Minnesota Supreme Court Decisions 2013

State v. Bahtuoh  
Date: December 26, 2013
Docket Number: A10-1584

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree felony murder while committing a drive-by shooting for the benefit of a gang. The Supreme Court stayed Appellant’s direct appeal to permit Appellant to file a…

Nielsen v. 2003 Honda Accord  
Date: December 26, 2013
Docket Number: A12-217

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant pleaded guilty to first-degree driving while impaired (DWI). After receiving a notice advising him of the County’s intent to forfeit his vehicle pursuant to Minn. Stat. 169A.63, Appellant sought a judicial…

Dykhoff v. Xcel Energy  
Date: December 26, 2013
Docket Number: A12-2324

Justia Opinion Summary: Relator was injured while attending a required training session at the general office of her employer. A workers’ compensation judge denied Relator’s claim for benefits, finding that Relator’s injury did not arise out of…

TC/Am. Monorail, Inc. v. Custom Conveyor Corp.  
Date: December 18, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2119

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent brought this action against Appellant, seeking to recover payment for industrial equipment it fabricated for Appellant. Appellant counterclaimed for breach of contract. The district court entered judgment in…

Miles v. State  
Date: December 11, 2013
Docket Number: A13-262

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on direct appeal. Defendant subsequently filed several petitions for postconviction relief.…

Turner v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: December 11, 2013
Docket Number: A13-927

Justia Opinion Summary: After completing an audit of Taxpayers' joint income tax returns, the Commissioner of Revenue issued an order assessing additional taxes. That day, a revenue tax specialist sent Taxpayers an e-mail informing them of the…

State v. Watkins  
Date: December 4, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1793

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of two counts of felony violation of a domestic abuse no-contact order. The court of appeals reversed and remanded for a new trial, holding (1) the failure to instruct on an…

Safety Signs, LLC v. Niles-Wiese Constr. Co., Inc.  
Date: December 4, 2013
Docket Number: A12-370

Justia Opinion Summary: A subcontractor on a public project filed suit against the general contractor and an insurance company that provided a payment bond seeking to recover money owed under the subcontract after the general contractor…

White v. City of Elk River  
Date: December 4, 2013
Docket Number: A12-681

Justia Opinion Summary: Wapiti Park Campgrounds, Inc. operated a campground on land in the City of Elk River. The City enacted a series of zoning ordinances that first allowed campgrounds as a conditional use and then removed campgrounds as…

PROMULGATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE MINNESOTA GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS TO CODIFY RULES PERMITTING AUDIO AND VIDEO COVERAGE OF DISTRICT COURT PROCEEDINGS IN CERTAIN CIVIL COURT PROCEEDINGS AND TO CLARIFY CERTAIN RULES FOR FAMILY COURT PROCEEDINGS.
Date: December 4, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
The County of Dakota, Respondent, vs. George W. Cameron, IV, Appellant.
Date: November 27, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1273
State v. Chavarria-Cruz  
Date: November 20, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1181

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was charged with first-degree premeditated murder for the benefit of a gang. Defendant was acquitted of the first-degree murder offense but convicted of the lesser-included offense of second-degree intentional…

County of Dakota v. Cameron  
Date: November 20, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1273

Justia Opinion Summary: Through the exercise of its eminent-domain power, the County of Dakota acquired a commercial property owned by Appellant. Following an administrative hearing, three condemnation commissioners awarded Appellant $655,000…

Helmberger v. Johnson Controls, Inc.  
Date: November 20, 2013
Docket Number: A12-327

Justia Opinion Summary: Johnson Controls, Inc. contracted with a school district (the District) to provide design services. Johnson then subcontracted with Architectural Resources, Inc. Marshall Helmberger subsequently submitted a request to…

State v. Wenthe  
Date: November 6, 2013
Docket Number: A12-263

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Respondent was convicted of third-degree criminal conduct in violation of Minn. Stat. 609.344(1)(l)(i) (the clergy-sexual-conduct statute) based on a sexual relationship between Respondent, a Roman…

Hooper v. State  
Date: October 30, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1833

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to three concurrent sentences of life imprisonment with the possibility of release. Appellant subsequently filed three…

State v. Brooks  
Date: October 23, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1042

Justia Opinion Summary: In each of three separate incidents, the State charged Defendant with two counts of first-degree driving while impaired. Defendant moved to suppress the results of blood and urine tests in each case because law…

Dereje v. State  
Date: October 9, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1147

