Opinion ID: 1653664
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Residential Lease

Text: On September 27, 2003, B.R. gave Ryerson a $2,800 check as a security deposit for the rental of the carriage house at the Minneapolis property. But B.R. changed his plans, and on October 1, 2003, he informed Ryerson that he no longer wished to rent the carriage house. When B.R. requested the return of his check, Ryerson refused to return it. B.R. commenced a conciliation court action to recover the money and was awarded a judgment against Ryerson for $4,305. Ryerson did not pay the judgment. B.R. filed a complaint with the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility complaining about Ryerson's refusal to satisfy his judgment. Ryerson filed a response to the complaint that contained false statements. Specifically, Ryerson claimed that she had given the security deposit to the owner of the property, had told B.R. that the owner of the property had the check, and claimed that it was the owner who had decided not to return the check. L.J., who was the actual owner of the property in October 2003, testified that she had no knowledge of B.R. or his deposit. The nominal owner of the Minneapolis property in October 2003 was Swensen's father, who also testified to having no knowledge of B.R. Rather, B.R.'s security deposit check was payable to and had been cashed by Ryerson, who treated the property as her own, appeared to live in the house, and took income tax deductions for the house as though she were its actual owner.