Steve Terry, Author at TSR WP

Pit Bull Bites Cop in St. Paul

By Steve Terry | September 5, 2018

A St. Paul police officer responded to a 911 call about a dog biting someone and he was then bitten himself by the same dog.

Mark Lindquist, suffered puncture wounds to his leg after the dog bite, as well as torn pants and broken glasses.

Lundquist and another officer had responded to the call on Central Avenue on the morning of December 16. The call said that someone had been bitten by a dog.

Upon arrival, they found a woman in hysterics because the offending dog was one she was taking care of for the dog’s owner. She had been trying to put the dog back into its kennel when it turned on her and bit her arm, according to the report.

After the bite, someone else put the dog on a leash and took it outside.

When the officers arrived, they saw a 6-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl walking the dog across the street. The 13-year-old was holding the leash, which was just a piece of nylon rope of around 3 or 4 feet tied to a metal chain. The officers noted that the girl was having difficulty controlling the dog.

Charlie Williamson, the uncle of the girls, told them to take the dog to the officers. This is when Lundquist tried to get information from the girls about what was going on, but they had difficulty doing so.

When Lundquist turned to head back to the house where the bite victim was, the 13-year-old let go of the leash and the dog latched on to Lundquist’s calf. When the dog let go and started to attack again, Lundquist shot and killed the dog.

A witness said in the report that Williamson had told the girl to let the dog go because they had grown tired of the dog.

Williamson has now been charged with aiding and abetting fifth-degree assault, aiding and abetting obstruction of legal process with force, and aiding and abetting an animal attack. If you are bitten by a dog that is owned by another person, you may be eligible to sue for damages. To learn more about your options, contact a Minneapolis dog bite lawyer at TSR Injury Law today for a free evaluation of your claim.

No Upfront Fees. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Transit Bus Hits Bicyclist

By Steve Terry | September 3, 2018

Most bus accidents tend to involve pedestrians, other vehicles, or a maneuver by the bus driver can cause the bus to overturn, such as taking a corner too quickly. Unfortunately, there are many ways a bus can be involved in an accident and these accidents can sometimes be fatal. In turn, these accidents lead to auto accident lawsuits and much more.

On September 18, Minneapolis police reported that a Metro Valley Transit bus hit a female bicyclist near the University of Minnesota campus in Dinkytown.

The incident occurred at the 10th Avenue South and 4th Street SE intersection at around 4:20 p.m., trapping the woman underneath the bus.

Investigators say that it looks as if both the bicyclist and the bus were westbound on 4th Street SE and ended up side-by-side, which set them up for the accident. The bicyclist was in the bike lane on the left side of the one-way street. They then turned onto the two-way 10th Avenue South at the exact same time. It was during that turn that the two collided, partially trapping the woman under the bus and the bus ran over the bicycle. The woman was later freed and rushed to the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Fortunately, her injuries are not life threatening, so she is expected to survive. The driver of the bus has not been cited in the accident. The identities of the involved individuals have not been released, but it is believed that the bicyclist is a student at the University.

Prison Medical Contractor Sued in Inmate’s Death

By Steve Terry | September 2, 2018

Minnesota prisons utilize a private contractor for the medical care of prisoners and now that contractor is being sued for the wrongful death of an inmate who died from complications due to seizures in the Rush City prison.

The suit filed in federal court, alleges that a Corizon, Inc. doctor did not order an ambulance to come to the prison when prisoner Xavius Scullark-Johnson started having seizures. The suit further alleges that an ambulance crew was turned away by a nurse at the prison the next morning.

Corizon, which is based in Tennessee, is estimated to receive $28 million for its duties in caring for the 9,200 inmates in Minnesota’s prisons. The Minnesota Department of Corrections has also been named in the lawsuit that questions the quality of care that is being received by inmates.

The lawsuit states that the defendants left Scullark-Johnson in his cell by himself as he had a number of seizures. He was unable to control his body, was disoriented, and had received injuries from the seizures.

