Tammy J. Schemmel appointed to BGS Board of Directors

April 16, 2014  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. (BGS) held its annual attorney meeting on March 29, 2014. The meeting included the election of new members to the Board of Directors. BGS is pleased to announce that Tammy J. Schemmel, a Shareholder, was elected to the Board of Directors effective April 1, 2014. Tammy practices in all areas of commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes, securities fraud, estate and trust litigation, employment litigation, real estate litigation, and contract litigation. Tammy also represents clients in appeals. Tammy graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, magna cum laude, and was admitted to practice in Minnesota in 2004. She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota (2005) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (2011). Prior to joining BGS, Tammy served as a clerk for United States Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. Tammy has served on the Executive Board of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association for several years as an officer and as committee chair or co-chair, including her current position as Communications Committee Co-Chair. The firm would like to congratulate Tammy on her accomplishments and her commitment to providing legal services…

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Shareholders at Barna, Guzy & Steffen Elect New President at Annual Meeting

April 1, 2014  |  Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.

The law firm of Barna, Guzy & Steffen held its annual meeting on March 29, 2014 in Coon Rapids, MN. The meeting included a gathering of the Board of Directors, a State of the Firm given by Jeffrey S. Johnson and reports from the Practice Group Managers. After twenty-four years as President, Jeffrey S. Johnson decided not to seek another term. The shareholders at Barna, Guzy & Steffen elected a new firm President, William F. Huefner . Bill is a Shareholder who focuses his practice on Estate Planning. He joined the firm in 1991 as a Law Clerk while attending law school at Hamline University. Upon completion of law school and admittance to the Bar in 1993, Bill was hired as an associate in the firm’s Litigation department. Prior to attending law school Bill was a CPA who worked in the banking industry as well as working for five years with the Internal Revenue Service. The Board of Directors re-elected Jeffrey S. Johnson as Chairman of the Board; Charles M. Seykora was re-elected as Treasurer, and current Board member Bradley A. Kletscher was elected to serve as Secretary. Newly elected to the Board of Directors were Adriel B. Villarreal and Tammy J. Schemmel. Re-appointed as Practice Group Managers were Jon P. Erickson (Consumer),…

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Who Gets Custody if a Spouse Cheated?

March 17, 2014  |  Elizabeth A. Schading

Many people assume that the conduct of the spouse leading up to the divorce is a big factor in who gets custody. The truth is more complex than that when it comes to divorce and Minnesota family law. Minnesota Divorce Laws Minnesota is a no-fault divorce state. That means that the court isn’t really concerned with the reasons behind the divorce. You will not get custody automatically just because your spouse cheated. However, your conduct during the divorce does matter. If you are spending more time with the new beau or belle than you are with your children then you can expect this behavior to have an impact. If you are inviting the new beau or belle to sleep overnight while the children are in the house then you can expect this behavior to have an impact as well. Adultery isn’t the issue. Parenting is the issue. Most divorce attorneys will tell you that the courts want to see that you are able and willing to be a responsible, loving parent and a good role model to your child. Dealing With Adultery in Divorce If your spouse is the cheater then you should know that you can’t take custody for granted. You still need to do everything that you can to put your best…

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