DEFENSES

See also DEFENDANTS

Adverse claims to real property, value of improvements, taxes, and assessments, Minn. Statutes 2026 559.11

Advisory opinions, Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Minn. Statutes 2026 10A.02

Agricultural chemicals

Act of God, Minn. Statutes 2026 18D.111, 18D.325

End user or landowner, application, Minn. Statutes 2026 18D.101

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 18D.325

Aircraft, operating under influence of alcohol or controlled substances, Minn. Statutes 2026 360.0752

Alcoholic beverages

Beer, kegs, illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2026 340A.513

Children, consumption by, consent of parent or guardian, Minn. Statutes 2026 340A.503

Complicity defense, fault defined as, Minn. Statutes 2026 604.01

Illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2026 340A.503, 340A.513, 340A.801

Intoxication defense, effect on intent, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.075

Proof of age, Minn. Statutes 2026 340A.503, 340A.703

Attempts at crime, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.17

Bank deposits and collections

Presentment warranties, breach, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.4-208, 336.4-302

Transfer warranties, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.4-207

Waivers, unauthorized signatures or alterations, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.4-406

Bankruptcy proceedings, employers, failure to pay benefits or wage supplements, Minn. Statutes 2026 181.74

Banks, shareholders, assessments, Minn. Statutes 2026 49.19

Beer, kegs, illegal sales, Minn. Statutes 2026 340A.513

Building accessibility, compliance with requirements, affirmative defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 363A.331

Bumpers, evidence of manufacture higher than prescribed height, affirmative defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.73

Campaign practices violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 211B.17

Child sexual abuse material, Minn. Statutes 2026 617.245 to 617.247, 617.246, 617.247

Child support

Criminal nonsupport, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.375

Nonparentage, Minn. Statutes 2026 518C.315

Nonpayment of support, Minn. Statutes 2026 518.612

Coercion for use in prostitution, excluded defenses, Minn. Statutes 2026 611A.81, 611A.82

Collateral estoppel, court of appeals decisions, precedential value, Minn. Statutes 2026 480A.08

Collectively bargained health care arrangements, violations, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 62H.15

Commercial e-mail messages, violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 325F.694

Consent, see specific index headings for crimes

Consumer contracts, plain language, good faith effort to comply, Minn. Statutes 2026 325G.34

Consumer support grants, appeals, Minn. Statutes 2026 256.476

Contagious or infectious diseases, knowing transfer, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2241

Contracts for deed, failure to record, Minn. Statutes 2026 507.235

Contributing to delinquency or status as juvenile petty offender, Minn. Statutes 2026 260B.425

Contributing to status as child in need of protection or services, Minn. Statutes 2026 260C.425

Controlled substances, sale, transfer, or delivery, Minn. Statutes 2026 152.097

Corporations, ratable assessments against shareholders, Minn. Statutes 2026 316.19

Crimes in other jurisdictions, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.025

Criminal vehicular homicide, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2112

Criminal vehicular operation, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2113, 609.2114

Dangerous dogs, harm caused by, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.226

Defamation, Minn. Statutes 2026 544.043

Delinquent property taxes, see Defenses or objections under PROPERTY TAXES

Dentists and dental auxiliaries, violations, generally, licenses, lack of, Minn. Statutes 2026 150A.12

Deprivation of custodial or parental rights, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.26

Devisees, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2026 573.16

Disabled persons, employment, unfair discriminatory practices, Minn. Statutes 2026 363A.25

Dishonored checks, affidavit of service, refusal to accept, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.535

Dissolution of marriage

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 518.06

Marital property, division, power of attorney, use not available as defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 518.58

Drivers' licenses, revocation, suspension, cancellation, or disqualification, notice, Minn. Statutes 2026 171.24

Driving while impaired, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 169A.46

Electronic communications, illegal access, Minn. Statutes 2026 626A.32

Emergency communications, kidnappings, telephone company employees, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.774

Employee leasing arrangements, violations, generally, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 62H.15

