Scott Lepak to Present at Upcoming Minnesota CLE Conference

February 13, 2014  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

BGS Government & Employment Law Attorney Scott Lepak will be presenting at an upcoming Minnesota CLE Conference. The conference, titled Public Sector Labor & Employment Law will take place on Friday, February 28th at Minnesota CLE Conference Center, 600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370, Third Floor City Center, Minneapolis. The event is scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. (with a continental breakfast) to 4:30 p.m. There will be lunch break from Noon-1p.m. (lunch is not included with the seminar). Scott will speak to attendees at 9:45 a.m. regarding The Minnesota Whistleblower Act Amendments. He is co-presenting with attorney Cristina Parra of Nichols Kaster, PLLP; Minneapolis. For more information or to register for this event, please visit 2014 Public Sector Labor & Employment Law Seminar Details

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Retaliation for Mobile Home Park Tenants Demanding Their Rights

February 11, 2014  |  Joan M. Quade

Mobile homes, or manufactured homes, are abundant across the United States. As of 2008, 3.7{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the total housing in Minnesota was made up of manufactured homes. U.S. Census Bureau, 2008 American Community Survey; Tab. B25024. In 2009, the Metropolitan Council, a Minnesota regional governmental and metropolitan planning agency, published its first report since 1988 with regard to Manufactured Home Parks in the Twin Cities. Metropolitan Council, MANUFACTURED HOME PARKS IN THE TWIN CITIES, January 2009. According to the report, manufactured homes make up 1.4{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of all homes in the seven-county metro area. Anoka County alone has twenty-four (24) parks, which is more than one in four of the metro area’s total manufactured home parks. Mobile Home Owner Concerns Many choose to live in a manufactured home because of the advantages; for example, manufactured homes are more affordable than conventional homes and zoning restrictions in rural communicates, where manufactured homes are common, are often less restrictive than in urban areas. Scommegna, Paola, Study Finds U.S. Manufactured-Home Owners Face ‘Quasi-Homelessness.’ However, most manufactured home owners don’t own the land on which their home rests. In effect, these homeowners are “landless,” leaving them at the mercy of the manufactured home park landlord. The control and security normally associated with a conventional home is absent for…

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BGS Supports Scholarship at Anoka Ramsey Community College

February 11, 2014  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

Barna, Guzy and Steffen, Ltd. is the largest law firm in the North Metro area. We recognize that as such, we have the opportunity to make a great impact on the communities that we serve and to give back in ways that are meaningful and important. Part of our firm’s mission statement conveys this message as we “recognize the value of a meaningful community, professional and civic life.” Many of our attorneys and staff are actively involved in our community. One of the ways in which our firm has given back over the years is the continued support of the Bernie and Natalie Steffen Scholarship at Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids Campus. Real Estate Attorney /Shareholder Kristi Riley currently serves on ARCC’s Board of Directors Coon Rapids Foundation. Last spring, the Steffen scholarship was awarded to Ms. Kelly Olson. Kelly was recently asked about the impact of this scholarship and said, “This scholarship has been very beneficial because, first of all, it is helping me stay out of debt and it also helps me stay motivated to do well in my classes. I feel very honored to have received this scholarship.” There are many scholarships available at ARCC and the March 14th deadline for Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 scholarships is quickly…

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