2025 Session Last amended: 2024 session

§ 181.171 — Court Actions; Private Party Civil Actions

Plain-Language Summary

Minnesota workers can sue their employer in district court for wage violations, including unpaid wages, missing pay stubs, and improper deductions. If the worker wins, the employer must pay the unpaid wages plus attorney fees, court costs, and may owe additional damages.

181.171 COURT ACTIONS; PRIVATE PARTY CIVIL ACTIONS.

Subdivision 1.Civil action; damages.

A person may bring a civil action seeking redress for violations of sections 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 181.032, 181.08, 181.09, 181.10, 181.101, 181.11, 181.13, 181.14, 181.145, 181.15, 181.722, and 181.723 directly to district court. An employer who is found to have violated the above sections is liable to the aggrieved party for the civil penalties or damages provided for in the section violated. An employer who is found to have violated the above sections shall also be liable for compensatory damages and other appropriate relief including but not limited to injunctive relief. §

Subd. 2.District court jurisdiction.

An action brought under subdivision 1 may be filed in the district court of the county wherein a violation is alleged to have been committed, where the respondent resides or has a principal place of business, or any other court of competent jurisdiction. §

Subd. 3.Attorney fees and costs.

In an action brought under subdivision 1, the court shall order an employer who is found to have committed a violation to pay to the aggrieved party reasonable costs, disbursements, witness fees, and attorney fees. §

Subd. 4.Employer; definition.

“Employer” means any person having one or more employees in Minnesota and includes the state or a contractor that has assumed a subcontractor’s liability within the meaning of section 181.165 and any political subdivision of the state. This definition applies to this section and sections 181.02, 181.03, 181.031, 181.032, 181.06, 181.063, 181.10, 181.101, 181.13, 181.14, and 181.16.

History:

1996 c 386 s 12; 1997 c 83 s 7; 2015 c 54 art 6 s 2; 2023 c 53 art 10 s 7; 2024 c 127 art 10 s 6

History: History: 1996 c 386 s 12; 1997 c 83 s 7; 2015 c 54 art 6 s 2; 2023 c 53 art 10 s 7; 2024 c 127 art 10 s 6

Practical Notes

When this applies: When an employer violates Minnesota wage and hour laws, including rules about final paychecks, earnings statements, tip theft, wage deductions, and employee misclassification. Who this affects: Any Minnesota employee whose employer has broken wage and hour laws under Chapter 181. Key points: Workers can file a lawsuit in the county where the violation happened, where the employer is based, or any other court with jurisdiction. If the worker wins, the court must order the employer to pay attorney fees and costs. The law covers violations of multiple sections including pay timing (181.13, 181.14), earnings statements (181.032), commission payments (181.145), and employee misclassification (181.722, 181.723).

Source: Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes