Republicans sent a fistful of perceived lawsuit reform bills to the desk of Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton today (Feb. 8).

“The hungry lion has been fed,” quipped Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, noting the bipartisan support some bills

Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, slammed Republican legislation today (Feb. 8) on the Senate floor during a debate on lawsuit reform. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

received.

Democratic expect Dayton to veto at least some of the legislation House and Senate Republicans herald as common sense and good for the state’s business climate.

Democratic see it differently.

“There’s a rank hypocrisy here,” said Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park, an attorney, arguing Republicans seem at peace with corporations suing corporations but object to suits filed by individuals against corporations.

The proposed changes to state law would do a number of things.

For one thing, the statute of limitations on filing a suit would be decreased by from six to four years.

“It makes sense,” said Rep. Doug Wardlow, R-Eagan, author of the two of the bills in the House.

Republicans argue the six year statute of limitations was put into effect in the days when legal documents were sent by Pony Express.

Another bill would have judges weighing the size of attorney fees in a lawsuit in relation to the size of the award to the plaintiff.

Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, an attorney, styled ramifications from the legislation as an “unprecedented intrusion” into attorney/client privilege.

Rep. Doug Wardlow, R-Eagan, carried lawsuit reform legislation in the House. He spoke at a Capitol press conference today. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Republican argue the bill is common sense.

Another bill dealing with class-action lawsuits — suits in which a large number of people bring a claim to court — would allow defendants to appeal the class-action suit earlier in the legal process.

In doing so, the discovery process of the suit, the collection of facts and testimony, would be halted until the court of appeals rendered a ruling.

Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, an attorney, argued the discovery process for defendants can be extremely expensive and the sooner courts are allowed to make decisions on the merits of lawsuits “the better off we all are,” she said.

But Latz countered by arguing that it makes no sense for attorneys to take on baseless lawsuits.  Legal practices have destroyed because too much time and money have been sunk into cases ultimately dismissed, he explained.

Although Democrats charge that the Republicans legislation will serve to block entry into the courts for people with good claims but small pocketbooks, Republicans dismiss the charge.

“The exact opposite (is true),” said Ortman.

Republicans propose increasing the threshold amount of claims obtainable in conciliation court from $7,500 to $10,000.

On the Senate floor, Ortman said she personally wished the amount had been higher.

Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, defended Republican court reform legislation on the Senate floor. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Ortman styled conciliation court as less formal, less expensive for people to pursue claims.

Under the Republican bill, claims in excess of $10,000 would have to be sought in regular court.

“I’m hoping he (Dayton) will sign it,” Ortman said of the legislation.

Simon and Latz argued the legislation should be viewed in the broader context of a national effort by big insurance companies to subdue the courts.

One bastion of business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, already ranks the Minnesota courts as pretty good.

In the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform 2010 survey ranking of the states with the best and worst legal climates in the country, Minnesota was ranked eleventh.

The states with the worst legal climates, according to the survey, were California (46th), Alabama (47th), Mississippi (48th), Louisiana (49th), and West Virginia (50th).

The states with the best legal climates were Delaware (1st), North Dakota (2nd), Nebraska (3rd), Indiana (4th), and Iowa (5th).

Santorum also won the Missouri primary and was first in the Colorado caucuses. The three victories pushes his primary/caucus victory total to four. See slideshow by Blaine/Spring Lake Park Editor Tim Hennagir.

The Elks pulled out a 3-1 victory over Centennial on a pair of goals by Josie Brown in the final six minutes and tied Anoka for the Northwest Suburban crown.

The No. 7 ranked Elks (18-3-3) and No. 3 ranked Anoka (21-2-2) wound up with identical 14-2-2 records, as Anoka, the sole leader all season, was beaten by Andover 3-1 earlier Saturday. See more in Sports Editor Bruce Strand’s Star News story.

According to the criminal complaint, 37-year-old Benito Hernandez Romo Jr. told police he was walking through the transit station’s parking lot Jan. 30 when he noticed a vehicle with keys in its ignition and decided to take it. See more in ThisweekLive story.

Samuel O. Edem, 57, of Apple Valley, and Ernest O. Edem, 50, of Brooklyn Park, have each been charged by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office with five counts of felony theft by swindle. See more in Jessica Harper’s ThisweekLive story.

