Minnesota’s Solar Panel Loan Usury Case to Stay in Federal Court

Minnesota lost its bid to send back to state court its case alleging a group of companies marketing loans for residential solar panels violated state consumer protection and usury laws, a federal court said Tuesday.

The state didn’t know when it sued that one of the defendants had merged with national bank Fifth Third. Even though Fifth Third wasn’t a named defendant on the complaint, it properly removed the case to the US District Court for the District of Minnesota, where the case will remain, Judge Katherine M. Menendez wrote.

Minnesota filed a lawsuit in March against several companies, ...