Corrections officials state that the Minnesota prison inmates receive the standard of care that the law requires them to have, which they say is equal to the care received by anyone in Minnesota.

In addition to these accusations against the doctor for Corizon, the lawsuit alleges that there were three nurses with the Corrections Department, as well as four prison guards that failed to care for Scullark-Johnson as he suffered as many as six seizures within a five hour period.

Undisclosed records have shown that the corrections officers responsible for Scullark-Johnson did not document his condition although they did remove his cellmate to another area after the cellmate was complaining that an ambulance should be sent.

This lawsuit has raised a number of questions regarding quality of care within prisons since it has been found that nine state prisoners have died due to the alleged denial of medical care. Another 21 inmates have allegedly suffered critical or very serious injuries due to the denial of care. It is believed that the staffing arrangements that are specified within the state’s contract with Corizon have played a role in the death and injury claims. The staffing arrangement entails nurses leaving by 11 p.m., which means corrections officers are the ones in charge of medical care.

According to court documents, the nurse who had turned away the ambulance for Scullark-Johnson, said to corrections investigators that she was not given adequate information by the overnight officers about the condition of Scullark-Johnson. However, the Corrections lieutenant said that she was informed that at least three seizures occurred and that his cellmate said there were at least six or seven seizures. The officer said that the nurse told him to let Scullark-Johnson sleep.

After turning the ambulance away, the nurse returned an hour later and found Scullark-Johnson face down in his cell and he was not responding. The ambulance then returned and the crew took him to a medical center where he was pronounced dead that night. He was taken off life support the next day.

MADD’s Walk Like MADD

By Steve Terry | August 28, 2018

TSR Injury Law has supported Minnesota MADD for over a decade. One of the biggest fundraisers is the “Walk Like Madd” event. This yearly activity raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support MADD’s mission. Over 700 participants enjoy free food, beverages and safety activities presents by many vendors. TSR has fielded a walk team for years. Not only do the lawyers show up, but many Firm staff bring their families, including dogs, for the walk. It is also a great opportunity for victim’s families to remember their loved ones and support a worthy cause to eliminate future drunk driver victims.

Walk Like MADD is a fundraising event to increase awareness for MADD’s programs and services as they strive to keep our children and communities safe.

Who Can Participate in the Walk Like MADD Event?

Everyone is encouraged to bring:

a friend
a family member
a co-worker
your children
your dog

Event Activities

Health and Safety Fair
Survivor Area
Kid’s Area
Pet Area
Hospitality Area

TSR Injury Law Walk Like MADD Team

TSR Injury Law has had a long-standing relationship with MADD Minnesota. TSR Injury Law partners Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, and Rich Ruohonen will be at the 2010 Walk Like MADD event and will participate in the annual 5K walk. Come and meet your favorite Minneapolis personal injury lawyer — see for yourself their compassion and concern for the victims of drunk drivers. If a drunk driving tragedy has impacted your family, talk to one of them about a free consultation or call (612) TSR-TIME.

MCL Tear Injury Compensation Claims

By Steve Terry | August 27, 2018

The medial collateral ligament is located on the inside of the knee. It attaches the femur to the fibula and prevents the knee from bending inward. It is one of four ligaments that support and stabilize the knee.

Minnesota MCL Tear

The MCL can be torn with a direct hit from the side, in slip and fall accidents, car accidents, or truck accidents. This type of injury usually presents with localized pain, swelling, bruising, and possible instability. MCL tears are divided into three grades.

Grade 1 MCL Tear is an incomplete tear with few symptoms. Rest, ice treatment, and anti-inflammatory medication is recommended. Recovery is about 1-2 weeks.
Grade 2 MCL Tear is also an incomplete tear but with moderate symptoms. The pain and swelling is worse than a grade 1 MCL tear and the knee feels unstable when turning or pivoting. A hinged knee brace may be recommended for a period of time. It helps to elevate the leg whenever possible to reduce blood flow to the injury. Recovery is about 3-4 weeks.
Grade 3 MCL Tear is a complete tear of the MCL with significant pain, swelling, and instability. A knee immobilizer is recommended for the first 10 days after injury. This is followed by a hinged knee brace. Right from the beginning the knee needs to be flexed several times a day. Complete recovery is about 3-4 months. Surgery may be recommended if the MCL tear is accompanied by an ACL tear.

