There shall be one form of action to be known as “civil action.”
Rule 2.One Form of Action
Last verified July 1, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2 abolishes the old separation between lawsuits at law and suits in equity, so every Minnesota civil dispute proceeds as a single type of case called a “civil action,” no matter what relief a party is after.
Full Text of Rule 2
Plain-English Summary
Before rules like this one, a lawsuit seeking money damages and a lawsuit seeking an injunction ran on different procedural tracks, each with its own forms and, in some places, its own courts. Choosing the wrong track before filing could sink an otherwise valid claim.
Rule 2 erases that line in one sentence. Every civil matter in Minnesota, whether the relief sought is damages, an injunction, or both, proceeds as a single civil action under the same set of rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask for both money damages and an injunction in the same Minnesota lawsuit?
Yes. Because Rule 2 merges what used to be separate law and equity actions into one civil action, a single complaint can seek both.
Does Minnesota still separate “law” cases from “equity” cases?
No. Every civil matter is a civil action under the same procedural rules, regardless of whether the claim would once have been called legal or equitable.
Source & verification. The rule text and Advisory Committee Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
official Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure (Minn. R. Civ. P. 2). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 480.051). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 1, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: civil actionone form of actionmerger of law and equity