Kerry A. Clarin Colleen v. Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., a Minnesota Corp., 198 F.3d 661 (8th Cir. 1999). · Go Syfert
Kerry A. Clarin Colleen v. Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., a Minnesota Corp., 198 F.3d 661 (8th Cir. 1999). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
52 citation events (52 in the last 25 years) across 11 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Chavez v. Ford Motor Credit Company LLC (azd, 2024-11-26) · Strongest negative: Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board v. Steven F. Olson (iowa, 2011-12-09)
Treatment trajectory · 2002 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2002 2014 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers.
discussed Cited "but see" Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board v. Steven F. Olson
Iowa · 2011 · signal: but see · confidence high
But see Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir.1999) (applying Minnesota law and relying on White & Summers treatise to hold that five factors enter into whether the creditor committed a breach of the peace, including the creditor’s use of deception); Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Byrd, 351 So.2d 557, 559 (Ala.1977) (finding the creditor committed a breach of the peace when it tricked the debtor into bringing his car into the dealership under false pretenses).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Chavez v. Ford Motor Credit Company LLC (2×)
D. Ariz. · 2024 · confidence medium
On no 8 other occasion have Arizona courts addressed the meaning of breach of the peace for the 9 purposes of Arizona’s Self-Help statute. 10 Oral protest to repossession is a factor that federal and state courts consider in 11 determining whether a repossession breached the peace, but oral protest alone does not 12 qualify for such a finding.2 See Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th 13 Cir. 1999) (holding debtor’s unequivocal oral protest did not amount to a breach of the 14 peace when considering “(1) where the repossession took place, (2) the debtor's express or…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Wiley v. On Point Recovery and Transport LLC (2×)
D. Ariz. · 2024 · confidence medium
Indeed, “[c]ourts 22 are divided on the issue of whether an unequivocal oral protest amounts to a breach of the 23 peace.” Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hansen v. Santander Bank, N.A.
D. Minnesota · 2023 · confidence medium
The Eighth Circuit considered whether the FDCPA “present right to possession” could be abrogated by a breach of the peace under Minnesota law in Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 665 (8th Cir. 1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Garcia v. Dezba Asset Recovery, Inc.
S.D.N.Y. · 2023 · confidence medium
This Court sees no reason to deviate from this precedent. of a vehicle on default from a public location over the oral objection of the owner, however strenuous, is not a breach of the peace unless accompanied by factors indicating that the activities of the repossession agent are of a kind likely to cause violence, or public distress and/or consternation.” Id. at *10–11 (citing Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999) (holding there was no breach of the peace despite protests of the owner because the repossession took place in a public parking lot, the owner w…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Freeman v. Ally Financial, Inc. (2×) also: Cited "see"
D. Minnesota · 2021 · confidence medium
Five factors are relevant when determining whether a repossessor’s conduct was reasonable: “(1) where the repossession took place, (2) the debtor’s express or constructive consent, (3) the reactions of third parties, (4) the type of premises entered, and (5) the creditor’s use of deception.” Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Droge v. AAAA Two Star Towing, Inc. (11×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Nev. · 2020 · confidence medium
COLIPT OF APPEALS OF NEVADA 18 (0) 19473 weilipm Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Giles v. First Va. Credit Serus., Inc., 560 S.E.2d 557, 565 (N.C.
examined Cited as authority (rule) DROGE VS. AAAA TWO STAR TOWING, INC. (11×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Nev. · 2020 · confidence medium
COLIPT OF APPEALS OF NEVADA 18 (0) 19473 weilipm Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted); see also Giles v. First Va. Credit Serus., Inc., 560 S.E.2d 557, 565 (N.C.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Aviles v. Wayside Auto Body, Inc.
D. Conn. · 2014 · confidence medium
Wayside also places great weight on an Eighth Circuit case, Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir.1999).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Giles v. First Virginia Credit Services, Inc. (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
N.C. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999) (oral protest, followed by pleading with repossessors in public parking lot does not rise to level of breach of the peace); Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Koontz, 661 N.E.2d 1171, 1173-74 (Ill.
examined Cited "see" Sandra Fiecke-Stifter v. MidCountry Bank (3×)
8th Cir. · 2026 · signal: see · confidence high
See Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661 , 664–65 (8th Cir. 1999); Richards v. PAR, Inc., 954 F.3d 965, 968 (7th Cir. 2020) (stating that repossession rights are governed by the relevant state’s property and contract law).
cited Cited "see" LaRoque v. Spire Credit Union
D. Minnesota · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 665 (8th Cir. 1999).
discussed Cited "see" Rivera v. Dealer Funding, LLC
E.D. Pa. · 2016 · signal: see · confidence high
See Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir.1999); Giles v. First Va. Credit Serv., 149 N.C.App. 89 , 560 S.E.2d 557, 565 (2002); Davenport v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 818 S.W.2d 23, 29 (Tenn.Ct.App.1991).
cited Cited "see" W.K. v. Harrison School District
8th Cir. · 2013 · signal: see · confidence high
See Blackmon, 198 F.3d at 661.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Chavez v. Ford Motor Credit Company LLC (2×)
9th Cir. · 2026 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence medium
See, e.g., Clarin v. Minn. Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir. 1999); Lavalley v. Skyline Recovery Serv., Inc., 788 F. Supp.3d 224, 228–33 (D.
cited Cited "see, e.g." United States v. Billups
D. Minnesota · 2006 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See Minn. Stat. § 336.9-609 (b)(2) (2004); see also Clarin v. Minnesota Repossessors, Inc., 198 F.3d 661, 664 (8th Cir.1999)(discussing five factors for determining a repossession breach of peace).
Kerry A. CLARIN; Colleen
v.
Clarin, Appellants, v. MINNESOTA REPOSSESSORS, INC., a Minnesota Corporation, Appellee
99-2007.
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Dec 3, 1999.
198 F.3d 661
Thomas John Lyons, Jr., Maplewood, MN, argued (William C. Michaelson, on the brief), for Appellants., Gregory J. Johnson, St. Paul, MN, argued (Michael P. North, on the brief), for Appellee.
Bowman, Gibson, Beam.
Cited by 13 opinions  |  Published
BEAM, Circuit Judge.

