Personal Injury

Four years ago, a noted computer programmer was convicted of killing his wife. On July 11, 2012 he found himself back in court, defending himself against the wrongful death lawsuit brought on by his two children.

Hans Reiser was convicted of murdering his wife, Nina Reiser, during a 2008 custody dispute. Reiser is well-known in California programming circles for his ReiserFS computer file system. The conviction for the killing of his wife resulted in a 15 years-to-life prison sentence.

Irina Sharanova, Nina Reiser’s mother, filed the wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of 11-year-old Niorline and 12-year-old Rory. The children are currently living in Nina Reiser’s home country of Russia.

The damages being sought are in excess of $7 million. It is not sure whether they can win and collect. Hans Reiser is representing himself, stating he cannot afford a lawyer and indigent defendants aren’t given the right to have a public defender in civil cases.

Jury selection began on July 10th in which Reiser appeared in his prison garb guarded by sheriff’s deputies as he and the children’s’ lawyer began picking a jury.

It has been reported that Reiser told the potential jurors that he had terrible things to say about lawyers and asked them if they could respect a person and be fair to someone who believes murder was committed to keep harm from coming to the children. One prospective juror responded that it is never moral to kill any person despite the reason.

During the criminal trial, Reiser had stated that he was innocent and suggested that his wife had gone to Russia because her body had not been recovered. After he was convicted, he left authorities to her body, which was buried in Oakland Hills. Leading authorities to her body reduced the initial charge to second-degree murder instead of second-degree.

Wrongful death lawsuits can be complex and time-consuming. If you are considering a wrongful death lawsuit, we encourage you to contact a Minneapolis wrongful death lawyer at TSR Injury Law to learn more about your legal options. Your consultation is free and there are no upfront fees if we take on your case. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

A Woodbury woman has been charged with sexually exploiting a mentally handicapped teen in her care on a number of occasions.

Charyl Ann Tchida, 50, has been charged by the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office with one count of neglect of a vulnerable adult. If convicted, it is a gross misdemeanor.

The complaint states that there were a number of occasions when Tchida would bring the teen to places where she would be forced to have sex with “customers.” The girl operates at the level of a 5 or 6 year old.

The excursions began on July 3, 2012 at a Roseville hotel, where the teen was told to hang out with a 17-year-old boy she had met at a fast food restaurant. When she arrived, she met the 17-year-old who also had a 33-year-old-man and four other men with them. That night, the teenage girl would be forced to have sex with the four men that were there, according to the complaint. The 33-year-old would allegedly use a cellular phone to set up advertisements that solicited others to have sex with the girl for money. When the girl refused to do so, the man threatened her.

The girl stated that she had had sex with five “customers” in the hotel room that night.

The 33-year-old would take photographs of the money that was made from the girl having sex that night and send those photos to Tchida. Tchida did admit to the police that she had received a photo from the man that night, as well as a call from the 19-year-old that she was to be caring for.

The Alleged victim asked Tchida in the phone call to come pick her up, but the girl said in the complaint that Tchida never did. Tchida admitted that she had called the girl back, but the man answered the phone and told her that the girl was not coming home.

Tchida failed to report the rapes to authorities and that the girl had been forced into a prostitution ring until August.

Tchida would allegedly later take the girl to the man’s house in July where he would then take the girl to Minneapolis to have sex with a number of men for money. She would then be brought back to St. Paul later that day so that Tchida could pick her up. Tchida was aware of the exploitation, according to the complaint.

In mid-August, it was revealed that the girl had become pregnant.

In addition to these charges, Tchida is facing a charge of insurance fraud from lying to an insurance agent so that she could receive new insurance after another company had cancelled her old policy. After the new policy was approved, Tchida filed a water damage claim and the insurer paid over $6,000. It was later learned that the application she filled out to apply for the insurance was fraudulent. She also has a 2011 insurance fraud conviction in which she was ordered to pay over $8,000 in fines and concealed this on the application, as well as the fact that she had made a total of eight insurance claims with her former insurer.

A tibia fibula fracture is a very serious leg injury, with the possibility for many complications. If you have sustained a tibia fibula fracture in a motor vehicle accident or pedestrian accident, you need expert representation to maximize your compensation. The compensation may include payment for medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, and disability. Call a Bloomington personal injury attorney at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form. It is vital to act quickly so that evidence can be preserved and eye witnesses interviewed while the memory is fresh.

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture

The tibia is the weight-bearing, shin bone and the fibula is the calf bone. The tibia is the second longest bone in the body. It extends from the knee to the ankle.

The tibia has a higher incidence of fractures than any other long bone. Tibia fractures are considered a medical emergency. Traumatic fractures of the tibia fibula can occur anywhere along the length of the bones. The types of fractures are:

• open or closed
• stable or unstable
• displaced or undisplaced
• angulated or not angulated

With a closed tibia fibula fracture, not only is there intense pain, there is swelling and discoloration from the large amounts of blood that can flow from a fractured bone and damaged blood vessels.

