Minnesota

‘Forgotten’ Sarbanes Clawback Clause Used Against UnitedHealth Ex-CEO

Two former executives of UnitedHealth Group Inc.—the CEO and general counsel—have agreed to give back stock options gains, unexercised options and retirement pay to resolve stock-options backdating claims by the company. Under an agreement announced by the company yesterday, givebacks by ex-CEO William McGuire are valued at more than $600…

Dec 7, 2007 2:17 PM CST

Creative Thinking

Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minn., will soon offer the “pen-ultimate” legal education: a joint degree program that pairs a juris doctorate with a master of fine arts degree in creative writing.

Dec 1, 2007 8:16 PM CST

Lawsuits Travel Up North

Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is flooded with thousands of out-of-state filings

Dec 1, 2007 8:02 PM CST

Judge Rejects Firm’s FOIA Request for Bridge Collapse Data

A Minnesota judge has rejected a law firm’s bid to obtain data about the massive I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Hennepin County District Judge Herbert Lefler ruled that National Transportation Safety Board regulations that control the release of investigation documents trump state law that might have allowed the firm’s consultants…

Nov 29, 2007 10:30 PM CST

Cruelty Charge Over Pet Pig’s Weight Gain

While being cared for by a sitter as her owner was recovering from ankle surgery, a pet pig in Minnesota did what came naturally. She ate. And ate. And ate some more. All told, Alaina Templeton, a 5-year-old pet potbellied pig, tripled her size in nine months, chomping her way…

Nov 7, 2007 8:00 PM CST

Victims Seek 9/11-Style Fund in Bridge Case

Victims injured by a Minneapolis bridge collapse earlier this year are asking the government to establish a 9/11-style compensation fund to cover their medical expenses and pay a currently unspecified capped amount of damages. In exchange, they would agree not to sue over their injuries. The fund, which would be…

Oct 26, 2007 10:18 PM CDT

Lawyers ‘Shake Their Groove Things’ in Charity Fundraiser

Lawyers will be rocking for to raise money for legal services for the poor at a Minneapolis charity event this evening called “Attractive Nuisance.” Eight bands will perform, and each has to include at least one lawyer, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Last year’s performances raised $60,000. Criminal defense…

Oct 26, 2007 1:02 PM CDT

Pedestrian Appeals Disorderly Conduct Case

It isn’t just Sen. Larry Craig who’s changed his mind about pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. The case of Brooklyn man who spent a night in jail after apparently being charged with disorderly conduct simply because he was standing on a public sidewalk in Manhattan may soon help…

Oct 18, 2007 11:31 PM CDT

Damages ‘Offensive’ in Music Piracy Case, Motion Says

The lawyer for a woman assessed $222,000 in damages for illegally sharing downloaded music contends in a motion for a new trial that the amount is constitutionally excessive. The judgment against Jammie Thomas for illegally sharing two dozen songs amounts to $9,250 for each recording. Her lawyer, Brian Toder of…

Oct 16, 2007 2:15 PM CDT

Larry Craig Files Appeal in Sex Sting Case

Sen. Larry Craig is asking a Minnesota appeals court to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in connection with an airport bathroom sex sting. Today’s four-page filing did not give the basis for the appeal, the Associated Press reports. Craig faces an uphill battle, since he…

Oct 15, 2007 7:18 PM CDT

Insurer Settles Senior Annuity Suit

Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America has agreed to settle a lawsuit that contended the company sold annuities to senior citizens that locked up their money for as long as 15 years. The suit by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson contended the company did not tell seniors they could…

Oct 9, 2007 6:38 PM CDT

Law Firm Sues for Bridge Collapse Documents

A law firm that represents victims of the Minneapolis interstate bridge collapse has filed a freedom of information lawsuit seeking access to engineering documents. Minneapolis law firm Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben wants access to records, studies and inspections related to the bridge collapse, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. It…

Oct 5, 2007 2:57 PM CDT

Record Labels Win Anti-Piracy Verdict

In a huge win for the recording industry, a federal jury in Minnesota decided that a woman who illegally downloaded music owes a whopping $222,000 for copyright infringement. The Los Angeles Times reports that Thursday’s victory could embolden the industry to target consumers in its four-year battle against rampant Internet…

Oct 5, 2007 9:52 AM CDT

Judge: Sen. Craig Can’t Withdraw Guilty Plea

Updated: In a ruling that could sound the death knell for Sen. Larry Craig’s career in office, a Minnesota judge has ruled that the Idaho Republican can’t withdraw his guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge. However, Craig reportedly says he won’t resign, despite the urgings of many members of…

Oct 4, 2007 6:16 PM CDT

A Denial and a Low-Budget Defense in RIAA Trial

The woman accused of sharing a couple dozen copyrighted songs on the KaZaA file sharing service says she didn’t do it, but she can’t afford an expert to explain why the computer evidence suggests otherwise. Jammie Thomas testified yesterday that she has never even heard of KaZaA, the Duluth News…

Oct 4, 2007 2:51 PM CDT