Motorcyclist killed in 4-vehicle crash near North Branch MN

  • Post category:Blog

"One person is dead following a four-vehicle crash near North Branch Tuesday afternoon. A crash report from the Minnesota State Patrol says the deadly accident happened around 3:45 p.m. on Hwy. 95 near 392nd St. The incident began in the westbound lane of Hwy. 95 when a Dodge Ram rear-ended a Chevy Cruze, sending the car into the eastbound lane of traffic where it collided with a motorcycle. The Ram then crashed into a westbound Honda Fit that was waiting to turn left at 392nd St. The motorcyclist was killed, and has been identified as Larry Micheal Cooper, 58, of…

Continue ReadingMotorcyclist killed in 4-vehicle crash near North Branch MN

Situations that are considered for child custody and visitation

  • Post category:Blog

Who’s a parent the child has stronger emotional ties. The child’s emotional health is equally important to their general health and wellness. Among all others, the court wants to identify which parent the child has deeper emotional ties with. This can be determined by taking into account who has more knowledge of the child’s interests, likes, etc., and who has the tendency to care for the child's needs. The emotional tie also reflects the quality of the child’s relationship with their parents. The court determines which parent the child is more comfortable to be around. The mental and physical wellbeing…

Continue ReadingSituations that are considered for child custody and visitation

How workers’ comp can affect a personal injury lawsuit

  • Post category:Blog

"Most slip and fall cases are filed as premises liability claims. But if your accident happened at work, your employer’s workers’ comp coverage might actually bar you from filing a personal injury lawsuit. In Minnesota, nearly all employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance. That means most employees who get hurt on the job must file a workers’ comp claim in lieu of a personal injury claim. Since workers’ comp only covers medical care, vocational rehabilitation, and a portion of lost wages, though, injured employees are inclined to pursue other avenues of compensation. Fortunately, there are scenarios in which…

Continue ReadingHow workers’ comp can affect a personal injury lawsuit

U.S.P.S. wants you to be aware of the seriousness of dog bites

  • Post category:Blog

"Nearly 6,000 postal employees were attacked by dogs last year, but that pales in comparison to the 4.5 million Americans attacked each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of victims are small children, the elderly and Postal Service carriers — in that order — are the most frequent victims. The Postal Service continues its tradition of calling attention to this public health issue. 2019 National Dog Bite Prevention Week takes place April 14-20. Our campaign theme is "Avoid the BITE.”" You can read more about this story here. The post office also gives some…

Continue ReadingU.S.P.S. wants you to be aware of the seriousness of dog bites

Lapse in worker’s compensation coverage results in massive fine for bakery

  • Post category:Blog

"The bakery reopened four days later, after the Vial family that owns the business secured insurance. In addition to having to throw out perishable supplies and dough during that four-day closure, they paid their workers for the time they lost. The tens of thousands of dollars the Vial family had spent three years saving to purchase a new oven flew out the window as they scrambled to re-open. And then came the fine. In a judgement filed March 5 in Monterey County Superior Court, Lafayette Bakery was ordered to pay a penalty of $166,080 to the Labor Commissioner’s Uninsured Employers…

Continue ReadingLapse in worker’s compensation coverage results in massive fine for bakery

Child custody laws go unenforced in Texas

  • Post category:Blog

"Records obtained by KFOX14 Investigates show there were more than 4,000 reports taken by the El Paso Police Department for child custody interference from 2016 to 2018. Of those cases, 229 were presented to the district attorney's office Only 11 were indicted. That's just 5 percent of cases presented." Read more on this story here. Unfortunately, child custody laws can be a tricky situation for law enforcement. Even when there is evidence that one parent is denying the other custody or visitation rights, there is no guarantee of a quick resolution. In the case of the jurisdiction of El Paso,…

Continue ReadingChild custody laws go unenforced in Texas

Washington State and Federal Government Fight Over Worker’s Compensation

  • Post category:Blog

"After working 18 years in the plutonium finishing plant at Hanford, the most radioactive waste site in the western hemisphere, Rouse had to quit due to severe health problems that include toxic encephalopathy, dementia and nerve damage. Certain that the job caused his illnesses, Rouse filed for workers' compensation. For 10 years his claim was denied. But last year the Washington State Legislature changed the rules passing a law that only affects Hanford workers. It creates a presumption that exposure to chemicals at work is to blame for a long list of illnesses, including several cancers. The new law also…

Continue ReadingWashington State and Federal Government Fight Over Worker’s Compensation

Heavy Truck and Tractor Trailer Deaths Spike in 2017

  • Post category:Blog

"Driving a heavy-duty truck remains among the nation’s deadliest occupations, with on-the-job deaths of truckers setting a record in 2017. Last year, 840 truckers lost their lives on the job, 6.6 percent more than the 786 reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2016. The number of heavy-duty trucking deaths has risen by 25 percent since 2011. The labor bureau data are in line with other data that show an increase in the number of deaths involving trucking. An October report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that traffic fatalities involving large trucks rose 9 percent…

Continue ReadingHeavy Truck and Tractor Trailer Deaths Spike in 2017

Do men get an unfair disadvantage in divorce and custody disputes?

  • Post category:Blog

"In America, more than 80% of custodial parents -- the parent that kids live with most -- are mothers. Is it harder for men to get a fair shake in custody cases involving children? Do laws and courts favor women because of a traditional presumption that women are better care-givers for children? According to laws in most states, they're not supposed to, says family law attorney Randall Kessler, author of 'Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future.' 'But some judges may be old-fashioned and they might think the mom should have custody,' he said." Read this story and the…

Continue ReadingDo men get an unfair disadvantage in divorce and custody disputes?

Motorcycle accidents decrease but still account for more fatalities than cars

  • Post category:Blog

"Nearly 5,000 people were killed on motorcycles in 2017, almost 300 less than in 2016. While that’s good news – the lives saved represent a projected 5.6% decrease –motorcyclists remain significantly overrepresented in all traffic deaths, with fatalities occurring 28 times more often those of passenger vehicle occupants, based on per mile traveled. Those are the highlights of a new report released on Wednesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), a nonprofit organization representing state highway safety offices. 'Motorcyclist fatality numbers have fluctuated from year to year over the past decade, so while we are cautiously optimistic about this…

Continue ReadingMotorcycle accidents decrease but still account for more fatalities than cars