5 Things to Look For in a Personal Injury Lawyer
April 18, 2016 | Adriel B. VillarrealIf you have been injured in an accident, or if someone is suing you for personal injury, choosing the right attorney to represent you is one of the most important decisions you can make. Here are some important things to consider when choosing your personal injury lawyer: Experience– Not only should you look for an attorney who has been practicing law for many years, but you should also make sure her area of expertise includes personal injury lawsuits. Even a good lawyer won’t be of much help if their practice focuses mainly on business law or drafting wills. Ethics– If a potential attorney wishes to charge you for an initial consultation to discuss whether he would take your case, he may not be an ethical lawyer. Most personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations so you don’t have to come out of pocket before signing the retainer agreement. Trust– Your personal injury attorney should be someone you feel is trustworthy, who will be dedicated to your best interests during the course of the case. A personal injury lawyer in a large firm may try to pass your case off to a junior attorney or fellow associate after you have established a rapport. Make sure your attorney will have sole responsibility for your case,…
Read MoreLegal Separation vs. Informal Separation in Minnesota
April 13, 2016 | Elizabeth A. SchadingInformal separations happen when one spouse simply moves out of the home. As covered in a previous post, this can give the other spouse significant advantages if a divorce occurs down the road. If a divorce is later decided upon as the way to proceed, the person who had remained in the home may have more rights to maintain ownership as well as more access to the items within the home. The person who moved out may find him/herself at a disadvantage if the relationship has now dissolved past the point of being able to negotiate openly and fairly. However, sometimes informal separations are a cooling off period and the couple may decide to remain together. Every couple’s situation is different. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Legal separation is uniquely different from Informal Separation because it actually goes through the court system. It does not dissolve the marriage, but it still allows the courts to outline the rights and responsibilities of each party during the separation period. Many of the same issues are covered by a legal separation in Minnesota as by a divorce. You may divide up property and debts, decide who maintains possession of the house or cars, and get clarity on who sees the children and when. However, you and your spouse…
Read MoreShareholders at Barna, Guzy & Steffen Elect President and Board of Directors
April 4, 2016 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen held its annual meeting April 2, 2016 at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids. The meeting included a presentation by President William F. Huefner, reports from the Practice Group Managers and elections. The shareholders at Barna, Guzy & Steffen LTD. reelected William F. Huefner as President. After serving on the BGS Board of Directors for 33 years, the last 22 of them as Chairman of the Board, Jeffrey S. Johnson decided not to renew his position. Current Firm President William F. Huefner was named Chairman of Board of Directors and will now serve as President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Reelected to officer positions within the Board of Directors were Charles M. Seykora as Treasurer and Bradley A. Kletscher as Secretary. Scott M. Lepak was elected to the position left open by Johnson’s retirement from the Board of Directors. Bradley A. Kletscher was also reelected to the Board of Directors for another three year term. Firm President William F. Huefner renamed Russell H. Crowder (Consumer), Michael F. Hurley (Real Estate/Corporate) and Joan M. Quade (Litigation/Municipal), as Practice Group Leaders. The firm looks forward to a very successful year as it plans to continue efforts to grow and serve the community it…
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