Moss and Barnett Advocate Newsletter Winter 2023
Child-Inclusive Mediation

Can Parents Handle The Truth? A Primer On Child-Inclusive Mediation

By Debra M. Bulluck

A common misconception in family law cases is that children are equipped to make custody and parenting time decisions. All too often parents and their lawyers involve children in litigation, claiming the “child’s voice” must be heard. Whether it is asking children to testify in court or filing unsolicited “letters from the child,” these attempts often backfire and ultimately are a disservice to the child. If parents truly desire to have the child’s voice inform the process, an effective tool is child-inclusive mediation (“CIM”). MORE >

Buy or Rent in an Inflationary Market

To Buy or Rent in an Inflationary Market? That Is the Question 

By Aaron D. Quinby

For many, the decision to buy or rent can be challenging in ordinary times, let alone in the current inflationary market. Potential buyers are now faced with rising real estate prices, interest rate hikes, and increased costs of lending. These economic factors complicate the age-old “buy versus rent” analysis. MORE >

Retirement and Spousal Maintenance

Retirement and Spousal Maintenance As Baby Boomers Reach Their Golden Years


By April L. Will

The U.S. is in the midst of a profound demographic shift — nearly 77 million baby boomers will reach average retirement age by 2030. Retirement is an exciting milestone, but it also signals a change in financial circumstances. For baby boomers approaching retirement age and still paying spousal maintenance, now is the time to seek legal guidance. Generally, leaving the workforce does not automatically terminate a spousal maintenance obligation. MORE >

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Moss and Barnett Advocate Winter 2023 Cover Image

Moss & Barnett Announces New Shareholders: Michael T. Etmund, Chelsy M. Jantsch, Mary Frances Price, and Jeffrey A. Wieland

Michael T. Etmund

Michael T. Etmund

Chelsy M. Jantsch

Chelsy M. Jantsch

Mary Frances Price

Mary Frances Price

Jeffrey A. Wieland

Jeffrey A. Wieland

Moss & Barnett is pleased to announce that Michael T. Etmund, Chelsy M. Jantsch, Mary Frances Price, and Jeffrey A. Wieland have become shareholders in the firm effective January 1, 2023. MORE >

Advocate Alerts

Employers: Good Reason to Review your Separation Agreement Forms

On February 21, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board issued a significant decision that overruled the Board’s own prior decisions and held that an employer violated the National Labor Relations Act by offering discharged employees severance agreements that included commonly-used confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions. McLaren Macomb and Local 40 RN Staff Council, Office and Professional Employees, International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, 23 WL 2158775 (Feb. 21, 2023). 


While this ruling has been widely criticized by employers and business groups and could be overturned, it represents a stark change in the law. Based on this development, it is now prudent for employers to review their separation or severance agreement forms with counsel. Language changes to the agreement forms may help to avoid a negative ruling as experienced by the employer in McLaren Macomb. Moss & Barnett employment law attorneys are available to advise employers on these and other issues. MORE >

Timothy L. Gustin and Christopher D. Stall Elected to Moss & Barnett Board of Directors

Timothy L. Gustin

Timothy L. Gustin

Christopher D. Stall

Christopher D. Stall

Moss & Barnett is pleased to announce that Timothy L. Gustin and Christopher D. Stall were elected to three-year terms as members of the firm's Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2023. MORE >

Two New Lawyers Join Our Team

Debra M. Bulluck is a member of Moss & Barnett’s Family Law team. She is committed to compassionate advocacy and assists and strategizes with clients to develop creative and effective solutions to complex family matters, including dissolution proceedings, paternity, custody, parenting time, child support, spousal maintenance, orders for protection, distribution of marital assets and debts, and the many other issues today's families face. Prior to joining Moss & Barnett, Debra clerked for the Honorable Mary Madden in the Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County Family Court, and she served as the Legal Assistance for Victims Project Attorney at Standpoint, providing holistic legal services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Debra received her J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law and her B.A. from Berea College. 

Debra M. Bulluck

Debra M. Bulluck

612-877-5348

Debra.Bulluck@lawmoss.com

Family Law

Madeline E. Davis is a member of Moss & Barnett’s Litigation and Construction Law teams. She has experience in all phases of construction litigation, including drafting and negotiating construction contracts, pre-litigation risk assessment, construction defect claims, jobsite accidents, delay and acceleration claims, mechanics’ liens, insurance coverage disputes, and procurement issues. Madeline also has significant mediation, arbitration, and trial experience. Madeline received her J.D., cum laude, from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. 


