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This article discusses 15 of the worst things that a Defendant can do in response to a civil lawsuit served in Minnesota.

A Counterclaim is a lawsuit that a Defendant brings against a Plaintiff within the same case. Sometimes, the Defendant must bring the Counterclaim at that time or will lose it forever. This article discusses 10 basic things that people should know about Counterclaims in Minnesota.

This article looks at the laches defense to civil lawsuits in Minnesota. Laches involves a plaintiff whose unreasonable delay in starting the lawsuit has resulted in prejudice to the defendant. If proven, laches can result in dismissal of the plaintiff’s case.

This article discusses 10 basic things that people should know about assignments of contract rights in Minnesota.

This article looks at the defense of duress (also called "coercion") to breach-of-contract claims in Minnesota. The defense arises when one person uses a threat or physical force to pressure another person into signing a contract.

“Account stated” is a legal theory used in a Minnesota civil lawsuit to recover money from another person. The claim usually arises where a business invoices the customer and the customer fails to object to the amount within a reasonable time.

Waiver is a defense to a breach-of-contract claim in Minnesota. A party may "waive" a contractual right through words or actions showing that the party is knowingly giving up a right.

This article looks at contracts of adhesion in Minnesota and the related defense of unconscionability. An “adhesive” or “unconscionable” contract is one that is grossly unfair and takes advantage of a weaker party. A party can use these arguments to defend against a breach-of-contract claim and invalidate the contract.

This article looks at anticipatory breach of contract (a/k/a "anticipatory repudiation) in Minnesota. Anticipatory breach arises when it becomes clear that the other party cannot or will not perform the contract. If the other party fails to give an "adequate assurance", the party can declare the contract breached and sue for damages.

This article looks at reformation claims in Minnesota. "Reformation" allows a court to correct a contract mistake. If a party proves the mistake, the judge can “reform” the contract so that it conforms to the parties' original intent.

This article looks at the "duty to mitigate damages" in Minnesota. Generally, a party to a civil case must “mitigate” damages by taking reasonable steps to limit his or her losses. If not, a judge could drastically reduce the amount of damages awarded to that party.

This article looks at conversion and civil theft claims in Minnesota. These claims can give a victim a money judgment on which to collect against the defendant. While the defendant might be prosecuted for criminal theft, a conviction or restitution order can aid the plaintiff in a civil case.

Minnesota law has a creditor remedy called “pre-judgment attachment”, which allows a plaintiff to “attach” a civil claim for money to a non-exempt asset of the defendant while pursuing a judgment. Attachment can be an important option for a nervous creditor, but it only applies in limited circumstances.

This article looks at the Minnesota Parol Evidence Rule (a/k/a the "Four Corners" Rule). The Rule generally requires a judge to focus on the written contract, and to bar evidence of pre-contract statements that would alter or change the written contract.

Oral contracts are generally valid and enforceable. However, the Minnesota Statute of Frauds requires certain types of contracts to be in writing, otherwise they cannot be enforced. While there are exceptions to the Statute of Frauds, the exceptions are limited. The best practice is to put all significant contracts in writing, along with any changes to the contract.

This article looks at “fraudulent” (now called “voidable”) transfers in Minnesota. The Minnesota Voidable Transfer Act (MVTA) is a risk to borrowers. However, it can be a remedy for creditors to collect from an uncooperative borrower.

When someone has your personal property and refuses to give it back, what options do you have in Minnesota? For property valued at over $15,000, a “replevin claim” is often the best legal recourse. This article explains what “replevin” is, and why this type of lawsuit can be useful for recovering personal property.

In Minnesota, a civil judgment that is docketed becomes a lien against “non-exempt” real estate owned by the debtor in that county. Foreclosing a judgment lien can be an excellent way to collect a large judgment. However, judgment liens don’t apply to all real estate and can be tricky to foreclose. The bottom line: the better you understand judgment liens, the better chance you have of protecting your interests in the judgment or your land.

When a Notice of Lis Pendens is recorded against land in Minnesota, it means that there is pending litigation involving that land. A claimant must be careful to file a Notice of Lis Pendens properly. The landowner or prospective buyer must understand the issue and protect itself before closing on real estate.

This article discusses 100 mistakes that attorneys and clients should avoid in Minnesota courts.

A key question for many clients is whether or not to commence civil litigation. This article looks at the Impossible Whopper lawsuit and the rationale for deciding when to start a civil lawsuit.

This article looks at the Minnesota Makeup Lawsuit and the broader issue of civil litigation against the government.

This article looks at the “Cancel Culture”, the Backcountry.com boycott, and suggestions for avoiding PR disasters in the context of business litigation.

Minnesota deer hunters should be proactive in dealing with legal issues that may impact their hunt. This article will look at some common legal issues that hunters experience, including hunter harassment, trespassing, property line disputes, and hunting access issues.

Most people do not fully understand what a settlement is and how it affects them. This post will look at the infamous StarKist tuna settlement and help you understand how to settle the right way.