Facing a Criminal Conviction?

Being convicted of a crime, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, can have dire consequences on many facets of your life. The outcome of your case can affect your employment and the welfare of you and your family.  Also, your conviction bears the possibility of hefty fines and jail time.

It is necessary for you to understand your rights and options during your criminal defense case to insure that you make the best decisions that will be beneficial to you and your family.  Consult Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer, Duluth Minnesota’s premier trial law firm. We have the legal knowledge and expertise to provide you with a solid defense.  We personally take the time to ensure your concerns are addressed and that your questions are answered from our first meeting, during plea negotiations, all the way through trial when needed.

Best Law Firms: 2011-2012 Formal Announcement

U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers® Release 2011-2012 “Best Law Firms” Rankings Rankings of nearly 10,000 U.S. law firms by practice area

We are pleased to announce that Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer received recognition in the 2011 - 2012 U.S.News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings. These rankings are defined by practice area, both nationally and by metropolitan areas.

Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer are part of an extraordinary group of law firms represented in this year’s “Best Law Firms” rankings. A comprehensive choice of practice areas, coupled with our research of firms nationally and within local legal markets, makes the 2011-2012 U.S.News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings a valuable tool for a broad range of legal consumers.

Full data for the law firms that received rankings is available online Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer, from the largest firms in the country to hundreds of one-person and two-person law firms, providing a comprehensive view of the U.S. legal profession that is unprecedented both in the range of firms represented and in the range of qualitative and quantitative data used to develop the rankings. Achieving a high ranking is a special distinction that signals a unique combination of excellence and breadth of expertise.

Workers Compensation: What You Need To Know

If I Get Hurt, What Should I Do?
Notify your immediate supervisor and request medical treatment as soon as possible. Also contact your human resources department and make sure a workers compensation claim is filed. Your human resources department may have specific actions which they will want you to follow.

Always refer to your employee handbook, issued by your employer, as a guide. Your employer may direct you to a specific medical provider who will handle your workers compensation claim. You may think your injury is not serious but it is important that you follow all the steps outlined by your employer. Keep in mind that some long term health issues may not develop immediately so you want to make sure you are protecting your future access to the work comp claims process by doing all that is requested of you. This protects your future rights.

What is the Time Limit for Receiving Workers Compensation Benefits?
When you have a workers compensation claim and receive medical treatment but don't lose any time from work, your claim will normally close within one year from the date of your last medical treatment.

If your injuries were significant enough that you were off from work to recover and were collecting weekly benefits, you can expect your claim to close two years from the last date you received compensation.

Can I be Fired for Filing a Workers Compensation Claim?
It is against federal and state law for an employer to fire an employee for filing a workers' compensation claim.

My Employer Does Not Have Workers Compensation Coverage, What Do I Do?
check with the governing body in the state where you reside for information concerning employers in violation of workers compensation statutes.  Most states provide a mechanism for you to file a work comp claim directly through the state. However this will be state specific and you will need to check for your individual circumstance.

You will find that most states impose serious fines and legal action, including criminal action, against employers who do not fulfill their responsibilities to their employees.

Wondering How Insurers Value an Injury Claim???

A critical aspect of any personal injury claim is figuring out how much your accident injuries are worth.  It is the part of a claim that is most difficult to determine because the amount varies depending on your very particular circumstances. Check out this overview of how insurance companies determine the value of a claim.

Types of Damages
To determine what your claim is worth, you must first know the types of damages for which you may be compensated. Usually, a person who is liable for an accident must pay an injured person for:

• medical care and related expenses
• income lost because of the accident, because of time spent unable to work or undergoing treatment for injuries
• permanent physical disability or disfigurement
• loss of family, social, and educational experiences, including missed school or training, vacation or recreation, or a special event
• emotional damages, such as stress, embarrassment, depression, or strains on family relationships -- for example, the inability to take care of children, anxiety over the effects of an accident on an unborn child, or interference with sexual relations, and
• damaged property.

Damages Formula
At the beginning of claim negotiations, an insurance adjuster adds up the total medical expenses related to the injury. These expenses are referred to as "medical special damages" or simply "specials." That's the base figure the adjuster uses to figure out how much to pay the injured person for pain, suffering, and other non-monetary losses, which are called "general" damages.

