September 12, 2016

Team Member’s Plate Plenty Full

Abby Hammes has a lot on her plate. During the normal work-week Abby is busy as a paralegal at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys, a law firm in Fargo. Abby works closely with family lawyer Tracy Lyson, provides administrative support in civil and commercial litigation actions for attorney Sean Foss, and […]

September 6, 2016

What’s a Life Care Plan and Do I Need One?

When we are young and healthy, a life care plan is often the last thing on our minds. But by addressing issues that could crop up later in life, you can minimize the likelihood that a catastrophic event will derail all your plans. What is a Life Care Plan? A […]

September 2, 2016

Don’t Tolerate These Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors From Supervisors

Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is considered severe or pervasive and affects working conditions or creates a hostile work environment. If a person is fired, denied a promotion, demoted, given a poor performance evaluation, or reassigned to a less desirable position […]

August 29, 2016

Reasons You Shouldn’t Wait to Call an Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate planning is something most people avoid, but consulting with an experienced estate-planning lawyer is something you should do sooner rather than later, for these reasons: Death No matter how good your health is now, you can never be sure when you will die. If you pass away without a […]

August 25, 2016

Injured in an Auto Accident? Know Your Rights

Whenever a motorist operates an automobile, they are expected to exercise reasonable care not to injure others, and the failure to do so may be considered negligence. A person who drives in a negligent manner may be obligated to pay for any damages that he or she causes. An injured […]

August 23, 2016

Inattentional Blindness: When the Obvious Isn’t So Obvious

When drivers focus on a task that demands their attention (texting, for example), they often fail to notice unexpected objects and events that occur in full view, such as a pedestrian or another car in their path. This phenomenon is known as inattentional blindness. In 2011, psychologists at the University […]

August 19, 2016

Tatum O’Brien Lindbo Named to the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys

We are pleased and proud to announce that Tatum O’Brien Lindbo has been named to the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys. A graduate of the University of North Dakota Law School, Tatum specializes in criminal law, personal injury, and general litigation. To read more about her latest achievement, read the full press […]

August 17, 2016

Four Ways to Recognize a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain and disrupts brain function. The trauma can occur in one of two ways: when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue. According to […]

August 15, 2016

Why Pedestrians, Bicyclists, and Large Trucks Can be a Dangerous Mix

Fatalities among pedestrians and bicyclists in collisions with large trucks increased at a faster rate than the overall truck-related crash fatalities recorded from 2009 to 2013, according to a federal study. From the report, pedestrian fatalities in crashes with large trucks increased 30 percent from 2009 to 2013, while total […]

August 11, 2016

What is Medical Pay Coverage, and Do I Really Need It?

With car insurance premiums rising, some people have cut corners by dropping medical payments coverage, commonly known as med pay, from their policy, especially if they have health insurance. But is dropping med pay really a good idea? The Benefits of Medical Payments Coverage Med-pay is an optional addition to […]

August 9, 2016

Can Online Chats Be Used as Evidence in Court?

Social media connects people on a global level, allowing them to share photos and information with family and friends in real time. It also provides huge amounts of evidence that might be relevant to a variety of litigation matters, and courts are routinely are asked to determine the admissibility of […]

August 8, 2016

O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys Firm Partners with Red River Valley Boys & Girls Club

(Fargo, ND) – On a hot and muggy summer night in Fargo, North Dakota the law firm of O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys showed up in full-force to help host the annual Night to Unite Neighborhood celebration at the Red River Valley (Fargo) Boys & Girls Club. This was in support of […]

August 4, 2016

Things a Child Custody Lawyer Can Do (That You Probably Can’t)

A divorce is an extremely difficult time, and a divorce attorney is much better equipped to handle the many issues that can crop up, including child custody. Here are some things an experienced child custody attorney can do that you likely cannot: Negotiate with the Other Side – Calmly No […]

August 1, 2016

Who Legally Owns Your Facebook Posts?

While Facebook users may believe that they own the content they post on the platform, the legal reality is a little different. Facebook’s Legal Terms of Service If you read Facebook’s legal terms of service, you’ll find that you technically own all of the content and information you post there, […]

July 26, 2016

Divorce Mediation: What is it, and How Does it Work?

Just as no two marriages are alike, no two divorces will be the same. Some divorces are more complicated than others, some are contested while others are not, and some will settle through an agreement between the parties, while others will require an alternative approach for the parties to come […]

July 22, 2016

Contract Terms You Really Should Know

Contracts are seldom easy and pleasant reading. They are typically filled with legal jargon that almost nobody (except business lawyers) truly understands, but there are a few contract terms that consumers need to know: Offer Nearly every contract begins with an offer, which expresses the intent to be bound by […]

July 18, 2016

Estate Planning Documents You Probably (Most Likely) Need

When considering estate planning in North Dakota, there are five documents you should be familiar with: Last Will and Testament A last will and testament designates who will receive your property when you die, can simplify the process of probate, and may appoint a personal representative, or executor, of your […]

July 14, 2016

How Can You Prove Age Discrimination

When you’re over 40 and lose your job suddenly, it may be tempting to sue your former company for age discrimination, particularly if you received excellent annual reviews and your replacement is a decade or two younger. But proving an age discrimination case is hard to do, even though age-related […]

July 12, 2016

Uninsured and Underinsured – What’s the Difference?

When two motor vehicles collide, one of the first things the drivers do (after they check for injuries and report the accident) should be to exchange insurance information. Insurance coverage is an integral part of a personal injury case, since coverage ultimately determines how the damages are paid. Uninsured/underinsured motorist […]

July 8, 2016

Common Mistakes People Make When Drafting a Will

Wills are necessary, but intimidating. Trying to put all your wishes into one legal document is often a daunting task, just as interpreting a will without the help of the individual who drafted it can be tricky business. That is why getting it right is essential. Here are some common […]

July 6, 2016

Independent Contractor or an Employee – What’s the Difference?

Increasingly, many people want to fulfill a lifelong dream: being their own boss. But before they trade their employee status for that of an independent contractor, they need to know at least the basics of each. Generally, an employer-employee relationship exists if a worker performs services that can be legally […]

June 30, 2016

Bad Faith: When Insurance Companies Don’t Keep Their Promises

Policyholders pay insurance premiums to keep their policies updated on property they want to protect. In exchange for these payments, policyholders have a reasonable expectation that their insurance company will fulfill the terms of the insurance contract when they make a claim on their policy. In most cases, the insurance […]

June 22, 2016

How to Divorce, Even If Your Spouse Won’t Sign the Papers

When a person (known as the petitioner) decides to obtain a divorce and serves divorce paperwork upon his spouse, one of three things will typically happen: If your spouse answers and agrees with your petition, you have what is known as an uncontested divorce. If your spouse answers and disagrees […]

June 20, 2016

Questions to Ask When Hiring a Divorce Lawyer

When you’re contemplating divorce and looking for an attorney, remember one thing: you don’t have to hire the first one you meet. Choosing the right divorce attorney is one of the most important personal and financial decisions you are likely to ever make. Some questions to consider asking during your […]

June 16, 2016

Sleep Deprived Motorists Continue to Cause Accidents

Current data suggests that despite media attention and public awareness, drivers are continuing to drive while drowsy in great numbers. In 2014, there were 846 fatalities recorded in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database that were related to drowsy driving, a statistic that has […]

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