Liberty Mutual Insurance Subject of Another Class Action Lawsuit Concerning its Automobile Accident Claims Handling
January 28, 2015 | John T. BuchmanA chiropractic clinic pursued a “class action” suit against Liberty Mutual and several of its subsidiaries, including Safeco Insurance, in the state of Illinois. A class action suit is one in which the class representative acts on behalf of many claimants when the monetary value of each claim is relatively small and it would seldom justify lawsuits on behalf of each individual. There is a proposed settlement awaiting court approval. The basis of the claim is that Liberty Mutual would pay less than the amount charged by an injured person’s medical providers. The claimant alleged that Liberty Mutual used a computerized bill review system to reduce its payments, which was not disclosed to its insureds. The proposed settlement also references two similar lawsuits against Liberty Mutual in the states of Washington and Oregon. The class action suit also includes Minnesotans who purchased No-Fault Insurance from Liberty Mutual or Safeco. If you have been injured in a car accident due to another’s negligence, the attorneys at BGS will help recover the compensation that you deserve. Under the terms of the agreement, if approved by the court, Liberty Mutual would have to pay medical care providers pursuant to an agreed health care cost database for a period of five (5) years after the date of…
Read MoreHOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION DEBT COLLECTION: A BASIC SUMMARY
January 19, 2015 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.by: Karen Kurth and Timothy Erb For most homeowners associations, owners of property within the association are bound to pay annual or monthly assessments to the association to cover common expenses incurred by the association to operate the association. The amount and nature of the common expenses will vary depending upon whether or not the association is a condominium, attached town-home, detached town-home or single family home association. Such common expenses often cover costs incurred by the association related to insurance, maintenance, property management, and other costs incurred by the association to own or maintain common elements. The declaration, which is recorded against title to the property, not only typically requires each owner to pay assessments, but also specifies the items the association is to maintain, insure or otherwise address. These expenditures comprise the common expenses. The declaration may specify that each property owner is to pay an equal share of common expenses or some other allocation of common expenses which is based upon differences in square footage, architectural product or other similar rational distinctions. The declaration and/or statutory authority may also specify that the owner is also required to pay late payment fees and attorneys’ fees incurred by the association to collect the unpaid assessments and that such fees become part of…
Read MoreWhat Are the Steps in a Divorce Proceeding?
January 12, 2015 | Elizabeth A. SchadingIn the state of Minnesota, a divorce is called a ”dissolution of marriage.” Barring a justifiable emergency, in order to be eligible for a divorce, either you or your spouse must be living in the state for at least 180 days. Just like in any other state getting a divorce in Minnesota can be a lengthy process that may take several months to several years to complete. We understand that the decision to divorce can be a difficult decision to make. The attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen have over 80 years of combined experience in family and divorce law. If you’d like to speak with an attorney, contact BGS today at (763) 780-8500. Before we discuss the actual steps in a divorce proceeding, let’s cover a few basics. What You Need to Know about divorce in Minnesota If you have children or significant property, the divorce will be more complicated. If you and your spouse can come to an agreement on child custody issues and/or how to divide your property, the divorce can move along quickly. If you have children, the court will require you to attend a certified divorce education program. Steps in a Minnesota Divorce Proceeding There are four basic steps in the state’s divorce proceeding: Summons and Petition To…
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