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Recent Law Changes That Benefit Consumers

Robert Edwards May 21, 2014

There's an old saying that goes something like "no man's property is safe while the legislature is in session." That does not apply to the recent Minnesota legislative session that ended last week. There was a lot of stuff that was enacted into law that will help consumers.

A brief summary would be:

1. $450 million worth of tax cuts which includes $150 million of property tax relief.

2. The Minnesota Human Rights Act was amended to allow for jury trials in cases brought under that statute. Prior to this cases were tried to a judge.

3. The Minnesota No-Fault Act was amended to increase the maximum wage loss benefit from $250 per week (where it had been since the 1970s) to $500 per week. That figure is calculated on 85% of the injured person's gross (before taxes) wage loss.

Even though everyone wants to think that they aren't ever going to get in an accident, the same can be said for all of my clients. $500 a week is a heck of a lot better than $250 per week.

Items #2 & 3 were championed by the Minnesota Association for Justice, of which I am a proud member and member of the Board of Governors.