Super Lawyers names Mark Severson a 2020 Rising Star in Minnesota

Super Lawyers selects Severson Porter Law attorney, Mark Severson, as a Minnesota Rising Star in 2020.  Mark Severson has been previously selected as a  Minnesota Rising Star.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. Only the top 5 percent of attorneys in Minnesota are included in the annual Super Lawyers list.

Rising Star candidates must go through the same selection process as Super Lawyers but need to be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in Minnesota are named to the Rising Stars list.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON BUSINESS AND REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

By: Mark A. Severson
Board Certified Real Estate Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association

The devastating blow of the COVID-19 Virus has been felt by many in virtually all aspects of life, from Wall Street to Main Street.  Business has been essentially frozen as we all anxiously await positive developments.  The events of COVID-19 have certainly affected one’s ability to perform under previously agreed upon contracts. As we navigate this novel pandemic, we may wonder (a) does my contract address impossibility of performance due to a pandemic, or (b) what can I can do in a pure legal sense to protect myself against further devastation?  In terms of drafting contracts, there is a tool that has been used to address these concerns, dating back to the French civil law system.  “Force Majeure” is French for “superior force” and was intended to address “acts of God” for which no party to an agreement can be held accountable.

Specifically, a Force Majeure Clause is a contractual provision allocating the risk of loss if performance becomes impossible or impracticable, especially as a result of an event or effect that the parties could not have anticipated or controlled.  Including such a clause in a contract is an attempt of the parties to account for unexpected events or events that are so devastating it ought to excuse the parties from performance of the contract.  The terms can account for both acts of God (natural events, floods, hurricanes) and/or acts of people (riots, strikes, wars).  It is a provision that can effectively remove liability for natural and unavoidable catastrophes that interrupt the expected course of events and restrict parties to a contract from fulfilling their previously agreed upon obligations.

For contracts currently in place, a party may either invoke an existing Force Majeure Clause or request an amendment to include such a clause.  Without providing a full legal analysis, a contract containing a general Force Majeure Clause may not sufficiently apply to COVID-19.  Generally, Courts analyzing the issue must determine if it is a qualifying event, if the risk of nonperformance was foreseeable and able to be mitigated, and if performance is impossible.  A party is not able to invoke a Force Majeure Clause if it could have foreseen and mitigated nonperformance and, more importantly, if performance is merely difficult rather than impossible. Having COVID-19 classified as a pandemic is of great import to the question of whether a Force Majeure Clause is applicable.  If one is working under a government that has ordered certain businesses to not even go to work, and where remote operations are impossible, it would seem to make COVID-19 a qualifying event.

Locally, the invocation of a Force Majeure Clause came up with the Minnesota Twins and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.  The Twins attempted to invoke the clause when it learned that it would be contracted from Major League Baseball. In that case, the Twins argued they should be excused from the contract since they would be unable to play a home game for a reason beyond the Teams and the Commissions control, including strikes, an act of God, a natural casualty, or a court order. Ultimately, the Court sided with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission and determined that the Twins would be in default of the agreement if they stop playing at the Metrodome, even if the team was removed from the MLB (in other words contraction by the MLB was not a qualifying event).

So what does this mean for us now? Parties may consider specifically accounting for the COVID-19 pandemic by agreeing it is a qualifying event. In drafting the language, like all provisions, it is critical to be specific and leave nothing to assumption.  A Force Majeure Clause is not the only means of “getting out of a contract” due to catastrophic events. A party may also argue the doctrine of “frustration of purpose” or “impossibility” as a justifiable reason to excuse one from contractual obligations. This is a doctrine that if a party’s principal purpose is substantially frustrated by unanticipated changed circumstances, that party’s duties are discharged and the contract is considered terminated.  This is essentially an excuse for a party’s nonperformance because of uncontrollable circumstances.  Of course, all parties are encouraged to honor their contracts; however, when performance is truly impossible, it is not dishonorable to apply principles of law that address the situation.

As you navigate this new world, and enter into contracts, raise this issue with your attorney or real estate agent so that it may be accounted for in your contract, should it be appropriate in your situation. Many real estate purchase agreement forms have already been revised to account for such a provision due to the devastation of this pandemic. Even if you wish not to have such a provision, be mindful of it as the other party to the contract may wish to include it.

 

 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

As we all navigate these current events, please know that Severson Porter Law will remain ready, willing, and able to serve your legal needs throughout the crisis.

The Firm is following all recommendations from the CDC in maintaining a clean work space. The Firm has the technology in place to work remotely, if necessary, without losing any efficiencies or abilities.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. If anything from this crisis requires an adjustment to our service levels, scope of representation, or timing of performance of legal services, please let us know and we will accommodate. If anything is needed do not hesitate to contact Mark or Kurt to answer your questions.

Mark A. Severson & Kurt W. Porter

UPCOMING LLC LAW CHANGE

“The Office of the Secretary of State (OSS) wants to remind all limited liability companies formed prior to August 1, 2015 that they will become subject to a new law passed by the 2015 Legislature, Chapter 322C, beginning January 1, 2018. 

It is recommended that owners contact their attorneys, accountants or other business advisors well before the end of the calendar year to review the impact of the new law.”

Call 218-692-6999 to schedule a consultation.

