Can I be fired for that? “At will” employment and the myth of wrongful termination
The term “wrongful termination” is kind of a misnomer. Most employment in Minnesota is considered “at will” which means an employee can be terminated at any time for just about any reason – or even no reason at all. The catch, however, is that employment cannot be terminated for “illegal” reasons. An illegal reason includes: termination based on a protected class status (i.e., race, gender, religion, disability, age); termination for reporting a violation of law (whistleblowing); termination for filing a work comp case; termination in violation of contractual terms. It may be “wrong” to terminate employment because you showed up... Read More
Witness to History: 1990
In 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into low Earth orbit. The telescope has contributed to a great deal of research, including that on dark matter, black holes, and the birth and death of stars. That same year Charlotte Farrish retired after practicing law for over 60 years. In a legal community comprised of predominantly male attorneys, she was distinguished by her knowledge of the law, legal abilities and dedication to her clients. Hubble Space Telescope The crew of the US space shuttle Discovery placed the Hubble Space Telescope, a long-term space-based observatory, into a low orbit around earth.... Read More
Witness to History: 2012
In 2012 the Kiwanis Holiday Lights event began and has since continued to grow. The event now displays over 1.5 million LED lights and numerous winter activities that draw people from all over to Mankato. That same year, Dan Bellig was first selected for inclusion on the Minnesota Rising Stars list, published by Super Lawyers®, a Thomas Reuters business. He has received the honor every year since. Kiwanis Holiday Lights The Kiwanis Holiday Lights were established in 2012 by members of the Mankato Downtown Kiwanis Club. Its mission is to create a celebration of holiday lights for the Greater Mankato... Read More
Witness to History: 2017
In 2017 Mankato was named the 2nd best college town in the United States by Schools.com, “not only because of the amenities it offers to current students but also for its job potential after graduation.” Also in 2017, Christopher DeLong, Farrish Johnson Law Office’s newest attorney, graduated from New York Law School. Best College Town Schools.com ranked the city of Mankato number 2 on a list of the 25 best college towns in America. They gathered data on more than 170 medium-sized and small college towns, focusing on those with populations of fewer than 150,000 residents. Statistics analyzed included walkability,... Read More
Witness to History: 1975
In 1975 Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 10 staffers that work at FJLO have a combined experience of 223 years, with team members entering the legal industry for the first time in 1975. The support staff is dedicated to providing quality legal services. Microsoft Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen sought to make a business utilizing their shared skills in computer programming. Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800 microcomputer before going to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS... Read More
Witness to History: 2006
In 2006 Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union having failed to meet the new definition of a planet. Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto had been classified as the ninth planet from the Sun. Also in 2006, Farrish Johnson Law Office moved from its downtown Union Square location to its new building at 1907 Excel Drive. Pluto Once considered the ninth and most distant planet from the sun, Pluto is now the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system. In August 2006 the International Astronomical Union downgraded the status of Pluto to that... Read More
Witness to History: 2010
This week in 2010 the first annual Mankato Marathon took place. The Marathon draws thousands of runners and spectators to the city each year. That same year Scott Kelly became an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the 7th amendment. Mankato Marathon The first Mankato Marathon was on October 23, 2010 with 2,200 runners, nearly 1,000 volunteers and approximately 8,000 spectators. Planning for this now annual event began in late 2008 with local marathons at the heart of these efforts.... Read More
Witness to History: 2000
In 2000 the Minnesota Wild began their first season. The state was awarded an expansion franchise in 1997, which was officially named the Wild in 1998. That same year, Terri Stoneburner, an attorney with Farrish Johnson for many years, was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals by Governor Ventura and remained there until her retirement in 2014. Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild were the first NHL franchise in Minnesota since the North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993. They were the only Minneapolis-St. Paul area major professional league franchise to play in St. Paul until Minnesota United FC move... Read More
Witness to History: 2013
In 2013 the Speechless Film Festival began in Mankato, MN. The Festival is presented by Bethany Lutheran College each year and showcases the work of local and international artists. Also in 2013, Jospeh Gangi joined the firm and first received the North Star Lawyers Award for the Minnesota State Bar Association for his commitment to pro bono service. Speechless Film Festival Speechless Film Festival is a 3-day multimedia event that showcases local and international artists. Created in 2013, the festival is presented by Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato and is the only international, independent film festival in or around Mankato.... Read More
Witness to History: 2001
In 2001 Cambria opened its facility in Le Sueur, MN. The company was founded in 2000 when the Davis family decided to enter the quartz surface business after being presented with the opportunity to buy equipment. In that same year, Robert G. Johnson, one of the firm’s namesakes, retired from the practice of law. During his time with the firm, its reputation in the area of trial practice continued to grow and expand. Cambria Cambria’s 150,000-square foot building in LeSueur opens and begins business as a tile manufacturer. Founded in 2000, Cambria is a natural, quartz surfacing product, used for... Read More