Previous Law Firm Name

• Hauge, Eide, Anderson & Keller, P.A., December 31, 1989
• Grannis & Grannis, P.A., December 31, 1989

Law Firm Overview

GRANNIS &HAUGE,P.A.

Grannis &Hauge, P.A. dates its origins to the founding of the Grannis & Grannis firm founded in 1908, which served Dakota County and the surrounding area until 1990, when it merged with the firm of Hauge, Eide, Anderson & Keller. The firm now has ten attorneys and a professional support staff. The firm's mission is to serve the community by delivering ethical, high quality legal services to individuals, businesses and cities.

The Grannis & Hauge firm is well known in the suburban metropolitan area for its representation of municipalities in both civil matters and the prosecution of crimes. Its many business and individual clients look to the lawyers of the Grannis Hauge firm for the same high quality of representation in the following areas:

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

If you, a family member or a friend is injured in a car accident or on commercial premises or by the negligence of a health care professional, our experienced lawyers can advise you on what options you may have for insurance coverages - no-fault, uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist - and the prospects of recovery against the responsible parties.

Our trial attorneys have won verdicts and settlements for clients who have experienced the accidental death of a loved one, injuries from car and motorcycle accidents, dogbite scars, slips and falls, and damage by careless health care providers.

For advice in this area, please contact Michael J. Dwyer (after hours, call 651-452-7872). Your case will be reviewed at no charge and there is no charge for our expertise in representing you unless we win monetary damages for you. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin and in the federal trial courts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Business Law and Employment Law

The firm has highly experienced attorneys who offer advice and representation on:

* Choosing the best form for a business: sole proprietorship, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, "S" or "C" corporation;

* Buy-Sell and business succession agreements;

* Current legislation and its impact on business;

* Litigation of commercial matters;

* Prevention of employment disputes and defense of possible claims in the employment area;

* Acquisition and sale of business assets and real property;

* Bankruptcy

For a consultation, please call either Vance Grannis, Jr., Paul Hauge,  Ward Anderson, David G. Keller or Virginia Dwyer.

Tax

Individuals and business clients alike need advice on tax matters from the basic to the very complex. In addition to its Business Law department, the firm offers the services of experienced tax attornies, Ward Anderson and Jeffrey Cahill. Mr. Anderson has 20 years of experience in tax matters, including tax planning to minimize adverse tax consequences, planning the optimal organizational structure for business, and handling disputes with tax authorities. Mr. Anderson practices in the courts of the State of Minnesota, the United States District Court and the United States Tax Court. He also has extensive background in representing clients in procedures and disputes involving the Internal Revenue Service, the Minnesota Department of Revenue and the Minnesota Department of Economic Security.  Mr. Cahill was a Certified Public Accountant in private industry in the area of mergers and acquisitions.  He has spoken for the National Business Institute on topics including tax free exchanges and financing small business start-ups.  He has also taught classes on business taxation for the State of Minnesota and the IRS; and is admitted to practice before the U.S.Tax Court.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

The firm's experience in litigating disputes has convinced us of the necessity and desirability of using alternative methods of dispute resolution. While lawsuits are an unavoidable fact in our society, protracted, expensive litigation need not be. Vance Grannis, Jr., Virginia Dwyer, Barry Wittenkeller and Michael Dwyer are each experienced practitioners of Alternative Dispute Resolution. The courts of the state of Minnesota are committed to using alternative dispute resolution when appropriate; our experience can assist you in the event you are involved in a mediated or arbitrated dispute.

Estate Planning

Clients often ask "Do I need a will?" The answer depends upon a number of factors, some of which are listed below:

Minor Children. If you have minor children, you need a will to identify whom you want to care for your children in the event you and your spouse die. If you do not designate a guardian, the court will do so for you; a court appointed guardian may not be the same person you would choose.

Avoidance of Estate Taxes. If your family's combined assets, including life insurance and death benefits exceeds or may some day exceed $600,000, there may be state and federal estate taxes to be paid from those assets. Estate planning can help shelter those assets from taxation.

Powers of Attorney. In the event you suffer a catastrophic accident or illness and cannot make necessary decisions, a Power of Attorney can enable a spouse or other nominated person to act on your behalf. Medical Powers of Attorney or Living Wills allow a loved one or trusted friend to convey your wishes regarding life sustaining measures.

Living Trusts. A Living Trust can be a good alternative to a will, but it is not always the best way to avoid probate and the payment of estate taxes. Your individual situation must be analyzed to determine whether a Living Trust is a good option for you.

Specific Giving Considerations. A will is frequently necessary to provide for specific gifts of personal property, specific bequests to individuals and charities, to delay the distribution of assets to children until they are mature enough to invest them wisely or to provide for special needs children.  Ward Anderson,  Virginia A. Dwyer, Paul Hauge, Vance Grannis, Jr. and Jeffrey Cahill, can assist you in analyzing your financial and family situation and determining the type of Estate Planning your family needs.

Real Property Law/Condemnation

The Grannis & Hauge firm has seen our part of Minnesota grow from a rural area to the fastest growing area in Minnesota. During those years, our firm has capably attended to clients' needs resulting from ownership of real property, including examination of title, preparation and review of purchase agreements for residential and commercial property, representation of buyers and sellers at closings, condominium organization and landlord-tenant disputes.

As the area has grown and developed, so have our clients' needs. We represent clients before municipalities, and if necessary, in court challenges, on zoning matters, requests for special use permits, conditional use permits, assessment appeals and variances. In addition, in a growing area such as ours, many clients have found property undergoing condemnation proceedings to make way for development. Tenacious representation of our clients has resulted in increased awards for many property owners, including cases throughout Dakota County involving land worth millions of dollars.

Attorneys practicing in the real estate area include Vance Grannis, Jr., David G. Keller, Ward Anderson, Paul H. Hauge and Barry L. Wittenkeller.

Areas of Practice

• Bankruptcy Law
• Contracts
• Business Organizations
• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Estate Planning
• Real Estate Law
• Insurance Law
• Employment Law -- Employee
• Employment Law -- Employer
• Labor Law
• Personal Injury -- Defense
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Workers' Compensation Law
• Tax

West Practice Categories

Bankruptcy Law, Contracts, Business Organizations, Criminal Law, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Estate Planning, Trusts, Family Law, Insurance Law, Labor Law, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Real Estate Law, Workers' Compensation Law