CALL NOW!

(612) TSR-TIME

CALL 24/7

Author: Steve Terry

Steven Terry is the co-founder and current managing partner of TSR Injury Law. His practice consists solely of representing injured people and pursuing justice against wrongdoers. He has handled thousands of injury claims over a 20-plus-year career. Steve continues to exceed his clients' expectations and hold insurance companies responsible for the damage their insured's cause.

Woodbury Woman Charged with Sexually Exploiting Teen in Her Care

By Steve Terry |

A Woodbury woman has been charged with sexually exploiting a mentally handicapped teen in her care on a number of occasions.

Charyl Ann Tchida, 50, has been charged by the St. Paul City Attorney’s Office with one count of neglect of a vulnerable adult. If convicted, it is a gross misdemeanor.

The complaint states that there were a number of occasions when Tchida would bring the teen to places where she would be forced to have sex with “customers.” The girl operates at the level of a 5 or 6 year old.

The excursions began on July 3, 2012 at a Roseville hotel, where the teen was told to hang out with a 17-year-old boy she had met at a fast food restaurant. When she arrived, she met the 17-year-old who also had a 33-year-old-man and four other men with them. That night, the teenage girl would be forced to have sex with the four men that were there, according to the complaint. The 33-year-old would allegedly use a cellular phone to set up advertisements that solicited others to have sex with the girl for money. When the girl refused to do so, the man threatened her.

The girl stated that she had had sex with five “customers” in the hotel room that night.

The 33-year-old would take photographs of the money that was made from the girl having sex that night and send those photos to Tchida. Tchida did admit to the police that she had received a photo from the man that night, as well as a call from the 19-year-old that she was to be caring for.

The Alleged victim asked Tchida in the phone call to come pick her up, but the girl said in the complaint that Tchida never did. Tchida admitted that she had called the girl back, but the man answered the phone and told her that the girl was not coming home.

Tchida failed to report the rapes to authorities and that the girl had been forced into a prostitution ring until August.

Tchida would allegedly later take the girl to the man’s house in July where he would then take the girl to Minneapolis to have sex with a number of men for money. She would then be brought back to St. Paul later that day so that Tchida could pick her up. Tchida was aware of the exploitation, according to the complaint.

In mid-August, it was revealed that the girl had become pregnant.

In addition to these charges, Tchida is facing a charge of insurance fraud from lying to an insurance agent so that she could receive new insurance after another company had cancelled her old policy. After the new policy was approved, Tchida filed a water damage claim and the insurer paid over $6,000. It was later learned that the application she filled out to apply for the insurance was fraudulent. She also has a 2011 insurance fraud conviction in which she was ordered to pay over $8,000 in fines and concealed this on the application, as well as the fact that she had made a total of eight insurance claims with her former insurer.

Tibia Fibula Injury Claims

By Steve Terry |

A tibia fibula fracture is a very serious leg injury, with the possibility for many complications. If you have sustained a tibia fibula fracture in a motor vehicle accident or pedestrian accident, you need expert representation to maximize your compensation. The compensation may include payment for medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, and disability. Call a Bloomington personal injury attorney at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form. It is vital to act quickly so that evidence can be preserved and eye witnesses interviewed while the memory is fresh.

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture

The tibia is the weight-bearing, shin bone and the fibula is the calf bone. The tibia is the second longest bone in the body. It extends from the knee to the ankle.

The tibia has a higher incidence of fractures than any other long bone. Tibia fractures are considered a medical emergency. Traumatic fractures of the tibia fibula can occur anywhere along the length of the bones. The types of fractures are:

  • open or closed
  • stable or unstable
  • displaced or undisplaced
  • angulated or not angulated

With a closed tibia fibula fracture, not only is there intense pain, there is swelling and discoloration from the large amounts of blood that can flow from a fractured bone and damaged blood vessels.

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture Treatment

Treatment of a tibia fibula fracture depends on the whether it is closed or open. In a closed fracture, if the two fragments are close to alignment, the orthopedist may manually reduce the fracture and immobilize for 12 – 16 weeks in a plaster cast or a removable plastic cast walker.

