David Melchert of Melchert Hubert Sjodin, PLLP was elected to serve on the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Melchert will join a 15-member board of directors elected from the membership to set policy and provide direction for the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce, a membership-driven business organization. He will serve a three year term beginning January of 2012.

Melchert, an attorney at Melchert Hubert Sjodin law firm specializes in estate and medical assistance planning. In addition, David has experience in real estate transactions with regard to estate planning and preservation of assets for the next generation.

The SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce serves more than 470 member businesses in the SouthWest Metro region of the Twin Cities.

Brad Solheim and Tom Larkin were guest speakers at the KleinBank Business Insights Seminar held at the Medina Golf and Country Club in Medina, MN on November 9, 2011, and the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, MN on November 18, 2011. Brad and Tom presented information on Business and succession planning, related Estate planning, and Business valuation and sales. View an outline of their presentation here.

Tim Looby once again served as a facilitator in September at "Divorce Camp," the annual fall conference sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The theme of this year's conference was, "Splitting the Baby: The Psychology and Economics of Shared Parenting." This conference, attended regularly not only by divorce lawyers but also by judges, psychologists, accountants and other financial professionals, was also attended this year by a handful of state legislators, some of whom are interested in introducing proposed legislation to establish a presumption of joint physical custody for children in marriage dissolution cases.

"Melchert Hubert Sjodin, P.L.L.P. is extremely pleased to announce that it has merged with the Jensen Law Firm located in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Effective October 1, 2011, the Jensen Law firm, consisting of Neil J. Jensen, principal, and associate attorney, Dorothy P. Bradley, join the partners and associates of Melchert Hubert Sjodin. While the Jensen Law Firm will change to Melchert Hubert Sjodin, it will continue providing services from its existing location at 22 Main Street North in Hutchinson.

The new firm will be comprised of 18 attorneys and 28 employees with offices in Waconia, Chaska and Hutchinson. The merged firms will continue to represent individuals, businesses and organizations in Minnesota in a variety of practice areas. Melchert Hubert Sjodin's partners and associates possess knowledge and experience in practice areas that include banking law, business law, employment law, estate planning, probate and trust administration, family law, personal injury, real estate matters, and workers' compensation."

Keith Sjodin has been appointed to serve on the Minnesota State Bar Association's Assembly as the representative for the 8th District Bar Association. Keith also serves on the Assembly's Legislative Committee.

Keith was quoted in the article "For law firms, knowing when to hire is never easy," which appeared in the October 18, 2010 issue of Minnesota Lawyer. The article discussed how different size firms approach hiring, and how to know when it's time to add attorneys or staff. Keith discussed Melchert Hubert Sjodin's strategy of always ensuring the firm is well equipped to give exceptional client service. He was quoted in the article as saying "When we have a perceived need for help to give the client the best service that we can, we add another lawyer..."

R. Lawrence Harris (Larry) will be speaking at the 31st Annual Agricultural Law Symposium of the American Agricultural Law Association on October 8 and 9, 2010, in Omaha, Nebraska, about the interplay between statutory agricultural liens and their interplay with security interests arising out of both Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the Food Security Act.

Paul A. Melchert was one of five recipients of the 2009 Minnesota Lawyer's Outstanding Service to the Profession Award.

To read more, click here.

Keith Sjodin, Chair of our Litigation Practice Group, recently won a jury verdict of $391,000 for a man injured in a motor vehicle crash in 2006.

The verdict, obtained in Carver County District Court, was more than five (5) times the amount offered to settle the case before trial by the insurer for the person responsible for the crash. Our client, who operates his own business, suffered injuries that could potentially affect his ability to earn an income in the future, and the jury included an award in the verdict to help offset that loss. The verdict will also provide money for medical treatment our client may need in the future and compensate him for changes in his life caused by his injuries.

Thomas W. Larkin and Racheal M. Holland presented "The Mechanics of Mortgage Foreclosure in Minnesota" on Thursday, December 18, 2008. The presentation was a one-hour Continuing Legal Education seminar sponsored by the 8th District Bar Association.

Q&A on Bicycle Safety
Keith Sjodin contributed answers to a Q&A on bicycle safety. The column appeared in the Waconia Patriot in April 2007.