August 27, 2026
On August 19, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an opinion in favor of Fairview Health Services’ argument that Minnesota statute requires a trustee to be appointed prior to that trustee being able to bring a wrongful death action.
In Hagfors v. Fairview Health Services, Keith Hagfors served a summons and complaint on Fairview Health Services, the University of Minnesota, and University of Minnesota Physicians alleging the wrongful death of his wife, Sara Hagfors, who died on April 9, 2021. The complaint was served within the statutory limitations period, but before Hagfors was appointed as trustee. Hagfors was appointed as trustee still within the statutory limitations period, but did not re-serve the complaint before the limitations period expired.
The district court dismissed the claim, and the court of appeals affirmed. The Minnesota Supreme Court also affirmed by finding that appointment as a trustee is a condition precedent to commencing a wrongful death action under Minnesota statute.
The MMA submitted an amicus brief, or friend of the court brief, in partnership with the AMA Litigation Center to support Fairview Health in their appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
August 27, 2026
On August 19, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an opinion in favor of Fairview Health Services’ argument that Minnesota statute requires a trustee to be appointed prior to that trustee being able to bring a wrongful death action.
August 27, 2026
A group of Minnesota residents and fellows gathered outside the University of Minnesota Medical Center on August 24 demanding their first contract, something they've been bargaining for since last September.
August 27, 2026
HealthcareCareersMN.org, an MMA initiative, continues to grow and support the healthcare career aspirations of students from across Minnesota.