HOME Line Attorney Mike Vraa was featured on Channel 12 last week discussing the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords in dealing with bed bug infestations.

Tenants who are experiencing an infestation of bed bugs should notify their landlord immediately. This is important so that treatment can begin quickly and minimize the chances of spreading bed bugs to other units. As far as the cost of treatment–in most cases, unless the landlord can prove the tenant caused the infestation through their “willful, malicious, or irresponsible conduct,” it is the landlords responsibility to fix the problem. Tenants facing large bills for treatment should take a look at our sample forms, one of which is a Response to Invoice for Bed Bug Treatment that can be used to refute a landlord when they bill a tenant for bed bug treatment.  As always, please call (or email) our free tenant hotline for advice about your particular situation: Metro 612-728-5767 or toll-free in Greater MN 1-866-866-3546.

HOME Line attorney Matt Eichenlaub was interviewed last year by Mohamed Farah Talyaani for Somali TV Minnesota. Matt gave an outline of the basics of Minnesota Tenant/Landlord law, highlighting what rights and responsibilities are essential for renters to understand as they navigate the local rental market.

We are thankful to our interns, Jessie Lieb and Zeynab Egale, for spearheading this effort. HOME Line continues to expand our services to non-English speaking communities across the state through volunteer recruitment, outreach, education, and unique projects like this video.

View the video here:

HOME Line is sponsoring 4 separate broadcasts of a 5-credit CLE webinar that fulfills Minnesota’s mandatory 3 Ethics and 2 Elimination of bias CLE credits for attorneys.  The course, “Third Annual Full Ethics and Elimination of Bias Training – Not Just for Public Interest Attorneys” has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 3.0 hours of Ethics and 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credits.

Here are the dates/times, and further below is a description of each hour of the CLE broadcast. Click on one to learn more and to register online. For only $100 you can register for all 5 credits, or pick and choose the credits you need for $25/each.

• Wednesday, May 22nd, from 10am to 3:20pm (original broadcast)
• Tuesday, June 18th, from 4pm-9:20pm (replay)
• Thursday, June 28th, from 10am to 3:20pm (replay)
• Wednesday, July 17, from 10am-3:20pm (replay)

Descriptions of CLE seminars:

Elimination of Bias

“Randomized Evaluation in Access to Justice: Two Studies in Summary Eviction” by D. James Greiner, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who has a Ph.D. in Statistics and has published several research papers on the effect of legal representation for low-income clients in housing and other civil law cases (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).

“Right to Counsel in Minnesota: Task Forces, Ideals and Practicalities” byPerry Wilson, a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, who is Co-Head of the firm-wide Pro Bono practice and served as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Gideon Task Force. (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).

Ethics

“Five Easy Ways to Get Suspended or Disbarred (or It’s All About the Money!!)” by Edward Kautzer, president of Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., who has defended hundreds of lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in professional ethics matters. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

“Ethical Issues in Prosecuting and Defending Foreclosures and Evictions” by Christopher Kalla, an associate with Hanbery & Turner, P.A., whose current practice focuses primarily on representing landlords and property managers and at his prior firm he represented lenders in foreclosure matters (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

“Virtuous Discovery in the Virtual World – Ethical Considerations in Conducting Electronic Discovery” by Katherine Kelly, senior associate at Heins Mills & Olson, P.L.C, who represents individual and corporate clients in antitrust and product liability litigation. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

The speech, “What Every Landlord Should Know: Avoiding Honest (and costly) Mistakes” focuses on key issues that cause problems between landlords and tenants.  Additionally, learn about several new laws that took effect in the last few years.

All four trainings take place at HOME Line’s office (3455 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407):

• Monday, May 13 from 2:00-4:30pm
• Monday, June 24 from 2:00 – 4:30pm
• Monday, July 22 from 2:00 – 4:30pm
• Monday, September 9 from 2:00 – 4:30pm

Please note: This course is recognized by the City of Minneapolis as covering the Fundamentals of Property Management.  This can be up to a $250 savings for “point of conversion” fees (going from a non-rental to a rental unit). Learn more about this discount here.

