Carbon Monoxide Risk Increases in Winter

The risk of CO poisoning increases in the winter when houses are tightly closed to keep out the cold. To reduce this risk it is important to ensure all of your appliances are in proper working condition and have your fuel-based appliances inspected annually by a qualified technician.

Parents Seek Change Following Daughter's Suicide at Milaca School

12-year-old Stephanie Johnson was found in a Milaca school bathroom on April 27 and died four days later. Stephanie's parents believe bullying at school is to blame for their daughter's suicide.

"Policies are worthless unless you're willing to follow them," said Jeffrey Montpetit, an attorney.
Montpetit and attorney Jeff Storms are considering taking the case and bringing legal action against those responsible for protecting the sixth grader's civil rights.

$1.5 Million Settlement in Minnesota six-year-old's Foster Care Death

Hennepin County reached a $1.5 million settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit of Kendrea Johnson, a six-year-old found dead in a Brooklyn Park foster care in 2014, according to court documents. The court documents say it is one of the largest settlements against a Minnesota government entity involving the welfare of a foster child.

Carbon Monoxide Dangers Rise With Heating Season

  The Minnesota Department of Commerce recently released a safety reminder to Minnesotans. "With the start of the fall and winter heating season...be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Every year about 500 people die in the United States from unintentional exposure to carbon monoxide," it said.

Tragedy Reminds Of Importance Of Cleaning Furnaces

 Click here to see original story aired on WCCO TV 
About three years ago, Adam Jensen and his good friend were killed after the vent damper in a home furnace system failed to open. Ali Lucia talks with Jensen's family and attorney on WCCO This Morning.

Springfield Family Reminds Minnesotans to Make Sure Home Heating System Receives Annual Tune-up and Cleaning

Today, as cooler days, weeks and months draw near in Minnesota, the Jensen family wants everyone to know that carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer.

Lawsuit: State Gave Child Foster Care License to Known Abuser

 See KSTP News Story
The Hennepin County Human Services Department allowed the placement of a foster care child into the home of a Brooklyn Park woman who had a record of substantiated child abuse, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis.

Lawsuit Filed After Girl Dies in Foster Home

  See Fox 9 News Story

The grandmother filing this lawsuit aims to improve the entire child protection system. Her attorney says filing a lawsuit and shining more light on the problem is the only way to do that. “The situation you have is a system that is broken. You have a system that needs correction. You have a family that suffered a terrible loss. Children are the innocent victims-this doesn’t need to happen?”

Lawsuit Filed in 2014 Minneapolis Fire That Killed 5 Kids

A wrongful death lawsuit blames a landlord for the 2014 deaths of five children in a North Minneapolis fire.The family's attorney, Jeff Sieben, said the lawsuit has been in the works for more than a year and was finally filed this week. The lawsuit alleges that negligence of the landlord, Paul Bertelson, contributed to the death of the children, all under 8 years old.

Koochiching County Jail Suicide Highlights Lapses In Care Of Mentally Ill

A 28-year-old mother died after jailers failed to take basic precautions.

When Kathryn Schneider turned herself in last March on a drunken-driving warrant, her history of mental illness, drug use and a previous suicide attempt was well-known to the Koochiching County jailers. Yet a little more than two hours later, the young mother was found hanging in an unsecured cell block, and records show that her jailers failed to take the most basic precautions to prevent her death.

Lake Street fire shows landlords need safety education

The main issue is a general lack of fire-safety education for building owners.

Six people died in April 2010 from breathing carbon monoxide as their home burned down around them. The building had a pub on the lower floor and six apartments above it. The fire inspectors hadn't been in the residences for 16 years.

Lawsuit settled in death of 6 in 2010 apartment fire in Minneapolis

Building owners are responsible for checking and replacing smoke detectors every 10 years.

The enduring mystery over the cause and origin of a 2010 fire that killed six people in a Minneapolis apartment didn't hinder a settlement in the wrongful-death lawsuit against the building's owner. The suit claimed that the deaths could have been prevented had smoke detectors been adequately maintained.

Wrongful Death Damages

In wrongful death actions, family members may be entitled to “pecuniary” damages. The court determines the proportionate pecuniary (money) loss among the family members and orders distribution accordingly.

Wrongful Death Damages

In wrongful death actions, family members may be entitled to “pecuniary” damages. The court determines the proportionate pecuniary (money) loss among the family members and orders distribution accordingly.

Wrongful Death – Who can bring an action?

State law varies, but generally, the parties that have a financial interest in the recovery in a wrongful death action are the surviving spouse and next of kin (which generally means the surviving minor children, but can include parents and siblings).

Wrongful Death – Who can bring an action?

State law varies, but generally, the parties that have a financial interest in the recovery in a wrongful death action are the surviving spouse and next of kin (which generally means the surviving minor children, but can include parents and siblings).

Wrongful Death Statute of Limitations

Statutes of limitations are laws that set forth the time in which a case needs to be filed. Each state has its own laws governing the time limitations in which to bring a lawsuit. And each type of injury has its own rules. For example, the limitation for a medical malpractice case may be different from limitation applicable to a car accident case. When death occurs, the wrongful death statute of limitations apply.