Court Opinion

ID: 9884100
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 02:36:56.572916+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:35.541393
License: Public Domain

CRIPPEN, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
Unless compelled by rules of procedure or established appellate decisions, we should not disregard appellant’s right of review.
The applicable rule (Minn.R.Civ.P. 59.03) is simply stated and widely respected in practice. To establish without doubt the time for a new trial motion, the rule utilizes a special notice document. As the majority opinion indicates, the same device is used to identify the time for appeal from an order. Minn.R.Civ.App.P. 104.01. Actual knowledge does not substitute for notice; this is so under the Rules of Civil Procedure, and it was the law before 1951 under similar statutory provisions. State ex rel. Driscoll v. Enersen, 183 Minn. 341, 236 N.W. 488 (1931).
It is true that the losing party may serve a notice of filing. Differt v. Rendahl, 306 N.W.2d 813 (Minn.1981). Also, the right for a motion may be lost when a party has taken steps (motion for extension of time) showing agreement that the time limits for that motion have begun to run. Westling v. City of St. Louis Park, 279 Minn. 366, 157 N.W.2d 56 (1968). See Doyle v. Swanson, 205 Minn. 40, 284 N.W. 874 (1939), and cases cited there. However, time limits for one purpose do not begin due to steps acknowledging that time has started to run for another purpose. State by Mondale v. Independent School Dist. No. 31, 263 Minn. 438, 116 N.W.2d 711 (1962).
The majority elects to treat a motion for amended findings as notice by the losing party that time limits are running for a new trial motion. This conflicts with the rules of law stated above. Because the proposition conflicts with the plain meaning of Rule 59.03, it is tantamount to an amendment of the rule without notice. It also modifies Minn.R.Civ.P. 52.02, where it is provided that the motion for amended findings “may” be made with a motion for a new trial.
Finally, the decision of the majority disregards fundamental differences between the motion for amended findings and the motion for a new trial. The decision deprives a party of important rights related exclusively to the new trial motion.
Findings may be amended on a motion for new trial, but a motion for amended findings is not the same as one for a new trial.
A motion for a new trial, however, does permit the court to open the judgment if one has been entered, or take additional testimony and thereafter amend the findings of fact and conclusions of law, or to make new findings and conclusions and direct the entry of a new judgment. See Rule 59.01. Thus, in regard to the possible breadth of review at the trial level, a far greater breadth is possible under Rule 59.01 than is possible under Rule 52.02.
2 J. Hetland and O. Adamson, Minnesota Practice 500 (1970).
As the majority opinion acknowledges, the order denying a motion for a new trial is appealable. The motion is an important step for a party who desires appellate re*913view. Contrariwise, the motion for amended findings is directed solely to the discretion of the trial court and is not appealable. The motion for amended findings has special significance as a means to resolve disputes without appeal.
The majority decision was not proposed by the respondent in this case. As stated above, it is unsupported by rule provisions or prior appellate decisions. I would review the case on its merits.