Blog
October 7, 2017
North Dakotans appreciate their Second Amendment rights, so many cheered when the governor signed several new bills passed by the legislature into law that impacted the rights of residents to carry firearms in public. Amongst these bills is a law making it easier for North Dakotans to carry a concealed […]
October 5, 2017
The paralegals at O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Attorneys are doing their part in gathering much needed household supplies and personal supplies for the Fargo Ronald McDonald houses as part of the Red River Valley Paralegal Association annual sponsorship of a local charity. Every year the RRVPA puts their efforts behind a […]
September 27, 2017
Recently, numerous state laws were passed by in the 2017 session of the North Dakota legislature. One of the laws involves changes to North Dakota’s existing child passenger safety law. The new law extends the time during which a child is required to ride in a restraint seat by one […]
September 25, 2017
Those who have followed the activities of North Dakota’s Legislature likely already know that the 2017 legislative session was very busy. The Legislature presented Governor Doug Burgum with over 400 bills to enact into law, and many of these bills went into effect on August 1, 2017. Gun owners in […]
September 21, 2017
Numerous state laws were recently passed by the North Dakota legislature during the 2017 session. One of the laws that has taken effect adds a $100 penalty if a motor vehicle driver violates a traffic law while doing something distracting. Distracted driving involves any activity that is not required to […]
September 19, 2017
The 2017 North Dakota legislative session was certainly busy, with the Republican-controlled Legislature sending hundreds of bills to the desk of Governor Doug Burgum. While some of these laws expanded on freedoms already included in constitutional provisions (such as laws making it easier for adults to carry a concealed firearm […]
September 15, 2017
The North Dakota Legislature recently presented hundreds of bills to Governor Doug Burgum. 439 bills were signed into the law by the governor, with a significant number of these bills going into effect on August 1st of this year. With such a great number of bills going into effect and […]
September 11, 2017
Many groups and individuals benefited from the Minnesota Legislature’s activities during the 2017 legislative session. A number of laws were presented to the governor and signed into law, with several important laws going into effect on August 1 of this year. Dental hygienists and those without easy access to basic […]
September 7, 2017
North Dakota legislators were busy during the 2017 legislative year, with the Legislature sending hundreds of bills to the desk of the governor for approval. Some laws are likely to have little impact on the day-to-day lives of many North Dakotans: a new law offering greater protections for individuals working […]
September 5, 2017
If you do not accept a plea deal offered by prosecutors in your case, your criminal case will eventually proceed to trial. Most people picture a “trial” as being a large and formal proceeding before a judge in which impassioned and persuasive speeches are made by attorneys to 12 jurors […]
September 1, 2017
It is important that individuals follow some cautionary advice when making their estate plans. The importance of this planning was recently highlighted in a case involving the musician Prince. After Prince died in 2016 without a will and much litigation occurred regarding how his estate should be divided, a judge […]
August 30, 2017
Wills are important estate planning devices because they dictate how property will be distributed after a person’s death. While wills are recommended and essential in a person’s estate planning process, there are many will substitutes that can serve similar purposes. Will substitutes offer several unique advantages which include that wills […]
August 24, 2017
It’s 3,132 miles from Margarita Island, Venezuela to Fargo, ND. That’s how far Daniela Kossowski traveled to attend Minnesota State University Moorhead. And now she has graduated from the university and hopes to take the LSAT soon in her efforts of entering law school. In the meantime, she is a […]
August 22, 2017
The United States Supreme Court recently found that BNSF Railway Co. could not be sued within the State of Montana by an injury plaintiff who had sustained injuries in another state, despite the fact that BNSF has a presence within Montana. Previously, general principles of legal jurisdiction held that a […]
August 16, 2017
Each year, a number of young couples become engaged to be married. Unfortunately, not all of these engagements result in marriage, and some relationships dissolve prior to the wedding. In addition to the various painful and challenging obstacles that come as the result of ending a romantic relationship, couples are […]
August 10, 2017
Most individuals are familiar with prenuptial agreements, but most would be surprised to learn that the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports that the number of postnuptial agreements is on the rise. Postnuptial agreements can greatly help decide the terms of marital separation or divorce. Introduced in 2013, laws concerning […]
August 8, 2017
In what may be the first case of its kind, an Ohio judge has ruled that a defendant’s pacemaker data can be used against the man in his criminal trial. The man is accused of arson and insurance fraud after allegedly starting a fire that damaged his home to the […]
July 31, 2017
A Minneapolis child was struck by a vehicle while crossing 17th Avenue South in Minneapolis and later died from his injuries. Preliminary reports suggest that the child had been dropped off and was crossing the street behind the vehicle that had dropped him off when another vehicle allegedly struck the […]
July 27, 2017
When investigating and preparing a personal injury case, either to submit a claim to an insurance company or to file a personal injury lawsuit, a significant part of the time is used to determine the amount of compensation the injured party should request. The injury victim and/or his or her […]
July 25, 2017
Defending oneself against criminal charges in North Dakota and Minnesota involves not only examining the evidence the prosecution intends to rely upon to establish your guilt for any weaknesses and/or contradictions, but also investigating whether any affirmative defenses may be available to you. Even though a successful affirmative defense results […]
July 19, 2017
In a criminal proceeding, one of the most important decisions that must be made – and a decision in which you have the final say – is whether you will take the stand and testify in your defense. This is a decision that may carry significant benefits as well as […]
July 17, 2017
For those who are not familiar with criminal proceedings in North Dakota and Minnesota, being charged with a crime and running through the criminal justice process can be a new and terrifying experience. Part of what makes this experience so nerve-wracking is the use of terms and phrases with which […]
July 13, 2017
More and more people in North Dakota are again moving into condominiums. Condominiums are managed by condominium associations. These associations act in accordance with the terms and conditions that are described in condominium association bylaws. Because these agreements frequently contain controlling elements, it is important for individuals who wish to […]
July 11, 2017
A trust is an advantageous type of estate planning method for people who are interested in passing assets to others without being part of the probate process. Avoiding the probate process is an attractive option for many people because probate is frequently a lengthy and expensive process. Totten trusts, which […]