Education: University of Michigan Law School
Degree: JD
Year: 1992
Honors: cum laude

Key Practice Experience

• Product liability litigation
• Toxic torts
• Commercial litigation
• Appellate practice
• Shareholder disputes
• Professional ethics

Key Industry Experience

• Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Recreational Products
• Medical Devices
• Industrial Equipment
• Chemical Products

Representative Cases/Transactions

• Shores v. Komatsu: Industrial equipment product liability, tried to defense verdict.
• Nesladek v. Ford Motor Co.: Automotive product liability, summary judgment obtained and affirmed on appeal.
• Beckefeld v. Kelley Co.: Industrial equipment product liability, summary judgment.
• McDaniel v. Bieffe: Motorcycle helmet product liability, partial summary judgment and settlement.
• Cyberstar Computer v. Euler Solutions: Contract dispute, tried to partial verdict for client.
• Ginkel v. Babel, et al.: Contract dispute, tried to verdict for client.
• Rasmussen v. Yamaha: Motorcycle product liability, favorable motions and settlement.
• Froland v. Yamaha: Motorcycle product liability, settlement.
• Gulbranson v. Yamaha: Motorcycle product liability, settlement.
• Dwelly v. Yamaha: Watercraft product liability, favorable motions and settlement.
• Hammes v. Yamaha: Motorcycle product liability, favorable motions, partial trial and settlement.
• Bolander v. Bolander: Employment and shareholder dispute, tried to verdict for client, affirmed on appeal.
• Vaden v. Bell Helmets: Motorcycle helmet product liability, settlement.

Professional Recognitions/Honors

• Chair, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Product Liability Committee
• Editorial Board, Michigan Law Review

Selected Publications/Presentations

• “Remarriage and Wrongful Death Damages: Long Separated but Ripe for Reconciliation,” Minnesota Defense, Winter 1994.
• Products Liability for the Minnesota Paralegal, November 1998, Institute for Paralegal Education.
• “Economic Loss: Commercial Contract Law Lives,” 27 William Mitchell Law Review 417 (2000).
• “Choosing Statutes of Limitations: A Good Place for More Interest in Conflicts of Law,” Minnesota Defense, Summer 2003.
• “The Risk-Utility Test in Product Liability Litigation,” MDLA Mid-Winter Conference, 2005.
• “Digital Defense Wins More than Virtual Super Bowls,” Defense Research Institute Electronic Discover SLG, 2007.
• “Use of Regulations in Litigation,” MDLA Mid-Winter Conference, 2007.

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association, including Sections of Litigation, Product Liability and Appellate Practice
• Minnesota Bar Association
• Hennepin County Bar Association
• Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Chair, Recreational Products Specialized Litigation Group of DRI Products Liability Committee

Community Involvement

• Minnesota Astronomical Society
• Minnesota Debate Teachers Association
• National Forensics League

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota State Courts
• U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

Other Education

• B.A., Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, summa cum laude