SMRLS Insider: Summer 2020 |
|
SMRLS continues to observe government recommendations and mandates regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With the health and safety for our clients and staff in mind, SMRLS kindly asks that you contact us by telephone or email before coming into one of our offices. Please click here to find the contact information for each of our offices. We will continue to maintain social distancing practices with our clients and staff in accordance with state and city mandates. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult and unprecedented time.
|
|
|
-
The Minnesota Judicial Branch is requiring all visitors at any court facility to wear face coverings when doing business in person with a district or appellate court. Masks will be provided to visitors without one. If you exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 14 days prior to entering a court facility, please contact the court or your attorney, rather than coming to the courthouse. Click here to learn more.
-
Earlier this year Governor Tim Walz launched a new toll-free Discrimination Helpline to reinforce the state’s efforts to protect the civil rights of Minnesotans. If you have experienced discrimination or bias, please call 1-833-454-0148 or click here to complete an online form.
|
|
New Virtual Eviction Clinic |
By now you’ve probably had your fair share of Zoom calls. Recognizing the value of this tool, SMRLS
re-imagined its use for a greater purpose. To prepare for the expected influx of tenants unable to pay rent, SMRLS partnered with Legal Aid of Olmsted County and landlord attorneys Brenda Benitez and Travis Ohly to develop protocols for a virtual Zoom eviction clinic.
Initial appearances will be held as a pre-trial or a non-evidentiary hearing. Tenants that appear apply for legal services in a Zoom meeting with their staff. Cases in which there are appearances will be rescheduled for a mandatory settlement conference three weeks from the initial appearance. The Courts set up a settlement conference, but judicial involvement is not needed.
During these three weeks, SMRLS guides tenants through the application process for benefits, connects them with available resources, and negotiates repayment agreements. If the parties reach an agreement either at the settlement conference or prior, the parties submit settlement agreements and don't need to re-appear. Evictions alleging a breach of the lease and parties who have already participated in the eviction diversion program have their matters handled in the traditional manner and don't receive the automatic three-week continuance.
Steele, Mower and Dodge Counties adopted the virtual eviction clinic and have agreed to consolidate their evictions into a single Zoom docket, allowing SMRLS to help clients in separate counties with up to 15 eviction cases at one time. With a consolidated Zoom docket we can substantially increase our impact across the region. This innovative virtual eviction clinic aims to reduce courtroom time, promote negotiated resolutions, and promote a diversion process to avoid the filing of court actions. SMRLS is seeking to expand the virtual clinic to additional counties. It is set to begin once the eviction moratorium is lifted.
|
|
SMRLS' 2019 Annual Report |
SMRLS' 2019 Annual Report is available for download at smrls.org/reports. Our Annual Report highlights a number of our accomplishments and awards from the past year, including 2019 outcomes from our Volunteer Attorney Program and Agricultural Worker Project, successes from our client walk-in clinics, updates from our innovative healthcare-legal partnerships, and more. A limited number of print copies of the report are available by request. |
|
SMRLS Leaders Honored in Super Lawyers Magazine
|
|
Brett Olander, SMRLS’ Board President and partner at Olander Law Group, was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota. Brett has volunteered with SMRLS for 25 years and is a member of SMRLS' Board of Directors. He specializes in Civil Litigation related to Torts, Insurance, Commercial Litigation, Securities and Serious Personal Injury. Brett also serves on the MSBA Civil Trial Certification Board, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education, and remains active with the Minnesota State Bar Association in several roles. |
|
|
Steven Kirsch, SMRLS’ Campaign for Legal Aid (CLA) Co-Chair and partner at Larson • King, was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota. Steven has volunteered with SMRLS for three decades and co-founded the CLA fundraising committee in the early 1990s. Steven is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, serves as a fellow of the International Society of Barristers, and serves on the Mitchell Hamline School of Law Board of Trustees.
|
|
|
Thomas Boyd, CLA member and shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine, was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Minnesota. Thomas specializes in commercial litigation, including complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage actions, business tort and breach of contract cases, trust litigation, and all types of civil appeals in federal and state courts. Thomas serves on the Minnesota Board of Law Examiners, is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, and is an elected member of the American Law Institute. |
|
|
Yvonne Flaherty, CLA member and partner at Lockridge Grindal Nauen, was named one the Minnesota’s Top 50 Women Lawyers. Yvonne focuses her practice on the representation of injured parties in complex litigation against pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, as well as class actions involving a variety of consumer and product defect claims. She is a member of the American Association for Justice and co-chairs the Electronic Discovery Committee. She also serves on the Minnesota Association for Justice Board of Governors and Executive Committee.
|
|
|
New Date:
Social Justice Uncorked
|
SMRLS' largest annual fundraiser, Social Justice Uncorked, has moved to Thursday, December 10, 2020. For the first time this event will be held online as a live virtual streaming experience. More information is available online at smrls.org/uncorked.
|
|
|
To accommodate social distancing requirements, our annual Fall Appreciation Luncheon is taking the form as a live virtually streamed CLE on Tuesday, November 24, 2020. CLE participants will view an interactive conversation with several prominent legal experts and civil rights advocates. More information will be announced in the coming months. 1 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit is being applied for. |
|
-
Griselt Andrade has accepted the position of Lead Attorney for SMRLS' Agricultural Worker Project.
-
Bruce Beneke, SMRLS' original Executive Director (1977-2007) and more recently part-time staff attorney, retired from SMRLS this month.
-
Mary Stoos retired after 40 years with SMRLS.
-
Sheryl Riemersma retired after nearly 30 years with SMRLS.
-
Damaris Lopez-Carrasco joined SMRLS' St. Paul Intake Team.
-
Maya Johnon was hired as a staff attorney at SMRLS' healthcare-legal partnership unit in St. Paul.
-
Nyachom Chiek was hired as a staff attorney in Family Law in our Mankato Office.
-
Emily Flesch was hired as an Elder Law Attorney in St. Paul.
-
HLP attorney, Brianna Boone, moved to St. Paul as an attorney in the Economic Justice unit.
-
Linda Morrison was hired as a hotline attorney in St. Paul.
|
|
More ways to support SMRLS |
|
Sign Up for Workplace Giving
Did you know that many employers offer matching gifts and automatic salary deduction programs? These programs provide an easy way to make a tax deductible contribution to SMRLS. Participating in one of these programs is a simple way to make a big difference at SMRLS.
|
|
Make an IRA Contribution
Traditional IRA owners must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) at age 70 1/2 or face tax penalties. If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a charitable contribution directly to SMRLS up to $100,000 from your traditional IRA without it being considered a taxable distribution. You can use your qualified charitable donation to meet all or part of your IRA's RMDs for the year. Contact [email protected] to learn more.
|
|
|
Follow SMRLS on Social Media |
|
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services | (651) 228-9823 | smrls.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
