THE MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS STANDARDS OF REVIEW UPDATED AUGUST 2020 INTRODUCTION When deciding a case, the first task of an appellate court is to identify the applicable standard of review. The standard of review defines the manner in which each issue is reviewed, delineates the boundaries of appellate argument, and often determines the outcome on appeal. Accordingly, the Minnesota Court of Appeals conscientiously identifies and applies a specific standard of review to each issue before the court. The most persuasive appellate briefs explicitly state the applicable standard of review at the beginning of each issue and then apply it. This outline is intended as a tool for finding and applying various standards of review. Although this manual contains many standards of review, the cases set forth herein are not meant to provide the definitive standard of review for every appeal. Further research may be necessary, depending on the facts and issues on appeal. This manual does not address the scope of review, which concerns the extent to which specific questions or decisions may be raised on appeal. This outline was originally proposed by Justice Peter Popovich, the first Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals and later Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. It has been updated periodically, under the supervision of other chief judges and with the efforts of law clerks and staff of the court. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. CIVIL – GENERAL ............................................................................................................... 1 A. IN GENERAL .................................................................................................................. 1 1. Jurisdiction and Justiciability ........................................................................................... 1 2. General Standards of Review ........................................................................................... 1 a. Questions of Law ........................................................................................................ 1 b. Mixed Questions of Law and Fact .............................................................................. 2 c. Questions of Fact ........................................................................................................ 2 d. Equitable Determinations............................................................................................ 2 3. Rules of Construction ...................................................................................................... 3 a. Constitution ................................................................................................................. 3 b. Common Law.............................................................................................................. 3 c. Statutes ........................................................................................................................ 3 (1) Constitutionality of Statutes .................................................................................. 3 (2) Interpretation/Construction and Application of Statutes ....................................... 3 (3) Statutes of Limitations/Repose ............................................................................. 4 d. Rules of Procedure ...................................................................................................... 4 e. Municipal Ordinances ................................................................................................. 4 (1) Interpretation of Municipal Ordinances ................................................................ 4 (2) Preemption of Ordinance ...................................................................................... 5 f. Contracts ..................................................................................................................... 5 (1) In General .............................................................................................................. 5 (2) Ambiguity Determination ..................................................................................... 5 (3) Specific Types of Contracts .................................................................................. 6 (a) Employment Contracts ...................................................................................... 6 (b) Settlement Agreements ...................................................................................... 6 (c) Insurance Contracts (See Section IV(A) at 57.) ................................................ 6 B. PRETRIAL MATTERS ................................................................................................... 6 1. Service of Process ............................................................................................................ 6 i 2. Amendment of Pleadings – Generally ............................................................................. 6 3. Amendment of Pleadings – Punitive Damages ................................................................ 7 4. Discovery Issues .............................................................................................................. 7 5. Intervention of Parties/Interpleader ................................................................................. 7 6. Recusal and Removal of Judges ...................................................................................... 8 7. Disqualification of Counsel ............................................................................................. 8 8. Claim Preclusion and Issue Preclusion ............................................................................ 8 9. Motion for Continuance ................................................................................................... 8 10. Temporary Injunctions and Restraining Orders ............................................................... 8 11. Class Certification ............................................................................................................ 9 12. Governmental Immunity .................................................................................................. 9 C. PRETRIAL JUDGMENTS .............................................................................................. 9 1. Default Judgment and Motions to Vacate ........................................................................ 9 2. Dismissal of Actions ........................................................................................................ 9 a. Minn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(e) –Failure to State a Claim ................................................... 9 b. Minn. R. Civ. P. 12.03 – Judgment on the Pleadings ............................................... 10 c. Minn. R. Civ. P. 41.01-.02 ........................................................................................ 10 d. Other Bases for Dismissal ......................................................................................... 10 3. Summary Judgment ....................................................................................................... 11 a. Scope of Review ....................................................................................................... 11 b. Review of Certification Under Minn. R. Civ. P. 54.02 ............................................ 11 c. Standard of Review ................................................................................................... 11 d. Equitable Issues ........................................................................................................ 12 e. Affirmance on Other Grounds .................................................................................. 12 D. TRIAL MATTERS ........................................................................................................ 12 1. Evidentiary Issues .......................................................................................................... 12 a. Admission and Exclusion of Evidence ..................................................................... 12 b. Foundation for Evidence ........................................................................................... 13 c. Novel Scientific Evidence ......................................................................................... 13 2. Witnesses ....................................................................................................................... 13 a. Examination of Witnesses......................................................................................... 13 ii b. Lay Witnesses ........................................................................................................... 14 c. Expert-Witness Testimony........................................................................................ 14 3. Presenting Questions to the Jury .................................................................................... 15 a. Framing Special-Verdict Questions .......................................................................... 15 b. Submission of Equitable Claims ............................................................................... 15 4. Directed Verdict, now known as Judgment as a Matter of Law (JMOL). (See Section I(F)(2) at 22.) ................................................................................................................. 15 5. Jury Instructions ............................................................................................................