Steve Terry | TSR Injury Law

Partner Rich Ruohonen, TSR Injury Law, Wins Large Verdict in Barron, Wisconsin

By Steve Terry | April 2, 2018

Bloomington, Minn. (PRWEB) September 2, 2009 — Rich Ruohonen, TSR Injury Law partner and Minnesota Super Lawyer, represented a woman named Sabina Babaca for injuries suffered in a car crash near Barron, Wisconsin, on October 7, 2005.

According to court records, Babaca was a passenger in her husband’s vehicle being driven on Highway 8. Her husband attempted to pass a vehicle, in a legal passing zone. A truck pulled out onto the highway into his path causing an immediate collision.

Ms. Babaca had to be extricated by emergency personnel. It is on record that she suffered a left radial arm fracture requiring open reduction internal fixation with the use of a plate and 6 screws. The fracture caused a mild radial nerve injury resulting in ongoing pain. She also sustained a shoulder soft tissue injury on the same side.

The record reflects that Babaca incurred approximately $100,000 in medical bills and wage loss, most of which were paid by no-fault. The defendant offered $85,000 to settle this case prior to trial. The offer was declined by Babaca and Ruohonen, sending the case to trial. (Sabina Babaca v. Adam’s Automotive, Inc., David Adams and Erie Insurance Exchange, Case No. 08 CV 23)

The defendant’s insurance company, Erie Insurance, hired an accident reconstruction expert to testify at trial. Court records show that during cross examination, Ruohonen was able to get the following strategic admissions from this expert:

that Mr. Babaca was not speeding at the time of the collision
that by the time Adams pulled out it was too late for Mr. Babaca to stop to avoid the collision
that Mr. Adam’s was not fully in the lane upon impact (demonstrating Mr. Adams had just pulled out at the time of the collision)

Rich Ruohonen, with co-counsel Mark Yira of Yira Law Offices, pointed out numerous different medical records, photographs of bruising, and other injury evidence supporting ongoing pain. Additionally, the doctor who did the initial surgery at Eau Claire Hospital, Dr. Leland Meyer, and an ongoing pain management doctor, Dr. Paul Biewen, testified on behalf of Ms. Babaca.

It is on record that the jury found 75% fault on Adams and 25% fault on Mr. Babaca. The jury awarded $80,723.71 in past medical expenses, $19,440 in past wages, $80,000 in past pain and suffering, and $36,800 in future medical expenses. The total verdict was $216,163.71. Erie Insurance paid $162,122.7 (75% of the verdict) plus an additional amount for costs and interest owed.

The total paid was approximately double the final offer made by Erie Insurance prior to trial. This is believed to be one of the largest Plaintiff’s verdicts in Barron County, Wisconsin in several years.

TSR Injury Law
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Suite 1275
Bloomington, MN 55437

Actos Victims File Minnesota Lawsuit

By Steve Terry | March 27, 2018

The latest lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of Actos, a type II diabetes drug that is allegedly dangerously defective, comes from a Minnesota couple.

William Blumenstine and Kathy Jo Williams filed their product liability lawsuit against Actos manufacturer Takeda on May 14, 2012 in United States’ District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit states that Mr. Blumenstine began taking the medication in 2004 to improve blood sugar that was high due to type II diabetes. He continued his use of Actos in 2008, but discontinued use shortly after experiencing hematuria and urinary retention. After having a cystoscopy performed, it was found that he had bladder cancer as identified by a tumor in his bladder. He had to undergo treatment and surgery to deal with his bladder cancer that is believed to have been caused by Actos.

There are many plaintiffs involved in lawsuits surrounding Actos and Takeda with claims that Takeda did not issue the proper warnings about the serious side effects. One of the side effects not warned about includes bladder cancer.

Actos was one of the 10 best selling medications in the U.S. in 2008. Worldwide sales total in the a billions of dollars. While the drug is very effective in treating diabetes, it has been established that patients that use it for more than 12 months have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Germany and France have suspended the sale of Actos, but Takeda continues to sell the medication in the U.S.

Actos’s popularity is due to its ability to improve blood sugar control in patients with type II diabetes. Due to the condition affecting millions of individuals in the U.S., Actos is the most popular medication manufactured by Takeda. Thus far, a number of patients have been affected by the serious side effects and have taken legal action. If you have suffered serious side effects after taking the drug, contact a Minneapolis personal injury lawyer from TSR Injury Law – you may be eligible to file a damages lawsuit.