Madeline E. Davis

Madeline E. Davis

612-877-5338

Madeline.Davis@lawmoss.com

Litigation

Construction Law

Midwest Real Estate News Lists Moss & Barnett Among Top Law Firms for 2022

Midwest Real Estate News 2022 Badge

Moss & Barnett is pleased to announce that, for the fifth consecutive year, Midwest Real Estate News named the firm among the top regional law firms for real estate in 2022. 


Each year, Midwest Real Estate News issues its “Best of the Best” edition, which ranks the industry’s top law firms from 14 Midwestern states. Selection is based on the number of real estate transactions that occurred in the previous years within those states. 


“We are honored to be recognized by Midwest Real Estate News as one of the leading real estate law firms in the Midwest. We are grateful for the many relationships that provide us with the opportunity to work on challenging and exciting transactions throughout the region."



Tim Gustin, Chair, Moss & Barnett Real Estate Group

Making the Season Bright for Families of the Nonprofit "Breaking Free"

Breaking Free Winter 2023

Pictured from left to right: Moss & Barnett attorneys Maddie Brase, April Will, Sara Filo, Jill Strodthoff, and Leah DeGrazia

This holiday season – and for the past ten years – the women lawyers of Moss & Barnett “adopted” families who are in the Women’s Program at the nonprofit Breaking Free. Breaking Free helps hundreds of women escape systems of prostitution and sexual exploitation through advocacy, direct services, housing, and education. Our lawyers purchase and wrap gifts and gift cards to fulfill each family's wish list, ensuring these families have a joyful holiday season. Moss & Barnett employees donate their time and various personal care items to Breaking Free throughout the year. To learn more about Breaking Free, visit breakingfree.net


“Breaking Free provides a comprehensive response to the complex problem of sex trafficking by providing services and housing to the victims, educating law enforcement and the judicial system, and raising public awareness. Supporting Breaking Free aids in the prevention of trafficking and implementing long-term social change.” 


Jana Aune Deach, Moss & Barnett Director

M&B Cares − A Year in Review 

While in-person volunteer opportunities were limited due to COVID-19 considerations, our team at Moss & Barnett found other ways to give back to our communities and engage in acts of service. Our M&B Cares initiative led the following service projects in 2022: 

Pillow Drive for Bridging

bridging.org

Imagine sleeping without a pillow? Thousands of families and individuals face this situation every day. M&B Cares partnered with Bridging to collect new and gently used pillows and pillow cases, as well as cash donations and direct donations, to meet this need in our community. 

Pillow Drive for Bridging

Breaking Free Drop In Center

breakingfree.net

During the month of July, 2022, M&B Cares held a personal hygiene products drive to benefit Breaking Free's Drop In Center. Breaking Free's mission is empowering survivors of sex trafficking and prostitution to build new lives through safe housing, direct services, effective healing programs, survivor advocacy, worldwide policy change, and hope. One component of the services they provide is their Drop In Center where they provide the basic needs including safety planning, a place to rest, showers, and food.

Breaking Free Drop Off Center

Chili Cookoff in Support of Children's Law Center of Minnesota  

clcmn.org

On November 2, 2022, the M&B Cares Committee hosted a Chili Cook Off to benefit the Children's Law Center of Minnesota (CLC) Foster Kids Duffle Bag Drive. Kids in foster care move around a lot so CLC makes sure that every new child client also receives a new duffel bag full of necessities. 

Chili Cookoff in Support of Children's Law Center of Minnesota

Pictured from left to right:

Katie Daugherty, Maureen Montpetit

(our Chili Cookoff winner), Jana Deach, Carrie Diaz, Taylor Sztainer,

Jodi Newsom, Phil Rush 

Hope Academy Christmas Book Giveaway 

hopeschool.org/christmasbooks

M&B Cares purchased and gift wrapped copies of two books, Just Mercy and The Hiding Place: Corrie Ten Boom, for the 8th grade students at Hope Academy. Hope Academy is a private inner-city school serving over 700 K-12 students in the Minneapolis area. 

Hope Academy Christmas Book Giveaway
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Minneapolis, MN
Phone: (612) 877-5000
150 South Fifth Street
Suite 1200
Minneapolis, MN 55402
St. Cloud, MN
Phone: (320) 654-4100
3800 Eighth Street North
Suite 102
St. Cloud, MN 56303
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