1997 Minnesota Statutes

     566.25 Judgment. 

    Upon finding the complaint proved, the court may, in its 
 discretion, do any or all of the following, either alone or in 
 combination: 

    (a) Order the owner to remedy the violation or violations 
 found by the court to exist if the court is satisfied that 
 corrective action will be undertaken promptly; or 

    (b) Order the tenant to remedy the violation or violations 
 found by the court to exist and deduct the cost from the rent 
 subject to the terms as the court determines to be just; or 

    (c) Appoint an administrator with powers as set out in 
 section 566.29, and 

    (1) direct that rents due: 

    (i) on and from the day of entry of judgment, in the case 
 of petitioning tenants or neighborhood organizations, and 

    (ii) on and from the day of service of the judgment on all 
 other tenants and commercial tenants of the building, if any, 
 shall be deposited with the administrator appointed by the 
 court, and 

    (2) direct that the administrator use the rents collected 
 for the purpose of remedying the violations found to exist by 
 the court paying the debt service, taxes and insurance, and 
 providing the services necessary to the ordinary operation and 
 maintenance of the building which the owner is obligated to 
 provide but fails or refuses to provide; or 

    (d) Find the extent to which any uncorrected violations 
 impair the tenants' use and enjoyment of the premises contracted 
 for and order the rent abated accordingly.  Should the court 
 choose to enter judgment under this paragraph the parties shall 
 be informed and the court shall find the amount by which the 
 rent shall be abated; 

    (e) After termination of administration, continue the 
 jurisdiction of the court over the building for a period of one 
 year and order the owner to maintain the building in compliance 
 with all applicable state, county, and city health, safety, 
 housing, building, fire prevention, and housing maintenance 
 codes; and 

    (f) Grant any other relief the court deems just and proper, 
 including a judgment against the owner for reasonable attorney 
 fees, not to exceed $500, in the case of a prevailing tenant or 
 neighborhood organization.  The $500 limitation does not apply 
 to awards made under section 549.211 or other specific statutory 
 authority.  

    HIST: 1973 c 611 s 20; 1982 c 492 s 3; 1986 c 444; 1990 c 451 
 s 6; 1997 c 213 art 2 s 2