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  5. PICK YOUR BATTLES

PICK YOUR BATTLES

by Ed Shaw Law | Mar 21, 2023 | General Law |

Years ago, when I lived out east I was doing a bike race near Boston.  It was a weekly club race, went around a roughly mile long circle in an industrial park on a Sunday morning.  I was to the right near the front of the pack of about 200 riders.  To my left, I heard this exchange, Rider One ‘hey, watch it A—Hole.  Rider two, ‘F you’. The two were jockeying for position, fighting over which would be in front of the other in the pack.  Right after Rider Two’s comment, I heard a clink of metal (this was back when race bicycles were made out of steel, not carbon) as their bikes banged into each other and they went down.  As they had over 150 riders behind them, a huge chain reaction pile up happened, as I looked over my left shoulder the middle of the pack to my left seemed to disappear, a wave of riders and bikes piling up on top of Riders One and Two.  I was fortunately just far enough to the side to miss the crash.  By the time me and the remaining riders came around the circle again the crash had been cleared, there were a lot of broken bikes and bleeding riders, some blood on the pavement, but luckily no ambulances had to come out.

What, you might ask, does this have to do with the law? The legal system is about conflict, when to fight, when not to fight. Sometimes, even if you are in the right, the consequences of the fight are just not worth it.  Rider One may have been right to stand his ground, or, maybe Rider Two was in the right and Rider One was cutting him off, but, the end result was that both of them were at the front of a huge crash that wrecked their bikes, banged both up, and could have sent them and many others to the hospital.  There is a time to fight, and a time to compromise.  The consequences of a fight in the legal system may not be as immediate, and painful as crashing in a race, but they can be every bit as damaging, months of emotional strain, thousands of dollars spent, in a family case, relations with children and relatives strained, sometimes beyond repair.

When it is time to fight, your lawyer will fight with you, and do their best for you. It is also their job to advise you when the fight is a good idea, and when it is not.  If I think a fight will do more harm to my client than good I will urge them to avoid it as that is one of the most important parts of my job.

Ed

Why do different states have different laws?

by Edward Shaw | Jun 30, 2025 | General Law

I get asked the question all of the time, why are the laws different in each state, and, why do people need to get different lawyers when they have legal issues in other states. The answer goes back to the founding of our country, we have always had a federal system,...

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Will I lose everything in Chapter 7 bankruptcy? 

On Behalf of Ed Shaw Law | Jun 5, 2025 | Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 bankruptcy helps erase debts when you cannot pay them and give you a fresh financial start. However, many people think of bankruptcy as losing everything. Fortunately, Minnesota laws protect essential assets.  Confidence comes from knowing your rights—learn...

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What is the difference between legal and physical custody?

On Behalf of Ed Shaw Law | Apr 23, 2025 | Family Law

If you're going through a custody issue in Minnesota, it's important to understand the difference between legal and physical custody. These terms may sound similar, but they each play a different role in your child's life. Understanding legal custody Legal custody...

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JAIL PHONES

by Edward Shaw | Apr 4, 2025 | Criminal Defense

Many of you have seen movies involving phone calls from a jail or prison, maybe some of you have gotten calls from a jail or prison.  If you have, you may be familiar with the message that often plays 'This call is from a correctional institution and may be...

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EXPERT WITNESSES

On Behalf of Ed Shaw Law | Mar 27, 2025 | Firm News

Most people outside of the legal system have never heard of expert witnesses, a critical part of the legal system.  Unlike regular witnesses, who can testify about what they observed or heard, experts can offer opinions.  Experts are used to explain a variety of...

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Contracts for Deed

by Edward Shaw | Mar 12, 2025 | Business Law

They are an alternative method of financing the purchase and sale of property.  Instead of the buyer getting a bank loan, payments are made to the seller.  The arrangement has its advantages, by taking payments over time a seller can in some cases save on taxes. ...

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WHEN DO YOUR RIGHTS HAVE TO BE READ TO YOU

by Edward Shaw | Jan 31, 2025 | General Law

I have written on this topic before, but, because it is a source of a lot of misunderstanding among the general public, it needs more attention. Police shows for decades have shown people being arrested and read the Miranda warning, 'their rights', you have the right...

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When can you sue someone for something they say?

by Edward Shaw | Jan 24, 2025 | Civil Law, General Law

Free speech is a cornerstone of our society, for good reasons.  A democracy depends on people being able to express their opinions about anybody, and anything.  Even the richest and most powerful in society can be criticized by any citizen in a free society. Like all...

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MONEY AND DIVORCE

On Behalf of Ed Shaw Law | Jan 13, 2025 | Firm News

When divorces are tough there are usually issues with money.  The rules on dividing assets, money, real estate, vehicles, anything of value, are simple, it is generally divided equally, regardless of who earned it, or whose name is on it.  The exception is...

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Tips for co-parents to keep the holiday season peaceful and joyous

On Behalf of Ed Shaw Law | Dec 6, 2024 | Custody

Co-parenting presents challenges throughout the year, but the holiday season can amplify these difficulties, even for those who maintain a cordial relationship with their former spouse. From Thanksgiving through the end of the year, the added stress of coordinating...

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  • Why do different states have different laws?
  • Will I lose everything in Chapter 7 bankruptcy? 
  • What is the difference between legal and physical custody?
  • JAIL PHONES
  • EXPERT WITNESSES

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