Archive for category: News

You are here: / / News
News

Historic Court Decision Reached in Anderson v. Thrifty White

/in , /by
Anderson v. Thrifty White

In a historic decision, the Minnesota Court of Appeals held as a matter of law that when a pharmacist refuses to fill a prescription for emergency contraception, that is illegal sex discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

In this case, Anderson v. Thrifty White, Andrea Anderson sued Aitkin Pharmacy (formerly Thrifty White) under the Minnesota Human Rights Act after the lead pharmacist George Badeaux refused to accommodate her prescription request. She had received a valid prescription for Ella, an emergency contraceptive tablet, from her healthcare provider which Badeaux refused to fill, citing his beliefs.

Alongside co-counsel Jess Braverman and Christy Hall from Gender Justice, LGN partner Rachel Kitze Collins, supported by many LGN lawyers, paralegals, and staff, tried the case before an Aitkin jury and appealed the decision to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals entered judgment as a matter of law for Ms. Anderson, affirming our long-held belief that no reasonable jury could conclude other than that our client was discriminated against by the lead pharmacist. It is the first ruling in the United States to find sex discrimination in the context of a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for emergency contraception.

You can read more about the groundbreaking decision on Gender Justice’s website by clicking here: https://www.genderjustice.us/anderson-update-march-2024/

News

Generative AI Announced as New Practice Area at LGN

/in , , , , , /by
Generative AI

LGN is proud to announce a new Generative AI litigation practice area to address the legal complexities surrounding this groundbreaking technology.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has quickly become a widely used technology. But the deployment of GenAI has led to issues concerning the compensation of creators, such as artists and authors, for the creative work that feeds the models powering GenAI. LGN is at the forefront of litigation on behalf of creators to seek fair compensation for the use of their work.

LGN’s Generative AI lawyers believe in responsible GenAI development and use, and strive to set a precedent for ethical practices within the legal framework of Generative AI. We recognize the need for a nuanced approach to Generative AI legal services and are dedicated to navigating the intricate legal landscape of Generative AI. We advocate for a diverse array of clients, including individual artists, writers, and corporations facing these emerging challenges. We help our clients navigate the intricacies of copyright law, entertainment law, antitrust law, and other areas of law implicated by the development and use of GenAI.

LGN’s GenAI team includes Brian Clark, Laura Matson, Arielle Wagner, Eura Chang, and Kate Baxter-Kauf. For more information on our current cases and to explore how LGN can assist you in the GenAI landscape, please visit our practice page by clicking below.

LEARN MORE
News

LGN Joins Neighborhood House for March Food Drive

/in , /by
Neighborhood House March Food Drive

In 2023, Minnesota witnessed a record-setting 7.5 million visits to food shelves – – shattering the record of 5.5 million visits set in 2022.  

To help alleviate food insecurity in our community, LGN is again raising funds for the March Food Drive organized by Neighborhood House, a St. Paul-based multi-service agency that has helped immigrant and refugee families since 1897.  LGN has supported its work for more than ten years.

Like other food shelves in the state, Neighborhood House’s food shelf is grappling with the daunting challenge of keeping up with the need. They are now serving over seventeen hundred unique families in a month—nearly double from this time last year.

Join us in helping support Neighborhood House and its mission to serve our community by donating at the link below.

Your generosity can alleviate the severity of this crisis and foster a community where no one is left hungry or forgotten.  Thank you for considering helping Neighborhood House with us.

DONATE NOW
News

Bar Talk Cover Story Written by LGN Associate

/in , , /by

LGN associate, David Hahn, demonstrated his narrative skills on the front page of the Federal Bar Association’s publication, “Bar Talk,” this quarter. His article recapped a talkback session featuring Senior Judges Paul Magnuson and Ann Montgomery of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. From their thoughts on the transition to the Electronic Age to what advice they would give their younger selves, David captured the highlights from the lively discussion.

Bar Talk is the award-winning newsletter of the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) that provides Chapter members with timely and valuable information. The FBA is the preeminent bar association serving federal practitioners, both private and public. The Minnesota Chapter is one of the Association’s largest chapters.

You can read the full article by clicking below and selecting the March 2024 issue.

READ FULL ARTICLE

News

LGN Sponsors Women Winning Event

/in , /by

LGN was proud to be a Champion sponsor of Women Winning’s Wine, Chocolate, and Choice event last week. It was an inspiring night of networking with powerful women from across the state. The fundraiser celebrated International Women’s Day and its long history of recognizing the power women have when gathered together.

Since 1982, Women Winning has been building a coalition of people of all backgrounds, identities, and political affiliations united in their mission to recruit, train, and elect pro-choice women to all levels of public office, from park board to President of the United States. They’ve supported thousands of pro-choice women candidates in an effort to elect the best advocates, protect and advance reproductive rights, and create a more equitable Minnesota. Women Winning’s endorsed candidates and elected officials follow and innovate on the achievements celebrated by International Women’s Day, including advocating for reproductive rights, better working conditions, and fair wages, and fighting for women and girls everywhere.