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture Treatment

Treatment of a tibia fibula fracture depends on the whether it is closed or open. In a closed fracture, if the two fragments are close to alignment, the orthopedist may manually reduce the fracture and immobilize for 12 – 16 weeks in a plaster cast or a removable plastic cast walker.

An open fracture is classified according to the extent of broken skin, and whether there is significant soft tissue damage, blood vessel disruption, or contamination. If the tibia fibula fracture is splintered, greatly displaced, or open, the fracture will need to be fixed surgically with one of the following methods:

• pins, screws, metal plates, or wires
• a metal rod down the center of the bone
• an external fixator

You can expect months of physical therapy to regain the ability to walk. During the time you are immobilized, an AV Impulse system may be used to increase blood flow through the leg to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling. It also works the muscles in a simulated walking motion.

Tibia Fibula Complications

Fracture healing is an intricate process. It takes time because of poor blood supply in some areas of the bone. Severe open fractures have a high incidence of complications, including:

• infection which may result in gangrene
• displaced fragments, particularly in oblique and spiral fractures
• artery or nerve damage
• limp due to imperfect alignment or rotational position, possibly one leg shorter
• obvious disfigurement
• slow union as a result of severity of the fracture or poor blood supply to one fragment
• loss of ROM in the knee, ankle or foot, usually caused by associated joint, soft tissue, or vascular injury
• nonunion (smokers are 8 times more likely to experience nonunion in tibia fibula fractures)

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture Lawyers

You may be scared about what your future holds if you have suffered a severe tibia fibula fracture. We can help you fight for fair compensation for your injuries, resulting in fewer financial worries. Our personal injury lawyers are experts at proving liability in complex medical cases. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Lead poisoning occurs when there are increased levels of lead in the blood. Lead poisoning is not a very common occurrence, but when you are infected, it can cause irreversible brain damage and can even be deadly. There is no known threshold for lead levels in the blood, so it is important to be aware of your surroundings and know what has the ability to harm you.

Am I at Risk?

Lead poisoning can be contracted in many different ways. It is most common in children, but can also be contracted by adults. The most frequent instances of lead poisoning are in lead mine workers, as they are exposed to inhalation of high levels of lead. Ingestion of chips or dust from the deterioration of lead-based paints is very common in older homes.

Lead can also be found in the water you drink. Any plumbing fixtures or pipes that contain lead can contaminate the water that passes through them. There have also been a number of cases involving lead poisoning caused from faulty water fountains. Lead can also be found in foreign-made toys, cosmetics, and dishes.

Signs and Symptoms

The most severe levels of lead poisoning can cause neurological damage, including seizures and reduced cognitive abilities. Additional symptoms:

• Nausea
• headaches
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• a metal taste in the mouth
• kidney problems
• anemia
• reproductive problems

Speak with a Minneapolis Lead Poisoning Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered lead poisoning, contact a Minnesota lead poisoning lawyer of TSR Injury Law by calling (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form. Your initial consultation is free and there are no upfront fees if we take on your case.

On April 26, an investigation began in the accidental death of Andrew Michael Pitts whose body was found in Maple Grove in a pond near Elm Creek Boulevard.

Witnesses told the Sheriff’s Department detectives that Pitts was intoxicated after leaving a restaurant. He then walked a short distance and onto the partially-frozen pond. His weight was too much for the ice, so he fell through, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office press release.

The Sheriff’s Office investigation determined that a Claddagh’s Irish Pub bartender served alcohol to Pitts, who is underage. Witnesses told investigators that Pitts was not asked for identification and that the bartender knew that Pitts was underage because they were friends outside of the establishment. The bartender, a 21-year-old woman, has been charged with selling liquor to an underage person, which is a gross misdemeanor.

Pitts was underwater for at least an hour before he was found by divers in the very dark water. He was then taken to Maple Grove Hospital, where doctors declared him dead

The incident is still under investigation. Pitts 21st birthday was to be on May 12.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person, contact a Minneapolis personal injury attorney from TSR Injury Law today. We can review the details of the incident and help to determine if you have a case. Free consultation and no upfront fees if we take on your case.

Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

TSR Injury Law is a leading Minnesota personal injury law firm with extensive experience litigating knee injury cases, including chondromalacia.  We care about you and understand the pain involved with this injury. We will give you knowledgeable, aggressive representation. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

What Is Chondromalacia?

Chondromalacia is the softening of the cartilage on the back side of the patella due to misalignment. The misalignment is frequently the result of trauma to the patella, as in a patella fracture, dislocation, menisci damage, or patellar tendon rupture. A misaligned patella rubs on the end of the femur, destroying the cartilage and making it look like crab meat. This not only causes inflammation but moderate to intense pain and grinding in the knee.

