Witness to History: 2016
This week in 2016, President Barack Obama became the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928. In that same year, Joseph Gangi was first selected for inclusion on the Minnesota Rising Stars list published by Super Lawyers®, a Thomas Reuters business. Gangi also received this honor in 2017. President Obama visits Cuba On March 21, 2016 President Obama landed in Cuba for a meeting with Cuban President Raúl Castro, becoming the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928. The historic three-day visit included a tour of Old Havana, taking in a baseball game with Raúl Castro, and delivering... Read More
Witness to History: 1945
In 1945, Maud Hart Lovelace published the fifth book in the beloved “Betsy-Tacy” series, “Heaven to Betsy”. Also in 1945, Robert J. Sheran joined the firm. He went on to become one of the most influential lawyers in the history of the state. Betsy-Tacy Series by Maud Lovelace Maud Hart Lovelace was born in Mankato in 1892. A writer and poet from an early age, she published her first short story in the Los Angeles Times at age nineteen. She kept diaries and scrapbooks of her childhood adventures with family and friends and these records would become the basis for... Read More
Witness to History: 1926
On this day in 1926, the first transatlantic telephone call was made between London and New York. That same year, Charlotte Farrish, the law office’s namesake, joined the firm and started one of the most celebrated legal careers in the history of Minnesota. First Transatlantic Telephone Call Though France joined to Britain by a telephone cable as far back as 1891, the Atlantic was a far greater challenge. With the state of technology at that time a simple cable link would not work. But the needs of commerce and politics meant that the task would inevitably be mastered. On March... Read More
Witness to History: 1919
This week in 1919, Congress passed the act that established the Grand Canyon National Park in the state of Arizona. Also in 1919, Sinclair Lewis, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature, befriended and lived with J.W. Schmitt, one the firm’s original attorneys. Lewis completed two books, “Main Street” and “Free Air”, while living in Mankato. Grand Canyon President Woodrow Wilson signed the Grand Canyon National Park Act on February 26, 1919. President Theodore Roosevelt had declared the massive Grand Canyon in northwestern Arizona a national monument in 1908. The canyon, Roosevelt said, is “the one great sight which every... Read More
Insurance Disputes
Farrish Johnson’s litigation attorneys are seasoned insurance coverage litigators. Most recently, they have handled and resolved cases concerning payment of medical expenses, resolved disputes over coverage for liability claims, and addressed questions concerning the scope of a policy’s coverage limits. Insurance companies may use legalese, jargon, or other confusing language in their policies to justify denials of claims or requests for defense and indemnity. At Farrish Johnson, our attorneys help clients work through these issues and if necessary will take an insurance company to court to resolve a dispute. Depending on the nature of the claim, these cases may be... Read More
Witness to History: 1972
On this day in 1972, President Richard Nixon became the first US President to visit China. This weeklong visit normalized relations between the countries. That same year, Harrison H. Schmitt, the great grandson of H.L. Schmitt, the firm’s founder, walked on the moon. He was one of three crew members of Apollo 17, the final mission of the Apollo program. Richard Nixon’s 1972 Visit to China President Richard Nixon took a dramatic first step normalizing relations with the communist People’s Republic of China by traveling to Beijing for a week of talks. This historic visit began the slow process between... Read More
Witness to History: 2011
This month in 2011, writer and activist Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. In that same year, Scott Kelly and Daniel Bellig were selected by Minnesota Lawyer as “Attorneys of the Year” for their efforts in stopping illegal use of newborn screening blood samples. Maya Angelou During a ceremony on February 5, 2011, President Barack Obama presented to Dr. Maya Angelou the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. Angelou is perhaps best known for her 1969 autobiography, about growing up in Arkansas during the Jim Crow era of segregation.... Read More
Witness to History: 2002
This week in 2002, the 19th Olympic Winter Games began in Salt Lake City, Utah. The United States won 34 medals during these Games. Also in 2002, Daniel Bellig began working with Farrish Johnson Law Office. 19th Olympic Winter Games The opening ceremony for the XIX Olympic Winter Games was held on February 8, 2002 where athletes from 78 nations participated in 78 events contested in seven sports, including alpine skiing, curling, figure skating, luge, and snowboarding. The United States set the record for most gold medals at a home Winter Olympics, with 10, tying with Norway at the 1994... Read More
Witness to History: 1963
This month in 1963, an oil spill from the Honeymead Products Company sent millions of gallons of soybean oil into Mankato streets and the Minnesota River, prompting the creation of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. In that same year, Robert J. Sheran, who worked with Farrish Johnson Law Office 1945-1963, was appointed Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Elmer L. Andersen*. Honeymead Oil Spill The rupture of a soy oil storage tank sent millions of gallons into Mankato streets and the Minnesota River. At that time the Mankato plant was the largest oil-processing facility in the world.... Read More
Witness to History: 1997
This week in 1997 Hale-Bopp, the most viewed comet of the 20th century, crossed Mars’ orbit en route to its closest proximity to Earth later that spring. Also in 1997, Attorney Steve Fink became part of the Farrish Johnson Law Office through a merger with the McLean Peterson Law Firm. Hale-Bopp Comet Hale-Bopp Comet, officially designated C/1995 O1, provided quite the show, being 1,000 times brighter than Halley’s Comet at the time of its discovery. The comet was found independently by two amateur astronomers, Alan Hale in New Mexico and Thomas Bopp in Arizona. Hale-Bopp’s last appearance had been about... Read More