MCL Tear Legal Counsel

MCL tears are difficult to value. Many insurance companies minimize this injury and believe surgery is never necessary. It is vital to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney fighting for your rights. At TSR Injury Law, our partners have years of experience and extensive medical knowledge. At professional personal injury lawyers in Minneapolis, we will aggressively pursue your case. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

Minneapolis School Bus Accident Attorney

By Steve Terry | August 25, 2018

If your child has been injured in a school bus accident, you may be eligible to file a claim to seek compensation for their injuries as well as your lost wages from having to care for your child. An experienced personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis will know how to handle your case to achieve the best possible outcome. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. We will be aggressive with them, gentle with you.

School Bus Accident Statistics

There are millions of children that ride the school bus safely every day, every school year. Although they are the safest vehicles on the road, 8 children died in Minnesota in 2007. The greatest risk is getting on /off the bus. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, in 2007 there were:

680 school bus accidents
7 fatal accidents
8 people killed in those 7 school bus accidents
126 injury accidents involving a school bus
243 people injured in the 126 school bus accidents

School Bus Related Standards and Inspections

In 1971 the Minnesota State Patrol was mandated to perform school bus inspections on every registered school bus in the state. Inspections are performed annually, by seven teams of inspectors. They inspect about 14,000 buses. There are approximately 20,000 endorsed school bus drivers. The drivers are required to have a physical every two years, a criminal background check every four years, and urine and breathalyzer tests are performed at random.

October 21,2008 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration enacted a final rule requiring lap / shoulder belts for small school buses, effective on all buses (10,000 pounds or less) manufactured after October 21, 2011. They are hoping this will provide optimum protection for the students being transported in a school bus.

Contact a Minneapolis School Bus Accident Attorney

If your child was injured or died in a school bus accident, you need TSR Injury Law on your side. Our attorneys have years of experience and will work tirelessly to ensure you receive fair compensation. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

Minneapolis Drunk Driving Injury Lawyers

By Steve Terry | August 24, 2018

The saddest cases we handle are drunk driving cases, because all of the pain could have been avoided if the drunk driver had just acted responsibly. If you have suffered an injury or loss due to another person driving drunk, call Minnesota Drunk Driving Lawyers at 612-TSR-TIME or submit our contact form for a free case review. Our Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyers are proud sponsors of MADD Minnesota and the recipient of the 2008 MADD Choice Award.

Drunk Drivers

Drunk drivers actually put other people on the road in more danger than themselves, making the choice to drive after too many drinks is clearly wrong. Sadly, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) are both very common occurrences.

In 2006, there were 13,470 fatalities in crashes involving inebriated drivers, composing 32% of the total traffic fatalities for that year. Still more people sustained serious injuries in DWI accidents.

Minnesota Law on Drunk Driving

Minnesota law takes drunk driving very seriously. People who are convicted of DWI face heavy fines, community service, jail time, and suspension or loss of their driver’s licenses. Unfortunately, criminal penalties do little to help those who have already been injured by drunk drivers.

One way for drunk drivers’ victims to win fair compensation is by filing a drunk driving lawsuit. Our Minnesota drunk driver lawyers can help you with:

DUI/DWI
Dram Shop Laws
Social Host Liability

If You’ve Been the Victim of a Drunk Driver

If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, it is important that you know what your legal options are. Successfully filing a Minnesota personal injury suit against the responsible party can win you compensation for:

Past, present, and future medical expenses
Wages lost to medical leave or loss of your job
Your current physical and emotional suffering

Contact Us

For a free consultation about your case, contact the Minneapolis auto accident lawyers of TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

The Risks of LASIK Surgery

By Steve Terry | August 23, 2018

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A mechanical blade is used to cut a flap in the cornea, leaving a hinge on one side of the cornea. The flap is folded back revealing the midsection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the corneal cells and the flap is replaced.

