The MinnLawyer blog is reporting that Susan Richard Nelson has been picked for the open seat on the United States District Court, District of Minnesota.  Actually, the blog suggests that Sen. Klobuchar “will nominate” Judge Nelson but this of course is the President’s prerogative.  The Star Tribune has confirmed that Sen. Klobuchar has recommended Judge […]

In May, this blog reported argument in the Scroggin appeal, a bellwether case for one of hundreds if not thousands of Prempro hormone replace product liability lawsuits.  Today, the 8th Circuit opinion came down. It will take some time to review and analyze the 41-page opinion but the quick news is that the Eighth Circuit […]

An attorney, purporting to act on behalf of a client, sends correspondence that a disappointed business entity blames for the collapse of an important business transaction. The business entity (let’s call it PureChoice) brings suit against the son of the purported client — alleging that the client was not competent, that the son was acting […]

It might sometimes seem that courts have a bit of a split personality regarding technology in the courtroom, both taking pride in high-tech courtroom features and famously proclaiming that some technology will only come into the court over the judge’s dead body. Of course, the important distinction is whether the high-tech features are there to […]

We are not well-suited to remedy lawyer shortages when struck by a flu pandemic, earthquake, catastrophic flood, or terrorist attack and many states (and now Minnesota) have considered or are considering measures in advance of such potentially chaotic times. It’s a “Good Samaritan Law” variation for out-of-state lawyers, you might say. Many see the idea […]

Experienced Minnesota personal injury attorney, Tom Conlin, argued this week to revive a lawsuit against Lutsen Mountains ski area lost on summary judgment. An eye witness made statements around the time of a devastating accident, statements which she later disavowed. (The accident apparently left the injured plaintiff unable to testify as to the circumstances of […]

I suspect that few Minnesota clients celebrate Minnesota legal rates as a real bargain but those who have worked with lawyers out of New York, Chicago, D.C., L.A., etc., know, at least, that things could be considerably worse. And lawyers from out-of-state who come to Minnesota and ask for court approval of their higher rates […]

On October 20, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals heard argument in a federal housing case in which a jury, after a five-day trial, awarded about $13,000 of compensatory damages, and over $250,000 in punitive damages. The District Court Judge,Donald O’Brien (N.D. Iowa) sharply lowered the jury’s punitive damages award and denied the prevailing plaintiff’s […]

Dennnis Hecker faces civil discovery and a number of civil complaints in his personal bankruptcy case and sought the Court’s help (by staying those cases) in preserving his rights as a potential criminal defendant (that is, his right to remain silent) in the event he is criminally charged based on the transactions that are the […]

In late September, the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals heard oral argument in Casey v. North American Savings, 8th Cir. File No. 09-1096, on an issue of federal preemption in the context of the regulation of federal lending institutions and today the court issued its ruling. It is a case of first impression with […]