<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text" >Sanctioning a Residential Building Contractor: Evidentiary Standards</span>
09/22/2021

Sanctioning a Residential Building Contractor: Evidentiary Standards

The Department of Labor & Industry regulates Minnesota's residential building contractors.  It is staffed with investigators who seem to have a hint of a construction background, but no identifiable legal training that I have seen.  From testimony actually presented at trial, the Department's own investigator has acknowledged concluding a violation of law occurred, but he did not know the appliable legal standard for making that determination.
 
What then is the standard?  "Substantial evidence" must exist for the Department to sanction a contractor.   According to the appellate law, Substantial evidence is defined as
(1) such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion;
(2) more than a scintilla of evidence;
(3) more than some evidence;
(4) more than any evidence; or
(5) the evidence considered in its entirety." 
Cannon v. Minneapolis Police Dep't, 783 N.W.2d 182, 189 (Minn. Ct. App. 2010) (quotation omitted).
 
If you are faced with a proposed sanction, you can ask the Department to identify the substantial evidence that might exist.  I suspect you'll confuse the investigator and you will not get a direct answer. 
 
A competent lawyer can help you.  In dealing with the Department, you cannot retain counsel too early, you can only retain counsel too late.  Don't make the mistake many before you have made and get representation early!
 

Related Posts