PRACTICE AREAS
- Accidents and Personal Injury
- Medical Provider Liens and Recovery
- Insurance Law
- Wills, Probates, Powers of Attorney
- Native American Law
- Pit Bull Attacks
EDUCATION
Law Clerk to the Hon. Paul Benson, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota, 1981-1983
University of North Dakota, J.D., with distinction, 1981: University of North Dakota Law Review, Editor
University of North Dakota, B.A., History, magna cum laude, 1978; B.S., Education and Social Studies, magna cum laude, 1978
BAR ADMISSIONS
- North Dakota, (1981-2021)
- U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota, 1982
- Minnesota (1983-2022)
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1983
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eight Circuit, 1983
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
- Arizona, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2004
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 2004
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2006
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, 2008
At various times, admitted to Tribal Courts in Minnesota and North Dakota to include Red Lake Tribe – Minnesota, White Earth Reservation Tribal Court – Minnesota, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribal Court – North Dakota, Spirit Lake Tribal Court – North Dakota, Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Court – North Dakota.
CPCU – DESIGNATION
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU), 2003
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society, 2003-2011
SUPER LAWYER ® – DESIGNATION
Super Lawyers (Minnesota), 1994-2003 (peer review selection of top
5% of attorneys in Minnesota)
BOARD CERTIFIED TRIAL SPECIALIST
Minnesota State Bar Association, Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist,1995 – 2013
Minnesota State Bar Association- Board Certified Civil Trial Senior Specialist, 2013 – 2017
Certification means the completion of an approval process which validates a lawyer’s specialty and provides proven credentials. The certification process includes documented experience, written examinations, evaluation by judges and other trial attorneys and continuing maintenance of training and skills.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- State Bar of Arizona
- State Bar of Minnesota, 1983-2013
- State Bar of North Dakota, 1981-2021
- Federal Bar Association, 2003-2011
- Defense Research Institute, 1985-2005 (organization of insurance and
corporation legal interests) - Academy of Certified Civil Trial Attorneys (Minnesota), 1994 – 2011
- Clay County (Minnesota) Bar Association, 2000-2001, Past President
- American Arbitration Association Regional Advisory Board (Minnesota), Past Member
- International Order of the Blue Goose (Insurance Industry Fraternity), Life Member
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
U.S. Army, Airborne Infantry, U.S. Army Reserves -direct commission as Medical Service Officer; and recommissioned in Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps.
Military Officers of America Association (MOAA), Life Member
NOTABLE RECOVERY RESULTS
Multiple Claims based on Toxic Chemical Spill- $multi-millions recovered
Multiple claims for Abuse/Negligence Against Adolescent Residential Center- $1,500,000
High School Age Claimant- Motor Vehicle Accident- $1,000,000 plus
Young Woman Claimant -Semi-Truck Accident – $1,100,000 plus
Husband/Wife Claimants – Motor Vehicle Accident – $1,090,000
Jail Death and Jail Transport Cases- $750,000