DEFENSES

See also DEFENDANTS

Adverse claims to real property, value of improvements, taxes, and assessments, Minn. Statutes 2025 559.11

Advisory opinions, Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Minn. Statutes 2025 10A.02

Agricultural chemicals

Act of God, Minn. Statutes 2025 18D.111, 18D.325

End user or landowner, application, Minn. Statutes 2025 18D.101

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 18D.325

Aircraft, operating under influence of alcohol or controlled substances, Minn. Statutes 2025 360.0752

Alcoholic beverages

Beer, kegs, illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2025 340A.513

Children, consumption by, consent of parent or guardian, Minn. Statutes 2025 340A.503

Complicity defense, fault defined as, Minn. Statutes 2025 604.01

Illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2025 340A.503, 340A.513, 340A.801

Intoxication defense, effect on intent, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.075

Proof of age, Minn. Statutes 2025 340A.503, 340A.703

Attempts at crime, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.17

Bank deposits and collections

Presentment warranties, breach, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.4-208, 336.4-302

Transfer warranties, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.4-207

Waivers, unauthorized signatures or alterations, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.4-406

Bankruptcy proceedings, employers, failure to pay benefits or wage supplements, Minn. Statutes 2025 181.74

Banks, shareholders, assessments, Minn. Statutes 2025 49.19

Beer, kegs, illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2025 340A.513

Building accessibility, compliance with requirements, affirmative defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 363A.331

Bumpers, evidence of manufacture higher than prescribed height, affirmative defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.73

Campaign practices violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 211B.17

Child sexual abuse material, Minn. Statutes 2025 617.245 to 617.247, 617.246, 617.247

Child support

Criminal nonsupport, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.375

Nonparentage, Minn. Statutes 2025 518C.315

Nonpayment of support, Minn. Statutes 2025 518.612

Coercion for use in prostitution, excluded defenses, Minn. Statutes 2025 611A.81, 611A.82

Collateral estoppel, court of appeals decisions, precedential value, Minn. Statutes 2025 480A.08

Collectively bargained health care arrangements, violations, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 62H.15

Commercial e-mail messages, violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 325F.694

Consent, see specific index headings for crimes

Consumer contracts, plain language, good faith effort to comply, Minn. Statutes 2025 325G.34

Consumer support grants, appeals, Minn. Statutes 2025 256.476

Contagious or infectious diseases, knowing transfer, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2241

Contracts for deed, failure to record, Minn. Statutes 2025 507.235

Contributing to delinquency or status as juvenile petty offender, Minn. Statutes 2025 260B.425

Contributing to status as child in need of protection or services, Minn. Statutes 2025 260C.425

Controlled substances, sale, transfer, or delivery, Minn. Statutes 2025 152.097

Corporations, ratable assessments against shareholders, Minn. Statutes 2025 316.19

Crimes in other jurisdictions, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.025

Criminal vehicular homicide, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2112

Criminal vehicular operation, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2113, 609.2114

Dangerous dogs, harm caused by, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.226

Defamation, Minn. Statutes 2025 544.043

Delinquent property taxes, see Defenses or objections under PROPERTY TAXES

Dentists and dental auxiliaries, violations, generally, licenses, lack of, Minn. Statutes 2025 150A.12

Deprivation of custodial or parental rights, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.26

Devisees, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2025 573.16

Disabled persons, employment, unfair discriminatory practices, Minn. Statutes 2025 363A.25

Dishonored checks, affidavit of service, refusal to accept, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.535

Dissolution of marriage

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 518.06

Marital property, division, power of attorney, use not available as defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 518.58

Drivers' licenses, revocation, suspension, cancellation, or disqualification, notice, Minn. Statutes 2025 171.24

Driving while impaired, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 169A.46

Electronic communications, illegal access, Minn. Statutes 2025 626A.32

Emergency communications, kidnappings, telephone company employees, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.774

Employee leasing arrangements, violations, generally, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 62H.15