An open fracture is classified according to the extent of broken skin, and whether there is significant soft tissue damage, blood vessel disruption, or contamination. If the tibia fibula fracture is splintered, greatly displaced, or open, the fracture will need to be fixed surgically with one of the following methods:

  • pins, screws, metal plates, or wires
  • a metal rod down the center of the bone
  • an external fixator

You can expect months of physical therapy to regain the ability to walk. During the time you are immobilized, an AV Impulse system may be used to increase blood flow through the leg to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling. It also works the muscles in a simulated walking motion.

Tibia Fibula Complications

Fracture healing is an intricate process. It takes time because of poor blood supply in some areas of the bone. Severe open fractures have a high incidence of complications, including:

  • infection which may result in gangrene
  • displaced fragments, particularly in oblique and spiral fractures
  • artery or nerve damage
  • limp due to imperfect alignment or rotational position, possibly one leg shorter
  • obvious disfigurement
  • slow union as a result of severity of the fracture or poor blood supply to one fragment
  • loss of ROM in the knee, ankle or foot, usually caused by associated joint, soft tissue, or vascular injury
  • nonunion (smokers are 8 times more likely to experience nonunion in tibia fibula fractures)

Minnesota Tibia Fibula Fracture Lawyers

You may be scared about what your future holds if you have suffered a severe tibia fibula fracture. We can help you fight for fair compensation for your injuries, resulting in fewer financial worries. Our personal injury lawyers are experts at proving liability in complex medical cases. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Minnesota Lead Poisoning Lawyer

By Steve Terry |

Lead poisoning occurs when there are increased levels of lead in the blood. Lead poisoning is not a very common occurrence, but when you are infected, it can cause irreversible brain damage and can even be deadly. There is no known threshold for lead levels in the blood, so it is important to be aware of your surroundings and know what has the ability to harm you.

Am I at Risk?

Lead poisoning can be contracted in many different ways. It is most common in children, but can also be contracted by adults. The most frequent instances of lead poisoning are in lead mine workers, as they are exposed to inhalation of high levels of lead. Ingestion of chips or dust from the deterioration of lead-based paints is very common in older homes.

Lead can also be found in the water you drink. Any plumbing fixtures or pipes that contain lead can contaminate the water that passes through them. There have also been a number of cases involving lead poisoning caused from faulty water fountains. Lead can also be found in foreign-made toys, cosmetics, and dishes.

Signs and Symptoms

The most severe levels of lead poisoning can cause neurological damage, including seizures and reduced cognitive abilities. Additional symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • headaches
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • a metal taste in the mouth
  • kidney problems
  • anemia
  • reproductive problems

Speak with a Minneapolis Lead Poisoning Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered lead poisoning, contact a Minnesota lead poisoning lawyer of TSR Injury Law by calling (612) TSR-TIME or submit our contact form. Your initial consultation is free and there are no upfront fees if we take on your case.

DuPont Imprelis Herbicide Lawsuit

By Steve Terry |

If you have recently used DuPont’s Imprelis Herbicide and your trees are dying, you may have a legal claim to recover your losses.

Michigan, Ohio, and a number of other states have opened class-action lawsuits against DuPont, alleging that the use of their Imprelis Herbicide has resulted in a large number of tree deaths. Willows, poplars, eastern white pine trees, conifers, evergreen trees, and many other tree species have been killed. Tree farm owners who have lost large numbers of trees have also been affected, and it has severely compromised their business.

Imprelis Active Ingredients

An article in Huffington Post Green stated that DuPont Imprelis’s active ingredient does not break down in compost. It is important that the active ingredient in a herbicide breaks down so that the ingredient, if harmful in concentrated form, does not damage the vegetation. There is an Imprelis label that states that any clippings from areas treated by Imprelis should not be used as compost or mulch.

