October 11, 2018
You received a summons and complaint – what happens now? In civil lawsuits, the proceeding begins with a summons and complaint. This is your notification that you are being sued.
October 9, 2018
Demand letters are often a starting point to the resolution of a dispute. Although non-attorneys can send demand letters, having an attorney assist in writing the demand letter is important to hopefully efficiently resolving the dispute.
October 6, 2018
Generally, it is in everyone’s best interest to avoid litigation. Litigation is expensive and time consuming for all parties. One way to avoid litigation is to draft a contract with the possibility of future litigation in mind. Even if you think your contract will never be the basis of a […]
October 4, 2018
O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys welcomes our newest associate attorney, Chris D. Cerney. Chris is a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law. Prior to his law school experience, Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1997 from the Curtis L. Carlson School of Management at the University of […]
September 27, 2018
“When it comes to the Fourth Amendment, the home is first among equals.” Your right to privacy without unreasonable government intrusion is at its strongest in your home. Police officers almost always need a warrant to search a home. There are few exceptions to this requirement, like consent or emergency, […]
September 25, 2018
What is a settlement? A litigation settlement is a decision between the parties to end a dispute before trial. A settlement may be reached after only a few conversations between attorneys, or it may happen a few hours before trial ends. Oftentimes, a settlement is a preferable outcome to litigation […]
September 19, 2018
Selecting a name for your business is an important part of business formation. There are some rules about naming your business in North Dakota, depending on the type of business structure you are planning. Generally, a business name cannot include any words that indicate it is involved in anything other […]
September 17, 2018
There are many reasons to consider refinancing your mortgage, including lower interest rates, lower monthly payment, or debt consolidation. If you are thinking about refinancing your existing mortgage, consider utilizing the assistance of an attorney in doing so.
September 13, 2018
There are several different ways to resolve a case before proceeding with extended litigation. In general, this is referred to as alternative dispute resolution. Both mediation and arbitration may be used to resolve a dispute without going through extensive litigation or trial. Arbitration tends to refer to a legally-binding process, […]
September 11, 2018
In the event of death or illness, every business needs a plan in place. This is especially important for family business owners. Much like planning for an individual’s estate, business plans are crucial to preparing for what happens next.
September 5, 2018
A disclosure statement in a real estate sale is a document completed prior the closing which requires the seller to disclose known material defects of the home. The disclosure statement is an opportunity for the buyer to learn about all potential defects of a home. The disclosure statement is also […]
September 3, 2018
If you are found with drugs, there are several crimes with which you may be charged. The crimes of drug possession and intent to distribute are two different crimes with different levels of punishment. Depending on the drug, the level of offense and punishment can vary significantly. Generally, the crime […]
August 30, 2018
Dean Rindy, attorney at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys of Fargo, has been recognized by his peers as a 2018 Lawyer of the Year and will be recognized in the 25th edition of the The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession.
August 24, 2018
Five attorneys at Fargo law firm O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer […]
August 22, 2018
For the fourth year in a row, Abby Hammes, a Paralegal at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys, has participated in the annual Walk to Defeat ALS. Abby’s mom lost her battle with ALS. Abby’s team name is “Team Noonnay”, which was a nickname given to her mom by family years ago.
August 15, 2018
At O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys, we get really excited about giving back to our community. This summer, we went all out by partnering with Down Home, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to help individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing by providing furnishings and décor, making […]
August 9, 2018
Operating a business successfully always requires a certain amount of record keeping, even if it is a small business run by someone with a very good memory. At the very least, you need to keep accounting records to show to your tax accountant. If your business is large enough to […]
August 2, 2018
The phrase “gig economy” sounds thrilling, unless you have actual financial responsibilities. What is not to love about turning your talents and determination into financial gain and not having to answer to a boss? Of course, making your living through freelance gigs means no job stability and no employer-sponsored retirement […]
July 30, 2018
Whether you are facing misdemeanor charges or felony charges, what you do and do not do can make a big difference as far as whether your defense attorney is able to persuade the court to find you not guilty.
July 27, 2018
When a court finds you guilty of criminal charges, it is often a relief to hear that your sentence includes only probation instead of jail time. People who have been sentenced to probation are often unpleasantly surprised, however, when they realize how many restrictions they must actually endure. Of course, […]
July 25, 2018
Many clients who visit a personal injury attorney do so after being injured in a car crash, and drunk driving is a major cause of car crashes. From the perspective of personal injury law, plaintiffs injured by drunk drivers have a strong case because drunk driving is an obvious instance […]
July 9, 2018
According to the rules of ordinary usage of the English language, accidents, strictly speaking, are no one’s fault in that no one intentionally causes them. In a court of law, however, it is necessary to assign a degree of fault for an accident, known as liability, to a person or […]
July 5, 2018
Consumer debt is so prevalent in American society that most people just accept it as a fact of life. You make monthly payments on home mortgages, student loans, car loans, and credit card debt and look forward to the day when you can finally pay off one of the debts. […]
June 28, 2018
If you are old enough to have watched the O.J. Simpson trial on television in 1995, you probably remember the discussion about several pieces of evidence that influenced the jury’s decision, such as a glove found at the crime scene and DNA obtained from blood stains. While physical evidence is […]
June 26, 2018
One factor that determines whether an accident was simply the result of bad luck or whether it is grounds for a personal injury lawsuit is if there is evidence of negligence on the part of someone other than the injured party that caused the accident. Duty of care means that […]