News

Rachel Kitze Collins Selected as “Attorney of the Year” Honoree

/in , /by

We are pleased to announce that LGN partner Rachel Kitze Collins has been honored by Minnesota Lawyer magazine as an “Attorney of the Year” award recipient, along with Jess Braverman and Christy Hall of Gender Justice! The group is being recognized for their outstanding work in Anderson v. Aitkin Pharmacy & George Badeaux.  In this case, LGN and Gender Justice successfully achieved victory on behalf of their client, Andrea Anderson, at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which held as a matter of law that a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for emergency contraception is illegal sex discrimination under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Rachel Kitze Collins Attorney of the Year

Ms. Anderson sued Aitkin Pharmacy under the MHRA after the lead pharmacist, George Badeaux, refused to accommodate her prescription request.   She had received a valid prescription for Ella, an emergency contraceptive tablet, from her healthcare provider which Badeaux refused to fill, citing his beliefs.

The team tried the case before an Aitkin jury and appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  In a historic decision, the Court of Appeals entered judgment as a matter of law for Ms. Anderson, affirming that no reasonable jury could conclude other than that Ms. Anderson was discriminated against by the lead pharmacist.  It is the first ruling in the United States to find sex discrimination in the context of a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for emergency contraception.

Congratulations to Rachel and the team on a well-deserved award! All “Attorney of the Year” recipients will be celebrated at an awards ceremony in February.

News

LGN Foundation Celebrates a Year of Impact in 2024

/in , /by

As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud to highlight the local organizations the LGN Foundation supported this year, each nominated by an LGN employee. These groups make a tangible difference in the lives of so many across our region.

Here’s a look at the organizations we were honored to support:

Neighborhood House – Strengthening communities by providing food, housing, and education support to families.

Big Brothers Big Sisters – Creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the potential of young people.

Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid – Ensuring access to justice by providing free legal services to low-income individuals.

Page Foundation – Supporting youth of color through scholarships, mentoring, and leadership development.

Lift Garage – Providing affordable car repairs to keep individuals and families on the road to success.

Mac-V – Supporting veterans and their families as they transition to stable housing and employment.

Meals on Wheels Twin Cities – Delivering nutritious meals and companionship to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities.

LGN Foundation Celebrates 2024

VEAP – Offering essential food, housing, and support services to those in need.

Urban Bird Collective – Fostering environmental justice and birdwatching opportunities for underrepresented communities.

RISE – Empowering people with disabilities and other barriers to employment through supportive services and advocacy.

Pfund Foundation – Advancing LGBTQ+ equity through grants and scholarships.

Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD) – Protecting the rights of protesters and fostering legal advocacy for social justice.

Through these partnerships, the LGN Foundation continues its mission to strengthen our community and uplift those in need. We extend our deepest gratitude to these organizations for their dedication and to everyone who makes our support possible.

Uncategorized

Happy Holidays 2024!

/in /by
Uncategorized

LGN SPONSORS MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION CONVENTION

/in , , , , /by

LGN was pleased to sponsor the 83rd annual state convention of the Minnesota Farmers Union. The annual convention aims to bring the community together and focus on the future. Speakers included officials from the Farm Service Agency, the DOJ Antitrust Division, and many local elected leaders. LGN associate Eura Chang and government relations team member Amos Briggs were in attendance.

Minnesota Farmers Union

The Minnesota Farmers Union works to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life of family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. MFU is a nonprofit membership-based organization. Membership is open to everyone.

You can learn more about the Minnesota Farmers Union on their website: https://mfu.org/

News

Asp Featured Speaker: Loper Bright & Impacts to the Health Care Industry

/in , /by

LGN partner David Asp recently served as a panelist on an important CLE presentation, “Loper Bright: How One of the Most Significant Supreme Court Decisions In Recent Years Will Impact the Health Care Industry.”

The program focused on the Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright and its implications for the health care industry. This landmark ruling overruled the longstanding Chevron doctrine, reshaping how courts address disputes between industry and federal agencies such as CMS, FDA, and DOJ.

David joined panelists Professor Nicholas Bednar (University of Minnesota Law School) and Ryan Williams (Mayo Clinic) to share insights into how this decision will affect federal agency rulemaking, litigation, and advocacy.

Loper Bright
News

LGN Sponsors Night For Nexus 2024

/in , /by

We were honored to sponsor and be part of the 6th Annual Night for Nexus benefit. Thank you to all the guests, donors, speakers, and fellow sponsors who made the evening unforgettable. For over 50 years, Nexus Family Healing has been committed to restoring hope for thousands of children and families through mental and behavioral health services. Supporting Nexus Family Healing brings hope and meaningful change to the lives of the youth, families, and individuals Nexus serves.

