Bill Strusinski Receives Top Lobbyist Award

St. Paul.  Bill Strusinski, of the Libby Law Office in St. Paul, has been named a 2023 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics.  The awards were announced on November 14, based on nominations for excellence in state or federal lobbying in 2023. In the past year, Strusinski successes included appropriations for…

Upcoming Changes to Minnesota Landlord-Tenant Law

Minnesota landlords should be ready for significant changes in eviction procedures. Starting on January 1, 2023, an amendment to Minnesota Statute 504B.321 will introduce new rules affecting eviction processes, particularly those related to non-payment of rent or other unpaid financial obligations. The most prominent change is the requirement for a 14-day written notice before initiating…

Minnesota’s New Cannabis Bill Creates New License Types

Minnesota’s new cannabis law has created over 15 different categories of licenses. It appears as though almost every aspect of the cannabis industry will get its own type of license. These categories are: Every single one of these licenses has a specific purpose, and many can be exclusive of each other. For example, a cannabis…

Can Minnesota Cities Ban Cannabis Retailers?

With the pending legalization of marijuana in Minnesota, a common question we have received from the public is whether cities and counties can prevent cannabis retailers from setting up shop in their city. The answer is—sort of. The new cannabis bill provides that local units of government may not prohibit the possession, transportation, or use…

Why you should have a Lobbyist & How a Bill becomes Law

If you are interested in creating new law or amending and improving a current law it would be highly beneficial to hire a lobbyist. We have substantial knowledge about the legislative process and procedures and the history of previous legislation that succeeded or failed. We also have access to the key decision makers who control…

Collecting on a Judgment

Have you ever sued in small claims court or district court and obtained a judgment? If a judge enters a judgment in your favor, what do you do next? How do you enforce a judgment and how long can you enforce it? What if the judgment is against you or your company? A judgment from…

Medical Cannabis Update: Minnesota Tribe makes history

Members of the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota recently voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. The members are descendants of the Ojibwe or Chippewa people and live in Red Lake, MN, which is near Bemidji. The tribal nation is the first and only tribe in Minnesota to have a medical cannabis program. Minnesota currently…

Purchasing Real Estate

Most of you have purchased real property – be it for your homestead, your business, or in some other fashion.  As things improve, you should consider what things you should do and understand to make sure you are protected when there is so much money on the line. For starters, should you use a real…

Rules, Laws, & Regulations

As a business owner, do you understand what a Rule is? How about a Regulation? If so, how are those similar and different from an actual Law? They all sound like the same things – an English teacher would tell you they are all synonyms. But ask a lawyer and they will tell you they…

Contracts: Issues & Concerns

Many businessmen and businesswomen are very comfortable entering into contractual relationships – so much so that often they will sign contracts or even draft contracts themselves (or use a form contract found online) without consulting an attorney.  This can be problematic for a variety of reasons.  The exact language in a contract matters.  Furthermore, even…

Employee Handbooks: Why you should have one

When was the last time you looked at your Employee Handbook?  Does your company have an Employee Handbook? Generally it’s a good idea for businesses with more than one employee to have an Employee Handbook. Here’s why. The Employee Handbook: 1. Introduces employees to the culture, mission and values (which helps foster a sense of…

Now is the Time to set up your Will, Trust or Estate Plan

The COVID-19 pandemic is a clear reminder that life is unpredictable and precious.  While it may be difficult to plan for the present, now is the time to establish an estate plan as it is one of the most important steps you can take to: (a) protect yourself; (b) protect your loved ones; (c) make…

Minneapolis Sick & Safe Time

Background: The Minneapolis “Sick and Safe Time” ordinance requires employers with at least 6 employees to provide paid sick and safe time leave to employees who “work in” the City of Minneapolis, while employers with less than 6 employees must provide unpaid leave. This includes employers who are “based outside” of Minneapolis and do not…

Keeping the Cabin in the Family

Summer is here, the fish are biting, and cabin season has begun.  As you travel up north, you may also want to think about cleaning up any legal issues that may affect your cabin. Most cabin owners want to “keep it in the family.”  But how does one exactly go about doing that, and how…

Preparing Your Business for Sale or Expansion

Last week, we discussed certain things to consider when selling or purchasing a business. Today’s article continues that discussion, specifically, preparing your business for sale or expansion. Is now the time to sell your business? Or is it time for you to expand your business?  Or do you stand pat?  Regardless of the answer, one…

The Importance of Having Business Continuation & Succession Plans

As a business owner you do your best to plan for everything that can adversely affect your business.  You make sure to hire the right people, you only do business with trusted partners, and you position your business to outperform the competition.  You work hard because that’s what brings success in the long term. But…

Drug & Alcohol Testing

Have you ever suspected one of your employees of coming into work drunk or high? Have you ever attempted to handle the situation on your own based on what you thought was reasonable? Did you take action without consulting an attorney or the Minnesota law that governs alcohol and drug testing? If the answer is…

