Summer Drive Time ~ Keeping Safe on the Roads

May 23, 2013  |  Jon P. Erickson

I recently read this article in Star Tribune’s newspaper titled “Deaths on state roads top 100 for the year.” It references the state’s seat-belt crackdown which began on May 20th. Once again there were some sobering statistics about the number of traffic deaths where no seat belt was used. In the past three years, “852 motorists have died in crashes and 42 percent (361) of those were not wearing seat belts.” We can, and must do better in getting the message out to all drivers but most certainly our young drivers! The good news is that seat-belt use continues to climb in Minnesota at some 93{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} as compared to the national average of 84{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3}. Let’s all try to improve this percentage. On Monday I was at the courthouse in Buffalo, Minnesota. When I came out of the courthouse there was a “crashed car” on a flatbed trailer with some signs on it. It was the car involved in an accident in Wright County in 2012. Its roof was crashed in, and one side of it was almost demolished. One of the signs on the trailer stated that the driver and occupant wore seat belts, and survived this obviously terrible crash. Making an effort to slow down and assure that you and all of…

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BGS Grows with Addition of New Lawyer

May 21, 2013  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd. announces the addition of a new associate to the firm. Jennifer C. Moreau has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Employment Law practice area. The firm is excited to welcome Jennifer and hopes that adding this new associate attorney to the existing team will be beneficial to current clients and assist with the growth of new clientele. BGS’ Commercial Litigation attorneys are experienced trial lawyers able to represent clients in state, federal and the appellate courts on issues such as: business disputes construction issues and mold information technology security issues unfair competition contract actions non-competes employment defense and counseling unlawful detainers collection and insurance law other complex litigation cases Jennifer received her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, 2007, magna cum laude. She was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in 2007 and was admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota bar in 2013. She is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and of the Anoka County Bar Association. Before joining BGS, Jennifer was a Judicial Law Clerk for the Hon. Robert B. Varco and Hon. Mary A. Yunker, Minnesota District Court, 2007-2013. She lives in Coon Rapids with her husband and two children.

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4 Things You Should Know About Child Custody Mediation in Minnesota

May 20, 2013  |  Elizabeth A. Schading

If you’ve decided to use child custody mediation in Minnesota to resolve some of the issues of your parenting dispute, then you’ve made a very good choice. Often, people who use mediation instead of the court system, wind up far happier with the outcome that they receive. This is because mediation allows you to be an active participant in the process of deciding what is best for your child. However, that does not mean that there aren’t a few things you should know about the process. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] 1. Be Prepared You already know that you should come to court prepared, but did you know that you should come prepared for your mediation, too? While the mediator doesn’t have the power to impose a decision upon you it does help to have all of the information at your fingertips. Here are a few of the things you should consider bringing. A list of the issues that are most important to you, so that you can make sure those issues are addressed. Suggestions and plans for meeting each of these issues, such as suggested parenting time schedules. Records such as the child’s report cards and school attendance and progress, and other indicators of the care that you’ve been giving the child. A list…

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