Chondromalacia Treatment

The first steps in treating chondromalacia are:

• rest the knee to lessen the intensity of the chondromalacia pain
• take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• do physical therapy, especially quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching

Alignment is key to minimizing chondromalacia. If the alignment of the patella cannot be improved or corrected with physical therapy, surgery may be necessary. Depending on the type and extent of misalignment, the surgery may be arthroscopic or open.

Surgery for chondromalacia has a high success rate. But there may be complications, including:

• failure to relieve pain
• increased pain
• infection

Minneapolis Chondromalacia Lawyers

Even though chondromalacia is very painful and debilitating, it is marginalized by insurance companies. If you are suffering from chondromalacia from a negligent accident, you need a lawyer who understands chondromalacia and will aggressively defend your rights.

The lawyers at TSR Injury Law know Minnesota law. They know chondromalacia. They will fight for you. Call one of our Chondromalacia lawyers at (612) TSR-TIME or submit free contact form.

Despite government attempts to cut down on the rate of underaged drinking, it remains a common problem across the U.S. Minnesota’s social host liability laws try to minimize this problem by holding responsible those adults who provide alcohol to minors.

The laws governing social drinking are not nearly as strict as the laws governing commercial sales of alcohol. Therefore, a much shorter list of people can be liable under Minnesota social host liability laws, as opposed to dram shop laws. A person can be liable if he or she is over 21 and:

• Sold or gave alcohol to a minor
• Knowingly allowed minors to consume alcohol on his or her premises

Who Can File a Social Host Liability Claim?

If you have been injured by a minor who was driving under the influence of alcohol, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the adult who provided the alcohol. Minors who injure themselves or others while intoxicated do not have grounds for a social liability suit.

Need Legal Help?

If you or your child is a minor and has become a victim of an injury after being served alcohol, contact TSR Injury Law at 612-TSR-TIME and speak to one of our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys. We offer a free, no obligation consultation and charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.

TSR Injury Law. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Unfortunately, not everyone who runs a nursing home is qualified to do so. If someone you care about has been the victim of negligent nursing home staff, call TSR Injury Law at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form.

The Importance of a Sanitary Environment

At the very least, a nursing home should provide the following for all patients:

• Clean clothes and bedding
• Sleeping and eating quarters free of roaches, mice, and other pests
• Proper measures to prevent the spread of lice
• Clean floors clear of clutter, liquid, and other slip and fall hazards
• Staff well-trained in assisting residents with their personal hygiene

Unlike isolated cases of abuse or neglect, unhygienic conditions in nursing care are usually a systemic problem. In other words, they are not a case of one or two reckless nursing home workers. Instead, the problem usually lies with the way the home is managed, from hiring new workers to supervising them, to setting cleanliness standards for the facility.

As a result, filing a legal claim against the home in question is often the only way to adequately address the problem. It will not only help you win fair compensation for your family’s suffering, but it will also protect other residents of that facility. A Minneapolis nursing home abuse lawyer can provide you with important information about this legal process.

Have Some Questions About Nursing Home Conditions?

TSR Injury Law is committed to nursing home residents’ rights. If you need any legal assistance dealing with a negligent facility, contact us at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form. 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.

TSR Injury Law is a premier personal injury law firm with extensive experience handling ACL injury claims. We have a reputation for obtaining generous settlements, including a recent motorcycle accident settlement for $2.8 million.

Our personal injury attorneys also have heart and compassion. We care about you and your injuries. We will use our expertise to establish fault and prove liability in your case. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

About ACL Injuries

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur when there is a swift blow to the knee or when the leg is subjected to intense pressure and twisting. During a car crash, knees may bang into the dashboard. In a rollover, the knees may hit the dashboard, door, window, or even the roof of the car.

The level of ACL injury depends on whether the ACL is torn or ruptured. An ACL tear may be painful, but the knee will be stable and able to bear weight. On the other hand, if the ligament ruptures, you will have severe pain and complete loss of joint stability.

ACL Injury Treatment and Recovery

X-rays or MRIs are helpful in diagnosing an ACL injury. However, early diagnosis is not always possible because of the extensive pain and swelling. An unrepaired, torn ACL will make you more likely to develop arthritis in the knee and leave you prone to a meniscus tear. So, for the best long-term prognosis, surgery is usually recommended.

With or without surgery, the recovery time is lengthy — many months. You will have to wear a supportive brace and physical therapy is necessary to regain range of motion and strength.

Minneapolis ACL Injury Attorney

An ACL injury can lead to financial stress, depression, loss of work, having to change careers, and loss of the ability to participate in some leisure activities. Our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys can file a claim to maximize the available insurance to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and possible loss of future income. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

TSR Injury Law – Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

TSR Injury Law is a premier personal injury law firm with extensive experience handling bicycle accident injury lawsuits, and a reputation for excellent settlements, including a verdict for $520,000 in a bicycle accident injury case. We care about you, and truly want to help you obtain justice and compensation for your injury.