 

http://www.sos.state.mn.us/business-liens/business-help/upcoming-llc-law-change/

KURT W. PORTER PREVAILS AT DISTRICT COURT IN DISPUTE OVER AMBIGUOUS PLAT

We are very pleased to announce that clients of Severson Porter Law prevailed in a contentious matter spanning several years involving an ambiguous plat of valuable lake properties on the Whitefish Chain.  Kurt W. Porter was the lead trial lawyer representing the Defendants and presented the case at trial.  The Plaintiffs were represented by a highly reputable law firm. The ambiguous plat resulted in an extensive disputed territory that, depending on which party prevailed, resulted in a lot more or a lot less lake shore.  The trial judge issued a very detailed and well written decision. We are overjoyed for our clients.

LAKE HOME RENTAL 101

There are many issues to consider when deciding to offer your lake home for rental. This article focuses on the business and legal aspects by providing a survey of issues surrounding the lake home rental.

First, consider that when listing your home through short-term rental service providers such as Airbnb, VRBO, etc. you are essentially running a business. As with any business, consider what risks and liabilities may be present. Does it make sense to incorporate and have an entity own the home to provide liability protection? If your home is regularly available as a short-term rental it may make sense to incorporate and run the rental like a business. At a minimum, it is worth discussing with your trusted attorney and accountant.

Second, consider compliance with rules and regulations. When you rent your home it is imperative to make sure the home rental complies with the laws and ordinances of Minnesota, Crow Wing County, and the municipality or township in which the property is located. This due diligence does not necessarily require retaining an attorney, as most of our local officials are very helpful. Speak with the City Clerk or Administrator and ask for relevant information related to the regulation of short-term rentals. The City or Township official should also be able to inform you of any business license or permits that may be required for a rental operation.

All that being said, the legal landscape for short-term rentals is frustratingly unclear in Minnesota. In fact, in 2014, a study was conducted by Crow Wing County Land Services on short-term rentals. At that time the County Board had evidently received enough complaints regarding short-term rental nuisances to justify looking into the issue for resolution. Ultimately, nothing was done and the status-quo continued.

The Crow Wing County Land Use Ordinance, then and now, does not explicitly identify short-term rentals as an allowed, permitted, or conditional use in its land-use tables. Under the terms of the Land Use Ordinance, any uses not listed in the land use tables are prohibited. Accordingly, by not regulating short-term rentals in the Land Use Ordinance, local governments put home owners in a difficult position, since the use is technically prohibited.

Nevertheless, Crow Wing County and similar counties have implicitly allowed short-term rentals. Many land-use departments take the position that regulation of the use is either under the umbrella of the Minnesota Department of Health or local police powers (responding to complaints of nuisance). Based on the 2014 study and subsequent inaction, it is reasonable to conclude that short-term rentals are an unregulated use that is allowed within Crow Wing County.

The most common complaint and/or liability with short-term rentals results from the behavior of the guests. The guests are, after all, in “vacation and party mode” in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area. Therefore, homeowners should take steps to minimize the potential negative impact a short-term rental can have on neighboring properties and even the lake.

Homeowners are free to regulate the use of the property and to impose strict rules.
Consider making it a term to the contract to incorporate by reference any rules of behavior posted on the property. Post rules that prohibit excessive noise or behavior that would burden the neighbors. What constitutes a “burden” can certainly be subjective, but in making the effort to regulate conduct, you have at least done your part in attempting to minimize any intrusion into your neighbor’s ability to enjoy his or her property.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, consider providing “lake rules” for your guests. Some guests may be visiting a Minnesota lake for the first time and may not know how to respect the health of the lake. It may be helpful to provide a concise guideline on proper lake behavior. For example, provide a reminder not to ever litter in the waters and stress the importance of thoroughly cleaning a boat and trailer if a guest is going from lake to lake. There are many other examples of proper lake behavior addressed in DNR pamphlets that could be provided in a welcome packet.

All these considerations can be addressed in your short-term rental contract or even on site. It may work out to throw caution to the wind when engaging in a short-term rental, but by clearly communicating what can and cannot be done during the course of a short-term rental, you are doing your guests, your neighbors, and yourself a favor.

In consideration of all these issues, if you already offer your property for a short-term rental or are considering doing so, it is recommended to involve your trusted accountant, real estate agent, and/or attorney in the process. It is also encouraged to communicate with the local governmental controls – you will likely find that the offices are very helpful on issues such as this and any others related to the use of your property. Finally, it is encouraged to foster a good relationship with your neighbors and attempt to address any concerns they may have with a short-term rental. Often times it is the little acts of kindness in being neighborly that avoids future legal issues.

MARK A. SEVERSON CERTIFIED AS MSBA CERTIFIED REAL PROPERTY LAW SPECIALIST

Mark Severson has been certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist. Administered by the MSBA, the certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys.

RIPARIAN RIGHTS: WHAT DO YOU REALLY OWN?

“There are certain interests and rights vested in the shore owner which grow out of his special connection with such waters as an owner. These rights are common to all riparian owners on the same body of water, and they rest entirely upon the fact of title in the fee to the shore land.”
– Justice Leroy E. Matson –
Minnesota Supreme Court

Every person who purchases a lake lot does so with the expectation of exercising the “riparian rights” that come with owning lakeshore property. But what are these “riparian rights”? They are not spelled out in the purchase agreement or in the deed for the property. Riparian rights are those rights inherent to the ownership of shoreline that permit the owner to use and enjoy the water. The right to “use and enjoy water” means the right to make use of a lake over its entire surface. But that use must be reasonable. It cannot interfere with the exercise of similar rights on the part of the other abutting owners who share riparian rights.

