Kevin James Kleinschmidt v. Angela Rose Farkash

**What Happened** This case involved a workplace harassment situation between Kevin Kleinschmidt and his employer, Angela Farkash. Kleinschmidt had previously obtained a harassment restraining order against Farkash. After this order expired, the court found that Farkash had violated the terms of the original restraining order and held her in civil contempt of court. **What the Court Decided** The Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a mixed ruling. The court upheld the finding that Farkash was in civil contempt and confirmed that she must pay Kleinschmidt's attorney fees. However, the court overturned a statutory fine that had been imposed on Farkash, ruling that such fines are criminal penalties and cannot be used in civil contempt cases. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that harassment restraining orders in workplace situations have lasting consequences. Even after a restraining order expires, employers can still face legal accountability for violations that occurred while it was active. Workers who obtain restraining orders against harassers may be able to recover their legal costs through attorney fee awards. However, the decision also clarifies the limits of what penalties courts can impose in civil contempt cases.