1998 Minnesota Statutes

     504A.251 Unlawful removal or exclusion. 

    (a) A landlord, an agent, or other person acting under the 
 landlord's direction or control is guilty of a misdemeanor if 
 that person: 

    (1) unlawfully and intentionally removes or excludes a 
 residential tenant; or 

    (2) intentionally interrupts or causes the interruption of 
 electrical, heat, gas, or water services to a residential tenant 
 with intent to unlawfully remove or exclude the tenant from the 
 tenant's property. 

    (b) In a trial under this subdivision, it is presumed that 
 the intent requirement of paragraph (a), clause (2), has been 
 met if evidence establishes that the landlord, an agent, or 
 other person acting under the landlord's direction or control, 
 intentionally interrupted or caused the interruption of the 
 service to the residential tenant.  The burden is on the 
 landlord to rebut the presumption. 

    (c) If a landlord, agent, or other person acting under the 
 landlord's direction or control, unlawfully and in bad faith, 
 removes, excludes, or forcibly keeps out a residential tenant 
 from residential premises, the tenant may recover from the 
 landlord treble damages or $500, whichever is greater, and 
 reasonable attorney fees.  

    HIST: 1998 c 253 s 29