The Minnesota Supreme Court has issued a 22-page opinion: censure and suspension from judicial duties for 6 months without pay is warranted for First District Judge Timothy Blakely who violated Canons of Judicial Conduct by negotiating and obtaining a substantial legal fee reduction from his personal attorney (whom he owed nearly $100,000) at the same […]
This case, arising in the context of truck and truck part manufacturing, was covered on this blog in July. The case was covered before that, back in March. The Eighth Circuit granted a petition for rehearing, vacated the previous opinion, substituted today’s opinion, and Plaintiff-Appellee Donaldson Co. still loses. (The Eighth Circuit’s July opinion included analysis […]
The New York Times, today, covers lawyers getting into hot water by virtue of their “on-line” personae vs. their professional rules and responsibilities (link here). This is just one aspect of the new dimension in modern life — social media — aspects of which have already been covered here.
Oral argument took place today at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. A recording of the argument is available for download through Itunes here. Here is a quick take on the argument.
Plaintiffs (a couple) bought an unoccupied duplex in North Dakota, insured the property for $50,000; the house burned down and insurer American Family denied Plaintiffs’ insurance claim on the ground that the fire was a result of arson for which one of the Plaintiffs was responsible. Plaintiffs brought suit against American Family, claiming that it […]
U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim certified a class action under the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, premised on the fact that the debt collector defendant added a fee of 35% of the debt, as a collection fee, on top of the amount of the underlying debt. This, the Court held, was inconsistent with […]
This is a newly filed lawsuit — filed today. Signed Filed Complaint MN AG v. Arbitration Company
Gabby’s Saloon & Eatery, Marshall St. NE, on the Mississippi triumphed in a three-year legal battle with the city over penalties and regulations arising out of neighborhood complaints that allegedly threatened the business’ livelihood. Gabby’s, represented by Scott Harris of Leonard Street & Deinard and owned by Jeff Ormand, argued that neighbor complaints about after-hours […]
A jury verdict in favor of 3M in a long-fought battle regarding claimed diminished property value due to groundwater contamination (perfluorooactonate, PFOA, a perfluorocarbon chemical used for many years in 3M products). (Pioneer Press coverage here.) The Denny Hecker bankruptcy makes the Strib front page with state investigator raids on offices and home amidst allegations […]
Now is no time to envy Minnesota state legislators, with a $4.8 billion budget deficit for a two-year period. They convene tomorrow for the 2009 session. It is a lot easier to think of all that needs to be done than it is to think of what there is to cut.