BGS Attorney Receives Minnesota State Bar Association Distinguished Service Award 2020
December 10, 2020 | Toni PerrierBarna, Guzy and Steffen, Ltd attorney Jeffrey S. Johnson recently received the 2020 Distinguished Service Award from the Real Property Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) in honor of his years of dedication and service to the bar and community. Since his admission to the bar in 1979, Jeff has been involved with the MSBA in many ways including serving on the Section Governing Council for 34 years and presenting 25 programs for Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. When Jeff Johnson started his career at what is now Barna, Guzy & Steffen as a clerk in 1977, he could not have known that his career as an attorney would span 40 years with multiple achievements and thousands of satisfied clients along the way. Johnson was President and Chair of the Board at BGS for 24 years before stepping down in 2014 to focus more on his real estate practice in the later years of his career. His service to the MSBA is extensive and impressive. As he grew in his profession he became involved in the MSBA Real Property Section in several additional ways including being a council member of the MSBA, Real Property Section from 1984-2018, and having served as the Chairperson from 1990-91. Additional involvement with the council includes:…
Read MoreNew Federal Regulations for Emotional Support Animals
December 9, 2020 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
The federal Department of Transportation has issued their long-awaited final rule regarding transporting emotional and service animals by air. This rule was enacted in response to the difficulties that airlines and other passengers were experiencing with various types of animals designated by the owner as an emotional support animal. The lack of clarity on the rights of individuals utilizing emotional support animals were highlighted in instances where fellow passengers were physically harmed by an unrestrained (and evidently untrained) animal nebulously characterized as an emotional support animal. Read on to learn more about the new federal regulations for emotional support animals as well as service animals. Airline Authority When the final rule goes into effect (30 days after it is published in the federal register), airlines will gain significant authority to regulate emotional support and service animals while flying. Airlines are permitted to treat emotional support animals as pets. Briefly stated, airlines do not need to treat emotional support animals as service animals. Rather, airlines may recognize emotional support animals as pets rather than service animals. Airlines have also gained the ability to restrict service animals in a number of areas. This final rule defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or…
Read MoreScott Lepak Named to the Public Employment Relations Board
November 19, 2020 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. is pleased to announce that Governor Walz has appointed shareholder Scott Lepak to serve on the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Scott will serve as the alternate public employer’s representative. The Board is the body charged with addressing unfair labor practice charges under the public sector labor relations law. This Board was originally active from 1971 to 1991 and was recreated in 2014. Scott is a shareholder in our labor and employment section. He has been working in this area for well over 30 years. Scott noted that he appeared before this Board as an advocate during its original mission. He is delighted to now serve in this new capacity. He also pointed out, in response to numerous questions from public employer clients, that he will continue to represent public sector employer and municipal clients. “This is very much a less than part time gig,” Scott said. “We needed another representative to get cases processed when the regular public sector board member had a conflict or was unavailable. I am excited to join the well-regarded members of this Board when needed as an alternate.” Congratulations, Scott, on your appointment to the Minnesota Public Employment Relations Board. Scott M. Lepak has represented employers on labor and employment matters in…
Read More