Star Tribune
$1.1 million awarded to parents in ‘wrongful conception’ lawsuit over misread vasectomy
The jury awarded the following: for the past pain, discomfort and embarrassment for Megan, $450,000; for the emotional distress of Steven, $150,000; for their loss of spousal services to each other, $15,000 apiece; for past health care costs, $62,773.89; for Megan’s loss of a bonus from work because she was on maternity leave, $23,815.31; for past child rearing expenses, $35,320.24; and for the cost of raising their son to the age of 18: $386,156.76.
The awards for the emotional and physical damages to Megan and Steven were higher than what their attorneys requested.
The trial lasted six days, and the Szlachtowskis were present throughout. There were discussions of Megan Szlachtowski’s recovery from the pregnancy, her past pregnancies plus the fear and confusion over finding out she was pregnant againand Steven’s confusion over how he could possibly get someone pregnant.
There were also extensive discussions over what is the monetary value a child brings into this world for the comfort they give a parent throughout their life.
The justifications each side had to make for those numbers created a situation where Thomas talked about the “perfect child” the Szlachtowskis had brought into this world, while the Szlachtowskis were left to argue the emotional benefit of raising a child is hard to predict.
When Steven Szlachtowski was on the witness stand, Thomas spoke poetically about the bond of parents and children.
Hubbard County is filling the vacancy for County Attorney Jonathan Frieden, who recently died of cancer.
County Administrator Jeffrey Cadwell said in an email to the Minnesota Star Tribune that John Olson will be acting county attorney and oversee the office until the vacancy is filled by appointment.
Frieden, 43, died Nov. 9. He was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer 18 months ago. It was a shock to the community, his family and the small prosecutors office in Park Rapids that he led for seven years.
His term expires in 2026. The Hubbard County Board will open the application process and appoint a replacement in the coming months, but it will be “very big shoes to fill,“ Ninth District Judge Tamara Yon previously told the Star Tribune.
Frieden was appointed as county attorney in 2017 to fill a vacancy due to retirement. At the time, he was 36 years old. He ran unopposed twice, in 2018 and 2022. He previously served as assistant county attorney in the ninth judicial district for nearly a decade.
The legal community remembered Frieden as a highly respected, personable attorney. “He was just a fantastic young man. What a tragedy to lose him,” Yon said.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Frieden, three young daughters and six siblings, including an identical twin.
A celebration of life was set for Thursday in Park Rapids.
A Metro Transit bus struck and injured a pedestrian on Wednesday evening in Roseville, according to the transit agency.
The incident occurred at about 8:15 p.m. in a crosswalk at Rice Street and Little Canada, said Metro Transit spokesman Drew Kerr, who added that no passengers were on the bus at the time.
Metro Transit said the victim was an adult male who was reportedly in stable condition after receiving treatment at Regions Hospital.
Star Tribune
Businesses at George Floyd Square sue Minneapolis, Frey for $30 million, demand city take over
Citing years of deterioration and crime since George Floyd’s murder, several business owners at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis demand in a new lawsuit that the city and Mayor Jacob Frey begin eminent domain proceedings to take over their properties.
Last week, the owners of Cup Foods filed a civil lawsuit in Hennepin County District Court seeking $30 million in damages, arguing city actions ruined the businesses and constitute an unlawful taking of their property without just compensation.
The lawsuit argues that business in the area lost revenue, real estate value, reputation and tenant and rental income for both business properties and apartments due to how the city handled the unrest after Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police. That includes the use of concrete barricades to isolate the area that became known as George Floyd Square. It points to a rampant escalation of violence in the neighborhood because of these decisions and alleges the city created a “No Go Zone” for police near the businesses.
The legal action, known as a writ of mandamus, comes two months after Hennepin County Judge Edward T. Wahl dismissed a civil lawsuit filed by the business owners in 2023 that sought $1.5 million in damages from the city and Frey. Wahl dismissed with prejudice claims of negligence and nuisance against the city and claims the city charter had been violated, meaning they cannot be refiled.
But the claim that the city had effectively taken over the property “without formally invoking its eminent domain power” was dismissed without prejudice, meaning that it could be subject to further inquiry.
Wahl said if the businesses near 38th Street and Chicago Avenue wanted to make that claim, they first needed to file the writ of mandamus, a term for ordering the government to properly fulfill their official duties or correct an abuse of discretion.
The new filing essentially asks the city to begin imminent domain proceedings, said Michael Healey, the lawyer representing Cup Foods Inc.; Menthol Tobacco LLC; Southside Electronics, Inc.; NMA Investments, LLC; and 3759 Chicago Ave, LLC. Healey said seven additional businesses will soon file similar suits against Minneapolis and Frey.
“There are two possible outcomes, one is the city will allow my clients — a couple had to sell or leave town — but the folks that still own businesses there could conceivably keep the property if a settlement is reached with the city on the diminished value,” Healey said. “The other possible outcome is the city grants the writ and initiates an official taking of these properties in which case they will definitely have to be paid something. That would have to be litigated.”
