Minneapolis
(612) 343-7903 P
(612) 340-2807 F

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Peter W. Sipkins

Partner

Partner in the Trial practice group, and co-Chair of the Products Liability practice group. Practices in the areas of product liability, computer and software litigation, and other complex civil litigation.

Representative Litigation

  • Counsel for Merck in VIOXX litigations in several states, including North & South Dakota and Alaska
  • Counsel for Ortho-McNeil in HRT litigations in Minnesota
  • In Re: Baycol MDL (Local liaison defense counsel in MDL pharmaceutical litigation involving over 7,000 cases and 17,000 plaintiffs)
  • Showa Denko L-tryptophan litigation (lead local counsel for defendant in 80+ product liability cases)
  • Richard Slatinski v. Bombardier, Inc. - Lead defense counsel in a multimillion dollar wrongful death claim involving personal watercraft.
  • Jennifer Rose v. Bombardier, Inc., et al. - Lead defense counsel in products liability claim in Washington State court involving alleged defective boat design (tried to a successful defense verdict).
  • Michael Nowicki v. Bombardier, Inc., et al. - Lead defense counsel in leg amputation case involving alleged defective snowmobile design (arbitration found no defense liability). 
  • State of Minnesota v. Philip Morris, et al. (Tobacco industry Medicaid litigation) Lead liaison counsel for defendants
  • Waxler v. Trinity Industries (E.D. Louisiana) (lead counsel for defendants Jotun A/S & Jotun Paints in purported class action defending claims of defective coating on 2,500+ river barges)
  • Tanana Chiefs Conference v. Oracle Corporation (N.D. California) (lead counsel for plaintiff native Alaskan corporation against defendant alleging defective software and inadequate implementation)
  • TriValley Growers v. Oracle Corporation - Lead Plaintiff's counsel in multimillion dollar litigation against defendant alleging defective software products - settled for undiscloseable amount.
  • Accord v. Oracle Corporation - Lead Plaintiff's counsel in multimillion dollar litigation against defendant alleging defective software, negligent implementation services and fraud - settled for undiscloseable amount.
  • Metcalf & Eddy v. Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer Authority (Lead Plaintiff's counsel on $55 million dollar engineering/construction litigation - U.S. District Court, San Juan, Puerto Rico, First Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court)
  • Mergentime v. Hazen & Sawyer and Metcalf & Eddy (Lead defense counsel on $52 million dollar engineering malpractice litigation in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York)
  • In Re: New York & New Jersey Powerhouse Asbestos cases (Defense counsel for a defendant in over 800 cases)
  • CPT Corp. v. Tandon (Lead defense counsel in multimillion dollar litigation involving allegedly defective computer disk drives)
  • Marvin Windows v. Norton Co. (Lead defense counsel in major multimillion dollar litigation involving allegedly defective window sealant)
  • Weyerhauser Company, National Formaldehyde Trial Counsel (coordinated 180+ cases and personally tried two cases to verdict), 1978-1989

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • Minnesota Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: 1st, 5th, 8th and 10th Circuits
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Various Federal District Courts

Honors

  • Named a "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Journal of Law & Politics, 2009
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America, annually since 1992
  • Outside counsel member, Products Liability Advisory Council - invitation only

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School
    J.D., 1969
  • University of Minnesota
    B.A., Philosophy, Political Science & History, 1966

Professional Activities

  • Chair, Litigation Section Governing Council, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1991
  • Member, Supreme Court Judicial Evaluation Committee
  • Member, Supreme Court Product Liability Jury Instruction Advisory Committee
  • Member, Product Liability Advisory Committee
  • Member, Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Evidence

Presentations

  • Frequent CLE lecturer