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© 2012 Dorsey & Whitney LLP

  • Named a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2011

  • University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., 2001), With Highest Distinction
    Order of the Coif
    Executive Editor, Iowa Law Review, Vol. 86
  • Luther College (B.A., Major: Political Science; Minors: Economics, Communication, 1998), summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

  • Iowa
  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit  

Ryan E. Mick

Partner
Minneapolis
P: (612) 492-6613
F: (612) 340-2868
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Mr. Mick is a Partner in Dorsey's Labor & Employment group, where he focuses primarily on defending complex and single plaintiff cases. His litigation practice involves defense of Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and state wage and hour actions; race, age, sex and disability discrimination suits; retaliation claims; claims involving non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements; and cases involving claims for breach of employment contracts and fiduciary duties.

His practice includes extensive experience representing clients in class actions under Rule 23 and collective actions under the FLSA, as well as in appellate proceedings before state and federal appellate courts.

He has represented clients in various industries, including medical providers, technology companies, airlines, food service companies, telecommunications companies, financial service firms, manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

Mr. Mick also counsels corporate clients and HR professionals on a wide variety of employment related issues, including use of independent contractors, hiring and termination, compensation plans, wage and hour issues, employee investigations and discipline and HR policies.

Prior to joining the firm, he served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Donald P. Lay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

He also served as a Special Assistant City Attorney for the City of Minneapolis in 2006-2007, while on special assignment from Dorsey.

Mr. Mick is a frequent presenter on various employment law issues, including numerous aspects of the FLSA and state wage and hour issues.

Representative Litigation

  • Rios et al. v. Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. et al. (Hennepin County, Minnesota 2010). Counsel for defendant in “donning and doffing” wage and hour class action involving over 13,000 employees in 7 turkey processing plants. Won summary judgment on all claims, including claims for breach of contract, unpaid minimum wage and overtime compensation, violation of state meal break statute, and equitable remedies.
  • Curtis et al. v. Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc. (Kandiyohi County, Minnesota 2009). Won summary judgment on claims for tortious interference with contract. Affirmed on appeal to the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
  • Takele v. Mayo Clinic (D. Minn. 2008). Won summary judgment on claims alleging race and national origin discrimination retaliation and defamation. Affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. 
  • Jorgenson v. Qwest Corporation (D. Minn. 2008). Won motion to dismiss claims of age discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract.
  • Paul Stiever v. All, Inc. (D. Minn. 2006).  Won summary jugment on claims alleging violation of the Family Medical Leave Act.
  • Arnold et al. v. Cargill, Inc. (D. Minn. 2006). Member of team that defeated class certification in complex race discrimination case.
  • Neo Networks v. Cisco Systems, Inc. et al. (Hennepin County, Minnesota 2006).  Key member of defense team in $322 million suit alleging breach of contract, usurpation of corporate opportunity, and breach of fiduciary duties.  Case dismissed on defense motions during bench trial.
  • James V. Budziszek v. Mayo Clinic (Olmstead County, Minnesota 2005).  Key member of defense team in a putative class action asserting claims for breach of contract and alleged unpaid salary.  Defeated class certification; lawsuit dismissed by plaintiff. 
  • Ventura Village, et al. v. City of Minneapolis (D. Minn. 2004, 8th Cir. 2005).  Represented non-profit agency dedicated to the development of low cost housing for the disadvantaged.  Won summary judgment against claimants seeking to enjoin construction and operation of non-profit housing complex for homeless families.  Affirmed on appeal to Eighth Circuit.
  • In re ADC Telecommunications, Inc. ERISA Litigation (D. Minn. 2005).  Key member of defense team that represented Dorsey client ADC Telecommunications, Inc. in a putative class action asserting misrepresentation and imprudence claims under ERISA.  Successfully resisted class certification for lack of a typical or adequate class representative.

Presentations

  • “Are They Really Independent Contractors?," Minnesota State Bar Association Full-Day CLE, Course Co-Chair, October 2011
  • "To Pay or Not to Pay: Identifying and Counting Comparable Time Under the FLSA and State Wage and Hour Laws," 2011 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2011
  • "The FLSA - From the DOL Perspective," 2011 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2011
  • "Common Issues that Arise with Respect to Independant Contractors," Minnesota State Bar Association, The Business from Cradle to Grave series, November 2010
  • “Are They Really Independent Contractors? The USDOL, the States, and the Plaintiff’s Bar Focus on Misclassification of Employees,” 2010 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, May 2010
  • “Independent Contractor ‘Misclassification Initiative’: The Feds Have One – Why You Should Too,” Hennepin County Bar Association Corporate Counsel Section CLE, May 2010
  • “The Top Ten Wage & Hour Mistakes Employers Make (and How to Avoid Them),” Hennepin County Bar Association Labor & Employment Section CLE, March 2009
  • “Wage & Hour Issues: Exempt or Non-Exempt,” 2009 Washington State SHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference, March 2009

Professional Activities

  • Member, Hennepin County Bar Association; Vice-Chair of HCBA Labor & Employment section.
  • Member, Minnesota State Bar Association and MSBA Labor & Employment Law section.

Attorney Articles

March 24, 2011
Kasten v. Saint-Gobain: Supreme Court Rules That Oral Employee Complaints Are Afforded FLSA Retaliation Protection
March 4, 2011
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Resolve Circuit Split Regarding Administrative and Outside Sales Exemptions Under the FLSA
2001
"The Federal Prosecutors Ethics Act: Solution or Revolution?," Student Note, 86 Iowa L. Rev. 1251
2003
"Justifications for a Constitutional Jurisprudence of Deference to the States’ Moral Judgments," 12 Kan. J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 379