Experience
Representative Work
- Represented national banking client in numerous nationwide class action suits filed in federal courts around the country involving claims relating to lender-placed hazard and flood insurance;
- Represented national banking client in putative nationwide class action suit filed in Florida state court involving claims relating to the application of prepayments under residential mortgages;
- Represented consumer credit company in multiple state court actions involving claims relating to wrongful repossession of customer vehicles, as well as legality and propriety of outstanding deficiency judgments;
- Represented consumer credit company in putative statewide class action in federal district court alleging violations of the Minnesota Retail Installment Sales Act, the Minnesota usury laws, the federal Truth in Lending Act, and RICO, breaches of warranty, common law fraud, and illegal insurance sales. Obtained summary judgment in favor of credit company.
- Represented consumer credit company in putative statewide class action in federal district court involving alleged violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, interference with contract, breach of contract, violations of the Minnesota Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act, and breach of fiduciary duty, arising out of credit company’s purchase of LPD insurance on customer vehicles. Obtained dismissal of all claims at district court, and affirmance by 8th Circuit.
- Represented Ford Motor Credit Company in nationwide class action filed in Hennepin County purportedly on behalf of a class of automobile lessees. Plaintiffs claimed that their automobile security deposit constituted collateral in a secured transaction, and demanded payment of all “increase or profits” allegedly received by Ford Credit from its purported use of that collateral. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Ford Credit. Affirmed by Minnesota Court of Appeals; petition for review denied by Minnesota Supreme Court.
- Represented U.S. Bank N.A. in nationwide class action filed in Minnesota U.S. District Court alleging violations of federal and Minnesota laws with respect to processing fees for mortgage applications. Obtained summary judgment on all claims in favor of US Bank; affirmed on appeal to the 8th Circuit.
- Represented construction company in insurance coverage action filed in Washington County involving water intrusion claims in custom homes built by client. The case involved significant and complicated coverage issues involving ongoing damage, multiple policy years and carriers. Obtained summary judgment on all claims on behalf of client; affirmed by Minnesota Court of Appeals.
- Represented financial services client in putative nationwide class action filed in Dakota County alleging deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud with respect to client's billing practices regarding its expedited check delivery services. Obtained summary judgment on all claims for client.
- Represented medical device company seeking products liability coverage relating to recalled pacemaker lead wires. The case involved issues relating to misrepresentation, known loss, late notice and various other policy exclusions. Favorable settlement obtained before trial.
- Represented nutritional food and chemical manufacturer and distributor in coverage action against its liability carrier seeking coverage for underlying patent infringement claims. Favorable settlement obtained before trial.
- Represented insured manufacturer in coverage action against multiple primary and excess carriers. The action arose out of the insurers’ denial of coverage for numerous third-party property damage claims relating to the client’s product. Issues litigated included, among others, trigger of coverage, allocation, the “expected/intended” exclusion, and coverage for punitive damages. Six week trial relating to reinstatement of aggregate limits resulted in judgment for client.
- Represented health clinic policyholder in a multi-million dollar property damage insurance coverage lawsuit under an “all-risk" policy. The case involved complicated issues relating to “collapse,” “hidden decay” and exclusions relating to design defect and defective materials. Favorable settlement obtained before trial.
- Represented lending institution insured in multi-million dollar insurance coverage claim against insurer arising out of warranty insurance for damage to wind turbine generators. Case involved analyses and litigation of various policy defenses, including “expected/intended” exclusion, and issues relating to bad faith. Favorable settlement obtained before trial.
- Represented Third Party Administrator in multimillion dollar breach of contract action against insurer. Favorable settlement obtained before arbitration.
- Represented federally-recognized Indian tribe in federal court litigation against State of Michigan Revenue Officials regarding its attempt to impose ad valorem property taxes against the Tribe and its members on fee land within the Tribe's Reservation. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the Tribe; affirmed by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Represented federally-recognized Indian tribe and tribal corporation in federal court litigation against Kansas Revenue Officials regarding seizure of tribal corporation's gas tanker truck and attempt to impose fuel tax on sales of fuel to Indian tribes in Kansas. Argued certified question to Kansas Supreme Court. Obtained TRO and preliminary injunction from District Court, affirmed by 10th Circuit. Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Tribe and tribal corporation.
Teaching and Lecturing
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Ethics, Hamline Law School, 1994-1996.
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Insurance Law, Hamline Law School, 1992-94.
- Frequent lecturer at continuing legal education seminars on a variety of topics.