Along with the new laws, topics to be covered will include:

• Fair Housing Complaints- What Starts Them?
• The Application Process
• Leases
• Caretakers/On-site Staff
• Bedbugs
• Evictions
• Security Deposits
• When Can a Landlord Enter an Apartment?
• Rent Increases
• How to Give a Notice to Vacate

HOME Line attorneys have given speeches to landlord groups throughout Minnesota, covering a wide variety of landlord/tenant law topics. HOME Line is now offering a two-hour training conducted by Managing Attorney, Michael Vraa. Mike has personally spoken over 50 different groups of landlords in his 14 years of experience as an attorney working exclusively on landlord/tenant law.

“I was very skeptical that this wasn’t going to be much more than a very basic landlord class.  Boy was I wrong!  This class was informative and interesting…I recommend that every landlord take this class. It was invaluable.”
-Scott Ficek, Real Estate Agent

“In my practice, I frequently represent residential Landlords and receive phone calls from prospective clients asking, ‘What do I need to know about being a Landlord?’  My answer these days: Read HOME Line’s How to be the Smartest Renter on Your Block.”
-Jason T. Hutchinson, Attorney at Law

The cost to register online is $45 per attendee. 

Our book on Minnesota tenant landlord/law, How to be the Smartest Renter on Your Block will available for at a reduced rate of $15 if purchased in advance, and can be picked up at the training. To purchase in advance, you will have an option during registration/check-out via the form below.

Please fill out the registration form below and when you submit it, it will bring you to an option to pay online.  If registering multiple attendees, please chose the appropriate number of attendees. If you choose to pay online for multiple attendees, you must choose that each person pays $45 training fee or each pays $60 for the training & a copy of our book.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

If a management company or other agency would like to hire a HOME Line attorney to give a speech at your office, contact Deb Riebel at 612-728-5770 (x109) or at debr@homelinemn.org

HOME Line attorney Mike Vraa is the featured speaker for the training.  The content of the training is designed for social workers, city officials, and others who work in the field of affordable housing.  Topics include applications, leases, repairs, evictions, lock-outs, mortgage foreclosure as it relates to tenants, and security deposits.

Rochester, MN 55904

Mike Vraa, HOME Line’s Managing Attorney, has practiced in the area of landlord/tenant law exclusively since he started working at HOME Line.  Mike has been practicing landlord/tenant law exclusively since 1996.  He supervises HOME Line’s tenant hotline, which takes over 11,000 calls per year.  Mike has personally advised over 24,000 renters.  He has also given over 960 speeches (over 27,000 attendees) on landlord/tenant law to a variety of groups; social workers, government officials, college students, high school students, soon-to-be released inmates and landlords.  He has been quoted in several media outlets on landlord/tenant legal issues, including; USA Today, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, WCCO Radio, KARE-11 (NBC), KSTP (ABC), Thomson-Reuters and National Public Radio.

Registration fee: $45 per attendee. The price includes a copy of HOME Line’s book, “How to be the Smartest Renter on Your Block.”  Published in 2011, this book remains current with all state statutes and is an invaluable resource for those that frequently have to answer questions about landlord/tenant law.  Additional copies are available to all attendees for a discounted price of $15 per book. Please contact Deb at (612) 728-5770 x109 with any questions, or to register via phone. Register and pay online by clicking below.

HOME Line will rebroadcast a legal education webinar – a 5 CLE-credit seminar, over the web on July 17, 2013. This rebroadcast has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 3.0 hours of Ethics and 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credits. Those who register attend by internet and submit written questions via the webinar Q&A chat system.  The webinar will include live video, audio lecture from attorney presenters, and on-screen presentations.  Written electronic materials will be provided to registrants in advance.  A system test for ensuring you have access to the webinar is available here.