Employers, bankruptcy, failure to pay benefits or wage supplements, Minn. Statutes 2025 181.74

Energy conservation, violations, adequate remedy not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 216C.30

Eviction

Manufactured home parks, Minn. Statutes 2025 327C.10

Real property, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.285

Residential rental property, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.285

Failure to appear in court, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.49

Farm products, contracts, readability violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 17.9441

Farm tractors, claims of nonconformity, Minn. Statutes 2025 325F.6657

Female genital mutilation, consent, not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2245

Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2335

Force, justification or grounds for use

Children, reasonable force used on, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.379

Crime victims, force against perpetrators, Minn. Statutes 2025 611A.08

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.06, 609.066

Peace officers, Minn. Statutes 2025 346.57, 609.06, 629.33

Prisoners, force used on, Minn. Statutes 2025 243.52

Prohibitions, victim gender identity or sexual orientation, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.075

Rental property, entry by force, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.281

Resisting arrest, Minn. Statutes 2025 629.23

School bus drivers, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582

School personnel, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582, 123B.25

School principals, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582, 121A.61

Teachers, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582, 121A.61, 123B.25, 125A.0942, 609.379

Tear gas use, reasonable force, Minn. Statutes 2025 624.731

Fraudulent transfers, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 513.48

Governmental immunity

Liability insurance, effects, Minn. Statutes 2025 3.736, 16B.85

School districts, liability insurance, waivers, Minn. Statutes 2025 123B.23

Gratuities, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2025 177.27

Groundwater pollution in sensitive areas, Minn. Statutes 2025 103H.111

Halal foods, misrepresentation of non-Halal foods, Minn. Statutes 2025 31.658

Hazardous substances releases, liability claims, defenses, Minn. Statutes 2025 115B.04, 115B.05, 115B.175

Hazardous waste, air and water quality violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.671

Health and accident insurance, policies, limitation, Minn. Statutes 2025 62A.04

Heirs, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2025 573.16

Insanity, Minn. Statutes 2025 518.06, 611.026

Insurance, claims forms, absence of warnings not a defense for violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 60A.955

Insurance liquidators, assertion, duties, Minn. Statutes 2025 60B.25

Intoxication defense, effect on intent, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.075

Invention developers, contracts, bona fide error, Minn. Statutes 2025 325A.09

Investment securities, see Defenses under SECURITIES

Justification

Defamation, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.765

Force, use of, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.06, 609.066

Homicide, justifiable homicide, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.065

Labor trafficking, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.284

Landlords

Code violation inspection and condemnation orders, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.195

Code violations lawsuits, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.415

Utilities, interruption or termination, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.221

Legal separation, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 518.06

Legatees, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2025 573.16

Littering, civil liability, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.421

Lottery tickets, sale to minors, Minn. Statutes 2025 349A.12

Manslaughter

2d degree manslaughter, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.205

2d degree manslaughter of an unborn child, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.2665

Manufactured home parks, eviction, Minn. Statutes 2025 327C.10

Marijuana, possession or sale, Minn. Statutes 2025 18K.08

Medical malpractice lawsuits, counterclaims, pleading as, statutes of limitations, Minn. Statutes 2025 541.076

Minimum wage, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2025 177.27

Minnesota Insurance Guaranty Association

Claims, rights, Minn. Statutes 2025 60C.05

Insolvent member insurers, proceedings, Minn. Statutes 2025 60C.195

Motor vehicle dealers, other remedies, not a defense to injunctions, Minn. Statutes 2025 168.27

Motor vehicle insurance, proof of insurance, defense for failure to provide, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.797

Motor vehicles, forfeiture, Minn. Statutes 2025 169A.63

Municipal land use planning, appeals from local government action, Minn. Statutes 2025 462.361

Neglect or endangerment of a child, failure to prevent, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.378

Negligence

Assumption of risk, see ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Comparative negligence, see COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE

Contributory negligence, see CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE

Last clear chance doctrine, abolished, Minn. Statutes 2025 604.01

Negotiable instruments

Alteration of instruments, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-406

