Prom night collision kills three teens in Polk County
Two teenagers driving to the prom at Fosston High School on Saturday night collided head-on with a teenager driving home from work. All three were killed and the night’s festivities were canceled. The victims were Michael Hove, 16, of Fosston, and Emily Setum, 16, of Plymouth — who were in the same car — and…
Worker is injured in trench accident
A worker with McGrath Electric Inc. in Janesville was seriously injured Wednesday following a construction accident at Watertown Memorial Hospital, according to Watertown Fire Chief Henry Butts. Maas Brothers Construction Vice President Tony Meyers, who was on the hospital grounds at the time of the accident, said the McGrath Electric worker was installing electrical conduits…
Farmer killed in farm accident
GLENVILLE – A local farmer was killed Monday when the bucket of his skid loader came down on top of him. Bruce Mittag, 65, was working between a hay field and a plowed field when the accident happened. “There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason for it to happen, but of course we don’t…
Top Verdict of the Week
Type of action: Automobile Accident Injuries Alleged: Neck and back pain, headaches Settlement: $300,000 Plaintiff’s Attorney(s): Richard L. Tousignant, Schwebel Goetz & Sieben, Minneapolis, MN Defense Attorney(s): N/A Insurance Carrier: Safeco & Kemper Court: Hennepin County District Court Case Number: Judge: Date of Disposition: 2006-04-25 00:00:00 Plaintiff’s Expert(s): Dr. Walter Galicich Defense Expert(s): N/A Summary…
“Silent Tribute”
Bicyclists around the world will take part in Ghost Rides to honor fallen riders — and call attention to a problem. By Richard Chin St. Paul Pioneer Press A solemn procession will go through Minneapolis on May 17, a silent parade of tearful people, moving at a slow pace and wearing black armbands. It…
Mixed Signals
Different times for crosswalks cause major confusion for Twin Cities pedestrians FOX 9 Investigators (KMSP) Aired: 5/7/2006 Here’s one sure- fire way to beat the high price of gasoline, walk more. But have you tried getting to the store on foot? It’s nearly impossible in some parts of the metro. Sure the streets have crossing…
Motorcyclist in bus crash dies
A 23-year-old man injured in a St. Paul motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon has died, police said this morning. His passenger, a 20-year-old woman, is in serious condition. The man, whose name hasn’t been released, collided with a school bus about 2:10 p.m. on Third Street, near Birmingham Street. No children were on the bus, whose…
Jim Schwebel Inducted in International Society of Barristers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN-March 29th– Jim Schwebel, President of the Minneapolis law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, was inducted as a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers at its annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. An honor society with a membership limited to 600 outstanding trial lawyers elected by their peers, the Barristers are dedicated to…
Student Dies After Truck, School Bus Crash
6 Students Hospitalized After Accident PLAINFIELD, Wis. — One student has died of injuries suffered when a semi rammed into the back of a school bus stopped along a rural highway on Tuesday afternoon near Plainfield. David Senft, 14, died at University of Wisconsin Hospital on Wednesday night. Senft was one of 11 students…
Do you really want to be a friend of the court?
Amicus curiae really does mean “friend of the court,” appellate attorneys stressed at a recent continuing legal education (CLE) seminar. On Feb. 24, the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section presented a lunchtime CLE program addressing the proper role of amicus curiae briefs and how they are viewed by the courts. Panelists at the…
Strength to survive
Shawnee Wair and her family have spent nearly a year recovering from a fire that killed one child and badly burned another. Shawnee finds unexpected strength in her fiance’ and three sons, as new hardships — and a new baby — arrive. After the fire, Shawnee Wair blamed herself for kicking out her partner, Gary…
Practitioners respond to expansion of NIED damages
The Minnesota legal community is absorbing the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s recent expansion of the negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) tort. In Engler v. Illinois Insurance Co., the court held that a bystander in the “zone of danger” of physical impact may recover damages for distress caused by fearing for another’s safety…
Snow-and-ice cases get a chilly reception, but can lead to cold cash
When the winter weather outside gets frightful, it’s debatable whether the resulting wave of slip-and-fall cases is delightful. Most plaintiffs’ attorneys would agree that slip and falls are not very easy cases to win — even when the ice and snow are daunting or, more precisely, because the ice and snow are daunting. Generally a…
Paul Godlewski elected to the Board of Directors Brain Injury Association of Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, November 23, 2005 – – Trial Lawyer Paul E. Godlewski, a shareholder in the law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A. has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota for a two-year term. The Brain Injury Association of Minnesota is a Minnesota affiliate of the…
Owner of pit bulls involved in Illinois dog attacks unlikely to face criminal charges
Two Cary, Illinois kids were mauled by pit bulls over the weekend, but authorities hinted the dogs’ owner is unlikely to face criminal charges because of the dog attacks. Nick Foley was in critical condition yesterday, and his friend Jourdan Lamarre was in fair condition, according to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital officials. The investigation is…
.jpg)
Five SG&S Attorneys Named The Best Lawyers in America
Minneapolis, MN – Five attorneys at the personal injury law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A. have been selected among “The Best Lawyers in America” Woodward/White, Inc.’s Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006. The following Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, Minnesota attorneys have been elected by their peers to this exclusive group: James R. Schwebel, John…
Living Inspired
The first time Bill Sieben ’77 met Kimberly Middendorf ’02, things didn’t look good. It was the summer of 1995, and Middendorf, a senior at North Dakota State University in Fargo, had just been severely injured while working on a road construction crew. After receiving a call from Middendorf’s grandmother, Sieben went to meet the…
MTLA elects officers, recognizes members
The Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) earlier this month named a new slate of officers and board members. Elected officers at MTLA’s annual meeting at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Minn., were Wil Fluegel, Minneapolis, president; Chris Messerly, Minneapolis, president-elect; Joe Crumley, Plymouth, vice president; Sharon Van Dyck, Minneapolis, secretary; and Michael Bryant, Waite Park, treasurer….
17 SG&S Attorneys Named Super Lawyer
MINNEAPOLIS (August 1, 2005) – Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A. announces today that 19 attorneys are named as 2005 Minnesota "Super Lawyers" published by Law & Politics magazine. Four Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben attorneys were singled out by their peers in the Top 100 list: Jim Schwebel, Bill Sieben, Peter Riley and Sharon Van Dyck….
Dakota County Jury Awards $1.9M for Death of Baby in Auto Accident
Parents testimony on damages key; discuss what childs life would have been like A recent $1.9 million award for the wrongful death of an 8-month old baby in an auto accident is believed to be the largest verdict in Minnesota history for the death of an infant. Late last month, a Dakota County jury handed…