Broszko v. Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co.

533 N.W.2d 656, 1995 Minn. App. LEXIS 861, 1995 WL 387790
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedJuly 3, 1995
DocketC3-95-479
StatusPublished

This text of 533 N.W.2d 656 (Broszko v. Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Broszko v. Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co., 533 N.W.2d 656, 1995 Minn. App. LEXIS 861, 1995 WL 387790 (Mich. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

OPINION

PARKER, Judge.

Deputies of former Hennepin County Sheriff Don Omodt executed a writ of restitution against Tina and Michael Borgen and also removed Denise Broszko and her children, along with their belongings, from property owned by Principal Mutual Life Insurance Co. (Principal). Broszko filed numerous claims against both Principal and Omodt. The district court granted summary judgment against Broszko. We affirm as to both respondents.

FACTS

Tina and Michael Borgen owned a house subject to a mortgage held by respondent Principal. In June 1993, Principal foreclosed the mortgage; the redemption period expired on December 14, 1998. The Borgens did not redeem.

Tina Borgen met appellant Denise Broszko in a treatment program. In July or August 1993, Borgen told Broszko and others that they could live with her temporarily in the house. Borgen informed Broszko that Principal had foreclosed and that Broszko would be required to leave. In September, Borgen went to live elsewhere but left most of her personal property in the house. Also in September, Borgen asked Broszko to move out. A discussion ensued and Borgen told Brosz-ko that she must move out by December 15, 1993, the day after expiration of the redemption period. Borgen stated that she asked Broszko to forward any notices or other information concerning Principal’s anticipated action to take possession. Borgen next visited the house in February 1994 to find her possessions, and Broszko, gone.

After expiration of the redemption period, Principal sent a letter to the house, dated December 17, 1993, asking the occupants to leave and stating that Principal would file an unlawful detainer action. Broszko says she did not see the letter. On January 18, Principal initiated an unlawful detainer action. The process server failed to make personal service. However, a copy of the summons and complaint was posted on the property on January 21 and received by Broszko. She did not attend the hearing on January 28, 1994; she claims she arrived at the courthouse ten minutes late. The court ordered issuance of a writ of restitution.

After the hearing, Broszko called Principal’s attorney to ask about the hearing and when she had to leave. This was the first information Principal received regarding the presence of Broszko in the house. On February 4, 1994, deputies served the writ on *658 occupants of the house. They returned with movers on February 22 to clear the house.

Broszko sued, seeking damages from both Principal and Omodt. Broszko bases her claims on the existence of a tenancy. She argues that she lived on the property in a landlord-tenant relationship with Borgen which called for rental payment of $400 per month. Initially, she stated that she paid rent each month she lived in the house. However, Broszko later admitted that rental receipts she produced were forged. The district court found Broszko paid $400 in August and might have paid $400 another month. Broszko conceded that she had not paid rent as she described in her affidavit. Broszko also conceded that Borgen told her about the foreclosure and impending action to take possession but that she did not know the dates.

All parties filed summary judgment motions. The district court denied Broszko’s motion and granted summary judgment for Omodt and Principal. Broszko appeals.

DISCUSSION

The determinative issue is whether the district court properly determined as a matter of law that Broszko was not a tenant entitled to protection under Minn.Stat. §§ 566.01-.18 (1992). On an appeal from summary judgment we examine (1) whether there are any genuine issues of material fact, and (2) whether the district court correctly applied the law. State by Cooper v. French, 460 N.W.2d 2, 4 (Minn.1990). In the district court, once respondents made out a prima facie case for summary judgment, appellant was required to come forward with evidence to demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). We review the district court’s application of the law de novo. Frost-Benco Elec. Ass’n v. Minnesota Pub. Utils. Comm’n, 358 N.W.2d 639, 642 (Minn.1984).

Chapter 566 mandates procedures for one entitled to possession of property to follow in removing tenants from possession of the property. These requirements include providing one month’s written notice to vacate. Minn.Stat. § 566.03, subd. 1(1). Broszko argues that she was a tenant entitled to the protection of chapter 566, including the written-notice requirement. Broszko seeks damages because Principal and Sheriff Omodt’s deputies removed her from the property without affording her the procedure prescribed for removal of tenants.

Broszko directs us to the definition of “tenant” found in chapter 566:

[A]ny person who is occupying a dwelling in a building * * * under any agreement, lease, or contract, whether oral or written, and for whatever period of time, which requires the payment of moneys as rent for the use of the dwelling unit, and all other regular occupants of that dwelling unit.

Minn.Stat. § 566.18 (emphasis added). According to Broszko, the definition covers her because either (1) she had an agreement with Tina Borgen, or (2) she was an “other regular oceupant[]” of the house. As evidence, Broszko offered the forged receipts and her sworn testimony that she paid rent to Bor-gen, though she later admitted that she lied about paying rent through February 1994.

We hold that, within the statutory definition, Broszko was not a tenant of Borgen at the time of her removal from the property. Broszko did not introduce evidence of an agreement, lease, or contract. At most, Broszko paid $400 to Tina Borgen in each of two months. However, Borgen told Broszko that the property was foreclosed and that Broszko would have to move out. Broszko paid no money to Borgen during the last five months she lived in the house. Broszko concedes she had no relationship with Principal, the owner of the property.

Most importantly, Tina Borgen did not possess the power to create the tenancy Broszko claims. Borgen was merely a “former owner[] remaining on the land during the redemption period.” Federal Land Bank of St. Paul v. Obermoller, 429 N.W.2d 251, 258 (Minn.App.1988), pet. for rev. denied (Minn. Oct. 26, 1988). A former owner (i.e., mortgagor) retains the right to possess the property until the end of the redemption period. Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co. v. *659 Frantz Klodt & Son, Inc., 306 Minn 244, 248, 237 N.W.2d 350, 353 (1975). In Obermoller,

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Related

Frost-Benco Electric Ass'n v. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
358 N.W.2d 639 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1984)
Mutual Benefit Life Insurance v. Frantz Klodt & Son, Inc.
237 N.W.2d 350 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1975)
Federal Land Bank of Saint Paul v. Obermoller
429 N.W.2d 251 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1988)
State Ex Rel. Cooper v. French
460 N.W.2d 2 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1990)
Schrunk v. Andres
22 N.W.2d 548 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1946)

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Bluebook (online)
533 N.W.2d 656, 1995 Minn. App. LEXIS 861, 1995 WL 387790, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/broszko-v-principal-mutual-life-insurance-co-minnctapp-1995.