Court Opinion

ID: 2723870
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-04 21:03:37.119503+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:46:12.949851
License: Public Domain

OFFICE OF
                                                                               APPELLATE COURTS

                                                                                   SEP 0 3 2014
                                   STATE OF MINNESOTA                               PILED
                                     IN SUPREME COURT

                                            Al2-1978
                                            Al2-2015

Lawrence Leiendecker, et al.,

                                Respondents,

vs.

Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al.,

                     Appellants (Al2-1978),

Greenstein, Mabley & Wall, L.L.C., et al.,

                                Respondents,

Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., et al.,

                                Respondents,

Maria Gloria Fressia, et al.,

                     Appellants (Al2-2015),

Susan L. Triplett,

                                Respondent.

                                          ORDER

       On June 25, 2014, the court issued its opinion in this case. Thereafter, the parties

have filed several petitions and motions.

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       Respondents Lawrence Leiendecker, et al. filed a timely petition for rehearing.

Appellants Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., and Maria Gloria Fressia, et al., filed

a joint response, opposing the petition. After consideration of the parties' arguments, the

petition will be granted in part, to correct the order for remand, and otherwise denied.

       Appellants Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., and Maria Gloria Fressia, et

al., filed a joint motion for attorney fees on appeal pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 554.04, subd. 1

(2012), and Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 127 and 139.06, subd. 1. Respondents opposed the

motion.

       Minnesota Statutes section 554.04, subdivision 1, provides: "The court shall award

a moving party who prevails in a motion under this chapter reasonable attorney fees and

costs associated with the bringing of the motion." Although appellants were successful in

reversing the decision of the court of appeals, they have not, to this point, "prevail[ed] in a

motion under" chapter 554.

       Appellants Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., and Maria Gloria Fressia, et

al., each filed a notice, statement, and claim of costs and disbursements in connection with

the appeal in this court. Respondents objected to the taxation of costs and disbursements,

and appellants responded.

       A prevailing party "shall recover" costs in the amount of $300 "upon a judgment on

the merits." Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 139.01. An appellant generally prevails if "a reversal

or modification of the order or judgment from which the appeal is taken" is obtained. Vill.

of Blaine v. Indep. Sch. Dist. No. 12, 265 Minn. 9, 24, 121 N.W.2d 183, 194 (1963). By

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contrast, a respondent prevails if it "secures affirmance without modification."            Id.

Because this appeal will be remanded to the court of appeals, the appeal is not yet

complete, and consequently there is no judgment on the merits. Judgment costs therefore

cannot be taxed.

       Appellants' disbursements, however, are reasonable, with the exception of the filing

fee claimed by Maria Gloria Fressia, et al. Taxation of disbursements will therefore be

granted in part.

       Based upon all the files, records, and proceedings herein,

       IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:

       1.     The petition of Lawrence Leiendecker, et al. for rehearing in the above-

entitled matter be, and the same is, granted in part to modify section III, page 17 of the slip

opinion filed on June 25, 2014 to read as follows:

              For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the decision of the court of
       appeals and remand this case to the court of appeals for further proceedings
       consistent with this opinion.

              Reversed and remanded.

Said section III previously read as follows:

              For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the decision of the court of
       appeals and remand this case to the district court for further proceedings
       consistent with this opinion.

              Reversed and remanded.

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The attached slip opinion, amended as stated above, shall be substituted for the opinion

filed June 25, 2014.1 The petition of Lawrence Leiendecker, et al. for rehearing in the

above-entitled matter shall be, and the same is, in all other respects denied.

       2.     The motion of appellants Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., and

Maria Gloria Fressia, et al., for attorney fees pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 544.04, subd. 1, be,

and the same is, denied without prejudice to appellants' right to renew that motion at a later

time in the district court, when and if they prevail on a motion under chapter 554.

Notwithstanding Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 139.06, subd. 1, the district court shall have

authority to set a reasonable timeframe for the filing of such renewed motion.

       3.     The request of appellants Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., and

Maria Gloria Fressia, et al., for taxation of costs and disbursements be, and the same is,

granted in part. Asian Women United of Minnesota, et al., shall be entitled to

disbursements of $1,519.21, and Maria Gloria Fressia, et al., shall be entitled to

disbursements of $130. The request is in all other respects denied.

       4.     Judgment shall not be entered until the court of appeals has issued its

decision on remand and determined whether costs and disbursements shall be allowed for

the appeal before that court.

1On remand, the court of appeals shall consider the remaining issues raised by the
Leiendeckers in their cross-appeal to that court.

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Dated: September 3 , 2014

                                          BY THE COURT:

                                            @Lk

                                          David R. Stras
                                          Associate Justice

DIETZEN, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.

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