The Divorce Process | Duluth Trial Lawyers

In Minnesota law, a divorce is called a "Dissolution of Marriage." To get divorced in Minnesota, one of the spouses must have lived in Minnesota for at least 180 days before starting the case. 

Getting divorced is a lot more complicated than getting married, and it can take several months before your divorce is final this is why most people choose to higher a divorce attorney Duluth MN.  

Your divorce will be more complicated if you have property (real estate, automobiles, vacation property, pensions, jewelry, etc.) or minor children. Your case could be done faster if you and your spouse agree on how to divide the property and handle custody of the children. Many cases start out with disputes, but then the parties are able to reach an agreement. Sometimes the judge will order the parties to try mediation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to reach an agreement.

Divorce Process Paperwork
In Minnesota, one spouse must start the divorce by writing a Summons and Petition and "serving" it on the other spouse. There are specific rules for how to serve the documents.

NOTE: If both spouses agree on how to settle all the issues in their divorce and can sign the same papers, you could do a Joint Petition for divorce.

The spouse who received the Summons and Petition must read the documents and decide how to respond. If s/he disagrees, s/he writes and serves an Answer. If the couple can reach an agreement, a Stipulated Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Order for Judgment and Judgment and Decree is prepared by one or both of the parties.

The official name of your divorce document is Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Order for Judgment and Judgment and Decree. Once this document has been signed by a Judge and is "entered" by court administration, your divorce is considered final.

How Social Security Disability Works

What is Social Security Disability?
Social Security Disability are disability benefits that are based on payroll deductions that occur as a result of work activity or as a result of contributions made by self-employed workers. This benefit program functions much like an insurance program and insured workers are subject to a date last insured, meaning that, at some point, after work activity has ceased, one's insured status will lapse. This means that claimants who file for disability benefits will need to prove the onset of their disability as far back as possible (through their medical records) in order to be covered by Social Security Disability, but also to receive the full amount of back pay to which they are entitled.

How Do You Qualify for Social Security Disability?
Qualifying for disability benefits with the social security administration is based primarily on the information derived from a claimant's medical records.

What Do I Put On My Social Security Disability Application?
You want to tell the Social Security Administration, on your application, all of the conditions, physical and mental, that prevent you from working. For many people, this is simply one condition (for example a back injury). But for many other people, there are multiple conditions, which individually may not be disabling, but which in combination are disabling. Further, sometimes after a work-ending disability, people develop situational depression. Likewise, for people who simply have one disabling condition, they may have other conditions, that were previously non-disabling, but now impact their ability to work, such as high blood pressure, or diabetes, or obesity. So everything and anything should be listed as a potential disabling condition.

How Much Money Will My Social Security Disability Pay Me?
There are two types of Social Security Disability programs. One program, Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) depends upon how much money you paid to the Social Security system through Social Security taxes coming out of your paycheck. So the amount of money you receive depends upon how much you paid in Social Security taxes.

Need More Social Security Disability Information?
Generally people do not need attorneys until they have been denied on their initial application or on a reconsideration application. However, you should feel free to call an Duluth lawyer at any time. We will be happy to answer any of your questions at that time. We would be better able to advise you as to whether you did or did not need an attorney at that time.

Car Accident Lawyer | Choosing the Right One

Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
If you are injured due to the negligence of another person, then you will need to find a car accident lawyer.  Not all auto accident injuries manifest immediately after the accident. Issues like whiplash and minor spinal injuries due to impact can take months to mend, and it is expensive to go to a chiropractor’s office a few times a week until the problem is cured. Insurance companies are totally aware of this, which is why they’ll try to write you a small settlement check right after your accident.

What a Car Accident Lawyer Can Do for You
A car accident lawyer is absolutely great help when accidents happen. Struggles with insurance companies include red tape and annoying phone calls. If you don’t have the time and energy, to manage it, you’ll need car accident lawyer who does. Hiring a lawyer who has worked with other auto accident cases and won can be a good start to having the amount of money you need from your insurance provider. Whether you have to pay for car repairs or medical bills or cover the bills because you missed time in the office, a car accident lawyer will give you the money you need from your insurance company.