Night for Nexus
Pictured From LGN: Jess Lindeen, Dan Larson, and Dan Pollock
News

LGN Files First Antitrust Class Action Against GoodRx and Pharmacy Benefit Managers

/in , /by

On October 30, LGN, along with co-counsel at Pearson Warshaw LLP, filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against generic drug coupon provider GoodRx and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) Caremark, Express Scripts, MedImpact, and Navitus. The lawsuit is brought by the plaintiff, Keaveny Drug, an independent pharmacy in Minnesota. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants (GoodRx and the PBMs) conspired to suppress reimbursement rates and increase fees charged to independent pharmacies on all GoodRx-related transactions through GoodRx’s “integrated savings program.”

The lawsuit seeks to recover the damages incurred by independent pharmacies throughout the United States, and to put a stop to the illegal conduct of GoodRx and the PBMs in participating in the GoodRx integrated savings program. It is the first lawsuit in the U.S. challenging this conduct.

Click below for more information.

GoodRx
Learn More

News

LGN Sponsors 2024 Progressive Law Benefit

/in , , /by

LGN was proud to sponsor the Minnesota Chapter of the American Constitution Society’s 2024 Progressive Law Benefit.  ACS is the nation’s leading progressive legal nonprofit organization, connecting lawyers, judges, professors, and law students across the country, who share a collective vision of the Constitution and law that enhances individual rights and liberties, and promotes genuine equality, access to justice, democracy, and the rule of law.  The Progressive Law Benefit is the Chapter’s annual fundraising event, featuring a fun night of networking and trivia with local legal luminaries, hosted by Tane Danger, co-founder of Danger-Boat Productions and the Theatre of Public Policy. 

LGN partner Rachel Kitze Collins served as Co-President of the Chapter for five years, and currently serves on the Board of Directors. LGN partner Charlie Nauen serves on the Board of Advisors, and was also a recipient of the Chapter’s Justice David Lillehaug Award for Distinguished Leadership.

Uncategorized

LGN Spotlight: Rachel Kitze Collins and Jennifer L. M. Jacobs Lead Employment Law Practice

/in /by

Led by Rachel Kitze Collins and Jennifer L. M. Jacobs, the Employment Law Practice team at Lockridge Grindal Nauen represents leading global companies, governmental entities, and mission-driven non-profits. 

Rachel and Jennifer provide exceptional leadership and subject matter expertise to this practice. Clients appreciate their responsiveness and nuanced advice in managing complex situations and ensuring compliance with ever-changing employment laws. When litigation is necessary, the team provides skilled representation in state and federal court.  In addition to Rachel and Jennifer, LGN’s experienced employment law team includes David Asp, Marty Munic, Toni Konkoly, David Hahn, Derek Waller, and Consuela Abotsi-Kowu, along with support staff Heather Potteiger and Samantha Girard.

Employment Law
News

Karen Hanson Riebel Selected as “Top Women in Law” Honoree

/in , /by
Top Women in Law - Karen Hanson Riebel

We are pleased to announce that Karen Hanson Riebel has been honored by Minnesota Lawyer magazine as a “Top Women in Law” award recipient! This prestigious award recognizes women attorneys who have achieved excellence in the legal profession, made significant contributions to the legal community, and demonstrated outstanding leadership. She was celebrated at an awards ceremony in Minneapolis last night.

Karen has been on the forefront of nationwide data breach litigation for more than ten years, just one component of a long and distinguished career as a consumer protection, antitrust, and securities lawyer acting on behalf of plaintiffs and classes. She is a fierce advocate on behalf of those who have been harmed and has used her advocacy in motion practice, discovery, at trial, and in achieving landmark settlements.

Karen is known for her ability to work collaboratively with counsel, both co-counsel and opposing counsel, her ability to work with plaintiffs, and her breadth of expertise, especially in data breach and privacy litigation.  She is adept at working cooperatively to solve problems and manage teams of lawyers and litigants.

Karen is a fantastic mentor to less experienced attorneys and participates in mentoring groups that facilitate learning across practice, gender, racial, and experience level lines. She is devoted to studying diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and works to foster an inclusive environment for all attorneys. She is conscious of including a diverse range of attorneys from all races, genders, geographic regions, years in practice, and backgrounds in all that she does.

Congratulations, Karen, on this remarkable achievement!

Top Women in Law - Karen Hanson Riebel
Top Women in Law - Karen Hanson Riebel
Top Women in Law - Karen Hanson Riebel