Ellis v. Doe

CHUTICH, Justice.

*259Appellant Andrew Ellis initiated eviction proceedings against his tenant, John Doe, for nonpayment of rent.1 The tenant raised a common-law habitability defense, asserting that Ellis had breached the covenants of habitability. The district court found for the tenant and ordered retroactive and prospective rent abatement until the habitability violations were fixed. The court of appeals affirmed the district court's decision.

Ellis now asks us to reverse, asserting that the tenant did not follow the procedures for a rent-escrow action under Minnesota Statutes section 504B.385…