Steve Terry, Author at TSR WP

Semi Truck, 2 Cars Crash Near Norwood Young America

By Steve Terry | April 8, 2018

Another fatal crash involving a semi truck in Minnesota. This accident happened on MN Hwy 212 at CR 51, near Norwood Young America, Carver County.

The accident involved a semi truck and 2 other vehicles. A car was turning left and was rear-ended by a semi truck. The car was forced into the oncoming traffic, broadsiding a pick-up truck from Texas. The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the truck died en route to the hospital. Four other people were critically injured. The driver of the semi truck was not injured.

The names of the victims have been released. The driver of the car was Sandra Babatz, 45, of Norwood Young America. The driver of the pick-up truck was Juan Olvera, 35, of Sullivan, Texas. The four injured are Nancy Castillo, 29, Narely Olvera, 9, Andira Olvera, 8, and Galylea, Olvera, 7, all of Bird Island.

You cannot take back a negligent, inattentive moment of driving. Life is forever changed for many people, many families, many communities. The ripple effect is extensive. This is the second fatal semi truck accident in Minnesota this weekend. Both accidents happened when vehicles were turning left and each time a semi truck crashed into them, killing the drivers instantly.

There are many laws that govern the semi truck industry. If you have been involved in a semi truck accident, you need knowledgeable representation in order to protect your rights and recover adequate compensation. Call 612-TSR-TIME to speak to a Bloomington truck accident lawyer, or submit our free contact form and a member from our team will contact you shortly.

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

Radiofrequency Neurotomies Seminar

By Steve Terry | April 8, 2018

Attorneys Chuck Slane and Rich Ruohonen recently spoke at a seminar involving the use of Radiofrequency Neurotomies (RFNs) in Chronic Pain cases. The seminar was entitled The Changing Nature of Soft Tissue and Chronic Pain Claims: Injection Therapy and Radiofrequency Neurotomies. Chuck and Rich discussed how to work up and go to trial on such cases. For more information on the Radiofrequency Neurotomy procedure or spinal injuries. This seminar was held at the Minnesota Association for Justice in front of approximately 50 lawyers.

Chuck and Rich are frequent speakers at continuing legal education seminars for the Minnesota Justice Association. All three of our partners are consistently named Super Lawyers by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Law & Politics. Chuck Slane has received further recognition by being named to the Minnesota Top 40 Personal Injury Attorneys.

Slick Roads Lead to School Bus Accident

By Steve Terry | April 7, 2018

The first snow of the year tends to lead to a number of accidents in Minnesota. While many states cancel school when conditions are slick, Minnesota schools go on in the state that is known for its snowy winters. The same rule of thumb applies even when winter shows up a little early.

On October 25th, a total of six students were checked out at the hospital for injuries after a school bus accident that occurred on their way to school. The accident occurred in the Little Falls area.

The initial investigation has revealed that the bus was northbound on Iris Road when the driver approached a sharp curve and lost control. Slippery conditions made the curve very hard to manage and this caused the bus to tip on its side. The investigation thus far has not revealed whether or not the driver took the curve too fast.

There were fifteen students on the bus at the time. Their ages ranged from middle school age and younger and all are from the Little Falls area. Fortunately, no major injuries resulted from the accident, but four students were immediately taken to a Little Falls medical facility to be checked out. Two more students joined them later to be checked for injuries.

At the hospital, the students met up with their parents and with district personnel so that personnel could speak with the parents. Some of the students involved in the accident went ahead to school and stayed all day, while others went home.

Palmer Bus Service owns the bus and serves a total of 20 school districts in Minnesota. The accident was reconstructed to determine exactly what happened. As of now, it has been said that it appears the driver was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The driver also did not sustain severe injuries.

Hurt in a crash? Contact a Bloomington injury lawyer at TSR Injury Law for a free consultation. There are no upfront fees if we take on your case and we only get paid when we obtain a recovery on your behalf.