Pictured are LGN team members (left to right): Amos Briggs, Dan Pollock, Emma Ritter Gordon, Rachel Kitze Collins, Jess Lindeen, Kate Baxter-Kauf, Jasmine Epps-Flowers, Laura Matson.

News

Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts Invites LGN Partner to Speak

/in , /by
Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts

LGN partner, Kate M. Baxter-Kauf, spoke on a panel at last week’s Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) conference in Park City, Utah. She joined fellow class action attorneys across the litigation spectrum to discuss “Trends in Privacy Litigation.” With Morgan & Morgan attorney, John A. Yanchunis, a titan of the plaintiffs’ privacy bar, Mark C. Mao, of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, who represents both plaintiffs and defendants, and Paul G. Karlsgodt, the leader of BakerHostetler’s Privacy and Digital Risk Class Action and Litigation team, Kate discussed what’s next in privacy litigation.

The mission of TLMT is to foster collaboration and education among top-tier judiciary, plaintiffs, and defense bar professionals. The event is tailored to tackle contemporary issues in complex litigation, focusing on class actions and mass torts. Attendees gain empowerment, connection, and invaluable insights from top legal professionals.

News

MN Radiological Society Day at the Capitol

/in , , /by
MN Radiological Society

The LGN Government Relations team was pleased to host the Minnesota Radiological Society (MRS) during their Day at the Capitol. MRS is an organization with 500 members and works to advocate for healthcare legislation on topics such as imaging, mammography access, and scope of practice policy. This event allowed MRS members the unique opportunity to interact directly with state legislators, discussing their roles as physicians in the practice of radiology and highlighting the challenges they face in our healthcare system. The goal of the MRS Day at the Capitol is to improve lawmakers’ understanding of MRS legislative priorities and facilitate meaningful conversations about issues impacting physicians in this field of medicine.

News

LGN Joins Neighborhood House for March Food Drive

/in , /by
Neighborhood House March Food Drive

In 2023, Minnesota witnessed a record-setting 7.5 million visits to food shelves – – shattering the record of 5.5 million visits set in 2022.  

To help alleviate food insecurity in our community, LGN is again raising funds for the March Food Drive organized by Neighborhood House, a St. Paul-based multi-service agency that has helped immigrant and refugee families since 1897.  LGN has supported its work for more than ten years.

Like other food shelves in the state, Neighborhood House’s food shelf is grappling with the daunting challenge of keeping up with the need. They are now serving over seventeen hundred unique families in a month—nearly double from this time last year.

Join us in helping support Neighborhood House and its mission to serve our community by donating at the link below.

Your generosity can alleviate the severity of this crisis and foster a community where no one is left hungry or forgotten.  Thank you for considering helping Neighborhood House with us.

DONATE NOW
News

LGN Senior Counsel, Maureen Kane Berg, Directs Comedy Opera

/in , , /by

We proudly support LGN Senior Counsel, Maureen Kane Berg, as she opens the comic opera, “Utopia, Limited,” at the Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company tonight. As the director of the production, Maureen leads a talented cast of actors as they explore the timeless question: what if perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

Maureen shared, “I love this updated and reimagined comic opera because it presents a universal human story: Even people living in Utopia can’t help wondering what they may be missing. I also love that the hero is a young woman – Princess Zara—who brings “reforms” from England to rescue her father, the King, and her country from Utopia’s own plutocrat profiteers. As a writer as well as a director of musical comedy, I have found it a joy to collaborate with the GSVLOC on this fresh take of a classic piece.”

Maureen has poured heart and soul into this collaboration with the GSVLOC, infusing the production with wit, charm, and a dash of irreverence. Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic of “Utopia, Limited” – a delightful blend of humor, romance, and social commentary that will leave you singing and smiling long after the curtain falls.

“Utopia, Limited” is scheduled to run until March 24th at the Conn Theater at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. For more details and ticket information, please click below.

LEARN MORE
News

Team Led by LGN Partner Wins National Moot Court Competition

/in , /by
Moot Court Team led by LGN partner Rachel Kitze Collins

Congratulations to LGN partner, Rachel Kitze Collins, and the University of Minnesota Law School‘s Environmental Moot Court Competition team, who just won the Jeffrey Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition at Pace University in New York. Rachel coaches the team along with Emily Polachek, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota. The winning team members consist of Hanna Weil (’24), Maria Pfister (’24), and Poojan Thakrar (’24), all 3Ls at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Instituted in 1989, the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition (NELMCC) is one of the nation’s largest interschool moot court competitions. Every year law student advocates nationwide assemble to compete under one roof. More than 200 competitors and 150 attorneys participate in grading briefs and serving as judges for the three-day competition. The NELMCC tests students’ skills in appellate brief writing and oral advocacy and uses issues drawn from real cases to provide students with first-hand experience in environmental litigation in a rigorous academic experience.

Congratulations to all involved on an outstanding accomplishment!