Of course a lake lot owner’s riparian rights, no matter how seemingly reasonable, are not limitless. A landowner’s riparian rights are still subject to state regulation, which is promulgated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which, in turn, often defers at least some authority to the local branches of government.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to identify every use of the water that could be deemed “reasonable.” We know it is reasonable, for example, to boat, hunt, and fish. Important to many lake owners, it is also reasonable to install a dock and watercraft lift long enough to reach navigable water depths, so long as the dock and/or watercraft lift do not constitute a hazard to navigation or public health, safety, and welfare. It is likely to be considered an “unreasonable” use if the design and location of your dock extends in front of your neighbor’s beach. To state the obvious, the best practice is to install docks and boat lifts so that mooring and maneuvering of watercraft can normally be confined within the property lines as if they were extended into the water.

Like many land-related rights, it is possible to separate the riparian rights and sell or assign them independently of the land to which those rights are attached. But even the right to sell riparian rights is limited; many counties (including Crow Wing County) restrict the right to provide access to public waters for non-riparian owners through a riparian lot. It is possible, but difficult. Normally, the public’s only access to a lake is if the public owns land adjacent to the lake.

If the public owns land that abuts a lake, such as a beach, a mutual right of enjoyment is shared by riparian owners and the public generally. On a public lake, therefore, the private owner has no more right to the recreational benefits such as boating, hunting, and fishing on that lake than does the general public. A common mistaken belief is that the State of Minnesota owns a strip of land around all Minnesota lakes for public use, making all lakes accessible to the public. Much to the relief of all lakeshore owners, this is absolutely false. Like all property, lakeshore is either privately or publicly owned and the general public can access water bodies or watercourses only through public property, not through private property. And, like all property, those unaware individuals who enter private property without permission from the landowner are trespassing and may be prosecuted under the state trespass laws.

NOTHING EASY ABOUT EASEMENTS

With multiple law offices in the Brainerd Lakes Area, a significant portion of our practice is devoted to easements. Clients often come in with their own assumptions of what an easement is and what it entails. The world of easements is as broad as it is complex. Easements can be an incredibly useful tool to resolve disputes or problems either through real estate transactions or litigation. Specifically, an easement can be used to provide access for a driveway or even to a lake. An easement can also be used to preserve wetlands or to protect certain portions of land from development or use. This overview provides a mere snapshot of the concept of easements.

Easement Defined

An easement is defined as the right in the owner of one parcel of land, by reason of such ownership, to use the land of another for a special purpose not inconsistent with a general property right of such owner. The grantor of the easement retains fee title to his or her land. The benefitting party gains the ability to use the grantor’s land for the stated purpose set forth in the easement. In simple terms, an easement provides the right to use another’s land for whatever purpose the easement was created. That use, however, is limited to the specifically described uses in the written document creating the easement. The use may be exclusive to a benefitting party or others may have rights to use it at the same time (non-exclusive). An easement may be perpetual and “run with the land” or not run with the land and be available to only the benefitting party during the benefitting party’s lifetime. An easement can also expire by its own terms or with a deadline. Finally, an easement can be deemed abandoned if not put to its intended use within forty (40) years.

Ambiguous Description of Location

When a real estate attorney is not used to draft the easement the most prevalent issue is not specifically defining the location of the easement through a legal description or the area is defined by the entire lot (blanket easement). In the case of a blanket or undefined easement as to the location, the portion of the land not actually used may be released from the easement or a Court could reform the easement based on evidence of actual use (again, if it is not used at all in a forty year span, the easement could be deemed abandoned).

Negative Easement: Banning Certain Uses

It is even possible, if the relevant parties agree, for example, to use a “negative easement” to prevent the construction of a dock that would obstruct the lake view. A negative easement bans or restricts a particular use on the burdened land. It does not allow the owner of the dominant estate to make some direct use of the burdened land. A negative easement may be used for many reasons including, but not limited to, for light, air, lateral support, views, or even water flow.

Conservation Easements: Restrict Uses of Land

A conservation easement is another type of negative easement, to restrict use of land in a natural form, at the request of government or private landowners. Typically, a conservation easement is used with the goal of preserving natural habitats such as a lake or a stream. A conservation easement is intended to leave certain property in its natural state by preventing development or intense uses. In the case of a lake, certain activities could be restricted along any fragile areas such as the shoreline to improve water quality. More often than not conservation easements are created through the efforts of the responsible government entities. Like all easements, the landowner with the property burdened by the easement still retains fee title in his/her property; however, once granted, the restriction on use must be considered in its valuation.
Again, this merely scratches the surface of easements. There are other types of easements. For example, a prescriptive easement can be established by use of the property if certain legal elements are satisfied.

If you have a property that could use an easement or is already burdened by an easement or, perhaps, benefitted by an easement, it may be prudent to have a discussion with a real estate attorney over the rights and duties involved in the easement. Done properly, easements can ease the use of one’s property and, hopefully, encourage and foster neighborly relationships.

LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AS LEGAL OPTION TO PRESERVE A LAKE

One of the most precious resources in Minnesota is our pristine lakes. The value of lake property is tied to the health of the lake. If a lake is overcome with invasive species it inevitably impacts the value of lake properties. Thankfully, active and sophisticated lake associations accomplish much in the way of maintaining the health of a lake. However, associations do have some limitations that a Lake Improvement District (“LID”) can address. For example, collection of funds can be a difficult obstacle for lake associations to maintain a budget. A LID removes the difficulties associated with begging fellow lake property owners for money. It is not merely about money though as the goal of a LID is to preserve and protect the particular lake and to enhance the use and enjoyment of the lake.