Conditional issuance of instrument, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-105

Countersignatures, failure to make, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-106

Forged signatures, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-406

Issuance without consideration, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-303

Lack of notice, holders in due course, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-302

Nonissuance of instrument, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-105

Nonperformance of promises, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-303

Obligation to pay instrument, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-305

Other agreements, effect, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-117

Presentment warranties, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-417

Restrictive endorsements, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-206

Signatures, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-308

Transfer warranties, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-416

Wrongful refusal to pay, Minn. Statutes 2025 336.3-411

Next of kin, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2025 573.16

No-fault automobile insurance, proof of insurance, failure to produce, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.791

No or insufficient consideration, employment agency fees, notes, Minn. Statutes 2025 184.38

Nursery stock, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 18J.10

Overtime, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2025 177.27

Pari-mutuel betting, underage bettors, identification, Minn. Statutes 2025 240.13

Partition of real estate, disputes between parties, Minn. Statutes 2025 558.05, 558A.09

Pen registers, trap and trace devices, and mobile tracking devices, Minn. Statutes 2025 626A.391

Perjury, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.48

Plant pests, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 18J.10

Plants (vegetation), violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 18J.10

Product liability, useful life of product, expiration, Minn. Statutes 2025 604.03

Property taxes, see Defenses or objections under PROPERTY TAXES

Prostitution, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.325

Public transportation facilities, unfair discriminatory practices, Minn. Statutes 2025 363A.11

Reasonable force, see Force, justification or grounds for use under this topic

Receivers, Minn. Statutes 2025 576.28

Reportable multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), violations, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 62H.15

School bus drivers, reasonable force, use, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582

School districts, school buses, advertising on, Minn. Statutes 2025 123B.93

School officials, Fair Dismissal Act, technical violations, good faith exception, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.48

School personnel, force used by, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582, 123B.25

School principals, reasonable force, use, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582

Seeds, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 18J.10

Self-defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.06, 609.065

Sex crimes

Coercion for use in prostitution, excluded defenses, Minn. Statutes 2025 611A.81, 611A.82

Sexual psychopathic personality, not defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 253D.07

Sexually dangerous person status, not defense, Minn. Statutes 2025 253D.07

Solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.352

Sex trafficking, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.284

Shooting victims, failure to aid, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.662

Signatures, credit agreements, absence, effect, Minn. Statutes 2025 513.33

Smoking regulations, Minn. Statutes 2025 327.742

Soil conservation, good faith practices, Minn. Statutes 2025 103F.441

Solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.352

Taxes

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 271.09

Jeopardy assessments, Minn. Statutes 2025 270C.36

Teachers, force used by, Minn. Statutes 2025 121A.582, 123B.25

Tenants, eviction actions, Minn. Statutes 2025 504B.285

Theft, trade secrets, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.52

Timber cutting on state lands, Minn. Statutes 2025 90.301

Tobacco, tobacco related devices, or electronic delivery devices

Sales, age verification omission, Minn. Statutes 2025 461.22

Sales to children, municipal license violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 461.12

Sales to persons under age 21, reliance on proof of age, driver's license or Minnesota identification card, Minn. Statutes 2025 609.685

Traffic accidents, drivers, leaving scene of accident to obtain medical aid, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.09

Traffic sign or signal violations, motorcyclists or bicyclists, entering or crossing intersections against red light, Minn. Statutes 2025 169.06

Trespass, Minn. Statutes 2025 471.985

Trust companies, shareholders, assessments, Minn. Statutes 2025 49.19

Unauthorized insurers, Minn. Statutes 2025 60A.21

Wild animals, violations, Minn. Statutes 2025 35.95

Wiretapping, Minn. Statutes 2025 626A.13

Workers' compensation

Fraud, claim forms, criminal penalties notice, Minn. Statutes 2025 176.178

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2025 176.001 to 176.862

Willful negligence, Minn. Statutes 2025 176.031