Can I sue a guy if he sold me a iPhone 4s with a bad ESN?

A kid from school sold me a bad phone can i go to civil court for that in MN?

Was the phone stolen? Can you prove that? He can't sell you a phone he doesn't own. You could sue him, but is it worth it? You'll probably spend more suing him than you paid for the phone.

Nope. SOunds like you're a kid yourself so legally your parents would have to do it.

Chances are especially good that the phone is hot and you knew it and you wouldn't have a case.

How would you know? Why would a teenager be selling an iphone?

Was he a minor? If yes: Then no, you can't sue him.

Did you pay fair market value for the iPhone? If you got a really good deal, then you have no basis for a lawsuit. (You have to go to court with "clean hands" which means you can't have done something that looks as though you committed a crime (i.e. Like buying a stolen phone).)