A LID is a newly formed local unit of government with taxing authority that is established by resolution of the appropriate County Boards and/or city governing bodies, or by the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The County Board delegates specific authorities to the LID. The process of establishing a LID is enumerated in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Administrative Rules.

Process to Establish a LID

To convince the County Board to pass such a resolution a petition must be signed by at least Twenty Six percent (26%) of the proposed district property owners. There are specific legal requirements for the content of the petition. The County Board has thirty (30) days to act on a petition. Before the County Board conducts a hearing on the petition, it must notify the town board of a town wholly or partially within the boundaries and ask for a response. The County Board must also send the petition to the DNR and Pollution Control Agency for review and comment within at least 21 days prior to the public hearing. Then, within 30 days after being notified of the petition, the County Board must hold a public hearing on whether the requested LID should be established. Finally, within 30 days after holding the public hearing, the County Board shall, by order, establish or deny the establishment of the petitioned LID.

Improvements Eligible for Establishment of LID

The types of improvements eligible for the establishment of a LID include, but are not limited to, (a) studying the sources of and solutions to lake problems, (b) preserving and improving water quality by means of water and related land management, (c) sedimentation and silation control, (d) shoreline erosion control, (e) aquatic nuisance control, and (f) preserving and improving fish and wildlife habitat, (g) preserving and improving recreational potential of the lake, and (h) any other purpose approved by the County Board.

Financing LIDs

County Boards have myriad options for financing LID projects, services, and general administration. The options include, though only after seeking other sources of funding, assessing costs to benefited properties, imposing service charges, issuing general obligation bonds, levying an ad valorem tax on property within the district, or any combination of these options.

Conclusion

LIDs offer many tools and resources to preserve lake quality. Lakes that enjoy significant use, high boat traffic, and likely guest boat traffic, may find it advantageous to have a LID. Many neighboring lakes have successfully implemented LIDs. This law firm has formed a LID that has all but saved a lake that many thought at one point could not be saved and is experienced in LID development and management. A LID may not be the best option for a particular lake but it is a useful tool offered within Minnesota.

Common Interest Communities 101: Choosing the Right Type of CIC

The previous post in this series, “What Are CICs”, introduced a few of the most basic concepts related to common interest communities, or “CICs”. As was briefly discussed, all CIC’s in Minnesota are one of three types: (1) a “Condominium”, (2) a “Cooperative”, or (3) a “Planned Community”.  This post explores the three types of CICs and some of the factors that may be considered in determining which type of CIC to use. With this, however, comes the obvious disclaimer that each individual situation is different and the factors listed here are only some that may be applicable in a general sense.

The first type of CIC is the most frequently used, likely because it is the most broadly defined. Any CIC that is not a Cooperative or a Condominium (the other two types of CICs) is a “Planned Community”.  In a planned community the owner owns the unit.  Units are generally defined to include at least the structural residence (if not also the land around the structure).  There is an owner’s association tied to the planned community; the owner’s association will own and maintain all other property in the planned community that is not a unit.  This other property is known as the common property.  Another reason planned communities tend to be used more frequently is because the ownership structure of a unit in a planned community is generally easier for potential buyers to understand.  The homeowner owns his or her unit, and the owner’s association owns everything else.  For the same reason, financing to purchase units in a planned community tends to be easier than, for instance, in a cooperative.  Planned communities work well for, among other things, townhomes and single family detached homes.

In a Condominium-type CIC, a unit owner owns his or her unit, which is typically defined as the space between the walls, ceiling, and floor (and, thus, does not include the structure around the unit, i.e., the building in which the unit is located).  This is a drawback for those if the condominium CIC is new construction; a condominium unit does not physically exist until all the floors of all the buildings (if there is to be more than one residential building) are framed in.  Unlike a planned community, where a separate entity (the owner’s association) owns the common elements of the CIC, in a condominium CIC unit owners share an undivided percentage of interest in the common elements. This may be a marketing point for the sale of units, as some potential buyers will undoubtedly enjoy the idea that they own an interest in the common elements of the property.  Similar to planned communities, condominiums are fairly easily financed, which may make them more marketable to the consumer.

Cooperatives are relatively rare in Minnesota.  This may be for a number of reasons.  For instance, instead of owning a unit (or any real property), a person owns a membership interest or share in the cooperative.  It should be noted that the ownership interest in a cooperative is more often than not deemed as personal property but in rare instances may be couched as real property.  As a member of the cooperative, the member is entitled to lease a particular unit in the cooperative.  Because the individual units are not separately legally defined, financing can be troublesome.  A lender does not have a separate legal description to which it can attach a mortgage as security.  Instead, the lender must use the membership interest in the cooperative that is merely pledged as security against the loan by the owner.  Only a minority of lenders in Minnesota will have the experience or ability necessary to finance a cooperative.  Obviously, this can make marketing membership interests in a cooperative difficult.

The factors discussed above are only some of the many considerations one should undertake before delving into the arduous process of creating a CIC.   The CIC statutes are extremely complex and ever changing, and strict compliance by the developer is legally required to avoid potentially severe adverse consequences.  The absolute necessity of advice from an experienced real estate attorney at the inception of the development cannot be overstated.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

SERIES: SHOULD I INCORPORATE MY BUSINESS?

On average, I probably talk to at least one business person each week who asks me whether I think it would be appropriate or necessary for him or her to incorporate his/her business. (By incorporating, I mean operate the business as a corporation, limited liability company or other type of recognized business entity, all of these specific issues will be addressed in a separate blog. For purposes of this blog, when i say “incorporate”, I mean operate my business through a separate legally created business entity, regardless of the type of entity selected, rather than through the individual as a sole proprietorship.) Let me start by saying that it is almost never absolutely necessary to incorporate, the question is more whether it would be appropriate or prudent to incorporate.