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent was charged with criminal sexual conduct in the fourth and fifth degree. Respondent agreed to conduct a trial on stipulated facts pursuant to Minn. R. Crim. P. 26.01(3) and waived all trial rights. The…

State v. Burrell  
Date: October 2, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1517

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of two counts of aggravated forgery. The district court sentenced Appellant to twelve months in prison for each charge, to be served concurrently. Appellant appealed,…

State v. Juarez  
Date: October 2, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2189

Justia Opinion Summary: Following a court trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and third-degree assault. Upon sentencing Appellant, the district court found…

Torres v. State  
Date: October 2, 2013
Docket Number: A12-570

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree murder in the course of a burglary and sentenced to life imprisonment. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief, alleging that he was…

Dobbins v. State  
Date: October 2, 2013
Docket Number: A12-678

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree murder. The Supreme Court affirmed. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief, alleging, inter alia, that one of the witnesses who…

500, LLC v. City of Minneapolis  
Date: September 23, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1705

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant was a real estate firm that owned a vacant four-story building (the property) and sought to develop it into an office building. Before the Minneapolis City Council approved Appellant's site plan application,…

State v. Barrientos  
Date: September 23, 2013
Docket Number: A12-150

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and was placed on probation for five years. The district court also ordered Respondent to pay restitution in monthly payments. Near the expiration of Respondent's…

In re Application of Minn. Power for Auth. to Increase Rates for Elec. Serv. in Minn.  
Date: September 18, 2013
Docket Number: A11-352

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2009, Minnesota Power sought an increase in service rates of approximately 18.9 percent. As part of its submission to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Minnesota Power also requested an interim rate increase…

Minnesota vs. Castillo-Alvarez  
Date: September 11, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1379

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez challenged his convictions for second-degree murder and kidnapping. Appellant contended that Minn. Stat. 609.045 (2012) and the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Minnesota…

Begin vs. Ritchie  
Date: September 11, 2013
Docket Number: A13-1002

Justia Opinion Summary: On June 6, 2013, the Green Party of Minnesota and its chair, Brian Begin, filed a petition asserting that Respondent Secretary of State Mark Ritchie erred in decertifying the Green Party as a minor political party.…

Greer v. Minnesota  
Date: September 4, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1464

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant Ronald Greer sought post-conviction relief from his murder conviction. The trial court denied relief, and he appealed that denial to the Supreme Court. Finding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion…

State v. Diggins  
Date: August 28, 2013
Docket Number: A08-1143

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, and three counts of first-degree aggravated robbery. The Supreme Court affirmed…

Big Lake Lumber, Inc. v. Sec. Prop. Invs., Inc.  
Date: August 28, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2220

Justia Opinion Summary: Mark Hilde hired Big Lake Lumber (Big Lake), Wruck Excavating (Wruck), and J. DesMarais Construction (DesMarais) to help him build a "spec home." 21st Century Bank (Bank) recorded a mortgage against the property to…

In re Application of Skyline Materials, Ltd. for Zoning Variance  
Date: August 21, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2030

Justia Opinion Summary: Skyline Materials applied for a variance from the setback requirements of Houston County's zoning ordinance. The County granted the variance. Respondents, owners of property that was adjacent to the property owned by…

State v. Rick  
Date: August 21, 2013
Docket Number: A12-58

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant, who was HIV positive, engaged in consensual anal intercourse. Defendant was subsequently charged with attempted first-degree assault by transferring a communicable disease for violating Minn. Stat.…

State v. Smith  
Date: August 14, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1687

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of criminal vehicular homicide for causing the death of ninety-three-year-old Edith Schouveller in a motor vehicle accident. The accident occurred on March 28, 2010.…

Fernow v. Gould  
Date: August 14, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1904

Justia Opinion Summary: A snowplow driver for the City of Alexandria collided with Donald Fernow's vehicle. Fernow brought a personal injury action against the City. At the same time, Fernow's insurance company (Insurer) sought arbitration…

Karl v. Uptown Drink, LLC  
Date: August 14, 2013
Docket Number: A12-166

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellants, approximately 750 employees, brought a class action against their employers (Employers), alleging five causes of action, including unlawful deductions made in violation of Minn. Stat. 181.79. The jury found…

ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE STUDENT PRACTICE RULES.
Date: August 14, 2013
Docket Number: ADM09-8002
PROMULGATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE MINNESOTA GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS, TITLE II, RULES GOVERNING CIVIL ACTIONS, FORMS 145.1 AND 145.2.
Date: August 14, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
Kohl's Dep't Stores, Inc. v. County of Washington  
Date: August 7, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1507

Justia Opinion Summary: After Washington County assessed the value of one of properties owned by Kohl's Department Stores for the years 2007-2009, Kohl's challenged the valuation. The tax court adjusted the County's assessment by increasing the…

Townsend v. State  
Date: August 7, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1734

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial in 1994, Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of release. Seven months later, Defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder.…

State v. Morrow  
Date: August 7, 2013
Docket Number: A12-79

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of nine counts, including one count of first-degree premeditated murder and two counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder, stemming from an incident in which…

State v. Borg  
Date: July 31, 2013
Docket Number: A09-1921

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and sentenced to forty-eight months in prison. As part of the sentencing order, the trial court ordered Defendant to pay restitution.…

Sipe v. STS Mfg., Inc.  
Date: July 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2082

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant was discharged after testing positive to a drug test. Nearly three years after being discharged, Appellant filed an action against Respondents, his former employers, alleging that Respondents violated various…

Soyka v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: July 31, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1706

Justia Opinion Summary: The Commissioner of Revenue ordered Sharon Soyka to pay income taxes, penalties, and interest for the 2007 tax year. Soyka had sixty days to appeal the Commissioner's order to the tax court. Instead, Soyka filed her…

State v. Griffin  
Date: July 31, 2013
Docket Number: A12-823

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder by drive-by shooting and first-degree premeditated murder. Defendant appealed, arguing that the trial court erred in admitting out-of-court statements…

State v. Ness  
Date: July 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-290

Justia Opinion Summary: The district court issued domestic abuse no contact orders pursuant to Minn. Stat. 629.75(1) prohibiting Appellant from contacting his wife. After Appellant allegedly contacted his wife, he was charged with two felony…

State v. Sterling  
Date: July 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-73

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree murder. Appellant appealed, asserting, among other issues, that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress…

Plaintiff v. Defendant
Date: July 17, 2013
Docket Number: A13-1091
Metro. Sheet Metal Journeyman & Apprentice Training Trust Fund v. County of Ramsey  
Date: July 3, 2013
Docket Number: A12-323

Justia Opinion Summary: Taxpayer was a trust fund that purchased property in Ramsey County. Taxpayer sought an exemption from taxation for the property on the basis that it was a "seminary of learning" and therefore exempt under Minn. Stat.…

State v. Pass  
Date: June 26, 2013
Docket Number: A12-635

Justia Opinion Summary: The State charged Defendant with two counts of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Tina San Roman and second-degree assault and attempted second-degree murder for the stabbing of a second victim, O.A.R. A jury…

AMENDED ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS REGARDING MANDATORY E-FILING.
Date: June 19, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
Wayne v. State  
Date: June 12, 2013
Docket Number: A12-868

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. After unsuccessfully filing four petitions for postconviction relief, Appellant filed a "Motion for DNA…

ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS REGARDING MANDATORY E-FILING.
Date: June 12, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
State v. Nicks  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A09-1641

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Johanna Hollis and the attempted first-degree murder of Hollis's daughter. At trial, the State was only able to present a minimal amount of direct…

McCaughtry v. City of Red Wing  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A10-332

Justia Opinion Summary: This case involved a facial challenge to the constitutionality of the City of Red Wing's rental property inspection ordinance. Appellants were landlords and tenants who brought suit seeking a declaratory that the City's…

Christianson v. Henke  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1319

Justia Opinion Summary: The grandparent visitation statute allows a court to award visitation as part of several different kinds of proceedings, including a proceeding for parentage. The district court awarded grandparent visitation to the…

State v. Hayes  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1665

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of domestic abuse, and second-degree murder while committing a felony. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the…

Midwest Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Wolters  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-181

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellants hired Respondent as the general contractor to build a seasonal residence on Appellant's property. Respondent purchased a general liability insurance policy from Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company that…

Chambers v. State  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1954

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of first-degree murder and related charges. The district court sentenced Appellant on the first-degree murder conviction to a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without…

State v. Munt  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2315

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant indicted of four counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, and several related crimes arising out of the shooting death of his ex-wife and the kidnapping of their three children. Because…

