Labor/Employment Law Attorney Scott Lepak to Present Free Webinar
June 21, 2012 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.BGS Attorney Scott Lepak will be presenting a free webinar hosted by the League of Minnesota Cities. This webinar on “City Employees and Off-Duty Conduct” will take place on Thursday, July 12, 10-11 am and is free and open to the public. According to Scott, regulating off duty conduct in the age of social media has become one of the most difficult issues for employers to deal with as courts and regulatory agencies attempt to fit the conduct of today’s tech savvy employee into laws that were passed over 50 years ago. The webinar will focus on issues regarding what actions a city can take when its employees engage in off-duty conduct that is illegal, unethical or could harm the reputation of the city. Listeners will learn the answers to questions/problems such as: • What type of off-duty conduct can a city regulate or use as a basis of discipline? • What rights and limitations do cities have to consider when it comes to regulating employee conduct or speech? • Questions and issues regarding social media guidelines and discipline for negative Facebook postings. • How arbitrators in labor cases have rules on cases involving off duty conduct. People interested in attending such a webinar may include city managers, administrators, HR staff, city attorneys,…
Read MoreBGS ATTORNEY ELECTED AS OFFICIAL OF ANOKA COUNTY BAR ASSOC.
June 12, 2012 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.BGS Attorney Karen K. Kurth has been elected as the Secretary of the Anoka County Bar Association for 2012-2013. Karen practices in the firm’s Employment Law and Business Litigation section focusing her practice on commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, construction litigation, real estate litigation, landlord/tenant law, shareholder disputes, and appellate advocacy. Karen’s extensive background in accounting and commercial insurance enhances her ability to evaluate and successfully resolve a broad range of employment and commercial litigation issues. Karen received her J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in 2002, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in 2002 and to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota in 2004. Karen joined Barna, Guzy, & Steffen as an associate in 2004. The Anoka County Bar Association is the 21st district of the Minnesota State Bar Association. Its membership is primarily made up of attorneys that live or work in Anoka County. The organization seeks to help lawyers become better lawyers by providing social and educational opportunities for its members. It seeks to aid the courts in the administration of justice. It also seeks to provide social information to the public about the law, including connecting people who need legal services with lawyers who practice in relevant practice…
Read MoreMotorcycle Riders: Look Carefully at Your Insurance Coverage
April 12, 2012 | John T. BuchmanOur unseasonably warm weather and early spring certainly has many motorcycle riders out early this year. All motorcyclists should carefully consider their insurance and review their coverage. It’s easy to think that the coverage someone has on their car will be similar to the coverage they have purchased for their motorcycle. However, this is not true in many respects. Under the Minnesota “No-Fault” Law, motorcycles are not defined as “motor vehicles.” Thus, motorcyclists have significantly fewer rights under the No-Fault Act than those who drive cars, trucks, SUVs, etc. Motorcyclists have to pay extra for optional benefits that are required in every automobile policy. For example, motorcyclists have to pay extra for medical expense, wage loss and other similar benefits. A recent Court of Appeals decision has shown another area where some insurance companies have included provisions in their policy that provide less coverage for the dollar than policies provided by other insurance companies. In Farmers Insurance Exchange vs. Eschen; Mike Brown paid for $100,000 in underinsured or UIM coverage for his motorcycle. He was tragically killed when he was hit by a car driven by Gary Arens. Mr. Arens had only $50,000 in coverage. If Mr. Brown had been driving or riding in a car, his family would have received $100,000 in…
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