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

Minneapolis Cerebral Anoxia Attorney

By Steve Terry | April 5, 2018

One of the most difficult diagnoses to hear is when a doctor says a loved one has suffered a cerebral anoxia brain injury. Life is forever changed. You need legal advice. Call TSR Injury Law, at (612) TSR-TIME. We care and want to help.

TSR Injury Law is a premier personal injury law firm with an excellent reputation for being able to successfully litigate difficult brain injury cases, including cerebral anoxia. Our attorneys frequently speak on traumatic brain injuries and are experts in that area of personal injury litigation. Contact us at 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Cerebral Anoxia

Cerebral anoxia is the total lack of oxygen to the brain. Cerebral anoxia may result in irreversible brain damage or death. With lack of oxygen, the brain cells start dying in 4-6 minutes. There can be varying degrees of recovery from cerebral anoxia. Chances of recovery depend on how long the brain was without oxygen and how much damage the brain sustained.

When the brain is deprived of oxygen for a shorter amount of time, the victim can still suffer sensory distortions and hallucinations. The fewer brain cells damaged, the more optimistic the prognosis for recovery.

Causes of Cerebral Anoxia

Cerebral anoxia can be caused by a variety of events, including:

near-drowning
carbon-monoxide poisoning
smoke inhalation
anesthesia errors
oxygen deprivation during birth (resulting in cerebral palsy)
accident with extreme loss of blood
medical malpractice

Consequences of Cerebral Anoxia

When the brain cells are deprived of oxygen, the neurons are subject to an influx of sodium causing swelling and further injury. Even in the best case scenario, there can be permanent psychological and neurological damage.

The expenses from a traumatic brain injury add up quickly and can extend for many years. You have to consider the possibility of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, modification of your home, and nursing home care. There are additional monetary losses, including loss of wages and loss of earning capacity.

Contact a Minneapolis Cerebral Anoxia Attorney

When dealing with the complex injury of cerebral anoxia, you need a law firm with knowledge and expertise in brain injury lawsuits. Our Minnesota Cerebral Anoxia Attorneys are skilled, aggressive litigators with decades of combined experience. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

Partner Rich Ruohonen, TSR Injury Law, Wins Large Verdict in Barron, Wisconsin

By Steve Terry | April 2, 2018

Bloomington, Minn. (PRWEB) September 2, 2009 — Rich Ruohonen, TSR Injury Law partner and Minnesota Super Lawyer, represented a woman named Sabina Babaca for injuries suffered in a car crash near Barron, Wisconsin, on October 7, 2005.

According to court records, Babaca was a passenger in her husband’s vehicle being driven on Highway 8. Her husband attempted to pass a vehicle, in a legal passing zone. A truck pulled out onto the highway into his path causing an immediate collision.

Ms. Babaca had to be extricated by emergency personnel. It is on record that she suffered a left radial arm fracture requiring open reduction internal fixation with the use of a plate and 6 screws. The fracture caused a mild radial nerve injury resulting in ongoing pain. She also sustained a shoulder soft tissue injury on the same side.

The record reflects that Babaca incurred approximately $100,000 in medical bills and wage loss, most of which were paid by no-fault. The defendant offered $85,000 to settle this case prior to trial. The offer was declined by Babaca and Ruohonen, sending the case to trial. (Sabina Babaca v. Adam’s Automotive, Inc., David Adams and Erie Insurance Exchange, Case No. 08 CV 23)

The defendant’s insurance company, Erie Insurance, hired an accident reconstruction expert to testify at trial. Court records show that during cross examination, Ruohonen was able to get the following strategic admissions from this expert:

that Mr. Babaca was not speeding at the time of the collision
that by the time Adams pulled out it was too late for Mr. Babaca to stop to avoid the collision
that Mr. Adam’s was not fully in the lane upon impact (demonstrating Mr. Adams had just pulled out at the time of the collision)

Rich Ruohonen, with co-counsel Mark Yira of Yira Law Offices, pointed out numerous different medical records, photographs of bruising, and other injury evidence supporting ongoing pain. Additionally, the doctor who did the initial surgery at Eau Claire Hospital, Dr. Leland Meyer, and an ongoing pain management doctor, Dr. Paul Biewen, testified on behalf of Ms. Babaca.