Dickhoff v. Green  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A11-402

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondents, on behalf of their six-year-old daughter, Jocelyn, alleged that Appellants, a medical doctor and medical center, negligently failed to diagnose Jocelyn's cancer and that if they had timely diagnosed…

State v. Silvernail  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A12-21

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of release. The Supreme Court affirmed Appellant's conviction, holding (1) the…

State v. Zornes  
Date: May 31, 2013
Docket Number: A12-463

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree arson, and theft of a motor vehicle. The district court sentenced Defendant to two consecutive life sentences…

N. States Power Co. v. Aleckson  
Date: May 29, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1116

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellants were landowners who elected to require a utility to condemn their property in fee after Respondents sought to acquire easements through their property by eminent domain in order to construct a high-voltage…

Haefele v. Haefele  
Date: May 29, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1225

Justia Opinion Summary: Father and Mother were divorced pursuant to a judgment and decree which provided that Father pay child support to Mother. Father later moved to modify his child-support obligation, arguing that certain distributions paid…

A.A.A. v. Dep't of Human Servs.  
Date: May 29, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1831

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant in this case was a nine-year-old boy with severe autism, epilepsy, and chronic seizures. The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) found that Appellant was not dependent in "mobility"…

State v. Wilson  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1041

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of fleeing a peace officer by means other than a motor vehicle pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.487(6) after she ran from a police officer who was responding to a stabbing at a bar.…

In re J.J.P.  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1146

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent was adjudicated delinquent of felony burglary and misdemeanor theft. Thereafter, Respondent obtained a district court order expunging his juvenile delinquency records held by the judicial branch and sought to…

State v. M.D.T.  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1285

Justia Opinion Summary: Pursuant to a plea agreement, the district court convicted Respondent of aggravated forgery. After Respondent was discharged from probation, she filed a second petition for expungement of her criminal record. The…

Marine Credit Union v. Detlefson-Delano  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1925

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent credit union sought to foreclose on the homestead that Appellant and her husband (Husband) owned. The district court granted summary judgment to Appellant after concluding that the mortgage Appellant signed…

Rasmussen v. Two Harbors Fish Co.  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2178

Justia Opinion Summary: Employees filed a complaint against two employers (Employers), alleging that Employers violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) based on sexual harassment perpetrated by the sole owner of both entities (Owner).…

Harbaugh v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1342

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff and his ex-wife both claimed their two children as dependents on their state individual income tax returns. The Minnesota Department of Revenue determined that only Plaintiff's ex-wife was entitled to claim the…

Carlson v. Ritchie  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A12-2286

Justia Opinion Summary: On December 21, 2012, Petitioner, the Independence Party candidate in the November 6, 2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives, filed this petition pursuant to Minn. Stat. 204B.44 seeking declaratory and…

Schober v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: May 22, 2013
Docket Number: A12-873

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2005, the Department of Revenue audited Relator and assessed Relator for the amount of sales tax he collected from his customers but failed to remit to the State. The Commissioner of Revenue (Commissioner) adjusted…

Clifton v. State  
Date: May 15, 2013
Docket Number: A12-571

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of premeditated first-degree murder. The Supreme Court affirmed on direct appeal. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief requesting a new trial or an…

ORDER RELATING TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM TASK FORCE, AUTHORIZING EXPEDITED CIVIL LITIGATION TRACK PILOT PROJECT, AND ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND THE GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE.
Date: May 15, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
Coker v. Jesson  
Date: May 1, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1817

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2000, Appellant was indeterminately committed as a sexual dangerous person as a result of a series of sex offenses involving teenage girls. Appellant later petitioned for provisional discharge from civil commitment.…

City of Moorhead v. Red River Valley Coop. Power Ass'n  
Date: May 1, 2013
Docket Number: A11-705

Justia Opinion Summary: After the City of Moorhead annexed Americana Estates (Americana), a residential subdivision with sixty-five metered electric service accounts, the City filed a condemnation petition to begin municipal electric service to…

Sontoya v. State  
Date: May 1, 2013
Docket Number: A12-170

Justia Opinion Summary: After a trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree murder while committing first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to life in prison. On appeal, Appellant challenged his conviction on several grounds…

State v. Hawkinson  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1565

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was charged with several misdemeanor offenses, including driving a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more. Defendant filed a request to preserve "blood tests," but…

State v. Xiong  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2022

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, second-degree intentional murder, and second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony. Defendant appealed, seeking a new trial…

Francis v. State  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-1225

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree intentional drive-by shooting murder, attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and attempted first-degree intentional…

