Minnesota Court Reform

Reforms

Other Proposed Legal Reforms

Assure that medical, insurance, retirement and other benefits are paid to people, especially seniors, when due, and that the process for getting benefits is simple and pragmatic.
Require that a real human, not a mechanical voice, give you a responsible answer within one business day after you ask a question or make a claim by telephone about your benefits or rights.
Provide parents and children in juvenile court cases with a lawyer who has the time and resources needed to get a fair hearing and protect parents and their children.
Outlaw terms that make contracts one-sided and cost people their rights.
Bar Qwest and other companies from selling or releasing private data.
Stop unwanted telephone or email solicitations and polling, and telemarketing and internet fraud.
Give the Judicial Evaluation Commission the power and duty to widely publish decisions of judges that are lacking in fairness and common sense.
Give the Judicial Evaluation Commission the power to suspend judges who are performing poorly and require that they stand for re-election at the next general election.
Take away the power of judges to put a person in jail, or fine a person more than $500, without first giving the person the right to a trial, by jury if demanded, before a different judge.
Protect home purchasers and homeowners and homebuilders from irresponsible builders/contractors by requiring them to use a trust fund for each project.
Protect homeowners from irresponsible contractors by requiring contractors to use trust funds, and by assuring that subcontractors are paid for materials and good workmanship.
Make legal services more affordable for individuals and small businesses by allowing an individual or small business who win a lawsuit to recover attorney's fees from the other party.
Enact an equal access to justice law like the federal law that allows a person or small business to recover attorney's fees and litigation costs when he/it wins a lawsuit against a government agency.
Reduce the cost of appeals primarily by reducing the cost of transcripts so they are affordable by the person who wants to appeal, and by reducing fees and costs to be commensurate with the income of the person who wants to appeal.
Make expert witnesses liable for damages caused by testimony that is untruthful, grossly unsubstantiated, negligent or erroneous.
Create an independent, adequately funded organization to provide guardians ad litem for children in juvenile cases.
Forbid judges from ordering a lawyer, clergyperson, or medical provider to disclose legally protected confidential information except that a judge may refer a matter to a state licensing board for investigation and discipline if it concerns a danger to society or a person.
Give all first-time non-violent drug offenders alternative drug treatment sentencing instead of prison.
Use community service, home detention and current technology to ensure compliance with alternative sentences given first-time non-violent offenders.
Penalize municipalities, police departments, and police officers who engage in racial profiling.
Make it a crime for corporations and businesses to intentionally or through gross negligence fail to report a dangerous condition in their product such as defective tires or tainted food, or to take prompt and effective corrective action.
Guarantee the civil and constitutional rights of and access to state and federal courts for all citizens living and/or doing business on Native American reservations.
Forbid criminals from collecting damages from citizens or businesses for injuries sustained during a criminal act, such as injuries resulting from attempts at self defense.

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