39th Annual Convention - Reunited And It Feels So Good!

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In a year unlike any other, maintaining some of our traditions with a Zoom twist helped keep us connected. It is with that spirit of tradition in mind that the MAJ Annual Convention is back with a commitment to safety and innovation. This year’s convention will be offered in a hybrid fashion, meaning you can elect to participate in-person, online, or both.

 

39^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION - REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

12:00 – 5:00 pm
Luncheon and Spa Afternoon Presented by the Women for Justice Section
Sponsored by:

Genevieve Zimmerman, Meshbesher & Spence, Ltd.
Stacy Deery Stennes, Conlin Law Firm, LLC
Teresa Fariss McClain, Robins Kaplan, LLP
Kathryn Kohn Troldahl, Kohn Law, P.A.
Steve Terry, TSR Injury Law

6:00 – 8:00 pm
Cocktail and Hors D’oeuvres Reception
Sponsored by: Robins Kaplan LLP

8:30 pm
Our Lips are Sealed - Off the Record Roundtable
Sponsored and hosted by: Bob Edwards and Scott Wilson

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021

7:30 – 8:45 am
Trial PAC Contributors Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 am
Welcome and Land Acknowledgment
Kate Hockin, Hall Law P.A., St. Cloud, MN

9:00 – 9:45 am
Don’t Stand So Close to Me: Personal Jurisdiction after the Ford Motor Co. Decision 
Christine D. Spagnoli, Greene, Broillet & Wheeler, Santa Monica, CA


9:45 – 10:15 am
COVID-19 Employment Litigation Panel Discussion
Anna P. Prakash, Nichols Kaster PLLP, Minneapolis, MN
David E. Schlesinger, Nichols Kaster PLLP, Minneapolis, MN

10:15 – 10:30 am
Break

10:30 – 11:30 am
The Times They Are A-Changin: The future of Law Enforcement Accountability
Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General, St. Paul, MN

11:30 – 12:00 pm
Annual Membership Meeting    

12:00 – 1:00 pm
BBQ Lunch on the Beach

1:00 – 1:30 pm
Exhibit Hall Reception
Sponsored by: John G. Stark M.D., P.A.

1:30 – 2:30 pm
I’ll Take You There: Achieving an Impartial Jury
Sarah Redfield, Professor Emerita, University of New Hampshire School of Law, Concord, NH

2:30 – 3:30 pm
I’m Comin’ Out: Emerging from the COVID Cocoon
Panel Discussion Moderated by Elizabeth M. Fors, Robins Kaplan, Minneapolis, MN

Panelists:

Stephanie Balmer. Falsani, Balmer, Peterson & Balmer, Duluth, MN
Mara Brust, Hall Law P.A., Saint Cloud, MN
Jenny Olson, Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben P.A., Minneapolis, MN

3:30 – 3:45 pm
Break

3:45 – 4:45 pm
Should I[t] Stay or should I[t] go? – Judicial Panel on Zoom for Civil Cases
Moderator: Kristi J. Paulson, PowerHouse Mediation,  Burnsville, MN

     Hon. John R. Tunheim, Chief U.S. District Judge, District of Minnesota
     Hon. Edward T. Wahl, Fourth Judicial District
     Hon. Laurie J. Miller, Fourth Judicial District
     Hon. Thomas A. Gilligan, Jr., Second Judicial District

4:45 – 5:15 pm
Don’t Stop Believing: Lessons from Virtual Focus Groups
Chuck Slane, TSR Injury Law, Bloomington, MN

5:15 – 6:00 pm
New Lawyers Happy Hour
Sponsored by: 
Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance
Steve Terry, TSR Injury Law

6:00 – 7:00 pm
Cocktail Reception

7:00 – 9:00 pm
Dinner and Awards Program


SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 2021

8:30 – 9:00 am
Thunderstruck: Bring the Thunder in Closing Arguments
Eric Palmer, Meshbesher and Spence, Minneapolis, MN
Nate Bjerke, TSR Injury Law, Bloomington, MN

9:00 – 9:30 am
Haven’t Got Time for the Pain: Working up Damages
Paul E. Godlewski, Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, P.A., Minneapolis, MN

9:30 – 10:30 am
We Can Work it Out: Storytelling through Video at Mediation
Kathleen L. Nastri; Koskoff, Koskoff and Bieder, New Haven, CT

10:30 – 10:45 am
Break

10:45 – 11:45 am
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For: Advanced Imaging of the Lumbar Spine
Dr. Thomas Gilbert, Jr., MD, MPP, Rayus Radiology, Minneapolis, MN

11:45 – 12:45 pm
We Didn’t Start the Fire: Case Law Update
Scott A. Wilson, Scott Wilson Law Firm, P.L.L.C, Minneapolis, MN

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Board of Governors Luncheon Meeting

SOCIAL EVENT SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

11:30 am
 GOLF
Join your colleagues for an afternoon of golf before the opening reception! MAJ has formally incorporated Bill Jepsen's annual golf outing as part of the MAJ Convention. Foursomes will start to Tee off at 11:30 am on the Classic Golf Course at Madden's. The event is $100.00 per golfer.

