Education: University of Minnesota Law School
Degree: JD
Year: 1979
Honors: cum laude; Editor, University of Minnesota Law Review
Military Service: Lieutenant, United States Navy, Medical Service Corps., active duty 1972-1975

Key Practice Experience

• Tried to conclusion a number of the largest, and longest, jury trials in both Minnesota and the country
• Served as lead trial counsel to a major lead pigment manufacturer for over 20 years in more than 100 cases – winning all of them through motion practice, trial or appeal
• Served as lead trial counsel in dozens of class action and mass tort cases
• Served as lead trial counsel in numerous securities fraud and commercial litigation matters

Key Industry Experience

• Chemical and Manufacturing
• Medical Device
• Financial Services

Representative Cases/Transactions

• Affirmed summary judgment in Minnesota Court of Appeals in favor of wind turbine manufacturer in 18 million dollar breach of contract claim (2011)
• Arbitration award in favor of medical device manufacturer in breach of contract claim (2010)
• Arbitration award in favor of financial services firm in 25 million dollar breach of contract and fraud claim (2009)
• Prevailed on appeal of 2.5 billion dollar public nuisance claim of Rhode Island Attorney General in favor of product manufacturer after 5 month trial (2008)
• Jury verdict in favor of product manufacturer in first test case of risk contribution/ market share liability trial in Wisconsin (2007)

Professional Recognitions/Honors

• Selected by peers as fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
• Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Past Chair Litigation Section of Minnesota State Bar Association
• Selected by peers as Minnesota Super Lawyer, 1994-Present

Recent Publications/Presentations

• “Bet the Company Litigation and Perspectives On it”: Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar (2011)
• Co-author of Amicus Brief on behalf of DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar – to the United States Supreme Court in Global Warming case, American Electric Power Company v. State of Connecticut (2011)
• DRI 2010 Annual Meeting: “Public Nuisance – The New Mega Tort (2010)
• ABA Section of Litigation; Products Liability and Mass Torts Committees: “What a Nuisance! – Effective Advocacy for ‘Public Nuisance’ Lawsuits” (2009)
• ABA Section of Litigation, Product Liability Newsletter: “Public Nuisance Claims in Product Liability Actions: Down, but Not Out” (2009)
• DRI 2008 Annual Product Liability Conference: “Bastardization of Nuisance Law in Product Liability Cases” (2008)
• Second Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues, The Brookings Institution: “Public Nuisance Actions” (2007)
• International Association of Defense Counsel 2007 Midyear Meeting; Toxic and Hazardous Substances Committee: “The Trend Toward Utilizing Science Advisory Boards and Science Counsel in Cutting Edge Toxic Litigation” (2007)
• Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education: “Class Actions: Doing Battle and Winning in the Real World” (2005)

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• DRI – The voice of the Defense Bar
• Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
• Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers

Community Involvement

• Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery Board, Past

Bar Admissions

• All Minnesota Courts
• United States Supreme Court
• First Circuit Court of Appeals
• Third Circuit Court of Appeals
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Admitted Pro Hac Vice in 20+ state courts

Other Education

• M.S., Environmental Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
• B.A., Physiology, University of Minnesota