Personal Injury Situations

The legal system refers to personal injury when an individual sustains injuries in the sense of being in a mental, bodily, or emotional nature.   The defending party might be or is at fault for such injuries as a result of negligence or defamation to some degree. 

The most typical cases often to involve situations with auto or road accidents, assault, accidents while on the job or in public, holidays, tripping, among others as well. Some may also file a law suit over issues with defects in products that may lead to injuries, even when it comes to one’s residence.
In the event that some form of negligence or fault is proved against the other party, the plaintiff may be able to receive some form of monetary compensation for their troubles, a person might also be able to gain other types of compensation.

Aside from issues where bodily, mental, emotional harm or other factors are concerned, a person may also be due compensation when their livelihood is drastically affected. For example, if a person is unable to work or take care of themselves, financially or physically and due to the fault of another party, then they could be owed some form of settlement.

If you find that you may have suffered from a personal injury and are thinking of about pursuing compensation for your troubles, then it’s a good idea to speak with a specialized personal injury attorney. They can often help you to learn what your chances and options are in the long run, not to mention explain anything that you should expect to come from the situation or what limitations there might actually be.

Legal Advice You Need To Know about Divorce

Over half of the population is facing either divorce or separation. Divorce -- A divorce is a final dissolution of marriage-- is not something you should face alone. Receiving the support from family and friends, or obtaining legal advice from a Wisconsin divorce lawyer, can help a great deal.


While going through a divorce your Wisconsin divorce lawyer should inform you of every aspect regarding your rights. By seeking legal advice, you should feel fully prepared for the court date. Many Wisconsin divorce lawyers will recommend that you try some form of couple’s counseling, mediation, or therapy before proceeding with the divorce case. If the repair of the marriage does not work, or if you have other reasons to still proceed with the divorce, then the judge will require specific reasons as to why such as the following accepted reasons:

• Adultery
• Desertion
• Unacceptable behavior
• Separation has occurred for one year or more

After proof has been given, you will be submitting a petition for divorce. The other spouse will be titled as the respondent. If your divorce case is very simple, then you may be able to complete all of the paperwork yourself. There are several websites on the internet that has quick divorce options.

However, a complicated divorce that includes multiple properties, children, or if your ex-spouse is not making the situation easy, then seeking legal advice from a Wisconsin divorce lawyer is recommended. Included in your petition will be your grounds for settlement. You will be able to ask for what you want as far as money or property. After your petition has been submitted, all actions are up to the other partner. If your spouse does not disagree with any of your details of the petition, then you may not be required to appear in court. The judge may decide that the divorce case is very cut and dry so no appearance will be needed.

Unfortunately, many divorce cases are not so simple. Many times, the respondent of the petition may disagree with what you are asking for. In this case, the battle could go for months between your lawyer and their lawyer until the petition is finally submitted. If the judge has decided to grant your divorce, you will be sent a form stating the date that the divorce will be granted. This is called the ‘Decree Nisi’. After the judge makes the divorce final it is called ‘Decree Absolute’. Even if your divorce case is simple, do not expect the Decree Absolute to take place immediately. After submitting your petition, it can take up to 6 months for the judge to make a decision.

Smart Questions to Ask Your Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer

Injuries may be of various types. However, whatever the reason, the best solution for any type of injury is to approach a specialist personal injury attorney for legal help. Although you may find a number of such lawyers, it is better to remember that not all are equally efficient in their work. When choosing a Minnesota personal injury lawyer it is best to take your time and keep the contact details of well known lawyers beforehand. You never know when you may need their legal advice.  The following questions should help you choose the right Minnesota personal injury lawyer for you.

Certification
Enquire about the certifications the person has received. You should also check whether the person is well informed with the recent changes and modern applications that are applied in the current scenario. It is also very important to make it certain that the lawyer specializes on the field related to your case.

Payment Options
Ask your lawyer very specifically if they would work in a condition where he or she would be only authorized for payment in case you win the case. There would be no percentage or share to be paid from the claimed amount you receive.  This can prove to be a great way to motivate the personal injury lawyer and make the person strive harder for success.

