BGS Attorney Presents Electronic Data Security Seminar
October 12, 2018 | Carole Clark IsaksonOn October 11th BGS attorney Carole Clark Isakson presented a seminar on data privacy issues to a large audience of Anoka County Bar Association attorneys. The seminar, entitled “Basic Electronic Data Security Issues”, addressed the professional and ethical obligations of attorneys in dealing with client (and employee) data in addition to covering privacy laws and how to implement them at law firms and businesses in general. Associate Attorney Nicole Wiebold spoke on the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which became effective in May of this year. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Data breaches strike almost a third of US businesses each year, according to one source, and the costs of remediation (coupled with the loss of business and reputation) can result in the failing of many businesses. Protecting client and customer data requires focus on three areas, and Ms. Isakson discussed all three, taking questions from the audience throughout the presentation. Protecting data requires three things: 1. Technical controls (such as up to date computers and software); 2. Physical controls (like locked offices and elevators); and 3. Administrative controls (teaching all technology users to use cell phones and other devices in a safe way, and implementing firm wide data security assessments and policies). Ms. Isakson also offered practical advice on public wi-fi use (don’t!) and…
Read MoreFiling a Personal Injury Claim: What You Should Know
October 9, 2018 | Adriel B. VillarrealFiling a Personal Injury Claim: What You Should Know No matter what the situation is, if you suffer a personal injury due someone else’s negligence, the first thing that you need to do of course is consider your health and immediately seek the medical attention that you need. However, there are a couple of other things that you should do as quickly as possible as well as other steps that you should take once you’ve received proper medical care, including making preparations for filing a personal injury claim. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] If at All Possible If it is safe to do so and you’re physically able to, you should attempt to obtain names and contact information of any witnesses that may have observed the accident. This includes any employees or anyone involved in the accident that you may have spoken with and when you are able to, make notes regarding your conversations. Get a copy of any store accident report or a police report if applicable as these can be invaluable if you do decide to file a personal injury claim in Coon Rapids or anywhere in Minnesota. Make a Record of the Accident & Aftermath Taking the time to take photographs of your injuries, damages, and any evidence that may help…
Read MoreDefending Against ADA Lawsuits
October 1, 2018 | Bradley KletscherCoauthored by Bradley A. Kletscher and Tyler W. Eubank Generally. The Americans with Disabilities Act (commonly known as the “ADA”) is a federal law meant to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination. To that end, the ADA requires that businesses open to the public remove architectural barriers where such removal is readily achievable. The Department of Justice has produced the ADA Accessibility Guidelines, voluminous guidance on design specifications covering everything from the height of counters to the placement of braille signage on elevators. The ADA also allows persons affected by discrimination in the form of architectural barriers to seek injunctive relief from courts compelling business owners to make changes to their establishments. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] ADA Abuse. Enter ADA “drive-by” lawsuits. These lawsuits trace a predictable pattern: a disabled person, as defined by the ADA, goes to a business looking for non-compliance with ADA regulations. Due to the vast number of regulations, the business is often found not to be in compliance with ADA regulations; there may be too narrow of an accessibility strip next to a reserved parking space, too steep of a curb cut, too low signage for reserved spaces, too narrow of aisles, too high of a counter, or too high of a grab bar in the restroom. In one…
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