Tscheu v. State  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-480

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant was convicted of first-degree murder while committing first-degree criminal sexual conduct causing personal injury. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on appeal. Appellant subsequently filed a petition…

Eden Prairie Mall, LLC v. County of Hennepin  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-542

Justia Opinion Summary: Eden Prairie Mall, LLC (EPM) owned a mall. Included in the mall parcel for property tax purposes were the mall's in-line tenants, five anchor tenants, and a movie theater complex. EPM sought review of the tax court's…

Living Word Bible Camp v. County of Itasca  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-632

Justia Opinion Summary: The Living Word Bible Camp, a tax-exempt organization, owned property in Itasca County. Living Word sought to obtain the necessary governmental approvals to use the property as a summer bible camp and retreat center.…

444 Lafayette, LLC v. County of Ramsey  
Date: April 24, 2013
Docket Number: A12-963

Justia Opinion Summary: The subject property was located at 44 Lafayette Road in Saint Paul. Relators challenged the County's assessments for the assessment dates 2007, 2008, and 2009. After trial, the tax court adopted the market values…

Ruiz v. 1st Fidelity Loan Servicing, LLC  
Date: April 17, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1081

Justia Opinion Summary: 1st Fidelity Loan Servicing initiated a foreclosure by advertisement to collect the debt secured by a mortgage on the home of Respondent. 1st Fidelity subsequently purchased the property at the foreclosure sale.…

Mauer v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: April 17, 2013
Docket Number: A12-499

Justia Opinion Summary: Relator was at all times relevant to this case employed by the National Basketball Association as a referee. Relator did not file Minnesota income tax returns for the 2003 and 2004 tax years but subsequently filed a 2003…

Fort v. State  
Date: April 17, 2013
Docket Number: A12-617

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was convicted in 1990 of first-degree premeditated murder. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on direct appeal. Defendant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief requesting an evidentiary…

Washek v. New Dimensions Home Health & State Fund Mut. Ins. Co.  
Date: April 10, 2013
Docket Number: A12-395

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2002, Employee suffered injuries in a work-related accident and was rendered a paraplegic. Employer and its insurer accepted liability for Employee's injuries and paid various workers' compensation benefits. In 2010,…

Langston v. Wilson McShane Corp.  
Date: March 27, 2013
Docket Number: A10-2219

Justia Opinion Summary: At the time of his divorce from Wife, Husband was a participant in a pension fund (Fund). To enforce the interest awarded to her under the decree, Wife needed to serve a domestic relations order (DRO) on the Fund and its…

In re Petition to Adopt P.U.K.  
Date: March 27, 2013
Docket Number: A12-66

Justia Opinion Summary: Two children's foster parents filed a petition to adopt the children, as did the children's grandparents. The district court concluded that it was in the best interests of the children to be adopted by the foster parents…

Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Second Chance Invs., LLC  
Date: March 20, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1145

Justia Opinion Summary: Second Chance Investments, LLC (SCI) purchased a fire insurance policy from Auto-Owners Insurance Company (Auto-Owners) that covered a building with the limit of insurance set at $2,095,500. The building subsequently…

Billion v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: March 20, 2013
Docket Number: A11-2337

Justia Opinion Summary: On their 2007 Minnesota individual income tax return, John and Deborah Billion claimed a $55,904 deduction for carryover losses incurred in 2005 by a Minnesota subchapter S corporation in which John Billion was a…

Anderson v. State  
Date: March 20, 2013
Docket Number: A11-541

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder. On appeal, the Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. Appellant subsequently filed a petition for postconviction relief alleging seven…

City of Brainerd v. Brainerd Invs. P'ship  
Date: March 13, 2013
Docket Number: A11-644

Justia Opinion Summary: Central Lakes College (CLC) formally petitioned the City of Brainerd to reconstruct a road. The City validated the petition and resolved to pay for a portion of the project with special assessments. Appellants, who owned…

McDonough v. State  
Date: March 13, 2013
Docket Number: A12-640

Justia Opinion Summary: Defendant was convicted for first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. After Defendant's convictions were affirmed on appeal, Defendant filed four separate petitions for postconviction relief, each of which…

ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE STUDENT PRACTICE RULES.
Date: March 6, 2013
Docket Number: ADM09-8002
Hawes v. State  
Date: February 27, 2013
Docket Number: A10-1351

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of aiding and abetting the first-degree murder of his brother as well as obstructing an investigation. Appellant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for…