COVID-19: Phase 3 – Stay Safe MN – Effective Wednesday

Governor Walz recently announced the implementation of Phase III under Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan, which will be effective Wednesday, June 10th, 2020. Some of the highlights include:1. Limited indoor dining for restaurants;2. Increased capacity at restaurants, bars, salons, tattoo shops and barbershops;3. Up to 25 people can now gather outdoors, with 10 still the limit…

Social Media Use by Employees

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Youtube. It is likely that you, your children, your friends or your employees have “posted”, “tweeted”, “liked”, “commented” or “uploaded” at some point this year. Although social media can be a fun and convenient way to interact with others, you should consider the following questions: (1) Should I fire my employees for…

Selling or Purchasing a Business? Here are some things to consider.

Selling your business or buying a new business can be a complicated, arduous process, but it doesn’t have to be. There are three basic types of legal processes the sale of a business can take – a stock sale, an asset sale, or a merger. For small, privately held businesses, the first two are the…

COVID-19: Restaurants, Bars, and Personal Care Services (hair salons, spas, etc.) Can Reopen Today

Effective today and pursuant to Governor Walz’s Emergency Executive Order 20-63, restaurants, bars, and establishments providing personal care services may reopen to the public and resume services in accordance with Executive Order 20-63 and certain DEED requirements. We covered the requirements for re-opening bars and restaurants last week. With regards to personal care services establishments,…

Medical Cannabis – Minnesota Overview

Background:The Minnesota Legislature enacted the law that created the Medical Cannabis Program in 2014. As of March 31, 2020, per the Minnesota Department of Health’s April 2020 update, there were 19,075 patients actively enrolled in the patient registry. Participating in the Program:In order to qualify to be a patient in the Minnesota Medical Cannabis Program…

COVID-19: Re-opening of Bars & Restaurants

You have probably read or heard about Governor Walz’s announcement regarding the partial or phased re-opening of bars and restaurants.  Starting June 1, 2020, bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve sit down customers with certain restrictions, among other things.  So, what does that mean?  Here’s what you should know: 1. COVID-19 Preparedness Plan:…

CBD and Hemp: What should I know?

CBD and hemp remain a hot topic in Minnesota and nationwide. We have received a lot of questions about CBD and the sale of CBD in C-stores. What is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating compound found in both hemp plants and marijuana plants. Hemp and marijuana come from the same species of cannabis, but…

Meet Bill Strusinski: Lobbyist, Army Veteran, and Author of “Care Under Fire”

Bill is a highly distinguished, well respected senior lobbyist at the Minnesota state capitol with more than 40 years of lobbying experience. He has successfully advocated for his clients on numerous bills and legislation due to his knowledge, expertise, and personal relationships. Prior to lobbying, Bill served under three Minnesota state governors as the Deputy…

Criminal Expungement & Sealing Records

Are you having difficulties obtaining employment, housing, loans or experiencing other hardships due to criminal background checks?  This article provides some background information on expungements, including whether you are eligible. What is an Expungement? An expungement is the sealing of criminal records and “prohibiting the disclosure of their existence or their opening except under court…

COVID-19, the Workplace, & Unemployment

It is important to know your rights as an employee during this pandemic. You have several protections under federal and state laws. Sick LeaveIf you are allowed to take time off due to illness, you may also take time off to care for an ill child (minor or adult), spouse, sibling, parent, step-parent, in-laws, grandchild,…

Can’t Pay Mortgage? Avoid Foreclosure with a Loan Modification

What is Loan Modification? Loan modification is a change made to the terms of an existing loan by a lender. It may involve lower interests rates, extended payback periods, forgiven debt, or a combination of relief to provide a (hopefully) more affordable payment. What are the Qualifications? Eligibility is based on your lender’s guidelines.  That…

Guidance on Reopening Your Business: COVID-19

Executive Order 20-48Govenor Tim Walz recently signed Executive Order 20-48, which allows workers in “non-customer facing” industrial and office settings to return to work. The Order also allows “customer-facing” retail businesses to sell their goods through curbside or outside pick-up and delivery. However, workers in critical sectors and non-critical exempt businesses must continue to work from…

The Importance of Having an Estate Plan

There was a lot of talk several years ago when Prince passed away without a will and without any significant estate planning. If you have anything of value to you in your life, including but not limited to: your children, your spouse, your business, family heirlooms, a family cabin, not to mention cash, stocks, life…

Chris Heinze wins at the Minnesota Court of Appeals: Pregnancy and Parental Leave Act

Last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the Hennepin County District Court’s dismissal of certain claims made under the Pregnancy and Parental Leave Act (PPLA) and the Minnesota Whistleblower Act (MWA). The Court of Appeals held that non-leave pregnancy accommodations under the PPLA do not require that the employee requesting accommodation must…