Minnesota Civil Litigation Legal Questions

Yes and no.  Yes, civil courts can award relief other than money, for example enjoining someone from using your trademark, or compelling a landlord to make repairs.  Unfortunately the relief you're asking about is probably beyond the court's power to grant in this suit.  If you sue for money and win, however, you can try to settle the case along the lines of forgiving some or all of the money judgment if your ex agrees to complete the programs you've outlined.... Read More

Because the gate has been there, openly and continuously, for so long, you  may have a right to have it remain based on adverse possession and/or easement by prescription.  However the exact requirements for these claims vary by state, and I'm not familiar with Minnesota law, so you should probably consult a local attorney.... Read More

Marital property laws differ in various states, but in most states you would not be a part owner just because you're married to the owner.  In New York, for example, inherited property is separate and not part of the marital estate.  That being said, however, the only right to help in the lawsuit which you might have as a part owner but do not because you're not the owner, is the right to act as an attorney in defending the case, which would probably be a bad idea in any case.  You can be a witness (assuming that  you have personal knowledge of any relevant fact), you can help pay your wife's legal fees, you can help investigate the facts, etc.... Read More

Garnishing funds comes about in a judgment creditor situation.  Joe gets a judgment for $1,000 against Jane, and Jane doesn't pay, so Joe follows the legal process to garnish funds which a third party owes Jane - Jane's employer, or tenant, or anyone who owes Jane money - to get them paid to Joe to help satisfy Jane's debt to Joe.  Apparently the judgment creditor believes that you owe money to the judgment debtor, and has served you with a garnishment requiring you not to pay the money to the judgment debtor, but rather to pay the money to the creditor's attorney.... Read More

It seems unlikely to me that the phone records of a witness would be relevant to a civil case, but if they are then the Court may order that they be disclosed.  While only the government can charge you with a crime, if your phone records show evidence of a crime, the Court may refer the matter to the police or district attorney for further criminal proceedings.  Again, this seems very unlikely to me but, without knowing any details, I can't say it is impossible.... Read More

You can prove your case through the testimony of yourself and the other people who witnessed the pre-existing damage to the table.  Of course, this testimony would be more powerful if you had a disinterested witness, but there is still a good chance that you'll be believed.  You could also try to depose previous tenants to ask them if they had noticed the damage when they occupied the cabin, but the likelihood is that either they didn't, or that they will not admit that they did, and the deposition process is (unless this table was extraordinarily valuable some reason) probably more expensive and time consuming than the case is worth.... Read More

This is the "ask a question" forum, not the "find a cheap lawyer" forum. If your daughter is accused of a crime and cannot afford legal representation, she may be entitled to be provided with counsel at state expense. You do not explain what else she may be facing and what she is doing about it. She needs an attorney, not a mother with a computer.... Read More

She will need to prove that you were negligent in allowing the goods to leave your possession, and the value of the goods that were lost due to that negligence.  You can offset any amount she owes you, such as for the accident.  This will no doubt proceed in small claims court, if she brings it.... Read More