The seminars and times will be as follows with five-minute scheduled breaks between each session, all on Wednesday, May 22nd: Third Annual Full Ethics and Elimination of Bias Training – Not Just for Public Interest Attorneys

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – “Randomized Evaluation in Access to Justice: Two Studies in Summary Eviction” by D. James Greiner, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who has a Ph.D. in Statistics and has published several research papers on the effect of legal representation for low-income clients in housing and other civil law cases (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – “Right to Counsel in Minnesota: Task Forces, Ideals and Practicalities” by Perry Wilson, a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, who is Co-Head of the firm-wide Pro Bono practice and served as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Gideon Task Force. (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – “Five Easy Ways to Get Suspended or Disbarred (or It’s All About the Money!!)” by Edward Kautzer, president of Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., who has defended hundreds of lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in professional ethics matters. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – “Ethical Issues in Prosecuting and Defending Foreclosures and Evictions” by Christopher Kalla, an associate with Hanbery & Turner, P.A., whose current practice focuses primarily on representing landlords and property managers and at his prior firm he represented lenders in foreclosure matters (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. – “Virtuous Discovery in the Virtual World – Ethical Considerations in Conducting Electronic Discovery” by Katherine Kelly, senior associate at Heins Mills & Olson, P.L.C, who represents individual and corporate clients in antitrust and product liability litigation. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

Prices are set at very affordable rates, depending on which credits you wish to obtain:

• $100 for the entire 5-hour seminar,
• $50 for 2 hours of Elimination of Bias seminars,
• $60 for 3 hours of Ethics seminars,
• or $25/hour for each individual hour.

HOME Line will rebroadcast a legal education webinar – a 5 CLE-credit seminar, over the web on June 27, 2013. This rebroadcast has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 3.0 hours of Ethics and 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credits. Those who register attend by internet and submit written questions via the webinar Q&A chat system.  The webinar will include live video, audio lecture from attorney presenters, and on-screen presentations.  Written electronic materials will be provided to registrants in advance.  A system test for ensuring you have access to the webinar is available here.

The seminars and times will be as follows with five-minute scheduled breaks between each session, all on Wednesday, May 22nd: Third Annual Full Ethics and Elimination of Bias Training – Not Just for Public Interest Attorneys

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – “Randomized Evaluation in Access to Justice: Two Studies in Summary Eviction” by D. James Greiner, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who has a Ph.D. in Statistics and has published several research papers on the effect of legal representation for low-income clients in housing and other civil law cases (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – “Right to Counsel in Minnesota: Task Forces, Ideals and Practicalities” by Perry Wilson, a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, who is Co-Head of the firm-wide Pro Bono practice and served as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Gideon Task Force. (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – “Five Easy Ways to Get Suspended or Disbarred (or It’s All About the Money!!)” by Edward Kautzer, president of Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., who has defended hundreds of lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in professional ethics matters. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – “Ethical Issues in Prosecuting and Defending Foreclosures and Evictions” by Christopher Kalla, an associate with Hanbery & Turner, P.A., whose current practice focuses primarily on representing landlords and property managers and at his prior firm he represented lenders in foreclosure matters (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. – “Virtuous Discovery in the Virtual World – Ethical Considerations in Conducting Electronic Discovery” by Katherine Kelly, senior associate at Heins Mills & Olson, P.L.C, who represents individual and corporate clients in antitrust and product liability litigation. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

Prices are set at very affordable rates, depending on which credits you wish to obtain:

• $100 for the entire 5-hour seminar,
• $50 for 2 hours of Elimination of Bias seminars,
• $60 for 3 hours of Ethics seminars,
• or $25/hour for each individual hour.

HOME Line will rebroadcast a legal education webinar – a 5 CLE-credit seminar, over the web on June 18, 2013. This rebroadcast has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 3.0 hours of Ethics and 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credits. Those who register attend by internet and submit written questions via the webinar Q&A chat system.  The webinar will include live video, audio lecture from attorney presenters, and on-screen presentations.  Written electronic materials will be provided to registrants in advance.  A system test for ensuring you have access to the webinar is available here.