It is on record that the jury found 75% fault on Adams and 25% fault on Mr. Babaca. The jury awarded $80,723.71 in past medical expenses, $19,440 in past wages, $80,000 in past pain and suffering, and $36,800 in future medical expenses. The total verdict was $216,163.71. Erie Insurance paid $162,122.7 (75% of the verdict) plus an additional amount for costs and interest owed.

The total paid was approximately double the final offer made by Erie Insurance prior to trial. This is believed to be one of the largest Plaintiff’s verdicts in Barron County, Wisconsin in several years.

TSR Injury Law
8300 Norman Center Drive
Suite 1275
Bloomington, MN 55437
www.tsrinjurylaw.com

Salmonella Sickens Two Children

By Steve Terry | April 2, 2018

The Minnesota Department of Health announced that two children have become ill with Salmonella poisoning linked to Krinos brand tahini. This is a product that was recalled earlier in May. At the time of the recall, the FDA said there had been no illnesses connected to the tahini. The childrens’ illnesses were caused by two separate strains of bacteria found in the recalled tahini.

According to the FDA, the tahini recall initially occurred on April 28 after Salmonella Montevideo was found by the Michigan Department of Agriculture in a routine sampling. The FDA then found Salmonella Mbandaka in the same tahini brand, thus resulting in the official May recall. The strains have the same DNA of an outbreak that affected several people in a number of states.

In the Minnesota cases, one of the infections matches the Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak and the other matches the Salmonella Montevideo outbreak. Neither child has had to be hospitalized. Both children are recovering at home and are so far doing well.

The recalled tahini product is of the Krinos brand and it is a sesame paste. It was distributed all over the United States. The tahini is sold in 1 pound glass jars and 2 pound glass jars. There are also 40 pound plastic pails. The expiration dates for the affected products range from January 1, 2014 to June 8 2014, as well as October 16, 2014 and March 15, 2015. If you have the product in any of the sizes with the aforementioned expiration dates, you are encouraged to dispose of it immediately.

If you purchased the product, consumed it, and experienced Salmonella symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention. The symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever. The bacteria is known to cause fatal infections and long-term problems that can be quite severe, especially in young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Injured by a defective product or produce? You may be eligible for a claim. Contact TSR Injury Law today.

Actos Victims File Minnesota Lawsuit

By Steve Terry | March 27, 2018

The latest lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of Actos, a type II diabetes drug that is allegedly dangerously defective, comes from a Minnesota couple.

William Blumenstine and Kathy Jo Williams filed their product liability lawsuit against Actos manufacturer Takeda on May 14, 2012 in United States’ District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit states that Mr. Blumenstine began taking the medication in 2004 to improve blood sugar that was high due to type II diabetes. He continued his use of Actos in 2008, but discontinued use shortly after experiencing hematuria and urinary retention. After having a cystoscopy performed, it was found that he had bladder cancer as identified by a tumor in his bladder. He had to undergo treatment and surgery to deal with his bladder cancer that is believed to have been caused by Actos.

There are many plaintiffs involved in lawsuits surrounding Actos and Takeda with claims that Takeda did not issue the proper warnings about the serious side effects. One of the side effects not warned about includes bladder cancer.

Actos was one of the 10 best selling medications in the U.S. in 2008. Worldwide sales total in the a billions of dollars. While the drug is very effective in treating diabetes, it has been established that patients that use it for more than 12 months have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Germany and France have suspended the sale of Actos, but Takeda continues to sell the medication in the U.S.

Actos’s popularity is due to its ability to improve blood sugar control in patients with type II diabetes. Due to the condition affecting millions of individuals in the U.S., Actos is the most popular medication manufactured by Takeda. Thus far, a number of patients have been affected by the serious side effects and have taken legal action. If you have suffered serious side effects after taking the drug, contact a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer from TSR Injury Law – you may be eligible to file a damages lawsuit.