Employers, bankruptcy, failure to pay benefits or wage supplements, Minn. Statutes 2026 181.74

Energy conservation, violations, adequate remedy not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 216C.30

Eviction

Manufactured home parks, Minn. Statutes 2026 327C.10

Real property, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.285

Residential rental property, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.285

Failure to appear in court, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.49

Farm products, contracts, readability violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 17.9441

Farm tractors, claims of nonconformity, Minn. Statutes 2026 325F.6657

Female genital mutilation, consent, not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2245

Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2335

Force, justification or grounds for use

Children, reasonable force used on, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.379

Crime victims, force against perpetrators, Minn. Statutes 2026 611A.08

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.06, 609.066

Peace officers, Minn. Statutes 2026 346.57, 609.06, 629.33

Prisoners, force used on, Minn. Statutes 2026 243.52

Prohibitions, victim gender identity or sexual orientation, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.075

Rental property, entry by force, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.281

Resisting arrest, Minn. Statutes 2026 629.23

School bus drivers, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582

School personnel, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582, 123B.25

School principals, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582, 121A.61

Teachers, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582, 121A.61, 123B.25, 125A.0942, 609.379

Tear gas use, reasonable force, Minn. Statutes 2026 624.731

Fraudulent transfers, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 513.48

Governmental immunity

Liability insurance, effects, Minn. Statutes 2026 3.736, 16B.85

School districts, liability insurance, waivers, Minn. Statutes 2026 123B.23

Gratuities, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2026 177.27

Groundwater pollution in sensitive areas, Minn. Statutes 2026 103H.111

Halal foods, misrepresentation of non-Halal foods, Minn. Statutes 2026 31.658

Hazardous substances releases, liability claims, defenses, Minn. Statutes 2026 115B.04, 115B.05, 115B.175

Hazardous waste, air and water quality violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.671

Health and accident insurance, policies, limitation, Minn. Statutes 2026 62A.04

Heirs, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2026 573.16

Insanity, Minn. Statutes 2026 518.06, 611.026

Insurance, claims forms, absence of warnings not a defense for violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 60A.955

Insurance liquidators, assertion, duties, Minn. Statutes 2026 60B.25

Intoxication defense, effect on intent, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.075

Invention developers, contracts, bona fide error, Minn. Statutes 2026 325A.09

Investment securities, see Defenses under SECURITIES

Justification

Defamation, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.765

Force, use of, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.06, 609.066

Homicide, justifiable homicide, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.065

Labor trafficking, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.284

Landlords

Code violation inspection and condemnation orders, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.195

Code violations lawsuits, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.415

Utilities, interruption or termination, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.221

Legal separation, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 518.06

Legatees, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2026 573.16

Littering, civil liability, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.421

Lottery tickets, sale to minors, Minn. Statutes 2026 349A.12

Manslaughter

2d degree manslaughter, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.205

2d degree manslaughter of an unborn child, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.2665

Manufactured home parks, eviction, Minn. Statutes 2026 327C.10

Marijuana, possession or sale, Minn. Statutes 2026 18K.08

Medical malpractice lawsuits, counterclaims, pleading as, statutes of limitations, Minn. Statutes 2026 541.076

Minimum wage, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2026 177.27

Minnesota Insurance Guaranty Association

Claims, rights, Minn. Statutes 2026 60C.05

Insolvent member insurers, proceedings, Minn. Statutes 2026 60C.195

Motor vehicle dealers, other remedies, not a defense to injunctions, Minn. Statutes 2026 168.27

Motor vehicle insurance, proof of insurance, defense for failure to provide, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.797

Motor vehicles, forfeiture, Minn. Statutes 2026 169A.63

Municipal land use planning, appeals from local government action, Minn. Statutes 2026 462.361

Neglect or endangerment of a child, failure to prevent, Minn. Statutes 2026 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 2026 604.01

Negotiable instruments

Alteration of instruments, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-406

Conditional issuance of instrument, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-105

Countersignatures, failure to make, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-106