Free consultation. Ph: (612) TSR-TIME.

TSR Injury Law Awarded $6M Verdict vs New Horizon Kids Quest Daycare

By Steve Terry | November 25, 2015

Rich Ruohonen and Chuck Slane of TSR Injury Law won an important verdict at trial when a Hennepin County jury returned a verdict of over $6 million on Tuesday in the case of a 3 ½ year old boy who was physically and sexually assaulted at a New Horizons Kids Quest daycare center in the Grand Casino Mille Lacs in 2008.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Rich Ruohonen and Chuck Slane of TSR Injury Law of Bloomington, MN, said today that the jury’s verdict in their most recent case finally offers some justice for a young boy and his family. A Hennepin County jury returned a revised verdict of $6,032,585 on Tuesday in the case of a 3 ½ year old boy who was physically and sexually assaulted at a daycare facility at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs operated by New Horizon Kids Quest in January 2008.

According to the lawsuit filed in Hennepin County, MN District Court (Case No.27-CV-12-9958), on January 23, 2008, 3½ year-old boy, “JK” was entrusted to the care of the New Horizon Kids Quest day care center at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs. The lawsuit alleged that New Horizons Kids Quest promised to keep him safe and secure and broke that promise. The daycare center’s staff allegedly left the child unsupervised for more than 90 minutes, and during that time a 9 ½ year old boy physically and sexually assaulted him. According to court documents, surveillance cameras in the daycare facility captured some of the assault, but much of the crime took place in the third level of a play system which were outside the camera’s view. Court documents indicated that after this incident, New Horizons Kids Quest was kicked out of the Grand Casino Mille Lacs by the tribal authorities.

According to court documents, JK was beaten and raped, suffering a subconjunctival hemorrhage in his eye from being strangled and numerous bruises over his face and body from being beaten, as well as injuries from the sexual abuse. Now eleven years old, he still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has difficulties regulating his emotions or reacting to those emotions effectively, his attorneys argued. The child has been through significant medical treatment and takes medications daily to help treat his PTSD. Although he has improved over the years, medical experts testified at trial that JK suffers from permanent PTSD and the damage would never fully heal.

“Finally, after eight years, this little boy as his family received the justice they deserve. He will finally be able to get the help he needs to get better and to deal with the effects of what happened to him and the PTSD he suffers from this assault,” said TSR Injury Law’s Rich Ruohonen. “This family has waited eight years for justice, and this verdict will help bring them some semblance of closure and comfort.” Ruohonen added.

TSR Injury Law’s Chuck Slane added, “It took a long time, but JK and his family can finally rest easier knowing that those responsible have finally been held accountable in court.”
An eight-person jury heard the case over two weeks in Hennepin County. Dan Haws from HKM and Shari Aberle from Dorsey Whitney defended the case for New Horizons Kids Quest while the Honorable Ivy Bernhardson presided over the trial. The case, number 27-CV-12-9958, was heard in Hennepin County District Court.

About TSR Injury Law

TSR Injury Law is a Minnesota personal injury law firm that is passionate about obtaining justice for clients who suffer from injuries through no fault of their own. TSR Injury Law’s partners, Steve Terry, Chuck Slane, Rich Ruohonen & Nate Bjerke have been named Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law & Politics and have successfully resolved countless personal injury cases, often obtaining judgments several times larger than insurance companies’ initial offers. TSR Injury Law believes that effective legal representation is built on more than just litigation and works hard to build solid relationships with clients, feel compassion for their suffering and help them achieve justice. For more information call (612) TSR-TIME.

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TZD – Toward Zero Deaths

By Steve Terry | May 15, 2015

The Toward Zero Deaths approach is based on the belief that even one traffic-related death on our roads is unacceptable. This “zero deaths” idea was first adopted in Sweden in 1997 as “Vision Zero” and since then has evolved to several state DOTs, including Minnesota, that have identified zero deaths as a core objective in their Strategic Highway Safety Plans.

TZD uses a data-driven, interdisciplinary approach that targets areas for improvement and employs proven countermeasures, integrating application of education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency medical and trauma services (the “4Es”). A combination of strategies from different focus areas is often most effective for solving a particular problem.