Risks and Limitations

Even with the most skilled surgeons you can experience complications and serious consequences, including malfunction of a device or other error, such as cutting a flap of cornea all the way through instead of making a hinge during LASIK surgery, may lead to discontinuation of the procedure or irreversible damage to the eye.

Some complications after surgery are:

Migration of the flap
Inflammation or infection
May not work and may require another procedure
Intensive treatment with drops
May still need reading glasses

Visual symptoms (glare, halos, starbursts, etc.)
Unable to drive at night
Contrast sensitivity (unable to see in dim light)
Temporary loss of vision
Irreversible blindness

According to the FDA, 700,000 LASIK surgeries are performed in the United States each year. 35,000 of the patients are dissatisfied with the outcome and 7,000 people suffer severe complications — including extremely uncomfortable eye dryness, intense eye pain, or varying degrees of blindness. Some patients have even become depressed from the constant pain and committed suicide. Two years after surgery one patient described the pain as “debilitating and unremitting”.

Legal Help For LASIK Victims

Our Minneapolis medical malpractice attorneys are legal experts with extensive experience with malpractice cases. We will answer your questions, deal with the doctors and insurance companies, handle all of the paperwork, and file your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME to speak to a lawyer today or submit our free contact form and a representative from our firm will contact you shortly.

Free Consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Lino Lakes Fatal Four-Car Chain Reaction Crash on 35E

By Steve Terry | August 23, 2018

Tragedy has struck again near Hugo on I-35E northbound. The traffic was heavy due to construction. Apparently a 19-year-old driver was inattentive, crashing her Honda Civic into a VW Cabriolet.

The Civic was doing highway speeds and the force of the impact pushed the VW into a Ford pickup truck, which then hit the next vehicle in line, a Chevy Cobalt. The vehicles were strewn across the interstate and off the road.

The 32-year-old driver of the VW was taken to North Memorial Hospital in critical condition. She passed away early Wednesday morning. She was from Hugo. According to the State Patrol, three other people involved in the crash sustained minor injuries.

Interstate 35 northbound was shut down for three hours due to the crash. The accident is under investigation. Alcohol does not seems to be a factor in the crash.

The time after a car accident is so stressful. It is difficult to function, much less make critical decisions. It is vital to contact legal representation quickly so that evidence can be preserved, eye witnesses interviewed, and a persuasive case put together. Our partners have years of experience handling car accident cases and wrongful death cases, with great success. We will do the paperwork, contact the insurance companies, and file your claim. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our online form.

TSR Injury Law Represents Person Injured in Strain Tour Bus Crash

By Steve Terry | August 18, 2018

TSR Injury Law is currently representing a person injured in the Strain Bus Lines Motorcoach Tours bus crash that happened near Austin, Minnesota, November 18th.

The bus was eastbound on I-90, crossed over into the westbound lanes, rolled, and landed on its side in the ditch. Two people died at the scene and the other 21 passengers all sustained injuries. The interstate was closed for hours. Seven ambulances and six helicopters were on the scene and the State Patrol commented that it was not enough.

If you or your loved one was injured in this bus crash or a different motor vehicle crash call TSR Injury Law. Our Minneapolis car accident lawyers have significant experience in handling bus crash cases and are respected by their peers and feared by insurance adjusters for their ability to establish fault and prove liability in complex legal cases. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Richard Ruohonen President of the Minnesota Association for Justice

By Steve Terry | August 17, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2018

CONTACT:

Carla Ferrucci, Executive Director
Minnesota Association for Justice
(612) 375-1707 Office
(612) 532-5060 Cell

The Minnesota Association for Justice

Elects New President – Richard Ruohonen

With the Theme “Think Like There is No Box,”

Richard Ruohonen becomes 64th President of the Minnesota Association for Justice

Brainerd, Minn. – Twin Cities attorney Richard A. Ruohonen was elected president of the Minnesota Association for Justice (MAJ) at the association’s annual convention, which took place on August 17, 2018 in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Mr. Ruohonen pledged to use his one-year term as president to help eliminate barriers that injured consumers encounter when seeking justice in our court system, enhance the professional development of the association’s membership by providing diverse and cutting-edge legal education, and to ensure the sustainability of the association, which has been dedicated to these goals for more than 60 years.