The two athletes were visiting as part of the Special Olympics’ annual Capitol Hill Day, which highlights the vital role the Special Olympics’ health, education and leadership programs play in the lives of all participants.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar meets with Special Olympics Athletes Nicholas Van Denburgh and Allie Henley.

“The Special Olympics are a positive force in the lives of countless Minnesotans,” Klobuchar said. “I was pleased to meet with both of these talented athletes and talk about how the Special Olympics can continue to uplift lives for years to come.”

Nicholas Van Denburgh from Oak Grove has been a Special Olympics athlete for six years, competing in hockey, basketball, track and field, softball, flag football, and bowling. In 2011, he was named the Special Olympics Minnesota male athlete of the year.

Allie Henley from Plymouth has been a Special Olympics athlete for seven years during which she competed in hockey, basketball, track and field, bocce and bowling. She was also the captain of five of Wayzata High School’s adapted sports teams.

CAPTION: Klobuchar meets with Special Olympics Athletes Nicholas Van Denburgh and Allie Henley.

The BOB FM radio group will broadcast a total of 50 games throughout the 2012 season. Broadcasts will include the Twins Opening Day (April 6 vs. BAL), all Sunday games and the Twins final home game of the regular season (Sept. 30 vs. DET).

Fifty regular season games and any playoff games will be broadcast on the BOB FM radio group including:

• KBGY FM 107.5 and KLCI 106.1.2HD “La Mera Buena” in the Twin Cities and Southern MN.
• WLKX FM 95.9 “Hope FM” in the Twin Cities North Metro area and Western Wisconsin.

“The Minnesota Twins are happy to continue our Spanish-language radio broadcasts with La Mera Buena,” said Miguel Ramos, Twins Director of Emerging Markets. “The commitment we’re making to ensure big league broadcasts to Spanish-speaking baseball fans throughout Twins Territory is truly exciting. This partnership is good for our fans and good for business.”

In their 11th season broadcasting games in Spanish, the Twins have maintained the number of Spanish-language broadcasts at 50. The Twins were the first professional sports team in the Twin Cities market to broadcast their games in Spanish.

The play-by-play announcer will be Alfonso Fernandez and the color analyst will be Twins legend Tony Oliva. In addition, there will be 15 minute pre –and post-game shows.

Highlights of the Spanish broadcast schedule include games against the Boston Red Sox (April 23, 24, 25/ Aug. 5), the Milwaukee Brewers (May 18, 19, 20/ June 17), the Philadelphia Phillies (June 12, 13, 14), the Chicago White Sox (July 30, 31/ Sept.15, 16) and the New York Yankees (Sept. 24, 25, 26).

Single-game tickets for the 2012 season go on sale on Saturday, Feb. 25. For more information on Twins season, group and individual tickets, please visit www.twinsbaseball.com or call (612) 33-TWINS / (800) 33-TWINS.

For example, in 2010, there were a little fewer than 2,900 calls to poison control centers regarding synthetic marijuana exposure. That number nearly doubled in the first 8 months of 2011.

“As emergency physicians, we witness first-hand how these dangerous synthetic drugs are harming users,” said Dr. David Seaberg, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). “These products contain chemicals that imitate the hallucinogenic or stimulant properties of marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine, which can create severe paranoia that may cause users to harm themselves or others.”

One of the major concerns involves the use of so-called “bath salts.” Dr. Seaberg said to make no mistake, these are not actually bath salts or any type of bath products. Their only known purpose is for consumption as a recreational drug. These drugs are intentionally mislabeled by their manufacturers as “bath salts,” “plant food,” “air freshener,” etc. in order to trick the purchaser into thinking the drugs are mild or innocuous.   In 2010, there were about 300 calls to poison control centers related specifically to bath salts. In the first 8 months of 2011, that number was already more than 4,700.

Emergency physicians treat patients every day for a variety of different symptoms associated with synthetic drug use including, chest pain, elevated blood pressure, nausea, erratic heartbeat, agitation, paranoia, muscle breakdown and/or hypothermia.

These bath salts can have very harmful effects on its users. Users have reported impaired perception, reduced motor control, extreme paranoia and violent episodes. These synthetic drugs have been popular among teens and young adults, and are sold at retail outlets and over the Internet. These drugs can also be highly addictive to its users.