The primary legal reason for incorporating your business is to protect your personal assets from claims or liabilities that are incurred by your business. The importance of this fundamental concept is not fully appreciated or understood by many business owners.

Incorporating your business essentially creates a different “person” that is responsible for the debts of the business. Subject to certain exceptions, most of which you as the owner of the business entity will control, the corporation is exclusively liable for the debts and obligations of the business operated by the corporation, not you individually as the owner (shareholder) of the corporation. Conversely, the individual owner of an unincorporated business generally will be held individually liable for the debts of the business.

That does not mean that all persons who operate a business should always incorporate. In addition to the initial costs of setting up the corporation, there are other expenses caused by operating as a corporation which could militate against incorporating. For example, a corporation must file its own separate income tax returns and maintain separate financial books and records, all of which cost money.

Although there certainly are businesses for which it probably does not make sense to incorporate, I think it is fair to say that it makes more sense for most businesses to incorporate. There are a few rules of thumb that I use in helping clients decide whether it makes sense to incorporate. Just a few of these are as follows.

Does the business have any employees (other than the owner) for whose actions the owner could be held personally liable? It generally makes no sense for a business owner to expose his/her personal assets to claims asserted against the business owner based only upon claims for the conduct of a third party employee. Creating a protection barrier against such claims against the owner and his/her individual assets is a sound basis for incorporating.

Does the business use vehicles that are operated by either employees or independent contractors in the operation of the business? Your insurance agent will tell you not to worry about this element. But with all due respect to the insurance business, insurance companies are in the business of accepting premium payments from customers and then denying coverage/claims whenever there is a legal basis for doing so. Whether the claim is covered by insurance is not nearly as threatening if the claim is against your corporation rather than against you individually.

What is the nature of the business you are operating and what is the nature of the claims that can be reasonably anticipated to arise from the business? Some businesses, by their very nature, should not be expected to generate claims that cannot be “fixed” by the business, if they arise at all. For example, a painter or sheet rocker (who has no employees) is likely to be able to repair or otherwise “fix” a customer complaint based only upon the quality of his/her work. Simply, repaint the defective workmanship. Conversely, an electrician, whose defective wiring burns down the house, probably has a bigger problem, and is likely not protected by insurance coverage.

There may also be tax reasons to incorporate, but I am not trained in tax matters and do not provide tax advice. I defer to other professionals in connection with the analysis of this issue. But, I know enough to advise that it is worth looking into whether incorporating will provide deductibility for expenses that not otherwise be deductible if the business were not incorporated.

In sum, I think it is fair to say that most businesses, especially as they become more and more successful, are probably better off being incorporated. If you would like to discuss with us whether it is reasonable to incorporate your business contact us at your convenience.

COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES 101 SERIES: WHAT ARE CICS?

Most land developers may be familiar with the basic concepts of common interest communities, or “CICs”.  Often when one thinks of CICs, the first thought that comes to mind is townhomes: each person owns his or her residential unit and contributes (usually through an association fee) to the taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance costs, or construction costs associated with a different area of land that is generally available for use to all others in the CIC, often called “common area.”  While townhomes are often cited as the quintessential CIC, not all CICs need be set up as townhomes.  In fact, CICs need not be residential land developments at all and may be used to create storage units, boat slips, and many other types of non-residential uses.

This series addresses the concept of CICs in Minnesota.  It is an ever-changing area of law that is complex and laced with numerous pitfalls for the unwary developer.  This is true from the very beginning of a land development when one must determine what type of CIC is the best fit for the intended use of the property. It is also important to note that the laws regulating CIC’s are very dynamic and materially change regularly, both by changes in statutes and Court decisions.

To begin, a CIC may be “flexible”, which merely indicates that land may be added to the CIC at a later time.  While the designation may seem inconsequential, a flexible CIC has additional requirements that must be considered before the CIC is even created.  An informed decision as to whether or not a CIC should be designated as flexible can help save many headaches down the road.   As a buyer, the purchaser of a CIC unit in a flexible will want to know whether the purchased unit is part of an existing unit that will not expand, or may be only a less important unit in a larger and ever expanding project.

Whether or not a CIC is flexible, all CIC’s must be one of three types of CICs in Minnesota: (1) a “Condominium”, (2) a “Cooperative”, or (3) a “Planned Community”.  These three types of CICs are distinguished and characterized by the level of ownership afforded to the individual property owners in the CIC.  For instance, in a cooperative, a homeowner’s association owns all the real estate, which is divided into “units”, and each member of the homeowner’s association is entitled to lease a unit (this is very important for finance purposes because the leasehold interest is personal property and cannot be mortgaged, which complicates buyers obtaining financing for lenders who are not familiar with cooperatives).  Whereas the owner in a condominium CIC owns his or her unit, but the unit is typically defined as the space between the walls, ceiling, and floor (and, thus, does not include the structure around the unit, i.e., the building in which the unit is located).  In a planned community, again the owner owns the unit, but units in planned communities are generally defined to include at least the structural residence (if not also the land around the structure).  Planned communities are the most frequently used type of CIC in Minnesota.