Colleen and Kerry Clarin brought this action for wrongful repossession in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act [1] and the Minnesota Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). [2] They now appeal the grant of summary judgment [3] in favor of Minnesota Repossessors, Inc. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

The Clarins obtained a secured consumer installment loan from Norwest Bank Minnesota (Norwest) in March 1995. Their two automobiles, a 1994 Chevrolet[*663] Corsica and a 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier, were given as security for the loan. The Clarins began to have trouble making payments in September 1996. They continued to miss payments through the following January. On January 27, 1997, Norwest sent the Clarins a “strict compliance letter” requiring them to pay the total past due amount within ten days. The letter specified that if the Clarins did not pay the past due amount, the bank could exercise its rights under the loan agreement including repossession. The Clarins failed to comply with the strict compliance letter. [4] Norwest then retained Minnesota Repos-sessors, Inc., to carry out the repossession of the Clarins’s 1994 Chevrolet Corsica.

On February 28, 1997, at approximately 3:00 p.m.,- one of Ms. Clarin’s co-workers saw that Ms. Clarin’s car was about to be towed from the company parking lot. [5] Ms. Clarin ran outside, verbally objecting to the repossession. When Ms. Clarin reached her car, two men employed by Minnesota Repossessors were preparing it for towing. At that point, Ms. Clarin pleaded with the men not to take her car, and told them they had no right to take it because she had made an arrangement with Norwest. She also requested that they wait while she called Norwest and asked , that someone call the police. The repossessors waited while she called Nor-west and they called the police for her. When Ms. Clarin returned to the car, she removed her personal belongings with the help of a co-worker. Minnesota Reposses-sors then provided her with a repossession order. Ms. Clarin returned to the office budding and telephoned the number provided on the repossession order. When she returned, she did not further protest the repossession and the car was towed.

The Clarins filed an action in district court for wrongful repossession under the UCC and for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act. Both parties moved for summary judgement, and the district court granted summary judgment to Minnesota Repossessors. The district court found that there was no breach of the peace under the UCC, that Minnesota Repossessors had a right to the possession of the car, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was not violated. The Cla-rins appeal, contending that the repossession in the face of Ms. Clarin’s oral protests was a breach of the peace violating the UCC. Additionally, they argue that Minnesota Repossessors did not have the right to possess the Clarins’s car because of the breach of the peace causing a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. [6]

II. DISCUSSION

We review the district court’s summary judgment decision de novo. See Artis v. Francis Howell N. Band Booster Ass’n, Inc., 161 F.3d 1178, 1180 (8th Cir.1998). Summary judgment is proper if, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The moving party has the burden to show that there is no genuine issue of material fact. See Celotex v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In order to defeat a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party must do more than rest on its pleadings, it must demonstrate “specific[*664] facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

Under the Minnesota UCC, a secured creditor may utilize self-help repossession upon default if it can be done “without breach of the peace.” Minn.Stat. § 336.9-503. Unfortunately, the UCC does not provide a definition of “breach of the peace.” See Minn.Stat. § 336.9-503. Similarly, Minnesota courts have not addressed the issue of whether an oral protest constitutes a breach of the peace.