Discuss with your personal injury lawyer if all the miscellaneous expenses such as medical bills, fax and phone charges, travel allowances and so many others, would be on you. The total of these entire items can add up to  hundreds of dollars.

Time
Ask your personal injury lawyer about the length of time your case is supposed to take to get over successfully.

Reputation
You should not forget to ask about the reputation the Minnesota personal injury lawyer carries and whether there were any instances when the person was suspended by the disciplinary committee.

Social Security Disability: 3 Questions Answered

How do I apply for Social Security Disability?
Go to your local Social Security office. In northern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, there are offices in Duluth, Minnesota, Superior, Wisconsin, and Hibbing, Minnesota. Tell them you want to apply for Social Security Disability. The office personnel from the Social Security office will assist you in completing the appropriate forms and authorizations.

How much money will I get?
There are two types of Social Security Disability programs. One program, Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) depends upon how much money you paid to the Social Security system through Social Security taxes coming out of your paycheck. So the amount of money you receive depends upon how much you paid in Social Security taxes.

How much does hiring an attorney cost me?
Attorneys are paid in Social Security Disability cases according to law. Social Security law provides that attorneys are paid 25% of all past due benefits (that is benefits from the commencement of the disability until the favorable outcome), subject to a maximum fee of $5,300.00. Attorney fees also have to be approved by the Social Security Administration, typically a Social Security judge. Therefore, attorneys do not get paid until they have a successful outcome for their clients and until a judge approves the fee.

Seeking more information on Social Security Disability?  Please visit our website http://duluthtriallawyers.com/

Car Accidents | What You Should Know

Accidents may happen any time and the victims are also aware of the personal injury claims.   It Being involved in a car accident can be a very traumatic experience.  Lives can be misplaced, or completely ruined.  Lives are changed physically and or emotionally.  Below is a very interesting case study.

Car Accident Case Study

We were contacted by the mother of a teen-aged boy who was struck by a car on his bike.  He was riding his mountain bike along a trail after school one day.  The trail crossed a public road that led to a nursing home.  There was poor visibility both for a bike rider crossing the road and for drivers on the road.  He rode into the street and was hit by a car driven by a woman going to visit a relative at the nursing home.

There were a number of witnesses, most of whom were employees of the nursing home standing in a nearby parking lot.  They gave statements to our investigator that said, mostly, that the boy was riding very fast and didn't seem to slow down as he entered the roadway.  The car didn't seem to slow down, either.

We hired an accident re-constructionist.  Through him, we were able to prove that the road had a speed limit of 15 mph, although it wasn't posted in the area where the collision happened.  We were able to prove, through analysis of the skid marks and other evidence, that the driver was going faster than 15 mph. Minnesota law states that a driver exceeding the speed limit forfeits the right of way.  The judge in the case agreed with me that this meant that my client on his bike actually had the right of way because the car was going too fast.

The boy suffered a head injury, with a large laceration on top of his head and intermittent seizures.  The seizures were treated by medication, and by the time of trial he no longer had the seizures or needed the medication.  The defense hired a neurologist in the Twin Cities who testified that my client never had a head injury (except for the cut), did not have a seizure disorder, and that his symptoms were just normal for a teenage boy.  We established that this neurologist earned more than $350,000 per year doing examinations for insurance companies in lawsuits, and that he always testified contrary to the treating doctors in those cases.

After three days of trial, the jury agreed with our position that the driver was more at fault, because of her excessive speed, than the boy, and awarded him damages for his medical bills, pain and suffering, and the scar on his head.

Personal Injury Law

When you have suffered a form of physical or psychological injury, as the result of the negligence or full intentional act of other(s), you are most likely shelter under one -or several- personal injury laws.

In order to face a personal injury lawsuit, we first need to define the type of injury law that should be used to help you with your specific case.

And even though there are many different types of cases and same amount of laws, we have own over 35 years of experience to place at your disposal.

We will address the specific area needed and will act accordingly. We will also instruct you on the best steps to take for your specific case.

By keeping in mind that different laws affect your case, we will provide the best tactic to ensure your prompt welfare.