There are both short term and long term considerations that must be taken into account for each of the three types of CICs.  The Minnesota legislature has taken great pains to draft the CIC statutes to favor and protect unit purchasers (including prospective unit purchasers).  As was mentioned earlier, the CIC statutes are extremely complex and ever changing, and strict compliance by the developer is legally required to avoid potentially severe adverse consequences.  The absolute necessity of advice from an experienced real estate attorney at the inception of the development cannot be overstated.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

ROOTS OF INHERITANCE AND THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF THE DEATH TAX

This op-ed in the Star Tribune penned by a teacher in Lino Lakes proposed an end to inheritance.  In other words, that the government impose a 100% death tax.  The basic idea promoted was to allow the government to take all assets in the name of the decedent and redistribute those assets to individuals the government deems worthy or in need.  After reading it I thought it may be appropriate to offer some background of inheritance in our culture.

The so called death tax dates back as far as 700 B.C., when decedents in Egypt were subject to a 10% tax on the transfer of property at death. The history of the death tax in the United States reveals that the tax was a vehicle to fund war. The first death tax in the United States was imposed in the Stamp Act of 1797 to pay off war debts.  Ironically, the Stamp Act inspired a Revolutionary War, leading to Congress repealing the Stamp Act in 1802.  Over the next hundred years the inheritance tax was enacted to cover wars, and then repealed when the war ended or when the war debts were paid. In 1862, Congress passed the Tax Act imposing a federal death tax to finance the Civil War.  The need for increased revenues dissipated when the Civil War ended in 1865, and the death tax was subsequently repealed in 1870.  Finally, with the passage of the Revenue Act of 1916 (primary purpose was to create the income tax), Congress imposed a death tax that was not directly legislated to fund wars.  Although, not even one year later the tax was increased to fund the United States involvement in World War I.  Following the end of World War I in 1918, Congress never repealed the death tax and Americans have been paying it ever since.  Currently, there is both a federal inheritance tax and a Minnesota inheritance tax.

Before considering proposals such as a 100% death tax from well-meaning citizens, it is important to understand why as a culture we generally value inheritance.  Historically, inheritance in Western Civilization has had a direct relation to the family structure.  In Western Civilization, property has long been intended for not only the good of the individual but of the family. Therefore, the law has encouraged that the family should be supported from the property of a deceased owner. If a person dies without a will and without declaring heirs, the family always has the first claim on the property, and civil law has always reflected that primary responsibility of the family. It has also been a fixture in the law that a person may make any disposal of his or her property that would have been legitimate when that person was alive. Implied inheritance, therefore, is the natural right to dispose of one’s property not only during life but also after death.  That has been the understanding of inheritance in our culture for thousands of years.  However, if the President were to follow the advice from the LinoLakes teacher and impose law that all property of the decedent at the time of death shall become the government’s, it would effectively abolish thousands of years of jurisprudence.

Whether you form a position on the issue or not, it is always important to be well informed before reaching a conclusion and advocating for the same.  For what would seem like a boring issue, the history of “the death tax” is fascinating as it is woven with the history of wars, tenets of religion, Western Civilization culture, and development of tax laws in the United States.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENTS IN MINNESOTA

More often than not, if anyone has signed a non-competition agreement, it is because it was included in their initial employment packet of documents to sign before the first day on the job. It is rare to negotiate the terms of a non-competition agreement, and even if the new employer is open to negotiation there exists an obvious unequal bargaining position. Accordingly, non-competition agreements are generally disfavored in Minnesota. However, that does not mean that following termination of employment that one may not be effectively enforced by the former employer.

Non-competition agreements have long been carefully scrutinized by Minnesota Courts and have been traditionally disfavored as restraints on an individual’s ability to make a living. As the Minnesota Supreme Court said almost one hundred years ago, “[o]ne who has nothing but his labor to sell, and is in urgent need of selling that, cannot well afford to raise any objection to any of the terms in the contract of employment offered him, so long as the wages are acceptable.” Menter Co. v. Brock, 147 Minn. 407, 411, 180 N.W. 553, 555 (1920). So, if enforcing a non-competition agreement is so difficult why bother?

In Minnesota, a Court may enforce a non-competition clause if it is necessary to protect reasonable interests of an employer, and does not impose unreasonable restraints on the rights of the employee. In determining whether the restraint is valid, Minnesota Courts analyze whether the restraint is for a just and honest purpose, for the protection of a legitimate interest of the party in whose favor it is imposed, reasonable as between the parties, and not injurious to the public.

Non-competition agreements are typically enforced through the filing of a motion for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction. The former employer can usually request attorney’s fees pursuant to the agreement. Some of the most common reasons a non-competition agreement may fail is because it lacks consideration (nothing received by employee in exchange for agreeing to the restriction), the geographic scope may be too unreasonably expansive, or the restriction is for too many years.

Depending on the business, it may be worth it to enforce the non-competition agreement to protect the business from a former employee joining a competitor while revealing trade secrets, client lists, business and marketing plans, and myriad other forms of confidential information. Furthermore, even if the restriction is deemed to be too excessive, Minnesota allows the Court to modify the contract under what is called the “blue pencil doctrine” to enforce a particular provision in a reasonable manner. Under the blue pencil doctrine as it has developed in Minnesota, a Court can take an overly broad restriction and enforce it only to the extent that it is reasonable.

Litigation over non-competition agreements can be costly. Whether you are a former employee subject to a non-competition agreement trying to find a new job to make a living, the former employer trying to protect its business interests by possibly enforcing the non-competition agreement, or the new employer hiring the former employee, these issues should not be taken lightly.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

IS MY HOME UNDER WARRANTY?

