Estate Taxes Still an Issue
With the federal estate tax beginning for estates in excess of $5.4 million, most families no longer concern themselves with avoiding the imposition of this tax. However, Minnesota residences or non-residences with Minnesota property still face Minnesota taxes for estates that exceed $1.6 million. Do not assume that estate planning is no longer necessary simply because of the size of the federal exemption. There are a number of planning opportunities for families to avoid or minimize Minnesota estate tax. For more information on Estate Taxes and Estate Planning, contact Steve Fink at Farrish Johnson Law Office. This webpage contains general... Read More
Farrish Johnson Law Offices Welcomes New Attorney
Farrish Johnson Law Office is pleased to announce the addition of our new attorney, Amy E. Sauter. She will be practicing exclusively in the areas of family law with Farrish Johnson. A Minnesota native and Minnesota State University, Mankato Alumna, Sauter brings additional legal capabilities to the greater Mankato Community. After receiving her law degree, Cum Laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Sauter returned to Minnesota where she practiced in private law for six years in the St. Cloud area. Sauter is looking to get involved in the Mankato area after previously being involved with WACOSA, the St. Cloud Municipal Band, the... Read More
Severance Agreement Review
Have you been presented with a severance agreement in conjunction with your termination from employment? Also known as a termination agreement, a severance agreement can be a very detailed legal document setting forth a number of terms and conditions. These terms and conditions can be confusing, complicated, and very restrictive. For example, the severance agreement may include a non-compete agreement, prohibiting you from potential future job opportunities, or may include a release of any potential claims you have against the employer. If you have been presented with a severance agreement, it is critical to reach out to an attorney who... Read More
Limited Scope Representation.
Do you need an attorney but don’t think you can afford one? Many law offices, including Farrish Johnson Law Office, offer options such as “limited scope representation” also known as “unbundled” legal services. Limited scope representation allows a lawyer to provide legal services on a portion of a potential client’s legal matter rather than seeing the matter through from beginning to end. The lawyer and the client agree on the specific tasks to be performed by the lawyer, and the tasks to be performed by the client. Limited scope representation allows potential clients who cannot afford to pay for full... Read More
Minnesota Pregnancy Accommodation Law
Minnesota law requires employers with 21 or more employees at one or more sites to provide reasonable accommodation to an employee for health conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth unless the employer demonstrates that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business. Any employee working for the employer at least 12 months and the equivalent of one-half of the employer’s full-time employment requirement is eligible for the accommodations. Some accommodations are required if requested by the employee on the advice of the employee’s licensed health care provider or certified doula. Some accommodations are automatic... Read More
Minnesota Adds “Familial Status” as a Protected Class
Employers in Minnesota need to revise their non-discrimination and equal opportunity policies to include familial status as a protected class. Under Minnesota law, familial status is defined as “the condition or one or more minors being domiciled with (1) their parent or parents or the minor’s legal guardian or (2) the designee of the parent or parents or guardian with written permission of the parent or parents or guardian.” This law applies to all employers with one or more employee. For more information about this topic or other Minnesota employment law issues, contact Will Partridge at Farrish Johnson Law Office.... Read More
Changes to Medical Assistance Recovery
In 1967, Minnesota instituted a medical assistance (MA) estate recovery program. The program authorized counties to recover the cost paid for MA services received by a deceased person. In June of 2016, new legislation was passed which limits the number of MA services that can be recovered by the counties. The new legislation limits the number of MA services which are recoverable against an estate if the decedent received MA services on or after January 1, 2014. Specifically, recovery is limited to cost of Long Term Care (LTC) that a decedent received from January 1, 2014 to the present. LTC... Read More
Farrish Johnson Attorney Featured on KEYC
Farrish Johnson attorney Joseph A. Gangi worked with a woman wrongfully convicted of manslaughter to seek compensation after spending nearly three years behind bars. This web page contains general information and not legal advice. It is based on Minnesota law in effect at the time of writing. An attorney Farrish Johnson Law Office can advise you about how the law applies to your specific situation.
Minnesota Wrongful Conviction Statute Declared Unconstitutional
A wrongfully-convicted Minnesota woman is able to seek compensation for the time she spent behind bars – nearly three years – thanks to Attorney Joseph A. Gangi of Farrish Johnson Law Office. A new Minnesota law provides compensation to Minnesotans who were wrongly convicted of a crime and had to serve time in prison because of that. Danna Back petitioned for compensation under this new law. She was exonerated when the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed her conviction on the basis that she did not commit a crime. But a judge denied Back the opportunity to seek compensation because the new... Read More
Wage Disclosure Protection Law –State and Federal Law Changes.
Every Minnesota employer must comply with the Wage Disclosure Protection law. Under this law, no employer can prohibit employees from disclosing or discussing their own wages. Employers that provide an employee handbook to their employees must include in the handbook a notice of employee rights and remedies under the Wage Disclosure Protection law. As of January 11, 2016, federal contractors are prohibited from terminating or otherwise discriminating against employees or job applicants in any manner for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing their own compensation or the pay of other employees or applicants. For sample language to include in your employee... Read More