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Free Legal Checkups Being Offered to Public–KEYC

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, a nonprofit legal aid law firm, has launched once a month free legal checkups at the Open Door Health Center in Mankato. Farrish Johnson attorney Yuri Jelokov is a volunteer attorney for SMRLS. The checkups will occur on the third Monday of each month from 4 to 7 p.m. at Open Door. Others will also be held at Centenary United Methodist church in Mankato during their homeless breakfast hours and at Wellcome Manor in Garden City. Although there may be some same-day availability, those interested are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance by calling SMRLS...
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Law Day 2018

Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom The U.S. Constitution sets out a system of government with distinct and independent branches—Congress, the Presidency, and a Supreme Court. It also defines legislative, executive, and judicial powers and outlines how they interact. These three separate branches share power, and each branch serves as a check on the power of the others. “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition,” James Madison explained in Federalist 51. Why? Madison believed that the Constitution’s principles of separation of powers and checks and balances preserve political liberty. They provide a framework for freedom. Yet, this framework is not...
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The Standard of Review on Appeal – Explained Through Football!

Most football fans are familiar with the red “challenge flag.” The head coach of a football team keeps a special red flag with him throughout the game. If the head coach disagrees with a call, he will throw the red challenge flag onto the field. The referees then use instant replay to determine whether the ruling on the field will stand as called, or be reversed. But it is not as simple as getting a “second bite” at making the correct call. A decision was made by an official with a unique view of the field, and that call is...
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Estate Tax Changes

There have been substantial changes to the Federal estate tax because of recent action by the US Congress. The major change centers on the doubling of the federal estate tax exemption for estate and gift taxes. For 2018, the estate tax exemption has been increased to $11.2 million. However, this increase expires on December 31, 2026 and absent action by Congress, upon expiration, the federal estate tax exemption in effective for 2017 will be reinstated. The doubling of the estate tax exemption will reduce the number of estates that are required to file a Federal 706 estate tax return. Meanwhile,...
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Massive Water Pollution Settlement

In a widely publicized case, 3M agreed to pay the State of Minnesota $850 million to avoid a trial over allegations that 3M contaminated water with perfluorochemicals (PFCs). The settlement is minuscule compared to the billions of dollars sought by the State in actual and punitive damages. Settlement funds could be used for water restoration projects as well as water infrastructure projects, such as new wells or connecting additional homes to municipal water. This settlement does not end 3M’s legal troubles. It faces many other lawsuits seeking to recover for environmental damage. 3M continues to maintain that there is no...
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Madelia Times Messenger features Yuri Jelokov

Yuri Jelokov of the Farrish Johnson Law Office was featured in the Madelia Times Messenger newspaper this week.  Yuri practices in the areas of workers compensation, social security and disability claims.  Read more about his interesting history, his family and his practice in the Madelia Times Messenger.  Yuri is also a member of the Madelia Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Director.  Visit him at our Madelia office on Wednesdays!  

Genetic Testing

In recent years there has been an interest in genetic testing. For $100 or more, you can have your DNA tested for genetic health risks including late onset Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. The testing determines whether you are a carrier for over 40 different conditions. The test results are confidential, unless you share the test results with your physician or health care providers. If you share the information, the information may become part of your medical record and ultimately accessible by other health care providers, insurance companies, etc. While there are safeguards in place at the state and federal level...
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Changes for Limited Liability Companies

Effective January 1, 2018, significant changes go into effect for limited liability companies organized in the State of Minnesota. The new law brings significant changes to the management and governance of an LLC. If your LLC was organized prior to January 1, 2015 or is not organized under Minnesota Statute 322C, you are likely impacted by this new legislation. If you have questions or concerns about these upcoming legislative changes or for any business law questions, please contact Paul Moosbrugger or Steven Fink. The attorneys at Farrish Johnson Law Office can be reached in our Mankato office at 507-625-2525 and...
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Save Our Juries

Save Our Juries is a public awareness campaign sponsored by American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which was founded in 1958 and is comprised of some of the most respected plaintiff and defense civil attorneys in the country. ABOTA created Save Our Juries to educate and mobilize citizens in the fight to save our disappearing Seventh Amendment right. ABOTA’s mission is to protect and preserve the civil jury trial system. The Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ensures that citizens’ civil cases can be heard and decided by a jury of their peers. The jury trial provides a forum for...
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