Opinion
No. C8-00-1448
Filed May 8, 2001.
Appeal from the District Court, Hennepin County, File No. 998285.
Yoseph Dalu, (pro se appellant)
Mark B. Rotenberg, General Counsel, Jeffrey G. Vigil, Associate General Counsel, (for respondent)
Considered and decided by Kalitowski, Presiding Judge, Willis, Judge, and Stoneburner, Judge.
This opinion will be unpublished and may not be cited except as provided by Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2000).
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant Yoseph Dalu challenges the district court's denial of his motions to amend the complaint, to compel discovery, and for a new trial. Appellant contends the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law are not supported by the evidence and the court erred in failing to decide his intentional infliction of emotional distress claim separately. We affirm.
DECISION
Appellant claimed he was dismissed from the University of Minnesota's medical technology program because of discrimination. The court entered judgment for respondent after a four-day trial heard without a jury.
The scope of review in a case tried by the court without a jury is limited to determining whether the court's findings are clearly erroneous and whether [the court] erred in its conclusions of law.
Schweich v. Ziegler, Inc., 463 N.W.2d 722, 729 (Minn. 1990). A reviewing court shall give due regard to the trial court's opportunity to judge the credibility of the witnesses. Minn.R.Civ.P. 52.01; State v. Jones, 566 N.W.2d 317, 325 (Minn. 1997).
To establish a prima facie case of discrimination, appellant was required to show he was a member of a protected class, he was qualified as a student, and he was dismissed under circumstances giving rise to an inference of unlawful discrimination. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 1824 (1973); Dietrich v. Canadian Pac. Ltd., 536 N.W.2d 319, 323-24 (Minn. 1995) (indicating that Minnesota courts use the McDonnell Douglas test to analyze claims arising from the Minnesota Human Rights Act). Here, the district court concluded appellant failed to demonstrate a prima facie case of discrimination. In addition, the court found the University met its burden of demonstrating there was a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for appellant's dismissal.
In making its findings, the district court relied on evidence that showed appellant: (1) had deficiencies and safety violations in laboratory courses; (2) was reinstated after dismissal and continued to show deficiencies in the essential functions of the program; (3) had two incidents of cheating that could have led to dismissal; and (4) received two grades of "D" in laboratory courses, which ultimately led to his dismissal. The district court had the opportunity to observe the witnesses firsthand and hear their testimony, and made detailed findings of fact regarding the deficiencies leading to appellant's dismissal. We conclude the district court's findings of fact were supported by the evidence and were not clearly erroneous, and the court did not err in its conclusions of law.
Appellant also claims the district court erred in failing to decide his intentional infliction of emotional distress claim separately. A district court need not make specific findings if the record is reasonably clear, the facts are not seriously disputed, and the decision decides all disputed or material facts. See Crowley Co. v. Metropolitan Airports Comm'n, 394 N.W.2d 542, 545 (Minn.App. 1986). Because as a matter of law appellant presented insufficient evidence to support a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress, we conclude the district court did not err in failing to address the emotional distress claim separately.
Finally, appellant claims the district court abused its discretion in denying his motions for a new trial and to amend the complaint. The district court's decision to grant or deny a new trial will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Halla Nursery, Inc. v. Baumann-Furrie Co., 454 N.W.2d 905, 910 (Minn. 1990). The court will grant a new trial if, inter alia, a party was deprived of a fair trial, a party committed misconduct, or the court's decision is not justified by the evidence or is contrary to law. Minn.R.Civ.P. 59.01. Here, the court gave appellant considerable leeway because he was pro se and even considered testimony not given under oath or subject to cross-examination. Nevertheless, the evidence indicated appellant was properly dismissed from the University. Appellant's motion to amend the complaint was untimely and not supported by the evidence. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motions for a new trial and to amend the complaint.