DuPont Imprelis Herbicide Banned

In August 2012, the EPA banned further sale of DuPont’s Imprelis Herbicide. By that point, it was estimated that the damage was in the a billions of dollars. Trees as tall as 40 to 50 feet had experienced damage or had been killed. Many of these trees had been around 30 to 50 years and the cost to replace them is upward of $20,000.

As for what led to the EPA ban, the EPA acted after it was shown that DuPont’s own data stated that certain coniferous trees, including the balsam fir, white pine, and Norway spruce were susceptible to damage or death by Imprelis’s active ingredient. Around the time the “stop sale” was issued, DuPont had turned over 7,000 reports that included incidents of tree damage and tree death related to the application of Imprelis.

Nonetheless, DuPont had already stated on August 4 that they would stop selling Imprelis. They also stated that they would put a product return and refund program in place for those customers who had purchased the product.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

The FIFRA is what the stop-sale order was issued under. The FIFRA is a federal law that requires pesticide products and the facilities that produce them to register them. The pesticides must also be properly labeled. The EPA did state that they were going to investigate whether or not the tree deaths may have been due to product misuse. The first place they looked for incorrect directions was the product label, warnings, etc. However, it seems that the main culprit may be the uptake of the harmful product through root systems.

Call Today for a Free Consultation

TSR Injury Law understands what kind of loss tree damage or tree death can be for those who have made a significant investment in the trees on their property. There are also many businesses that sell trees or rely on them as a part of their business. If you have fallen victim to DuPont’s Imprelis Herbicide, you may have a claim. Call us today at (612) TSR-TIME.

Woman Charged with Serving Alcohol to Minor Who Drowned

By Steve Terry |

On April 26, an investigation began in the accidental death of Andrew Michael Pitts whose body was found in Maple Grove in a pond near Elm Creek Boulevard.

Witnesses told the Sheriff’s Department detectives that Pitts was intoxicated after leaving a restaurant. He then walked a short distance and onto the partially-frozen pond. His weight was too much for the ice, so he fell through, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office press release.

The Sheriff’s Office investigation determined that a Claddagh’s Irish Pub bartender served alcohol to Pitts, who is underage. Witnesses told investigators that Pitts was not asked for identification and that the bartender knew that Pitts was underage because they were friends outside of the establishment. The bartender, a 21-year-old woman, has been charged with selling liquor to an underage person, which is a gross misdemeanor.

Pitts was underwater for at least an hour before he was found by divers in the very dark water. He was then taken to Maple Grove Hospital, where doctors declared him dead

The incident is still under investigation. Pitts 21st birthday was to be on May 12.

If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another person, contact a Minneapolis personal injury attorney from TSR Injury Law today. We can review the details of the incident and help to determine if you have a case. Free consultation and no upfront fees if we take on your case.

Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

Circus Juventas Bleachers Collapse at St. Paul Event

By Steve Terry |

The circus turned into a nightmare when the circus bleachers collapsed about 10 p.m. on Sunday evening at the Circus Juventas event, in Highland Park area, according to St. Paul Police.

There were about 400 people on the bleacher when it collapsed. Sgt. Paul Schnell reported that there were multiple injuries, many people suffered broken bones. At this time, none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.

Circus Juventas is a performing arts circus school for youth between the ages of 3 and 21. It is based in St. Paul, at 1270 Montreal Avenue.

How Can a Lawyer Help In An Incident Like This?

There is a legal obligation to ensure a reasonable level of safety for anyone invited onto a property. This obligation is referred to in litigation as “premises liability”. Our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys are skilled, aggressive litigators with years of experience. Our partners are experts at establishing fault and proving liability. They have recovered millions for victims. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Chaska Passed Social Host Ordinance

By Steve Terry |

Last fall Chaska became the first city in Minnesota to pass a social host ordinance. It was passed unanimously. The ordinance makes it illegal to knowingly permit consumption of alcohol on the premises by underage persons. This is a clear message to parents that they are responsible for what happens in their home. Violators will be charged with a misdemeanor.