Forged signatures, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-406

Issuance without consideration, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-303

Lack of notice, holders in due course, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-302

Nonissuance of instrument, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-105

Nonperformance of promises, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-303

Obligation to pay instrument, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-305

Other agreements, effect, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-117

Presentment warranties, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-417

Restrictive endorsements, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-206

Signatures, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-308

Transfer warranties, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-416

Wrongful refusal to pay, Minn. Statutes 2026 336.3-411

Next of kin, liability, prior debts, Minn. Statutes 2026 573.16

No-fault automobile insurance, proof of insurance, failure to produce, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.791

No or insufficient consideration, employment agency fees, notes, Minn. Statutes 2026 184.38

Nursery stock, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 18J.10

Overtime, agreements to work for less not a defense to action, Minn. Statutes 2026 177.27

Pari-mutuel betting, underage bettors, identification, Minn. Statutes 2026 240.13

Partition of real estate, disputes between parties, Minn. Statutes 2026 558.05, 558A.09

Pen registers, trap and trace devices, and mobile tracking devices, Minn. Statutes 2026 626A.391

Perjury, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.48

Plant pests, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 18J.10

Plants (vegetation), violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 18J.10

Product liability, useful life of product, expiration, Minn. Statutes 2026 604.03

Property taxes, see Defenses or objections under PROPERTY TAXES

Prostitution, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.325

Public transportation facilities, unfair discriminatory practices, Minn. Statutes 2026 363A.11

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

Receivers, Minn. Statutes 2026 576.28

Reportable multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), violations, lack of knowledge not a defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 62H.15

School bus drivers, reasonable force, use, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582

School districts, school buses, advertising on, Minn. Statutes 2026 123B.93

School officials, Fair Dismissal Act, technical violations, good faith exception, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.48

School personnel, force used by, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582, 123B.25

School principals, reasonable force, use, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582

Seeds, violations, generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 18J.10

Self-defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.06, 609.065

Sex crimes

Coercion for use in prostitution, excluded defenses, Minn. Statutes 2026 611A.81, 611A.82

Sexual psychopathic personality, not defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 253D.07

Sexually dangerous person status, not defense, Minn. Statutes 2026 253D.07

Solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.352

Sex trafficking, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.284

Shooting victims, failure to aid, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.662

Signatures, credit agreements, absence, effect, Minn. Statutes 2026 513.33

Smoking regulations, Minn. Statutes 2026 327.742

Soil conservation, good faith practices, Minn. Statutes 2026 103F.441

Solicitation of children to engage in sexual conduct, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.352

Taxes

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 271.09

Jeopardy assessments, Minn. Statutes 2026 270C.36

Teachers, force used by, Minn. Statutes 2026 121A.582, 123B.25

Tenants, eviction actions, Minn. Statutes 2026 504B.285

Theft, trade secrets, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.52

Timber cutting on state lands, Minn. Statutes 2026 90.301

Tobacco, tobacco related devices, or electronic delivery devices

Sales, age verification omission, Minn. Statutes 2026 461.22

Sales to children, municipal license violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 461.12

Sales to persons under age 21, reliance on proof of age, driver's license or Minnesota identification card, Minn. Statutes 2026 609.685

Traffic accidents, drivers, leaving scene of accident to obtain medical aid, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.09

Traffic sign or signal violations, motorcyclists or bicyclists, entering or crossing intersections against red light, Minn. Statutes 2026 169.06

Trespass, Minn. Statutes 2026 471.985

Trust companies, shareholders, assessments, Minn. Statutes 2026 49.19

Unauthorized insurers, Minn. Statutes 2026 60A.21

Wild animals, violations, Minn. Statutes 2026 35.95

Wiretapping, Minn. Statutes 2026 626A.13

Workers' compensation

Fraud, claim forms, criminal penalties notice, Minn. Statutes 2026 176.178

Generally, Minn. Statutes 2026 176.001 to 176.862

Willful negligence, Minn. Statutes 2026 176.031