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

TSR Injury Law Awarded $6M Verdict vs New Horizon Kids Quest Daycare

By Steve Terry | November 25, 2015

Rich Ruohonen and Chuck Slane of TSR Injury Law won an important verdict at trial when a Hennepin County jury returned a verdict of over $6 million on Tuesday in the case of a 3 ½ year old boy who was physically and sexually assaulted at a New Horizons Kids Quest daycare center in the Grand Casino Mille Lacs in 2008.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Rich Ruohonen and Chuck Slane of TSR Injury Law of Bloomington, MN, said today that the jury’s verdict in their most recent case finally offers some justice for a young boy and his family. A Hennepin County jury returned a revised verdict of $6,032,585 on Tuesday in the case of a 3 ½ year old boy who was physically and sexually assaulted at a daycare facility at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs operated by New Horizon Kids Quest in January 2008.

According to the lawsuit filed in Hennepin County, MN District Court (Case No.27-CV-12-9958), on January 23, 2008, 3½ year-old boy, “JK” was entrusted to the care of the New Horizon Kids Quest day care center at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs. The lawsuit alleged that New Horizons Kids Quest promised to keep him safe and secure and broke that promise. The daycare center’s staff allegedly left the child unsupervised for more than 90 minutes, and during that time a 9 ½ year old boy physically and sexually assaulted him. According to court documents, surveillance cameras in the daycare facility captured some of the assault, but much of the crime took place in the third level of a play system which were outside the camera’s view. Court documents indicated that after this incident, New Horizons Kids Quest was kicked out of the Grand Casino Mille Lacs by the tribal authorities.

According to court documents, JK was beaten and raped, suffering a subconjunctival hemorrhage in his eye from being strangled and numerous bruises over his face and body from being beaten, as well as injuries from the sexual abuse. Now eleven years old, he still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has difficulties regulating his emotions or reacting to those emotions effectively, his attorneys argued. The child has been through significant medical treatment and takes medications daily to help treat his PTSD. Although he has improved over the years, medical experts testified at trial that JK suffers from permanent PTSD and the damage would never fully heal.

“Finally, after eight years, this little boy as his family received the justice they deserve. He will finally be able to get the help he needs to get better and to deal with the effects of what happened to him and the PTSD he suffers from this assault,” said TSR Injury Law’s Rich Ruohonen. “This family has waited eight years for justice, and this verdict will help bring them some semblance of closure and comfort.” Ruohonen added.

TSR Injury Law’s Chuck Slane added, “It took a long time, but JK and his family can finally rest easier knowing that those responsible have finally been held accountable in court.”
An eight-person jury heard the case over two weeks in Hennepin County. Dan Haws from HKM and Shari Aberle from Dorsey Whitney defended the case for New Horizons Kids Quest while the Honorable Ivy Bernhardson presided over the trial. The case, number 27-CV-12-9958, was heard in Hennepin County District Court.

About TSR Injury Law

TSR Injury Law is a Minnesota personal injury law firm that is passionate about obtaining justice for clients who suffer from injuries through no fault of their own. TSR Injury Law’s partners, Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, Rich Ruohonen & Nate Bjerke have been named Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law & Politics and have successfully resolved countless personal injury cases, often obtaining judgments several times larger than insurance companies’ initial offers. TSR Injury Law believes that effective legal representation is built on more than just litigation and works hard to build solid relationships with clients, feel compassion for their suffering and help them achieve justice. For more information, visit www.tsrinjurylaw.com or call (612) TSR-TIME.

Read the Article on PR News

TZD – Toward Zero Deaths

By Steve Terry | May 15, 2015

The Toward Zero Deaths approach is based on the belief that even one traffic-related death on our roads is unacceptable. This “zero deaths” idea was first adopted in Sweden in 1997 as “Vision Zero” and since then has evolved to several state DOTs, including Minnesota, that have identified zero deaths as a core objective in their Strategic Highway Safety Plans.

TZD uses a data-driven, interdisciplinary approach that targets areas for improvement and employs proven countermeasures, integrating application of education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency medical and trauma services (the “4Es”). A combination of strategies from different focus areas is often most effective for solving a particular problem.