Lawyers and Advertising
February 16, 2011 | Jon P. EricksonAll Minnesota lawyers are required to conduct their professional activities consistent with the MN Rules of Professional Conduct. These are often referred to as the “Canon’ of Ethics.” These rules/canons cover a wide range of activities including advertising, and direct communication to the public about legal services. The rules on advertising and direct communication can be found in Rules 7.1–7.5 of the MN Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 7.3 sets out the restrictions on how a lawyer or law firm may have direct contact with a potential new client to solicit a case or legal representation. Some lawyers send out letters and brochures to injured people whose name they get from a public list. This written communication must identify itself as “advertising material.” A lawyer can contact a potential new client directly if that lawyer has a “family, close personal or professional relationship” with that person. Lawyers at BGS tell staff, family, neighbors and friends because of our personal and professional relationships with them, to let us know if they or someone they know has been in an accident and injured in some way. If they know someone injured, we then would ask our staff, family or friend to contact the injured person to get permission for one of our personal injury lawyers…
Read MoreInterpreters: Who They Are & What They Do
February 9, 2011 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.The United States is the home to millions of immigrants, many of whom do not speak English or have a limited ability with the language. Consequently, an interpreter has come to be of great importance, especially in the legal aspect of a person’s life. It is not only important that an interpreter be available for a non-English speaker, but that this interpreter be as accurate as possible. There is a difference when an individual is informed during an interview: “you can leave at ANY time during this interview” and then have the interpreter translate as: “you can leave AFTER the interview is done”. It seems like an insignificant difference; yet, you can see that from the beginning of this interrogation this person was not given the accurate information, possibly causing him additional problems. The Minnesota Judicial Branch maintains a list of Certified and Non-Certified Interpreters, who are available to be hired by the courts and the public. The court system helps coordinate testing and training of interpreters; as well as, oversees the implementation of policies to ensure that these individuals have completed the minimum requirements. If you need the assistance of an interpreter you can start your search at the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. When you have found an individual that seems to…
Read MoreGood News for the Migraine Sufferer
February 1, 2011 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.If you have ever experienced a migraine, you know how debilitating it can be and that it is not, in any way, like a normal headache. A migraine occurs when swollen blood vessels around the brain press on nearby nerves, causing intense pulsing or throbbing pain. Migraine headaches affect approximately 12{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of Americans, typically in the range of 25 – 55 years of age. Women are three times more likely to experience migraines. Stress, diet, and hormonal change can trigger migraines. Migraines can also develop as the result of trauma when involved in an automobile accident. The migraine headache is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness and intense sensitivity to light and noise. Some individuals will also experience an “aura”. During ancient times, the Greeks and Romans used peppermint tea and also drank infusions made from chamomile, rosemary and lavender. They also applied raw potato, cabbage and onion to attempt to relieve the pain. In more recent times, treatment has consisted of prescribed medications, including Imitrex and Relpax once the migraine surfaces; and daily medications such as Topamax. Unfortunately, many migraines occur without warning and migraine sufferers do not always improve with these medications. The F.D.A. has recently approved Botox as a method to treat chronic migraine headaches in adults. Patients with a…
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