Sunday, December 30, 2007

The top 10 Minnesota legal news stories of 2007

Although completely unscientific, here are my picks for the "Top 10" Minnesota legal news stories of 2007. Even a cursory glance demonstrates that it has been a very interesting year for legal news here in the Gopher State. We at Minnesota Lawyer have enjoyed keeping you up-to-date with our newspaper, blog and website and look forward to bringing you even more valuable information in 2008. In the meantime, have a happy and safe New Year.
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1. The legal wrangling around the 35W bridge collapse, including efforts to get access to the site, start a victims compensation fund and represent victims pro bono;

2. Filling judicial seats, including the appointment of a new Minnesota Supreme Court justice (Christopher Dietzen) and the addition of a badly needed new three-judge panel for the states overworked Court of Appeals;

3. A Hennepin County jury awards $130 million to local dentists in their lawsuit against a Massachusetts company that administered the business side of their practices;

4. The once-venerable Minneapolis law firm of Rider Bennett closes its doors forever and subsequently declares bankruptcy;

5. The U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear the appeal of the multi-billion-dollar verdict in the Exxon Valdez oil spill case, much to the chagrin of the Minneapolis firm of Faegre & Benson, which has been representing plaintiffs in the case for nearly a generation now;

6. The debate about judicial-election reform, from the Quie Commission issuing its much-anticipated report to the split in the legal community that still exists about how to proceed;

7. The Minnesota Supreme Court recognizes a cause of action for negligent credentialing against hospitals that grant doctors operating-room privileges;

8. Technology and the law: from the courts' introduction of online trial records to the establishment of new legal blogs and other Web-based legal information sources (including the Minnesota Lawyer blog and other new online journalistic ventures);

9.* The controversy at the Minnesota Attorney Generals Office, including the employees' unionization attempt and the decision of Mike Hatch to resign his deputys post and find a job in private practice;

9.* The controversy at the local U.S. Attorneys Office, culminating with the decision of Rachel Paulose to resign her post and take a job at main Justice in Washington, D.C.

*Denotes a tie



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[Source: Minnesota Lawyer Blog]

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