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 21, 2024

A23-1292   State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Dustin Brock Metcalfe, Appellant.
                    Nobles County District Court, Hon. Sherry Haley.
          When an appellant argues that trial evidence is insufficient to sustain a conviction but does not raise an issue requiring statutory interpretation, we apply a sufficiency-of-the-evidence standard of review and do not review de novo whether the charged conduct is prohibited by the statute of conviction.
          Affirmed. Judge JaPaul J. Harris.

Nonprecedential OpinionsNonprecedential opinions (formerly called "unpublished opinions") are typically issued in cases that do not contain issues of first impression or involve the application of established law to the particular set of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  Nonprecedential opinions "are not binding authority except as law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel, but nonprecedential opinions may be cited as persuasive authority."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NONPRECEDENTIAL OPINIONS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 21, 2024

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

1.   A23-1687
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Darius Ahmadd Olson-Baker, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Chief Judge Susan L. Segal.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Hilary L. Caligiuri.

2.   A24-0498
      Christopher James Hayes, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Kerry Meyer.

3.   A23-1855
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Shawna Ann Lang, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Louise Dovre Bjorkman.
      Nobles County District Court, Hon. Sherry Haley.

4.   A24-0607
      In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child of: J. S., Parent.
      Affirmed. Judge Tracy M. Smith.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Michelle Hatcher.

5.   A24-0537
      Groebner and Associates, Inc., Respondent, vs. VW Dig LLC, d/b/a VW Connect, an Arizona limited liablity company, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Diane B. Bratvold.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Frank J. Magill, Jr.

6.   A24-0382
      Stacy Lee Osmundson, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Commissioner of Public Safety, Respondent.
      Affirmed. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Faribault County District Court, Hon. Troy Timmerman.

7.   A23-1943
      State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Christian Rosario-Torres, Appellant.
      Affirmed. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Hennepin County District Court, Hon. Shereen Askalani.

8.   A24-0692
      Bryan Morgan Holl, petitioner, Appellant, vs. State of Minnesota, Respondent.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge JaPaul J. Harris.
      Itasca County District Court, Hon. Heidi M. Chandler.

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
October 21, 2024

1.   A24-0361
      In re the Estate of: Kenneth Joe Van Houten, Deceased.
      Affirmed. Judge Matthew E. Johnson.
      Wadena County District Court, Hon. Douglas B. Clark.

2.   A24-0621
      Anthony Dexter Wayne Francis, petitioner, Respondent, vs. Denise Tonche, Appellant.
      Reversed and remanded. Judge Jennifer Frisch.
      Steele County District Court, Hon. Karen R. Duncan.

3.    A22-1467
      Matthew James Beland, petitioner, Appellant, vs. Heidi Ann Beland, Respondent, and Polk County, Intervenor.
      Dismissed. Judge John P. Smith.*
      Polk County District Court, Hon. Timothy Tingelstad.

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

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, October 21, 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.