In order to determine if there has been a breach of the peace, we must consider the objectives of the statute. There are three general objectives for the section 9-503: “(1) to benefit creditors in permitting them to realize collateral without having to resort to judicial process; (2) to benefit debtors in general by making credit available at lower costs; and (3) to support a public policy discouraging extrajudicial acts by citizens when those acts are fraught with the likelihood of resulting violence.” Williams v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 674 F.2d 717, 719 n. 4 (8th Cir.1982) (internal citations omitted) (discussing the Arkansas UCC). Because these objectives represent conflicting interests of both parties and of the public, we must balance these goals.

Courts are divided on the issue of whether an unequivocal oral protest amounts to a breach of the peace. Compare Rainwater v. Rx Med. Serv. Corp., 30 U.C.C.Rep.Serv.2d (CBC) 983, 991-92, 1995 WL 907888 (E.D.Cal.1995) (oral protest insufficient for breach of the peace); Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Koontz, 277 Ill.App.3d 1078, 214 Ill.Dec. 726, 661 N.E.2d 1171, 1173-74 (1996) (yelling “Don’t take it” is insufficient); with Fulton v. Anchor Sav. Bank, F.S.B., 215 Ga.App. 456, 452 S.E.2d 208, 213 (1994) (a breach of the peace is created by an unequivocal oral protest); Census Fed. Credit Union v. Wann, 403 N.E.2d 348, 352 (Ind.Ct.App. 1980) (in the face of an oral protest the repossessing creditor must desist); Holli-bush v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 179 Wis.2d 799, 508 N.W.2d 449, 453 (1993) (same). Five factors are relevant in balancing the interests and deciding if the repossessors conduct was reasonable. See Davenport v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 818 S.W.2d 23, 29 (Tenn. Ct. App.1991) The factors are: “(1) where the repossession took place, (2) the debtor’s express or constructive consent, (3) the reactions of third parties, (4) the type of premises entered, and (5) the creditor’s use of deception.” Id. (citing 2 J. White & R. Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 27-6, at 575-76 (3d ed.1988)).

We find that these factors weigh against a breach of the peace in this case. First, the repossession took place in a public parking lot. As a repossession moves farther from the debtor’s residence, the argument for a breach of the peace becomes more tenuous. See 4 James J. White & Robert S. Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 34-7, at 417 (4th ed.1995). Although Ms. Clarin never gave her express consent, she was provided the opportunity to contact Norwest, the police, and the repossession company. After making these calls, with Minnesota Repossessors waiting more than an hour, she no longer protested the repossession. We construe Ms. Clarin’s actions as a constructive consent. Although third parties were present and watching from the offices, only one of them intervened and only to help Ms. Clarin remove her personal belongings and to protest the repossession to the man in charge. These actions were not disruptive. Finally, Minnesota Repossessors did not use trickery or deception in the repossession.

In light of this factual situation, we find that Ms. Clarin’s protests did not rise to a level of a breach of the peace. We believe that “to rule otherwise would be to invite the ridiculous situation whereby a debtor could avoid a [lawful self-help repossession] by merely stepping out of his house and yelling once at a nonresponsive repossessor.” Chrysler Credit, 214 Ill.Dec. 726, 661 N.E.2d at 1174.

[*665] Because we find no breach of the peace under the Minnesota UCC, the Clarins’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim fails as well. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires a wrongful possession for a claim to be maintained. See 15 U.S.C. § 1692f(6). Minnesota Repossessors had a present right of possession of the car under the Act. See Clark v. Auto Recovery Bureau Conn., Inc., 889 F.Supp. 543, 547 (D.Conn.1994); see also Barkley Clark, The Law of Secured Transactions under the Uniform Commercial Code ¶ 4.05[2][b] (Rev. ed. Supp.1997). Accordingly, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claim fails.

We affirm the judgment of the district court.

2

. Minn.Stat. § 336.9-503 (1984) (UCC).

3

.The Honorable Michael J. Davis, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota.

4

.The Clarins contend that they contacted Norwest after receiving the strict compliance letter, arranged to pay the past due amounts, and made a payment that reflected that arrangement. Norwest, however, claims to have no documentation of the arrangement. This factual dispute has no bearing on our resolution of this case since it is undisputed that the Clarins failed to comply with the terms of the loan agreement.

5

. Ms. Clarin stated that she considers the lot to be public in her deposition.

6

. Minnesota Repossessors made a motion to supplement the record. We grant that motion, but note that the supplemental information is not relevant to our decision.