stephanie

Stephanie Angolkar has been named to the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Board of Directors. MDLA is dedicated to serving the needs of attorneys engaged primarily in the defense and trial of civil disputes. Angolkar is currently the Chair of the Government Liability Committee for MDLA.

Jon K. Iverson and Paul D. Reuvers were named again in this year’s Super Lawyers lists. These lists are exclusive, naming no more than 5 percent of attorneys in Minnesota to Super Lawyers. The selections are made through peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations from a highly credentialed panel of attorneys.

Stephanie Angolkar has been appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court Rules of Evidence Advisory Committee, for a three-year term from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019. The committee studies the Minnesota Rules of Evidence and makes appropriate recommendations to the Supreme Court.

Stephanie Angolkar has been certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist. Administered by the MSBA, the certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a rigorous approval process, including an examination in the specialty area, peer review, and documented experience. This achievement has been earned by fewer than 3% of all licensed Minnesota attorneys. Angolkar represents individuals and homeowner associations in a variety of real estate matters, including litigation; municipalities and government entities in land use matters; and also works in civil and insurance defense litigation.

In November 2001, RDNT (Martin Luther Manor) sought approval from the City of Bloomington for a 3-story, 67-unit senior assisted living facility expansion. The proposed use conflicted with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and would be injurious to the surrounding neighborhood, causing harm to the public health, safety, and welfare. On March 18, 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the Court of Appeals decision in favor of the City, in an opinion authored by Justice Lillehaug.  The essence of the decision is that the judicial system is loath to substitute its judgment about the proposed development’s potential injury to the neighborhood for that of the City Council.  The decision is based on the City’s determination that the applicant’s proposed conditions for mitigation of the neighborhood injury were insufficient. The City’s decision was upheld as reasonable and not arbitrary or capricious. The City of Bloomington was represented by Paul D. Reuvers, Jason J. Kuboushek, and   Stephanie A. Angolkar.

Respondent Mary Wendt was incarcerated at the Mille Lacs County Jail after she was arresting for driving while intoxicated.  While in the jail, Mary fell twice, once in her cell and once while being escorted back to jail after a court appearance. She suffered minor injuries from both falls and sued Mille Lacs County for negligence. The County filed a motion for summary judgment and the trial court declined to dismiss the case. The case proceeded to jury trial. The jury found in favor of Mille Lacs County and dismissed the case.

Mille Lacs County was represented by Jason Hiveley.

The trustee for Eric Kolski filed suit against the City of Brooklyn Park and two police officers, alleging the officers violated Kolski’s rights when the officers entered his home in response to a domestic disturbance call and used deadly force in response to Kolski pointing a gun at the officers.  The United States District Court granted summary judgment to the City, holding the two officers reasonably feared for their lives and were entitled to qualified and official immunity.  Kolski’s trustee appealed to the Eighth Circuit.  The Eighth Circuit affirmed in a published opinion, holding the use of force was constitutionally permissible and the officers were entitled to official immunity based on their reasonable response to a significant threat of physical injury or death.  The City of Brooklyn Park and its officers were represented by Jon K. Iverson and Stephanie A. Angolkar.

On February 5, 2014, after a 3-day trial, a United States District Court jury determined a City of Chaska officer did not use unreasonable force to stop Debbie Griefenhagen from trespassing after she was directed to leave her son’s property.  The jury also rejected Griefenhagen’s assault and battery claims.  Stephanie A. Angolkar represented the City of Chaska and its officer.