With a personal injury process, time is key specially to deal with insurance companies and the correct recuperation process that might be required.

We pried on obliging to the Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), so you don´t have to worry about paying any kind of money if your full recovery is not achieved.

So, please honor us by getting in touch in this difficult moment.

Duluth Trail Lawyers is here to help.

Do I Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

Robbery
Homicide
Assaults
Kidnapping
Drug offenses
Sexual offenses
Traffic crimes
Domestic violence
DUI’s

If you find yourself in trouble with the law and are accused of any of the above crimes, then you need to have an attorney helping you.

Here are 3 reasons why hiring a criminal defense Lawyer is important:

1.      Expertise:

You will not have any problem or worries in the way the case will move because of the expertise that the lawyer has. The law is flexible and there are so many things to consider. Having an expert criminal defense Lawyer can certainly have a case be dismissed or be merited with lower conviction penalties.

2.      Facts & Evidence:

Because of the lawyer’s expertise, you will be assured that he/she only collects all the facts and evidences that can help in the dismissal of the case or other pertinent moves that can be possible.

3.      Stands by You:

You will be sure that the defense lawyer will stay on your side until the end of the trial and maintains the doctrine of innocence until otherwise disproved. 

If you find yourself in legal trouble and need to hire a good criminal defense attorney, then please contact Duluth Trial Lawyers immediately.

Social Security Disability Resources

Social Security Disability is a federal program established to supply social benefits such as retirement, disability, and survivors benefits. Here's some helpful resources:

1.   Healthcare.gov 
-- Official government site provides information on finding insurance options, prevention, comparing care quality and understanding the new law along with FAQs.

2.  White House.gov
-- Official government site provides information about the President's Plan, its progress, and guiding principles of health care reform.

3.  Medicare.gov
-- Medicare.gov provides information about the parts of Medicare, what’s new, and how to find Medicare plans, facilities, or providers.

4.  Health Care – Now
-- Organizing for a national single-payer healthcare system. Provides news and information, endorsements, resources and how to get involved.

5.  U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
-- The United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services.

For information on social security disability, please contact us at:

Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer

306 West Superior Street

Duluth, MN 55802-1800

Phone: (218) 723-1990

Accidents at Work: Avoid Them If Possible

The best way to deal with an accident at work is to keep it from happening at all.  It’s in the best interest of the workers and employers to avoid an accident at work. The worker does not want to be injured and neither does the employer want to face government inspections and reviews that can hurt their business.

To help avoid injuries here are some useful tips to keep mind:
- Observe proper lifting techniques. There are many resources available to instruct you on safe lifting.
- Come to work well rested and well fed. Many injuries are the result of inattention and it can be difficult to focus when tired or hungry.
- Know your rights regarding dangerous work. Different areas have different laws governing this. Consult your state or national labor board for details.

Increasing your overall physical fitness will decrease the likelihood you will ever need to make a compensation claim.  Just because a task is not physically taxing, doesn't mean it won’t cause injury.  Even people who work physical jobs need properly structured exercise. Many workers have high anaerobic fitness but poor aerobic fitness. Ensure that all safety equipment is worn and that it is in good working condition.

Work with your employer to avoid an accident at work. It’s in both of your interests to keep a safe workplace so anytime you have a safety concern, present it to your employer in a non-adversarial way. Should the worst happen, there is the possibility of perusing a personal injury accident claim against your employer.

How Can A Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?

Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyers

You have been a very responsible person and bought an economical car, paid your taxes and purchased yourself health insurance.  But what happens if your policy holders refuse to pay you on time if you should have an accident or become sick?  This is when your Minnesota personal injury lawyer begins working on your case for you.  It’s their job to provide you with assistance and your right to claim your benefits with the assistance of a qualified Minnesota personal injury lawyer. 

With today’s busy lifestyles and greedy corporate cultures, personal injury cases are becoming very common.  Unfortunately, there are some insurance companies that refuse to grant the benefits to their policy holders. If you are currently facing this situation, one way of ensuring that you will get what you deserve is through hiring a good and qualified Minnesota personal injury lawyer to help you out.  Their main focus should always be client-oriented.  

