About Benjy Schirm, J.D.
Benjy Schirm is a storyteller, writer and advocate. He attended the University of Iowa as an undergrad, worked as a theater artist, and went on to earn a J.D. from Western Michigan University so he could take his storytelling from the stage to the courtroom. He has contributed to legal publications in Minnesota, and is a North Star Lawyer, full-time public defender serving Rice County, and on the 4th District Ethics Committee as an investigator.
Articles written by Benjy Schirm, J.D.
Successfully Navigating Probation in Michigan
Sentencing hearings come at the conclusion of criminal cases. If an alleged charge becomes a guilty verdict at any point in time throughout a case, it becomes the job of the judge to determine the proper sentencing. The penalties that can be levied include jail or prison time, as well as fines. There’s also probation—an attempt to ensure that a person will not commit the same, or a similar, crime again. Speak to a Michigan defense attorney if you have questions around the state's probation …
Who Pays for a Riot?
After the Eagles won the Super Bowl, “Fly, Eagles Fly!” became a battle cry. Couches blazed in flames, and cars were flipped. The riot police were called in to break up the mobs, as fans and gallivanters looked on. A city full of people celebrating is a wonderful thing, but when things take a turn, riot damage to properties and personal injury can occur. Who Pays for Order To Be Restored? Firstly, insurance companies, pay for property damages and injuries. In most instances, the property …
The Legal Risks of Operating Safe Injection Facilities
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 560,000 Americans died from an opioid-related drug overdose from 1999-2020. 75 percent of fatal drug overdoses involved an opioid in 2022. And in 2021 alone, 4,522 Pennsylvanians died of an opioid overdose. In short, the opioid epidemic is a dire public health situation. “Clearly something needs to be done,” says NiaLena Caravasos, a criminal defense attorney in Philadelphia. “It’s myopic and …
Can Retail Stores Videotape Their Dressing Rooms?
An incredible night is coming — prom, the party of the year for many young people, and a boon for retail shops everywhere. As promgoers seek out the perfect suit or dress for their special night, they wade into clothing store dressing rooms to try on the possibilities. Unbeknownst to them, fitting rooms may be watched by security cameras. And the use of cameras may be perfectly legal. What Laws Are in Place for Our Protection? The federal privacy law that governs these actions is the Video …
You Aren't Alone: The Class Action Path for Sexual Misconduct
In the years following the emergence of the #MeToo movement, more light has been shed on sexual harassment and abuse perpetrated by executives, politicians, celebrities, clergy, health professionals, and others in positions of power and influence. With the allegations often surrounding repeated offenses, as opposed to isolated incidents, scrutiny has likewise turned to systemic problems. Reporting to law enforcement for a criminal investigation is one method of achieving justice, but jailing a …
Sick and Safe Time in Minnesota
In today’s 24-hour news cycle, information is available at the touch of a button. It’s revolutionized the way businesses operate—how they find customers, and maximize profits while minimizing expenditures. This lightning fast market comes with regulations that may take smaller businesses by surprise, however. Case in point? The new Sick and Safe Time ordinance, passed in July 2017 by the city of Minneapolis. Leonard B. Segal, an employment attorney at Seiler Schindel Segal, stated on a …
Who Is To Blame for a Self-Driving Car Crash?
Imagine, one morning on the way to work, you stop in a line of cars at a red light. Suddenly a car from behind slams into you. When you gather yourself and confront the other driver, you’re surprised to see the driver seat empty and, instead, see passengers in the back of a self-driving vehicle. Who pays for the damage and injuries when a self-driving car causes a car accident? What Is a Self-Driving Car? According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a fully self-driving car is a …
Is It Illegal To Drink and Drone?
To say drone use is trendy is an understatement. As of 2018, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported over 1 million drone registrations, including 878,000 hobbyist drones and 122,000 public and commercial drones. As the number of unmanned flying crafts has grown, so too has the number of incidents: In 2015, a government official crashed his buddy’s drone into the White House lawn. In New Hampshire, a wedding guest was struck in the head by an errant drone and sued for damages from …
Challenging the Baltimore Curfew
Curfew laws have been around in the United States since before the Civil War. They were intended to control populations, punish groups and protect citizens in times of war. There was a sharp rise in communities enforcing curfew laws among juveniles in the 1990s, mostly to quell concerns about violent crime and victimization. In Baltimore, Maryland after the riots in 2014, the city enacted strict curfews on juveniles and minors that are still in place and being enforced by law enforcement today. …
When Fake Online Profiles Ruin Lives
As the digital world explodes, people continue to derive a great deal of pleasure from the internet, and spend a large portion of their leisure time on it. Unfortunately, there are those who have begun to impersonate others online in order to foster relationships. Catfishing, as it’s been called, has become a real problem for many unwitting victims — leading to heartbreak, monetary loss and sometimes even suicide. With the proliferation of online dating and social networking, many people …
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