The Minnesota Association for Justice is committed to our Constitution’s guarantee of justice and equal protections for all promotes that mission in all its work. As president, Mr. Ruohonen will lead MAJ’s efforts to ensure that our right to a trial by jury is not undermined in the courts – or at the State Capitol.

“Our mission is to protect everyone’s access to the courts. We actively oppose legislative proposals that undermine or eliminate our legal rights in Minnesota,” Mr. Ruohonen said. “In addition to our legislative advocacy, my presidency will also encourage our members to think creatively in their practice of law: to take some chances to advance your client’s cause, try things you’ve never done before, and adapt your practice with our changing times. Our annual convention theme is, ‘Think Like There is No Box,’ because we want our members to go far beyond their comfort zone. Helping the injured today takes a lot of creativity, tenacity and passion for seeking justice. That is how I practice law and that is how I intend to lead this organization in the coming year.”

Mr. Ruohonen has dedicated his legal career to the practice of personal injury law, where he helps injured people obtain justice by holding those responsible accountable for their actions. He earned his B.A. from Hamline University, with honors, and subsequently received his law degree, with honors, from the Hamline University School of Law.

Rich Ruohonen is consistently named as a Super Lawyer by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine. Rich focuses his practice on cases involving car accidents, traumatic brain injury (TBI), food poisoning, premises liability, daycare liability and product liability. He has represented hundreds of victims of various personal injury accidents and has tried numerous cases to a jury with excellent results.

Mr. Ruohonen is married to Sherry and they have two children, Hannah and Nicholas. Both children are active in sports, including softball, baseball and hockey. Rich helps coach his children’s sports activities in his spare time and is an avid participant in the sport of curling. As a curler, Rich has been to several national championships and is a two-time national champion. He went on to compete in two world championships the most recent one in 2018 held in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also enjoys fishing and water sports in the summer.

About The Minnesota Association for Justice

The Minnesota Association for Justice (MAJ) is a professional association of attorneys who represent Minnesotans wrongfully harmed or suffer injuries to their person, property or violations or their civil or human rights. MAJ defends the rights guaranteed by the Constitutions and laws of the United States and Minnesota, foremost among them our right to a trial by a jury of their peers and advocates for public policies that enhance consumer protections, accountability and equal access to justice for all.

Original Press Release

Edina Man Allegedly Hits Cruiser While Drunk

By Steve Terry | August 16, 2018

An Edina man is accused of crashing into two State patrol cruisers while he was drunk late in January.

Maurice Blevins, 39, was allegedly driving near the I-25W ramp along I-494 at 10:22 p.m. on a Saturday when he hit the two patrol cars that had just responded to the scene of a rollover crash. According to the complaint, Blevins was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and gross misdemeanor driving DWI. Blevins is also facing a charge of driving with a license that was revoked in 1994.

There were a number of passengers inside Blevins’ car. These passengers included children. None of the passengers were injured.

One of the Minnesota State Troopers was injured because he was inside of his squad car at the time of the accident. His injuries were not severe. The trooper, Allen Thill, said that the possibility of an accident is always on his mind, but he never expected to be rear-ended while in his cruiser.

When Blevins was observed by troopers, it was found that he had watery and bloodshot eyes, he smelled like alcohol, and his speech was slurred. A blood test would later be conducted that showed his blood alcohol concentration to be 0.166 percent, which is twice than the legal limit of .08.

The following Monday, Blevins was released from Hennepin County Jail after he posted bail of $12,000.