1515 State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Dominic Allan Babineau, Appellant.
Sibley County District Court, Hon. Amber Donley.
Under the Minnesota Constitution, the odor of marijuana emanating from a vehicle does not, on its own, provide reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity sufficient to expand the scope of an equipment-violation vehicle stop given the cannabis laws in effect at the time of the charged offense.
Reversed. Chief Judge Jennifer L. Frisch.
Concurring, Judge Francis J. Connolly.
A24-0592 State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Michael Anthony Lee, Appellant.
Carlton County District Court, Hon. Rebekka Stumme.
For purposes of permissive consecutive sentencing under the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines 2.F.2.a(1)(i) (Supp. 2021), a “prior felony sentence” does not include a conditional-release term.
Reversed and remanded. Judge Elise Larson.
A24-1440 Derek Alexander Knapp, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Commissioner of Public Safety, Appellant.
Washington County District Court, Hon. Francis Green, III.
1. Under
Vondrachek v. Comm’r of Pub. Safety, 906 N.W.2d 262 (Minn. App. 2017),
rev. denied (Minn. Feb. 28, 2018), the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety satisfies their prima facie burden to establish that DataMaster DMT-G (DMT) evidentiary breath-test results are admissible by introducing evidence that a certified DMT operator administered the test and that diagnostic checks showed that the DMT testing device was in working order.
2. It is an abuse of discretion for a district court to determine that DMT test results are unreliable and to rescind the revocation of driving privileges based solely on evidence of an imperfect or improper pretest observation period, without evidence that the driver ingested something or otherwise experienced a bodily function during the observation period and without evidence that the driver’s ingestion or bodily function affected the test results.
Reversed. Judge Keala C. Ede.
A24-1390 Justin Holtzbauer, Appellant, vs. Allina Health System, Respondent.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Joseph R. Klein.
A health care provider’s disclosure that a person is a patient and currently hospitalized at a specific facility and in a specific room and bed is “information . . . that relates to . . . the provision of health care” and therefore constitutes release of a “health record” under section 144.291, subdivision 2(c), of the Minnesota Health Records Act, Minn. Stat. §§ 144.291-.298 (2024).
Reversed and remanded. Judge Elizabeth G. Bentley.
Dissenting, Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
Unpublished Opinions
Unpublished 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.
NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS
FILED Monday, May 19, 2025
Pursuant to Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 136.01, subd. 1 (c)
1.
A24-1616
In re the Estate of Trisha J Ingersoll a/k/a Trisha Jolee Ingersoll, Trisha Ingersoll f/k/a Trisha Offerman, Deceased.
Affirmed. Chief Judge Jennifer L. Frisch.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Julia Dayton Klein.
2.
A24-0986
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Javier Diaz Garza, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Michelle A. Larkin.
Redwood County District Court, Hon. Patrick R. Rohland.
3.
A24-1196
In the Marriage of: Phourywathana Cardinale, petitioner, Respondent, vs. David Cardinale, Appellant, Scott County, Intervenor.
Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
Scott County District Court, Hon. Caroline H. Lennon.
4.
A24-1061
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Anthony Wayne Quaderer, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
Beltrami County District Court, Hon. Jeanine R. Brand.
5.
A24-1467
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Timothy Patrick Cook, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Peter M. Reyes, Jr.
Douglas County District Court, Hon. Timothy M. Churchwell.
6.
A24-0728
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Johnathon Jones, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Jean Burdorf.
7.
A24-0646
Amy Nicole Solinger, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Jason Mark Solinger, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
Dakota County District Court, Hon. Michael J. Mayer.
8.
A24-1782
State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Derrick John Thompson, Respondent.
Affirmed; motion granted. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Carolina A. Lamas.
9.
A24-1414
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joseph Benjamin Hulne, Appellant.
Reversed. Judge Jeanne M. Cochran.
Clay County District Court, Hon. Greta M. Smolnisky.
10.
A24-1618
State of Minnesota, Appellant, vs. Christian Dior Byrd, Respondent.
Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Jay Quam.
11.
A24-1018
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Decarieon Dupra Scurlock, Appellant
Affirmed. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
Sherburne County District Court, Hon. Brianne J. Buccicone.
12.