Sponsored by:
National Dizzy and Balance Center
Physician Life Care Planning
Mustang Litigation Funding, LLC
Focus Forensics

12:00 – 4:00 pm
LUNCHEON AND SPA AFTERNOON BY THE WOMEN FOR JUSTICE SECTION - MEMBERS ONLY
The MAJ Women for Justice Section invite members to a special luncheon and spa afternoon. You work hard and play hard so take the afternoon to treat yourself before the convention festivities begin. Participants will enjoy a wonderful lunch followed by an afternoon of pampering at The Spa at Madden's. Spaces for this event are limited due to the number of spa services offered. Spa services will be scheduled on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested in attending please contact Rochelle Peyton at rpeyton@mnaj.org today!

This event is sponsored by:
Genevieve Zimmerman, Meshbesher & Spence, Ltd.
Stacy Deery Stennes, Conlin Law Firm, LLC
Teresa Fariss McClain, Robins Kaplan, LLP
Kathryn Kohn Troldahl, Kohn Law, P.A.
Steve Terry, TSR Injury Law

6:00 – 8:00 pm
 COCKTAIL AND HORS D'OEUVRES RECEPTION
Welcome to the 2021 MAJ Annual Convention! MAJ Members will gather at Pavilion at Madden's for a relaxing cocktail and Hors d’Oeuvres reception. This is a great time to see friends, network with other members, enjoy the scenery and celebrate the past year in civil justice.

This event is sponsored by:
Robins Kaplan LLP

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021

7:30 – 9:00 am
TRIAL PAC CONTRIBUTOR BREAKFAST
MAJ Members who are contributors to Trial PAC are invited to gather for a breakfast discussion with legislative allies. We will reflect on the 2021 legislative session, plan for the fall elections and celebrate our victories and contributors! You must be a Trial PAC contributor to attend.

11:45 am – 12:30 pm
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
All members are invited to the Annual Membership Meeting where MAJ staff and board will update you on the past year of the organization and elect new officers and board members.

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
BBQ on the Beach

This event is sponsored by:
James Greeman, Greeman Toomey, PLLC
 

5:15 to 6:00 pm
NEW LAWYERS HAPPY HOUR
All new lawyers and first time attendees are invited to attend this event with the MAJ Officers. This is a great opportunity for new lawyers to share their thoughts and ideas for MAJ’s products and services, as well as a time for emerging leaders to ask questions of seasoned trial lawyers.

This event is sponsored by:

Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance
Steve Terry, TSR Injury Law


6:00 – 9:00 pm
RECEPTION AND AWARDS DINNER
All registrants and their guests are invited to MAJ’s annual awards dinner. Join us in the Ballroom to start with a cocktail hour at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner and program at 7:00 pm.

This event is sponsored by:
James Greeman, Greeman Toomey, PLLC

CHILDCARE OPTIONS
The Adventure Cove at Madden's is scheduled to be open from 4 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Friday for children ages 4 - 12 (must be completely potty trained).  This will include dinner and activities during our scheduled receptions and dinners. All children MUST be registered in advance. Registration for the Adventure Cove is part of the convention registration. MAJ is currently working with Madden's regarding daycare options outside of these hours. If you are interesting in hiring a babysitter, please contact Rochelle Peyton at rpeyton@mnaj.org or (612) 334-3137.

COVID-19
Your personal safety and the safety of your colleagues is our top priority. If you are attending the convention in person, things will look different this year as we endeavor to create a safe and memorable experience. Whenever possible and weather permitting, social events will be held outdoors. Indoor events will follow the latest CDC and MDH COVID-19 guidance available to ensure social distancing along with the latest safety measures. 

To promote the safety of our members and staff, we ask that only those who have been fully vaccinated attend in person. We want attendees to be comfortable engaging together as we gather for the first time in over a year. Those who are not fully vaccinated by the time of convention are welcome to connect with us online!

For more information on Madden's COVID safety measures, click HERE.

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE
Join us on a new platform to enjoy the presentations and written materials, ask questions during presentations, connect with each other and more! Watch for more details on this soon!

HYBRID ATTENDANCE
In-person attendees will be able to attend the convention socials and seminars in person, but can always take in some of the content lakeside through the virtual platform. Bring a laptop!

CLE CREDIT
MAJ has requested CLE hours from the Minnesota (x.x hours) and Wisconsin (x.x hours) Boards of Continuing Legal Education and x.x CTC hours from the Civil Trial Certification Council of the Minnesota State Bar.
 

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Reservations are always important for planning purposes; however, they are IMPERATIVE this year.  We need to know who is attending in person as early as possible, so please reserve your room at Madden’s. The deadline to reserve a room is July 5th!

The 2021 MAJ Annual Convention will be a hybrid event and will take place at Madden's on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN and online. We are encouraging members who plan to attend the program to reserve rooms at Madden's early. Reservations can be made online HERE. Our room block will be released on July 5, 2021.

A $200 deposit per bedroom is required at time of reservation request. You are responsible for your entire stay; early departures or reservations reduced in length are not refundable. Package payments are refundable, less a $25.00 cancellation fee if you cancel by July 6, 2021. Any cancellations made after July 6, 2021 will not receive a refund (replacements are gladly accepted). Reservations made online must be cancelled through online booking system. Reservations made after the deadline are non-refundable.

For more information on Madden's COVID safety measures, click HERE.

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Refunds will be made only if notification of cancellation is received ten business days in advance of the convention less a $75 administrative fee. Please Note: Membership Benefits and Passport to Excellence DO NOT apply to the convention.