Benjamin Joseph Hill v. Thomas Keith Rudenick, in his individual

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
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No. 25-2300
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Benjamin Joseph Hill
Plaintiff - Appellant
v.
Thomas Keith Rudenick, in his individual and official capacities as a Ramsey
County Sheriff’s Deputy
Defendant - Appellee
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the District of Minnesota
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Submitted: February 12, 2026
Filed: February 18, 2026
[Unpublished]
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Before BENTON, KELLY, and ERICKSON, Circuit Judges.
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PER CURIAM.
Minnesota resident Benjamin Hill appeals the district court’s1 order enforcing
a settlement agreement in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. Having jurisdiction under 28
U.S.C. § 1291, this court affirms.
Upon careful review, this court concludes that the district court did not err in
finding that the settlement agreement was enforceable and that Hill did not enter into
the agreement under duress. See W. Thrift & Loan Corp. v. Rucci, 812 F.3d 722,
724 (8th Cir. 2016) (district court’s finding that a settlement agreement is
enforceable is reviewed for clear error); Olmsted v. Saint Paul Public Schs., 830 F.3d
824, 827–28 (8th Cir. 2016) (rejecting appellant’s claim of “legal duress” because
Minnesota law only recognizes duress as a defense to contract enforcement when
the “agreement is coerced by physical force or unlawful threats”).
The judgment is affirmed. See 8th Cir. R. 47B.
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1 The Honorable David T. Schultz, United States Magistrate Judge for the
District of Minnesota, to whom the case was referred for final disposition by consent
of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).

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