The seminars and times will be as follows with five-minute scheduled breaks between each session, all on Wednesday, May 22nd: Third Annual Full Ethics and Elimination of Bias Training – Not Just for Public Interest Attorneys

• 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. – “Randomized Evaluation in Access to Justice: Two Studies in Summary Eviction” by D. James Greiner, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who has a Ph.D. in Statistics and has published several research papers on the effect of legal representation for low-income clients in housing and other civil law cases (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 5:05 p.m. to 6:05 p.m. – “Right to Counsel in Minnesota: Task Forces, Ideals and Practicalities” by Perry Wilson, a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, who is Co-Head of the firm-wide Pro Bono practice and served as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Gideon Task Force. (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 6:10 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. – “Five Easy Ways to Get Suspended or Disbarred (or It’s All About the Money!!)” by Edward Kautzer, president of Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., who has defended hundreds of lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in professional ethics matters. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. – “Ethical Issues in Prosecuting and Defending Foreclosures and Evictions” by Christopher Kalla, an associate with Hanbery & Turner, P.A., whose current practice focuses primarily on representing landlords and property managers and at his prior firm he represented lenders in foreclosure matters (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 8:20 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. – “Virtuous Discovery in the Virtual World – Ethical Considerations in Conducting Electronic Discovery” by Katherine Kelly, senior associate at Heins Mills & Olson, P.L.C, who represents individual and corporate clients in antitrust and product liability litigation. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

Prices are set at very affordable rates, depending on which credits you wish to obtain:

• $100 for the entire 5-hour seminar,
• $50 for 2 hours of Elimination of Bias seminars,
• $60 for 3 hours of Ethics seminars,
• or $25/hour for each individual hour.

Four paralegal degree students from the Minnesota School of Business have been volunteering with our tenant hotline this semester. Thanks to the MSB for featuring the work of these great students on their blog–On the Line: 4 Paralegal Students Field Questions for Tenant Hotline.

Volunteers are the backbone of our free, statewide tenant hotline. Without the hundreds of hours that these MSB students, community members, and law school students put in, we’d have difficulty advising over 11,000 renter households who call our hotline each year. To learn more about volunteering at HOME Line, click here.

HOME Line will host a legal education webinar – a 5 CLE-credit seminar, broadcast live over the web on May 22, 2013. The course has been approved by the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 3.0 hours of Ethics and 2.0 hours of Elimination of Bias CLE credits. Those who register attend by internet and submit written questions via the webinar Q&A chat system.  The webinar will include live video, audio lecture from attorney presenters, and on-screen presentations.  Written electronic materials will be provided to registrants in advance.  A system test for ensuring you have access to the webinar is available here.

The seminars and times will be as follows with five-minute scheduled breaks between each session, all on Wednesday, May 22nd: Third Annual Full Ethics and Elimination of Bias Training – Not Just for Public Interest Attorneys

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – “Randomized Evaluation in Access to Justice: Two Studies in Summary Eviction” by D. James Greiner, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who has a Ph.D. in Statistics and has published several research papers on the effect of legal representation for low-income clients in housing and other civil law cases (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – “Right to Counsel in Minnesota: Task Forces, Ideals and Practicalities” by Perry Wilson, a Partner at Dorsey & Whitney, who is Co-Head of the firm-wide Pro Bono practice and served as a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Gideon Task Force. (1.0 hour CLE Elimination of Bias credit).
• 12:10 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – “Five Easy Ways to Get Suspended or Disbarred (or It’s All About the Money!!)” by Edward Kautzer, president of Ruvelson & Kautzer, Ltd., who has defended hundreds of lawyers, judges, doctors, nurses, and other licensed professionals in professional ethics matters. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. – “Ethical Issues in Prosecuting and Defending Foreclosures and Evictions” by Christopher Kalla, an associate with Hanbery & Turner, P.A., whose current practice focuses primarily on representing landlords and property managers and at his prior firm he represented lenders in foreclosure matters (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).
• 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. – “Virtuous Discovery in the Virtual World – Ethical Considerations in Conducting Electronic Discovery” by Katherine Kelly, senior associate at Heins Mills & Olson, P.L.C, who represents individual and corporate clients in antitrust and product liability litigation. (1.0 hour CLE Ethics credit).

Prices are set at very affordable rates, depending on which credits you wish to obtain:

• $100 for the entire 5-hour seminar,
• $50 for 2 hours of Elimination of Bias seminars,
• $60 for 3 hours of Ethics seminars,
• or $25/hour for each individual hour.