November 10, 2017

Do Not Resuscitate Orders in North Dakota and Minnesota

In 1991, Congress passed into law the Patient Self-Determination Act, which requires hospitals to respect an individual’s health care decisions. North Dakota and Minnesota are just two of the 49 states that permit an individual’s loved ones to make decisions in the case of incapacity. As a result, it is […]

November 6, 2017

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New Requirement for Cities in Minnesota with Electronic Notification Systems

In accordance with a new law in the state of Minnesota, cities with electronic notification systems are required to provide a 10-day notice of most proposed ordinances. After being signed into law by Governor Dayton on May 23, 2017, this measure became effective on August 1, 2017. This law is […]

November 2, 2017

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Knowingly Damaging a Public Safety Motor Vehicle in Minnesota

On August 1, 2017, several new laws became effective in the state of Minnesota. Some of these new laws relate to cases involving damage to public safety vehicles. It is important for individuals in Minnesota who have been charged with such an offense to understand some of the essential details […]

October 31, 2017

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Minnesota Supreme Court Throws Out Law Against Disorderly Conduct At Meetings

The Minnesota Supreme Court recently ruled against a disorderly conduct law that applies to the behavior of individuals who disrupt public meetings. The case in question concerned a Little Falls resident who was charged with disorderly conduct after the woman moved her chair closer to the city council at a […]

October 26, 2017

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New Minnesota Law Makes Impersonating Military Members a Misdemeanor

The penalties for individuals who impersonate law enforcement officers are now much tougher in the state of Minnesota due to a new law. Groups responsible for gathering statistics have decided the current number of individuals who impersonate military members to be an epidemic. There are several reasons why individuals choose […]

October 23, 2017

Nine Synthetic Drugs Added to Minnesota’s Schedule 1 List

A variety of new laws have become effective in Minnesota in 2017. One of these laws updated Minnesota’s list of Schedule 1 controlled substances by adding nine synthetic drugs to the list. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy has determined that each of these drugs has the potential to be abused […]

October 19, 2017

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Minnesota Passes New Standardizing Telemedicine Care

A law became effective on August 1, 2017, in Minnesota which requires telemedicine providers to meet the same level of care as physicians who see patients in person. This regulation, called S.F. 1353, was unanimously passed by legislators in the state and was then approved by Governor Mark Dayton on […]

October 17, 2017

New Littering Law in North Dakota

Beginning on August 1, 2017, anyone in North Dakota who is caught littering will be facing a much larger fine than was previously enforced by the state. Individuals who are caught littering on publicly maintained roads will now be fined $500. This increase is significant and is 400% larger than […]

October 13, 2017

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Fines Increase in Minnesota for Failure to Stop for a School Bus

Fines Increase in Minnesota for Failure to Stop for a School Bus The Minnesota Department of Public Safety has announced that the state will increase fines from $300 to $500 for motor vehicle operators who violate state law by failing to stop for school buses. While the reason why this […]

October 11, 2017

Lost Estate Planning Documents

Not only is it critical for individuals to decide their plans for after death and to accurately reflect these decisions in an end of life document, it is also important to place these documents in a location where the documents will remain secure and easy to find. Unfortunately, when estate […]

October 7, 2017

New North Dakota Law Makes it Easier to Carry Concealed Firearms

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

Firm Paralegal Staff Works

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

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North Dakota Passes Child Passenger Laws

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

Concealed Carry Reporting Requirements Eased for Churches

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

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North Dakota Creates Distracted Driver Law

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

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Drug Offenders Get a Break Thanks to Legislative Efforts

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

North Dakota Governor Signs Hundreds of Bills into Law

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

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Dental Hygienists in Minnesota Get Break Under New Laws

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

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Concealed Carry Laws in North Dakota Get Updated

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

What Are The Types of Trials?

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

How to Plan Your Estate in North Dakota

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

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Will Substitutes

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

Hard Work Yields Success for Firm Employee

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

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Jurisdiction for Out-of-State Injuries

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

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Who Owns the Engagement Ring After a Failed Engagement

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 […]

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