Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council Legislative Proposal
During its meeting on February 15, 2017, the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC) discussed a legislative proposal to add post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the list of the presumptive occupational diseases covered under the workers’ compensation statute. The proposal comes from Senators Nick Frentz and Dan Schoen. Citing some statistics that show suicide rates for police officers and firefighters are more than double that of other occupations, as well as other environmental factors, such as a routine absence of choice of what dangers the police officers and firefighters are exposed to, the proposal would make PTSD a presumptive work-related... Read More
What is No-Fault Coverage?
No-fault coverage applies to expenses resulting from injuries sustained in an accident. It was established to help ease the burden of the courts ensuring proper treatment for accident victims. No-fault is the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) on your policy also referred to as Basic Economic Loss Benefits. No-fault covers your medical costs, wage loss, replacement services such as housekeeping and, in the event of death, money for funeral expenses. No-fault claims are first made on your own PIP policy. The minimum no-fault coverage is $40,000 as of 2017. This amount is available to each person injured in the accident. $20,000... Read More
Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Expungement Statute
The Minnesota Supreme Court has now clarified certain aspects of Minnesota’s expungement law. The issue is whether a criminal felony conviction, not able to be expunged on its own, can nonetheless be expunged if the conviction was deemed to be a misdemeanor under Minnesota law. One side of the argument says the answer is “yes” because the conviction is for a misdemeanor. The other side of the argument says the answer is “no” because the person was originally convicted of a felony. The Minnesota Supreme Court answered this question with a “no” – there is no opportunity for expungement of... Read More
Minnesota Homestead Property Tax
Many of us are not clear what the various abbreviations mean that our found on our real estate tax statement. How and why property receives homestead classification or non-homestead classification can be a mystery, particularly for those owning agricultural land. Losing homestead classification usually results in higher real estate taxes payable each year but the hidden loss may be the unavailability of the estate tax credit available to farmers. Under current law, qualified farmers have a Minnesota estate tax credit of $5 million. To qualify for these additional credit, the farm must be, among other things, taxed as homestead property.... Read More
Fatigued Truck Drivers A Danger On Minnesota Roadways
One might refer to them as the three “Ds” of decidedly disastrous driving. Too often drunk, distracted and drowsy driving creates mayhem on the nation’s roadways. Avoidable accidents cause injuries and take lives, Denver Auto Accident Lawyer deal with many daily cases related with road accidents everyday. Fatigued Truckers: A Unique Class (car wreck attorneys) Fatigued truck drivers are a danger on Minnesota roadways in part because of the sheer size and weight of the rigs. A fully loaded semi tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, approximately 20 times that of a typical mid-size passenger vehicle. Trucks with oversize or... Read More
Wrongful Death Lawsuit: What Is It and What Damages Can Be Recovered?
Dealing with the unexpected loss of a family member is a difficult event for anyone to take. When that death is caused by a third party, it complicates the situation and amplifies the pain for those left behind due to the knowledge that the loss did not have to happen. In many cases, loved ones of the deceased are able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against whomever was responsible. While this does not by any means fill the emotional hole left behind in the person’s absence, a win in court does help with the monetary strain that occurs in... Read More
Enjoy Your Holidays; Don’t Ruin Them with a DWI
The holiday period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s is a time for festivities, family and fun. Unfortunately, sometimes that fun leads to over-imbibing in alcohol, which can bring a quick end to the fun if you spend part of your holiday period in jail. We at Farrish Johnson Law Office understand there are many opportunities to celebrate, with office parties, family events, football bowl game parties. But we want you to have a safe and happy holiday season, so here’s some advice about drinking and the consequences of DWI in Minnesota. DWI Laws in Minnesota First, it’s important to have... Read More
The Benefits of Hiring a Mankato Personal Injury Lawyer
One of the most common questions for people involved in an automobile accident is if there’s really any benefit to hiring an injury lawyer. In most cases, you’ll actually be able to get an increased settlement from your insurance company by working with a lawyer. The most important thing is that you at least know what kind of situation you’re getting into if you decide to work with your insurer without the aid of a lawyer. Settling directly with an insurance company is a mistake, especially if you haven’t consulted with an experienced lawyer before hand. The Insurance Company Isn’t... Read More
Nationwide Injunction Stops Implementation of New Overtime Rule
Earlier this year the Department of Labor issued a rule that would automatically extend overtime pay eligibility to salaried workers earning less than $913 per week or $47,476 per year, regardless of the workers’ job duties. The new rule regarding eligibility for overtime pay was to go into effect on December 1, 2016. On November 22, 2016, a United States District Court judge in Texas issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the new rule from going into effect. The injunction applies nationwide. It is not known if the ruling will be appealed. Even if it is appealed a decision on the... Read More
The Iceman Cometh: Understand Minnesota Slip/Fall Liability
With the long Minnesota winter looming, everyone is pulling out their parkas, their boots, their snow shovels. We also are winterizing our cars, making sure the snowblower is operating properly and contracting for snow removal. This also is a good time of year to become aware of the Minnesota laws on slip and fall liability as we prepare to negotiate those icy sidewalks, parking lots and streets. Of course, falls can happen any time of the year and be caused by any number of conditions, but in Minnesota, ice is a main culprit. The information we present here will apply... Read More