Did you know that your home may be under warranty per Minnesota Statute Chapter 327A? The warranties within the statute must be in every contract for the construction or sale of a dwelling by a Vendor to a Vendee in Minnesota. The warranty provisions cannot be waived by any of the parties. Under the warranty statute, Minnesota defines a dwelling as a new building not previously occupied and built for the purpose of habitation. Vendor typically means the general contractor and not any subcontractors or material suppliers. Vendee typically means the one buying the new home but also includes any subsequent purchasers within the warranty time period.

Within one year of the warranty date, the warranty statute covers defects caused by faulty workmanship or defective materials due to noncompliance with the Minnesota Building Code.

Within two years of the warranty date, the statute covers defects caused by faulty installation of plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, again, due to failure to comply with the standards laid out by the Minnesota Building Code.

Within ten years, the statute covers major construction defects. Minnesota defines major construction defect as actual damage to the load-bearing portion of the dwelling, which includes damage to the subsidence (gradual sinking of an area of land), expansion or movement of the soil affecting load bearing function, also affecting use of the dwelling for residential purposes.

In addition to new construction, the statute also covers home improvements. The same warranty time periods discussed above apply to home improvements. Generally speaking, depending on the scope of the home improvement, the statute covers workmanship and materials within one year, installation of plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems within two years, and major construction defects within ten years.

If you have a claim under the Minnesota Warranty Statute, damages (money) are limited to the amount necessary to repair the defect or the difference between the dwelling without the defect and the value of the dwelling with the defect. Typically, the cost of repair is the measure of damages.

Minnesota also protects home owners against judgment proof contractors. If you are in the unfortunate circumstances of having to assert a claim under the warranty statute the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry set up a contractor’s recovery fund that can pay money to a home owner that successfully obtains a judgment against a contractor that is unable to pay the amount of the judgment awarded. Once you obtain a judgment, you can apply to the recovery fund and Minnesota may pay up to $75,000.00 depending on the facts of your claim.

Any potential claims under the Home Warranty Statute must be brought within a certain amount of time from the date of discovering the defects. If you are experiencing problems resulting from new construction or home improvements, it is always best to communicate directly with the builder you hired to attempt to resolve the issues. However, if the builder and you are unable to resolve the problems, you can always consult with a construction law attorney to learn about your rights. Other legal claims may be applicable to your particular situation.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

NAVIGATING PROPERTY LINE DISPUTES

Working in Real Estate Law in beautiful Greater Minnesota with a proud reputation for simply being nice, I often wondered why a Real Estate attorney would ever be necessary to resolve boundary line disputes. However, I quickly discovered that Greater Minnesota is inundated with confusing property lines, complex legal descriptions, and unclear boundaries. Many times the layout of the land is the true culprit to a property line dispute as opposed to neighbors not getting along.

What is the most prudent course of action when a property line dispute arises with your neighbor? If you are lucky and the circumstances are fitting, you may be able to resolve the dispute without having to hire an attorney. The first recommended action may sound simple but is often disregarded: communicate with your neighbor. For example, perhaps you have been struggling for the past year wondering why your neighbor mows five feet into your lawn. In those circumstances, a simple neighborly conversation may resolve the confusion and encourage the neighbor to not encroach onto your lawn if it is a concern of yours. However, what happens when the friendly conversation turns into a dispute over where exactly the property line is located? Most of the time a survey can resolve such a dispute, but not when the survey reveals overlapping boundaries. The discovery of overlapping boundaries is a situation that can ultimately lead to a bitter property line battle.

If boundary lines overlap, both properties have title issues that must be resolved prior to any attempted sale or transfer of title. If this situation is discovered, you should at least consult with a real estate attorney to learn all of your options in your particular situation. Upon learning that your property line overlaps with your neighbors, you or your attorney should look at the legal description on your warranty deed and confirm with the surveyor that the practical boundary line is the same as the line described in your deed. If it is, then compare the legal description to the one in your title insurance policy. Your title insurance company may have to resolve the issue for you if it insured the line despite the overlap.

If there is a general agreement as to the location of the property line, then you could share costs for a survey company to mark the new boundary and provide a legal description. Then, the neighbor and you could resolve the issue by exchanging quit claim deeds that fix the new boundary line. That is likely the easiest, fastest, and cheapest resolution. There are other options available, but generally speaking, if the neighbor and you cannot agree to exchange deeds, then a lawsuit may be necessary to determine the actual boundary line for your property (legalese: lawsuit causes of action typically involve practical location of a boundary and/or adverse possession).

In the end, communication and treating your neighbor with respect will very likely save you from a devastating and expensive lawsuit as well as years of misery from not getting along with a neighbor.

ARE TRUSTS ONLY FOR THE WEALTHY?

A Trust is oftentimes associated with wealth. The reason for this is that selecting the appropriate Trust based estate plan could save one’s estate from excessive death taxes. However, there are many more benefits to having a Trust. Before identifying some of those benefits, it is helpful to know what a trust is and whether it is the same thing as a Will.

In simple terms, a Trust is an agreement as to how your assets should be handled and eventually distributed. A Trust is a powerful tool that gives the person creating the Trust complete control over his or her assets. The most fundamental difference between a Will and a Trust is the potential avoidance of Probate Court. While a Will is necessary and provides a clear set of instructions as to what to do with the estate, it still must pass through Probate Court. A properly drafted and funded Trust avoids Probate Court.