Choosing a Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer

You can narrow down your search by asking your friends, family members, relatives and colleagues if they can refer a lawyer who can help you out. Or if you know someone who is into personal injury cases, then contact them and enlist their assistance. The next step that you should do is conduct a background check of that person. You can either ask him or her about their experiences, how many cases have they won, and can they provide you with enough pieces of evidences to support their claim like their previous clients. And then contact those people with whom they have worked with and try to ask them how was their experience with their lawyer. 

Personal Injury Attorney Minnesota

Duluth Trial Lawyers provides attorney services for personal injury in Minnesota.   Accidents happen on a daily basis. The most common types of accidents can happen at any time. For instance, slips and falls in the winter time become common place, as municipalities and their contractors fail to clean up the pavement. When you have been involved in an accident of any kind, it is important that you find a personal injury lawyer.

What should you Look for?

Attorney Minnesota -- when seeking a personal injury attorney in Minnesota, you should seek an experienced attorney you should hire a law firm that has a lot of experience.

Next you want to ask plenty of questions.  When you have your consultation with your lawyer, take advantage of the opportunity.  Ask as many questions as you can think of, this way you can gauge how much understanding your potential attorney has.

Finally, you want to check their area of expertise.  You want your lawyer to specialize in your type of injury.  Example, if you have been in an automobile crash and the doctor says you have whiplash, you want to see a lawyer that specializes in automobile accidents.

For more information on personal injury lawyers or attorney Minnesota contact duluthtriallawyers.com

What is Workers Compensation?

Workers Compensation Definition

Workers compensation is a state law that issues cash payments and provides medical care, regardless of fault, to employees who are injured or disabled during the course of their employment.  State law requires the benefits be paid.

When is the Right Time to Hire An Attorney

Since there are so many variants that can come into play with workers compensation claims it is important to hire a worker’s compensation attorney to represent you and your claim.

The most important step is to file your claim as soon as the injury occurs. The longer you wait to file, the more likely your claim will be red flagged as a potential false claim. Be prepared to have your employer contest your claim.

The insurance carrier will decide initially to either deny or approve your claim. If your claim is denied by the carrier, you will be able to appeal to the board. If they also deny the claim, you can take the claim to court for resolution. At any point in the process you can hire an attorney, but generally you will want an attorney if you are seriously injured or your compensation claim amount is not correct.

Your compensation generally should cover your lost wages up to a certain percentage as well as your medical expenses. If you feel you are not receiving the correct compensation or your medical coverage is denied, you may need an attorney to help correct the situation.

Who We Are

Beginning as a small law firm in 1975, Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn and Beyer has grown to a firm of eight lawyers practicing in the areas of:

- personal injury - including automobile accidents, industrial accidents, product liability cases, premises liability claims, dog bites, nursing home neglect and carbon monoxide poisoning cases
- workers' compensation
- social security disability
- family law
- criminal defense

We offer free initial consultations on all of our cases, and in those matters involving personal injury, workers' compensation and social security disability, we are only paid for our efforts if we are successful in helping you recover compensation for your injuries.

There are many choices available to those in need of legal help.  The choice you make will certainly affect your case.  What we can offer is a legal team licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin with more than 145 years of combined licensed legal experience.  We are committed to representing individuals who need legal help. We do so in a vigorous yet highly ethical manner. Our reputation for fair and ethical legal practices has earned us the highest firm rating available, an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the nation’s premier law resource directory.

Our firm's reputation has grown to the area's premier personal injury law firm because we believe each client must be treated as an individual.  Given all the worries and concerns that you may have as a result of your legal matter, we know how important it is that you have the peace of mind that you have the right lawyer helping you.  We know that the only successful cases are those where our clients are satisfied that all that can be done to help has been done.  We personally take the time to ensure your concerns are addressed and that your questions are answered from our first meeting, during settlement negotiations, all the way through trial when needed.

In addition to serving Duluth-Superior, the Iron Range and all of Northeastern Minnesota, we are now happy to serve the Metro Area. Our new office in Forest Lake enables us to serve the communities of White Bear Lake, Lino Lakes, New Brighton, Brooklyn Center, Coon Rapids, Maplewood, Anoka and throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.