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, 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.

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, 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 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
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.

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.

No Opinion Sets Available