Our personal injury lawyers are experts at establishing fault in serious bicycle accidents. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

Bicyclists need to drive more defensively than motor vehicle drivers. They need to know the rules on how to legally and safely share the road with motor vehicles, because so many motor vehicle drivers do not respect a bicyclist and their right to be on the road. The most common types of collisions occur when a motor vehicle driver:

• ignores the bicyclist and turns directly in front of the cyclist, cutting them off;
• enters the street from a driveway or parking spot without observing or yielding to the bicyclist;
• is inattentive, clueless, or unobservant while driving;
• is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
• fails to yield the right of way to a bicyclist at an intersection. 

Types of Bicycle Accident Injuries

Bicyclists are defenseless against any type of motor vehicle. If a bicyclist is in an accident, the injuries are usually significant. Those injuries include:

• skull fracture
• concussion
• traumatic brain injury
• coup and contrecoup head injury
• spinal injury
• tibial plateau fracture
• facet joint injury
• burst fracture of the spine
• trimalleolar fracture / broken ankle
• permanent disability 

Minnesota Bicycle Accident Injury Statistics

All drivers on the road have the responsibility to be alert and aware of everyone on the road. Ignorance about Minnesota bicycle laws will not lessen the culpability of the at-fault person if a bicyclist is injured — and many bicyclists are injured or killed every year.

• Four bicyclists die in a bicycle accident every day.
• Nearly half of these deaths are children under the age of 16.
• Another one million children are injured in bicycle accidents every year.
• Head injuries account for three out of every four serious/fatal bicycle accident injuries.
• Collisions with motor vehicles is the leading cause of death in bicycle accidents.

Contact a Minneapolis Bicycle Accident Attorney

We will work with the insurance companies, accessing as many policies as possible, and coordinating all of the benefits. We will investigate the accident, consult with qualified bicycle specialists, and seek out the expertise of medical specialists to find every angle to pursue in your case. We will do this with no charge to you until we win your case.

Our Minneapolis bicycle accident injury lawyers are specialists in the field of personal injury law. Our attorneys are thorough, aggressive, and persuasive litigators with a reputation for obtaining excellent settlements and verdicts. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

TSR Injury Law is interested in seeking justice in your case. Our partners have years of experience and a reputation for getting the job done. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form today. We want to help you recover compensation for your injuries, pain, and any loss of mobility.

Hip Fracture

The hip is a ball and socket joint. The femur forms the ball; the acetabulum is the socket. This round, smooth, cartilage-covered bone is part of the pelvis. An acetabular, or hip fracture, may occur in a high impact car accident, truck accident, or slip and fall accident. The type and severity of the break depends on the position of the femoral head at the time of the accident.

Treatment of Hip Fracture

An acetabular/hip fracture is a complex orthopedic injury. The surgery should be performed by an experienced acetabular orthopedic surgeon to ensure the best fracture alignment and the fewest complications. The optimal time for surgery is within the first week after the injury.

During surgery, the fracture fragments are cleaned, the fractures are realigned, and then stabilized with plates and screws. The surgery generally takes three to six hours.

Hip Fracture Complications

Surgery to realign a hip fracture has a number of common, but potentially serious, complications.

• injury to a nerve
  • sciatic nerve
  • femoral nerve
  • superior gluteal nerve
• wound infection
• deep vein blood clots
• pneumonia
• osteonecrosis (bone death) of the femoral head or fragment
• chondrolysis (destruction of articular cartilage)
• osteoarthritis

Minnesota Acetabular – Hip Fracture Attorney

If you have sustained a traumatic hip fracture due to the negligence of another, you may be able to receive compensation for past and future medical expenses, physical therapy expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our personal injury lawyers and support staff will do the paperwork, negotiate with the insurance companies, and file your claim. Call 612-TSR-TIME or submit our contact form.

State Farm v. Metropolitan Council and Lashandra Scott, MN CT Appeals 9-22-14. Met Council, who runs the transit buses in the metro area, stopped paying no-fault insurance benefits to injured passengers by arguing that buses were not “motor vehicles.” Jenny and Chuck organized a team of lawyers for injured passengers and worked with State Farm and GEICO to defeat Met Council.

After winning four separate times at the district court, Met Council appealed. The Minnesota Court of Appeals rejected every argument made by Met Council and affirmed that they must provide no-fault insurance benefits to injured passengers on the bus that don’t have coverage of their own.

If you are injured in a bus accident and are not sure what to do next, contact an experienced Bloomington car accident lawyer from TSR Injury Law today. We charge no fees to determine if you have a case and if you do, there are no upfront fees for us to handle the case.

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