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Gordon Hansmeier, Paul Rajkowski, Kevin Gray, Troy Poetz and Chad Roggeman named as 2023 Super Lawyers
Chad Roggeman and Matthew Moehrle Win Appeal to Minnesota Supreme Court in Will Interpretation CaseChad Roggeman and Matthew Moehrle won an appeal they made on behalf of the family of Mathew Tomczik to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The case involved the will of Mathew Tomczik, who died in 2021 unmarried and without any children. However, Mathew made a will in 1995 when he was married to Sara, which contained an alternate residuary clause if both of them were deceased without any descendants that gave half of his estate to his family and the other half to his wife’s family. Then, in 2019, Mathew and Sara divorced, and Mathew did not subsequently revise the will he executed in 1995 before he died.
Sara was not entitled to Mathew’s estate under his will executed during their marriage because she was excluded as a beneficiary as a matter of Minnesota law due to their divorce. However, Sara’s parents, Calvin and Patricia Headley, requested the probate court to grant them half of Mathew’s estate under the alternate residuary clause of the will that half his estate goes to his wife’s family if the estate did not pass to Sara or any children. Mathew’s siblings, who were his nearest living family members, countered that the Headley were entitled to nothing because Mathew’s will gave half the estate to his “wife’s” family members, but he was not married nor had a wife at his death. Therefore, that gift failed.

The Hennepin County Probate Court sided with Mathew’s family. The Healdeys appealed the probate court decision to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which, in a split decision, overruled the probate court and sided with the Headleys. The Minnesota Supreme Court reviewed the case on the request of Mathew’s family because the issue had not been settled in the State of Minnesota, although it had been addressed by the highest courts in other states. The Supreme Court agreed with analysis of Mathew’s family and the probate court in the matter, and reversed the decision of the Court of Appeals. The case set the precedence for interpreting these types of clauses in wills and is now binding legal authority.

https://www.mncourts.gov/mncourtsgov/media/Appellate/Supreme%20Court/Standard%20Opinions/OPA211420-070523.pdf
Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd. is pleased to announce that Attorney Paul Storm is been promoted to shareholder partner of the firm as of January 1st, 2023. Paul has been with the firm since November 2018 and works in the areas of insurance defense and construction law.
Congratulations to our 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!
Troy Poetz elected President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) for 2023.
Congratulations to our 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars!
Congratulations to Rajkowski Hansmeier’s 2021 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars! #superlawyers #risingstars
Covid-19/Coronavirus – Employer Guidance
Gordon H. Hansmeier, Paul A. Rajkowski, Kevin F. Gray, Troy A. Poetz and Chad Roggeman, attorneys with Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd. law firm in St. Cloud, were recently selected for inclusion in the 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Only the top 5% of lawyers in the state are named to this list.
Kevin F. Gray, managing partner of Rajkowski Hansmeier, has been accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. Members in this prestigious invitation-only group must have tried a minimum of 10 civil jury trials to conclusion. More than 7,600 lawyers and judges are involved in ABOTA chapters in all 50 states. ABOTA is one of the nation’s most effective organizations in championing the ethics, professionalism and principles of the legal profession. Mr. Gray has also recently been recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators. He represents corporations and individuals in a broad range of insurance and business-related disputes in federal and state courts and is a qualified neutral by the Minnesota Supreme Court under Rule 114.
Paul Rajkowski and Troy Poetz spoke at the MAFMIC Managers and Directors Seminar on July 10th. They presented on the topic of Human Resources – Protecting your Business.
Congratulations to Troy Poetz on being selected to the Executive Board of the American Board of Trial Advocates as Secretary!
Attorneys Gordon H. Hansmeier, Paul A. Rajkowski, Kevin F. Gray, and Troy A. Poetz Were Selected for Inclusion in 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers
2018 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Gordon Hansmeier and Chris Wills Win Appeal Before the North Dakota Supreme Court in Wrongful Death Case
Chris Wills Wins Summary Judgment in Personal Injury and Property Damage Lawsuit
Attorneys Kevin Gray and Troy Poetz Receive Favorable Verdict at Jury Trial in Wright County
Paul Rajkowski and Troy Poetz, shareholders at Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd., will discuss current employment issues affecting the operation of businesses ranging from the use of non-compete agreements to hiring and interviewing issues to religious accommodations in the workplace. Join Paul and Troy to learn how to protect your business in today’s ever changing legal climate at the St. Cloud Chamber’s 2018 BET Expo.
2018 Legal Updates on Minnesota LLCs and Estate Planning
Satellite Office in Bismarck, North Dakota
Gordon Hansmeier and Chris Wills Win Summary Judgment in North Dakota Federal Court
Gordon Hansmeier and Chris Wills Win Summary Judgment Sanctions Motion in North Dakota State Court (Williams County)
Gordon Hansmeier and Chris Wills Win Partial Summary Judgment Motion for Defense in North Dakota State Court (Williams County)
2017 Minnesota Legislative Session Provides Tax Relief to Estates and Trusts
Chad Roggeman was named a director to the CentraCare Health Foundation Board of Directors. He was also named as a member of its Executive Committee and chairman of its Planned Giving Committee.
Gordon H. Hansmeier, Paul A. Rajkowski, Kevin F. Gray, and Troy A. Poetz, attorneys with Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd. law firm in St. Cloud, were recently selected for inclusion in the 2017 Minnesota Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Only the top five percent of lawyers in the state are named to this list.
Eric S. Oelrich, attorney also with Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd., was recently selected for inclusion in the 2017 Minnesota Rising Stars. The Minnesota Rising Stars are based upon a search for evidence of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 2.5% of lawyers in the state are named to this list.
Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd., an accomplished regional litigation firm, serves businesses and individuals throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota. For more than 35 years, we have proven to be an effective, reliable provider of trustworthy counsel and sound advice.
Collaboration and Mentoring Key to Building Relationships
Troy Poetz, partner at Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd. in St. Cloud, MN has been elected President of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association for 2016-2017
Attorney Kevin Gray Obtains Defense Verdict in Douglas County
Kevin F. Gray, Gordon H. Hansmeier, Troy A. Poetz, Paul A. Rajkowski, and Eric S. Oelrich Were Selected for Inclusion in 2016 Minnesota Super Lawyers
Eric S. Oelrich Selected as a 2016 Minnesota Rising Stars
United States Department of Labor Announces on May 18, 2016 New Overtime Regulations