A24-0837
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Travis Clay Andersen, Appellant.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Randall J. Slieter.
Carver County District Court, Hon. Christian S. Wilton.
13.
A24-1111
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Matthew Michael Lewis, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
Mower County District Court, Hon. Kevin Siefken.
14.
A24-0892
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Joseph Benjamin Stuckey, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Sarah I. Wheelock.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. John Lucas.
15.
A24-0836
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Travis Clay Andersen, Appellant.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Elise Larson.
Carver County District Court, Hon. Christian S. Wilton.
16.
A24-0363
Ryan Russell Preusse, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Amanda Jayne Preusse, Respondent.
Affirmed in part, and remanded. Judge Elise Larson.
Dakota County District Court, Hon. Christopher J. Lehmann.
17.
A24-1798
ERoof LLC, Respondent, vs. Jerodine Nall, Appellant.
Affirmed; motion denied. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Ramsey County District Court, Hon. Laura Nelson.
18.
A24-1653
Katherine Ann Reichert, f/k/a Katherine Ann Born, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Matthew Alan Born, Respondent, County of Carver, Intervenor.
Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Carver County District Court, Hon. Michael Wentzell.
19.
A24-1639
Almir Puce, Appellant, vs. City of Burnsville, MN, Respondent.
Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Dakota County District Court, Hon. David Lutz.
20.
A24-1410
In the Matter of a Public Safety Officer Death Benefit for Eric William Groebner (Deceased).
Reversed and remanded. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Dissenting, Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
Office of Administrative Hearings.
21.
A24-1281
Lana Waldron, as successor Trustee of the Pick Family Trust dated December 11, 2013, Appellant, vs. Marilyn A Stenzel, Individually and former
Trustee of the Pick Family Trust dated December 11, 2013, Respondent.
Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Waseca County District Court, Hon. Carol M. Hanks.
22.
A24-1215
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Dustin Joseph Kenda, Appellant.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Chisago County District Court, Hon. Jesse Seabrooks, II.
23.
A24-0800
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Bashir Abdullahi Farah, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Jon Schmidt.
Olmsted County District Court, Hon. Jeremy Clinefelter .
24.
A24-1914
In the Matter of the Civil Commitment of: Dena Joy Alexander.
Affirmed in part, and remanded. Judge JaPaul J. Harris.
Redwood County District Court, Hon. Tricia Zimmer.
25.
A24-1536
Progressive Preferred Insurance Company, Appellant, vs. Adventurer Manufacturing, Inc., Respondent.
Reversed and remanded. Judge JaPaul J. Harris.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kristin Siegesmund.
26.
A24-1015
Steve Enestvedt, Appellant, vs. Dean Enestvedt, et al., Respondents.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Rachel F. Bond.
Renville County District Court, Hon. Keith Helgeson.
27.
A24-1563
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. B. M. W., Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Edward J. Cleary.*
Dakota County District Court, Hon. Bryce A.D. Ehrman.
28.
A24-0835
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Travis Clay Andersen, Appellant.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Roger M. Klaphake.*
Carver County District Court, Hon. Christian S. Wilton.
29.
A24-0816
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Kevon Dorsey, Appellant.
Affirmed. Judge Roger M. Klaphake.*
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Paul Scoggin.
30.
A24-0838
State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Travis Clay Andersen, Appellant.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks.*
Carver County District Court, Hon. Christian S. Wilton.
* Retired judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals, serving by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const. art. VI, § 10.
Order Opinions
Cases 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
May 19, 2025
1.
A24-1575
Pariss Demond Wright, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
Affirmed. Judge Kevin G. Ross.
St. Louis County District Court, Hon. Eric Hylden.
2.
A24-1705
Joseph Daryll Rued, Appellant, vs. Catrina Marie Rued, et al., Respondents, Nelson Peralta, et al., Respondents.
Affirmed. Judge Francis J. Connolly.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Leonardo Castro.
3.
A24-1756
Delonte Ahshone Thomas, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Juan Hoyos.
Special Release Opinions
NO SPECIAL RELEASE OPINIONS FILED
Opinion Sets
Opinion sets contain all published, unpublished, and order opinions. The sets are compressed into files that must be unpacked before opening them.
No Opinion Sets Available