Minnesota has continued to maintain what some view as an aggressive collection policy aimed at part-time Minnesota residents. In the most recent decision involving these issues, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that the Commissioner of Revenue may aggregate all the days the taxpayer spent in Minnesota during the tax year, including the days spent in the state as a domiciliary. Read the article by Bob Abdo and Jeff O'Brien.

At common law, a personal injury action abates with the death of either party.  The Supreme Court in Johnson v. Consolidated Frieghtways, Inc. discussed the rationale behind the common law: The old non-survival rule sprang from the medieval view of torts as a form of revenge, incapable of being continued on behalf of either victim or wrongdoer. Read the article by Kathleen Loucks which appeared in Hennepin Lawyer (page 8).

In a recent case the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Travelers must defend Portal Healthcare, a medical records company, against a class action lawsuit under a personal and advertising injury coverage provision in a Traveler's commercial general liability policy.  Read the article by Bryan Feldhaus.

Grandma, bless her soul, was a generous lady.  She wanted to name each grandchild in her will so that they would know how special each of them was to her.  So, one day she decides to create her will with an on-line program. Read the article by Karen Schlotthauer which appeared on the Aging But Dangerous blog.

In 2015, Minnesota adopted the new Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, which replaced the Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act, which dates to 1987. Before 1987, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyances Act was the law in Minnesota. What has changed with the adoption of the new Act?  Read the article by Keith Broady and Bryan Feldhaus.

Each year the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issues its Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter, which identifies FINRA's regulatory priorities for the upcoming year. In 2015 FINRA identified five priorities, including standards of ethical behavior, supervisory and risk management systems, and the management of conflicts of interest.  Read the article by Bryan Feldhaus.

	Staff photo: Bill Klotz

Solo Practice: Rules (or at least guidelines) of incorporation for solos

Jeff O'Brien gave his opinion in a Minnesota Lawyer article on guidelines for incorporation of solo practices.  More.

Jeff O'Brien appeared on the Mackey & Judd Show on 1500 ESPN to discuss the jury verdict in the Hulk Hogan/Gawker lawsuit and its implications. Listen to the segment.

Phil Cole Awarded for Professional Liability Litigation Practice

Phil Cole was named "Professional Liability Litigation Attorney of the Year - Minnesota, USA" by M&A Today in their Global Awards - 2016 Edition.

Looking into the financing of the new St. Paul soccer stadium, City Pages recently looked back over some secret and sordid history related to the St. Paul Port Authority.  Keith Broady was quoted in the article relating to the firm's representation of 876 Bondholders against the Port Authority. More.

Ken Abdo at ELI Luncheon

Ken Abdo, ELI Program Chair and our Entertainment Practice Chair, spoke at The 58th GRAMMY® Awards Entertainment Law Initiative at Fairmont Miramar Hotel on February 12, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Ken is shown with ELI Competition winner Caitlin Michelle Kowalke onstage with a certificate which he presented.  Ms. Kowalke is a Mitchell Hamline law student - so this was a great Minnesota moment at the 2016 GRAMMY event.

Ken Abdo was quoted in a Wired Magazine article, "Surprise, Surprise: The RIAA Gets Streaming All Wrong."

34th Annual NFL Alumni Gala

Lommen Abdo attorneys Adam Gislason, Jeff O'Brien, Tim Matson, Bryan Feldhaus and their spouses, with Steve Ogunro from our client, ProHero, attended the 34th Annual NFL Alumni Gala in Minneapolis on February 27th.

Read more firm news.

Barrier1 discussed Super Bowl cybersecurity in a KSTP News article, "Minn. Company that Oversaw Super Bowl Cybersecurity Looks Ahead to 2018."

Join Aging But Dangerous and Lommen Abdo Law Firm for a spirited discussion on the tools, tips and potential traps of not properly planning for incapacity or death.  Karen Schlotthauer will speak on May 5th at Tattersall Distilling.  More.

Ken Abdo will be speaking at the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo on April 28th on "Songwriting Pizza and Copyright Slices: Publishing and Admin Recipes Explained."

Jeff O'Brien is speaking on April 21st at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, "Three Tiers, One Panel: Operating a Craft Brewery in a Post-Prohibition, Three-Tier System." The other panelists are Rob Miller and Sarah Bonvallet, owners of Dangerous Man Brewing, and Mary Brettman, CPA at Beverage Business Builders.  

Kay Hunt spoke at a six hour NBI webcast on April 1st, Appellate Case Preparation Start to Finish.  Kay spoke on "Making an Ethical Appeal" and "Oral Argument Techniques that Get Results." Eric Magnuson and Stephen Buterin were co-presenters.

Cases of Beer II

	Bob Donnelly, Tim Matson, Ken Abdo, Paul Bezilla, Adam Gislason and Dan Young at SXSW.

SXSW 2016

The entertainment attorneys once again presented the legal sessions at the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas. The legal sessions took place on March 15th and March 19th and 20th. Over 30 industry leaders presented 12 sessions addressing topics related to the music, film and technology industries. More.

Dan Young presented an NBI webinar on March 3rd on "Estate Planning and Closely Held Businesses."

Ken Abdo spoke with panelists on March 1st on fundamental and advance music publishing issues in New York for the Practicing Law Institute's program, "Counseling Clients in the Entertainment Industry."