The use of synthetic drugs have led to several tragic outcomes. For example, there was a boy in Louisiana who snorted bath salts,  spent the next few days experiencing intermittent psychotic episodes and resulted in him committing suicide.  In another case, there was a teen in Illinois who smoked synthetic marijuana and died when he drove his car into a house. He crashed into the bedroom of a 2-year-old child, who, fortunately, was playing in the backyard at the time.

“We need lawmakers to take serious notice of what we are seeing in our emergency departments nationwide,” said Dr. Seaberg. “This synthetic drug problem is bad, it’s getting worse, it’s affecting our youth — killing many of them. We need to continue educating our children as to the severe dangers of these poisonous chemicals.”

Several legislative proposals in the U.S. House and Senate would address the imminent and emergency threats posed by three classes of synthetic drugs.    These drugs have no medical benefit, are abused by adolescents and adults on an increasing and sometimes deadly scale. Also, they are manufactured and distributed without adherence to any safety standards.

To set up an interview with a medical expert on the effects of synthetic drug use, please contact Mike Baldyga, ACEP Public Relations at (202) 728-0610, ext. 3005 or email at mbaldyga@acep.org.

For more information on synthetic drug use, bath salts and the pending federal legislation that would help control them, please visit www.ACEP.org. For more information on this and other health-related topics, please visit www.EmergencyCareForYou.org.

ACEP is a national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

About 200 educators met last week to learn from some Minnesota’s public schools that have been most effective in closing the achievement gap.    They were from district and charter public schools, and they focused on helping students. The African American Leadership Forum (AALF), General Mills Foundation and the University of Minnesota co-sponsored the meeting.

Cunningham believes “All children will benefit if this continues.”  I agree.

Mary Donaldson, Chris Stewart and Bill Wilson discuss ways to help students. (Photo by Joe Nathan)

Eric Mahmund, co-founder and executive Director of Harvest Prep in Minneapolis, was one of the keynote speakers.  Harvest Prep frequently has appeared on lists of Minnesota’s “Beat the Odds” schools.  That’s because despite the fact that more than 90% of its students are from low-income families, and more than 95% are African American, 82% of the schools students tested “proficient” in math, and 76% tested proficient in reading.  Both are above the state average.

Mahmoud listed five key gaps in Minnesota.  He’s found that “schools can overcome all of them.”
• Preparation Gap (too many youngsters from low income families come to kindergarten with low birth weight, not having heard enough words or encouragement.

• Time Gap: Given the preparation gap, many youngsters from low-income families need a longer day and a longer year.

• Belief gap. Mahmoud called this “the most important gap.”  It’s the belief of some people that students from low-income families cannot succeed in school.

• Teaching Gap – failing to use research based approaches.

• Leadership Gap – More leaders needed who know how to overcome other gaps.

Mahmoud recalled the 1979 words of the late Harvard Professor, Ron Edmonds:

“How many effective schools would you have to see to be persuaded of the educability of poor
children? If your answer is more than one, then I submit that you have reasons of your own for
preferring to believe that pupil performance derives from family background instead of school
response to family background. …We can, whenever and wherever we choose, successfully
teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us.  We already know more than we need
to do that. Whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that
we haven’t so far.”

Bill Wilson is former Minnesota Commissioner of the Department of Human Rights and founder of Higher Ground Academy in St.Paul; another “Beat the Odds” school lists.  Wilson emphasized the need to respect family culture and to promote high expectations.

Wilson was joined by Mary Donaldson, director of St. Paul’s Concordia Creative Learning Academy, in stressing that successful schools with low-income young people must teach arts as well as academics.  CCLA also is a “Beat the Odds” school.  “This is not just about test prep,” Donaldson pointed out.  “It’s about helping prepare youngsters to be active, caring, involved citizens.”

Chris Stewart, formerly a Minneapolis (District) Public School Board member and a member of the African American Leaderhip Forum, explained that “this was a pilot.  We wanted to see if people would come.  Today was a trial.  This was long overdue, and I hope it’s the start of something.”

Jeffrey Hassan, an attorney and one of the AALF leaders, told me he “felt wonderful” about the fact that about 200 people decided to attend the Saturday sessions.   He sees this as “a good start” of conversations in Minnesota, not about whether district or charters are better, but about what can be learned from the state’s most effective schools.  That’s exactly what young people need – more pragmatism, less politics.

Joe Nathan, formerly a public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change at Macalester College.  Reactions welcome, jnathan@macalester.edu