TSR Injury Law is a proud sponsor of the MADD mission and is the recipient of the MADD Choice Award. Steve Terry, founding partner, was the guest speaker at the Minnesota Statewide Recognition Ceremony. We are passionate about this issue and our Minneapolis auto accident lawyers would like the opportunity to help you if you have been the victim of a drunk driving accident. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

MADD Minnesota Sponsor

By Steve Terry |

TSR Injury Law sponsored a recent MADD Minnesota Statewide Recognition Ceremony. As an event sponsor, Steve Terry was asked to speak at this ceremony, which recognized individuals and police departments committed to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving mission. MADD’s mission is to the stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underaged drinking. TSR Injury Law supports the mission of MADD and has been a financial supporter of MADD Minnesota for many years.

About MADD Minnesota

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a non-profit organization comprised of victims, families, and dedicated citizens who are willing to volunteer of their time and energy to prevent drunk driving in order to reduce the number of:

  • crashes;
  • injuries;
  • deaths; and
  • families torn apart by accidents.

MADD also:

  • provides support to victims;
  • attends victims’ DWI trials and hearings upon request;
  • advocates for stricter drunk driving legislation;
  • conducts public awareness events;
  • provides speakers for community and school events; and
  • implements prevention programs.

Additionally, MADD:

  • offers self-help support groups for victims;
  • helps victims understand the legal process;
  • helps prepare victim impact statements for hearings;
  • provides information and referral for services needed by victims; and
  • provides training programs for victims to empower them to help other victims.

Victim Impact Panels

Victim impact panels provide an opportunity for victims to tell their story and share their feelings of how drunk driving has impacted their lives. These personal stories humanize the crime for offenders and teaches offenders the short and long-term effects of their crime on real people. By telling their stories, victims also hope to influence offenders to become more responsible and accountable for their behaviors. For more information on victim impact panels and when they are scheduled, go to www.maddmn.org.

Contact an Attorney that Supports the Mission of MADD MN

If you have been the victim of a drunk driving accident, contact someone who is involved with, and supports the mission, of MADD. Contact a Minneapolis car accident lawyer from TSR Injury Law, at (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Speeding Accident Lawsuits

By Steve Terry |

Do you have questions about the circumstances of an accident that was not your fault? An accident that was made worse by excessive speed? We can help.

Speeding is negligence because drivers have a duty to obey traffic laws. Speeding is one of the main causes of vehicle-related accidents.

If you have been injured in a speeding-related car accident that was not your fault, contact a Minneapolis car accident lawyer at (612) TSR-TIME. We will go to work on your case, fighting for just compensation and ensuring that your rights are protected. Our lawyers are aggressive, ethical litigators with years of experience.

Speeding Accident Statistics

Speeding greatly increases the chance of being involved in an accident because driver reaction time is drastically reduced, vehicles may perform differently at high speeds, and the law of physics tells us that the harder you hit something, the more severe the resulting damage and injury.

In 2009, speed contributed to 28% of Minnesota’s fatal accidents. It is written into Minnesota state law that drivers are to use duty of care when operating a vehicle; which includes obeying the speed limit. Statistics compiled by the NHTSA show that speeding among drivers involved in alcohol-related crashes is also common.

The Minnesota State Statute dealing with duty of care and speed limits is 169.14. It is as follows:

Subdivision 1. Duty to Drive with Due Care

No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. Every driver is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potential hazards then existing on the highway and must use due care in operating a vehicle. In every event speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

In a car accident where the offender was using excessive speed, the victim may be able to obtain compensation for:

  • medical expenses;
  • lost wages;
  • pain and suffering; and/or
  • other applicable damages.

Need Help? Call Us Today

At TSR Injury Law, our legal team will investigate your speed-related accident to establish fault and ultimately prove liability. Our lawyers have decades of combined experience handling car accident cases with excellent results, including a recent car accident settlement for $400,000. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

Criminal and Civil Penalties May Come from Fatal Truck Accident

By Steve Terry |

On May 23, 2012, a semi-truck driver was convicted by a Minnesota judge on one count of misdemeanor careless driving and three counts of criminal vehicular homicide that all stemmed from a fatal accident that had occurred two years earlier almost to the day. Two women were killed in the accident and one of those women was pregnant.

This is a case that shows how a truck accident can result in both criminal charges and a civil lawsuit.

The 38-year-old driver worked for Reinhart Foodservice and began his shift at 10 p.m. on May 23, 2010. This was the evening before the LaCrosse Wisconsin accident that killed the women. He drove all night long, making stops in Owatanna and Austin, Minnesota. At 11:30 a.m., he was northbound on Interstate 35 when he reached down to grab an energy drink from the passenger side floor of the truck. In his testimony, he stated that he took his eyes off the road for no more than 10 seconds when he looked up and saw that traffic was stopped due to road construction delays.

He was traveling at 68mph when his semi-truck slammed into the back of one of the victims’ vehicles, sending her vehicle into the rear of the other victims’ vehicle. The second victim’s car then slammed into the back of another semi-truck that was hauling 12 million bees. The bees were released at the scene of the accident because of the impact and this delayed the rescue efforts.

The judge came to the conclusion that the driver’s testimony regarding how long he took his eyes off of the road was not credible and that he operated his truck in a grossly negligent manner.

In addition to the criminal charges resulting from the accident, the families of the victims brought civil claims against the driver and his employer. The families settled early in 2012.

Chondromalacia Injury Lawsuits

By Steve Terry |

TSR Injury Law is a leading Minnesota personal injury law firm with extensive experience litigating knee injury cases, including chondromalacia.  We care about you and understand the pain involved with this injury. We will give you knowledgeable, aggressive representation. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free consultation form.

What Is Chondromalacia?

Chondromalacia is the softening of the cartilage on the back side of the patella due to misalignment. The misalignment is frequently the result of trauma to the patella, as in a patella fracture, dislocation, menisci damage, or patellar tendon rupture. A misaligned patella rubs on the end of the femur, destroying the cartilage and making it look like crab meat. This not only causes inflammation but moderate to intense pain and grinding in the knee.

Chondromalacia Treatment

The first steps in treating chondromalacia are:

  • rest the knee to lessen the intensity of the chondromalacia pain
  • take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • do physical therapy, especially quadriceps strengthening and hamstring stretching

Alignment is key to minimizing chondromalacia. If the alignment of the patella cannot be improved or corrected with physical therapy, surgery may be necessary. Depending on the type and extent of misalignment, the surgery may be arthroscopic or open.

Surgery for chondromalacia has a high success rate. But there may be complications, including:

  • failure to relieve pain
  • increased pain
  • infection

Minneapolis Chondromalacia Lawyers

Even though chondromalacia is very painful and debilitating, it is marginalized by insurance companies. If you are suffering from chondromalacia from a negligent accident, you need a lawyer who understands chondromalacia and will aggressively defend your rights.

The lawyers at TSR Injury Law know Minnesota law. They know chondromalacia. They will fight for you. Call one of our Chondromalacia lawyers at (612) TSR-TIME or submit free contact form.

Social Host Liability Claims

By Steve Terry |

Despite government attempts to cut down on the rate of underaged drinking, it remains a common problem across the U.S. Minnesota’s social host liability laws try to minimize this problem by holding responsible those adults who provide alcohol to minors.

The laws governing social drinking are not nearly as strict as the laws governing commercial sales of alcohol. Therefore, a much shorter list of people can be liable under Minnesota social host liability laws, as opposed to dram shop laws. A person can be liable if he or she is over 21 and:

  • Sold or gave alcohol to a minor
  • Knowingly allowed minors to consume alcohol on his or her premises

Who Can File a Social Host Liability Claim?

If you have been injured by a minor who was driving under the influence of alcohol, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against the adult who provided the alcohol. Minors who injure themselves or others while intoxicated do not have grounds for a social liability suit.

Need Legal Help?

If you or your child is a minor and has become a victim of an injury after being served alcohol, contact TSR Injury Law at 612-TSR-TIME and speak to one of our Minneapolis personal injury attorneys. We offer a free, no obligation consultation and charge no upfront fees if we take on your case.

TSR Injury Law. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.