Civil Division

The Civil Division provides legal services to Anoka County’s departments, County Board, Sheriff, and County Administrator. Our work is diverse and is driven by the breadth and variety of issues facing Anoka County. To protect the County’s interests, the Civil Division offers training to County staff on liability reduction, data practices issues, best employment practices, and other topics of interest.

The Civil Division’s responsibilities include:

• Civil Litigation – defends the County in civil claims and lawsuits filed against the County, its elected officials, and its employees in state and federal court.
• Contracts - provides legal advice to departments about contracts, and drafts and negotiates contracts.
• Employment - provides legal advice and representation to the Human Resources department and all other County departments on labor and employment matters;
• Real Property - represents the County in property tax appeals, condemnation proceedings, leasing and other property-related matters.
• Human Services – provides legal advice and representation to the Health Department, Social Services Department, and the Corrections Department.
• All County departments - advises and provides legal representation on issues facing the departments.
• Civil Commitment – The Protective Services Unit (PSU) is responsible for the civil commitment of the developmentally disabled, chemically dependent, mentally ill, the mentally ill and dangerous, sexual psychopaths, and sexually dangerous persons. PSU also receives referrals on defendants found incompetent to stand trial in criminal court after Rule 20 competency proceedings and it provides legal advice and representation in matters affecting vulnerable adults.
• Appeals – handles criminal, juvenile, and civil appeals in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, Minnesota Supreme Court, federal district court, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. It also represents state prison wardens in federal habeas corpus cases involving Anoka County criminal defendants.

The Civil Division strives to provide the highest quality civil legal services for the benefit of the citizens of Anoka County, its leadership and County departments.

Bryan Frantz is the Division Chief Attorney for the Civil Division.