So what are some of the benefits of having a Trust that may apply to everyone? As mentioned, a trust avoids probate and potential public scrutiny. If privacy is a concern of yours then you would want a trust based plan as opposed to a will based plan. A trust is completely private and, unlike a probated will, a copy cannot be obtained at the Courthouse. There are typically no Court filings with a Trust plan. A trust can also plan for disability. In the event that you become disabled, the person you appoint as Trustee (the one taking care of your property) may exercise the powers given by you to take care of property owned by the trust. In other words, a Trust can also avoid guardianship or conservatorship legal proceedings. A trust makes it easy to place conditions on the distribution of any inheritance. For example, rather than an heir receiving one lump sum of money, a trust could direct that your grandchildren receive a certain amount of money for educational purposes. Finally, if you are a small business owner, a trust may make it easier to distribute ownership interests in that business.

A trust can be a powerful document that offers enough flexibility to control and ultimately distribute your assets. However, a trust is not by any means a cookie cutter form and can become very complex. There are myriad types of trusts to meet your specific needs. If you think a trust may be the right estate planning tool for you, you should discuss the option with your estate-planning attorney before setting one up.

CAN OWNING PROPERTY IN OTHER STATES BECOME A PROBLEM?

Many Minnesotans own a second property in Florida or Arizona. How does title to that second home pass to loved ones after you die? First, the good news: If you own the home in a joint tenancy with another person (most of the time a spouse), then that person would obtain title to the home without having to go through that state’s Probate Court. If you transferred title to that home into a Revocable Living Trust, then the terms of the Trust would direct what happens to the home free from the Probate Court in that state. However, what if a Trust does not own the property or you do not currently own the home in a joint tenancy with a right of survivorship?

When you die the personal representative of your estate would be responsible for making sure the home goes to whomever you wanted it to go to according to your Will, if you had one. If you reside in Minnesota, your personal representative will very likely go through the probate process in Minnesota. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with probate, the process can make settlement of the estate and transferring property to your heirs more difficult.

The Minnesota Probate Court has absolutely no jurisdiction over property in other states. Therefore, to be able to transfer title on a second home located in another state, the personal representative of your estate would have to go through the probate process in the state where the second home is located (legal term “ancillary probate”) in addition to going through the probate process in Minnesota. Going through the probate process in one state is expensive and difficult enough. Add another probate filing in another state with different laws and procedures and the expenses can become enormous.

If you own property in another state, you can easily avoid probate issues with a quality Estate Plan. The surest way to protect your estate and surviving family members from these issues is by transferring title to all of your properties into a Revocable Living Trust. By doing so, your estate avoids potential ancillary probate difficulties and likely saves a lot of money. All property, including your second home in another state, gets passed as directed by the terms of your Trust. Such a Trust based Estate Plan could be set up entirely in Minnesota by a licensed attorney. You do not need to set up one Trust to own the Florida home and another Trust to own your Minnesota home. Moreover, once you establish a Living Trust, all of your other assets and properties may be owned by the same Trust.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.

DON’T PLAY LAWYER

Technology has made life and business simpler by its ease of use and accessibility. Banking, paying bills, business communications, and ability to quickly look up medical or legal facts are all made easier through technology. Many people see advertisements for online legal services and wonder if this could speed up or simplify their legal process. We live in the age of information and there is no shortage of websites online offering quick fixes for business forms and legal products.  But do you know what you are getting? A good estate plan (Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive) is like insurance. Until the need arises, most people are unaware of exactly what their policy provides. Unfortunately, many will not know the quality of their “do it yourself” legal products, because the problems do not arise until after their death.

One might be tempted by the allure of a product that comes with promises of quick, easy, and cheap legal work. It is enticing to avoid hiring a lawyer. But, one basic truth resonates: you get what you pay for. For example, each state has specific laws, and every family has its own unique composition and issues that need consideration in an estate plan. An online form is unable to accommodate these needs.

In Minnesota, it is actually not difficult to execute a legally valid Will as there are three basic elements: (1) the Will must be typed, (2) the Will must be signed by the person making the Will, and (3) the Will must be notarized and signed by two witnesses present during the signing of the Will.  Any adult with a sound mind may make a Will, if the above requirements are met. A handwritten note, however, stating who gets what (holographic Will) is not valid in Minnesota.

As an attorney, I have reviewed form processed Wills that have failed to meet even the aforementioned requirements.  However, even if the Will is legally valid by meeting the minimum requirements, drafting your own Will is risky because it is likely not to provide what you want it to provide.  Legalese is a different language than English. Even the finished product from an online form company will be formal and almost entirely legalese.  You may be taking a significant risk by assuming you understand a certain word or phrase.  In fact, Forbes recently reported that some have accidentally disinherited children by not understanding legal phrases and choosing the wrong language through online forms.  Drafting a Will with a licensed attorney can give you the peace of mind that you did not misapply legal words and phrases.  It is the job of an attorney to know those words and phrases and apply them appropriately.

As an example, in our office, clients fill in the blanks of an estate planning document to give us an idea of what the client wants.  More often than not, clients unintentionally make mistakes in selecting language that would result in the opposite unintended result.  It is the attorney’s responsibility to choose the proper language that meets the needs of the client.

If the mistakes are not discovered until the need arises, it is too late.  Ineffective legal documents usually results in expensive litigation. If you have an inadequate estate plan, the problems are passed onto loved ones and the Court to decipher your wishes. Before you consider doing it yourself entirely on your own or through the latest online legal services, at a minimum, speak with a licensed attorney to ensure that your intentions are properly understood and carried out in your estate plan.

*** UPDATE ***

Ohio High Court questions whether use of forms by non lawyers should be considered unauthorized practice of law.

*This article does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to constitute advertising or solicitation for legal services. Nothing in this article should be construed by you as a source of legal advice. You should not rely or act upon the contents of this article without seeking advice from your own attorney.