State v. Craig  
Date: February 27, 2013
Docket Number: A10-1938

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of possessing a firearm as an ineligible person in violation of Minn. Stat. 624.713(1)(2), which prohibits a person previously convicted of a crime of violence from possessing…

State v. Hayes  
Date: February 27, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1314

Justia Opinion Summary: A jury found Defendant guilty of first-degree felony murder while committing a drive-by shooting and second-degree intentional murder. The district court convicted Defendant of first-degree felony murder and sentenced…

Ferguson v. State  
Date: February 27, 2013
Docket Number: A12-310

Justia Opinion Summary: Following a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and attempted first-degree premeditated murder. After Appellant's first petition for postconviction relief was denied, Appellant filed a…

ORDER PROMULGATING CORRECTIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE RELATING TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM TASK FORCE.
Date: February 20, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
Green v. BMW of N. Am., LLC  
Date: February 13, 2013
Docket Number: A11-581

Justia Opinion Summary: Plaintiff leased a vehicle from BMW. Plaintiff claimed the leased vehicle was defective and brought suit against BMW. After a bench trial, the trial court awarded Plaintiff $25,157 in damages based on Minnesota's lemon…

Berkovitz v. State  
Date: February 13, 2013
Docket Number: A12-908

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder. Defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions on…

Bradison vs. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: February 6, 2013
Docket Number: A12-428

Justia Opinion Summary: In 1995, Katelyn Janson was severely injured in an automobile accident. A lawsuit ended with a settlement in which two annuities were established, both of which guaranteed payments to Katelyn starting in 2001 and…

ORDER ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE RELATING TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM TASK FORCE.
Date: February 6, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM04-8001, ADM09-8006, ADM09-8009, ADM10-8011, ADM10-8050, ADM10-8051, C4-84-2133, C4-85-1848, C4-94-1646, C6-84-2134, CX-89-1863, CX-89-1963
Beaulieu v. Dep't of Human Servs.  
Date: January 30, 2013
Docket Number: A10-1350

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant, an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, was civilly committed to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP). Appellant appealed, challenging his indeterminate civil commitment by asserting three…

McKee v. Laurion  
Date: January 30, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1154

Justia Opinion Summary: After David McKee, a physician, acted in a manner Dennis Laurion considered rule and insensitive, Laurion posted critical comments about McKee on various "rate-your-doctor" websites and also sent letters to several…

Martin v. State  
Date: January 30, 2013
Docket Number: A12-89

Justia Opinion Summary: After a jury trial, Appellant was convicted of aiding and abetting first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. The Supreme Court affirmed Appellant's conviction…

ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR.
Date: January 30, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM10-8008, C5-84-2139
ORDER PROMULGATING AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
Date: January 30, 2013
Docket Numbers: ADM10-8049, C1-84-2137
Isaac v. Ho  
Date: January 23, 2013
Docket Number: A11-11

Justia Opinion Summary: Respondent sued Appellants for negligence and resulting injuries sustained in a car accident. The parties entered into a tentative settlement subject to Respondent giving her underinsured motorist (UIM) carrier notice…

State v. McDonald-Richards  
Date: January 23, 2013
Docket Number: A11-1449

Justia Opinion Summary: Appellant was convicted of aiding and abetting first-degree murder and aiding and abetting attempted first-degree murder. Appellant appealed, arguing that the district court committed reversible error in admitting a…

Eng'g & Constr. Innovations, Inc. v. L.H. Bolduc Co., Inc.  
Date: January 23, 2013
Docket Number: A11-159

Justia Opinion Summary: L.H. Bolduc Company, Inc. (Bolduc) was the subcontractor of Engineering and Construction Innovations, Inc. (ECI). Bolduc damaged a sewer pipe while working on a construction project. ECI repaired the damage and sought…

Beck v. County of Todd  
Date: January 16, 2013
Docket Number: A12-252

Justia Opinion Summary: Todd County assessed taxes on property owned by John and Carrie Beck based on its conclusion that the property had an estimated market value of $397,400 as of January 2, 2009. John petitioned the tax court for relief.…

Larson v. Comm'r of Revenue  
Date: January 9, 2013
Docket Number: A12-378

Justia Opinion Summary: From 1999-2006, Relator filed his Minnesota individual income tax return as a nonresident. After the Commissioner of Revenue conducted two audits of Relator's individual income tax returns spanning the 2002-2006 tax…

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