Education
- University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- J.D. – 1985
- University of Montana
- B.A. – 1982
- Honors: with Highest Honors
- Major: Political Science
Classes & Seminars
- “The Essentials of Cross Examination” with Annamarie Daley at MSBA, Sept. 23, 2019
- “Debt Collection: A Judicial Perspective,” Consumer Law Issues Seminar, Jun. 14, 2013
- “Electronic Discovery and Electronic Evidence: Have You Ever Faced A Motion to Compel a ‘Data Dump’ or Had a Party Offer His Cellphone into Evidence?” MDJA/MDJF Annual Meetings & MDJF Fall Educational Conference, Sept. 4-7, 2012
- “Federal Preemption Update and the Effects in Railroad, Aviation, and Drug and Device Litigation,” Minnesota Association for Justice, Products Liability Seminar, Mar. 26, 2008
- “So You Are in Federal Court – Now What,” MTLA Summer Convention, Aug. 9, 2007
- “The Importance of Understanding and Eliminating Bias to the Trial Lawyer,” Ethics and Elimination of Bias Seminar, MTLA CLE, May 18, 2007
- Adjunct Professor, Hamline School of Law – Taught medical malpractice class with Wendy Zeller (Fall 2003)
- 30-Hour Civil Mediation Skills Training with the Mediation Center, 7400 Lyndale Ave. S., Richfield, MN 55423 (September 25-28, 2019)
- Rule 114 Qualified Neutral for Civil Facilitative/Hybrid and Civil Adjudicative/Evaluative (approved October 18, 2019)
Past Positions
- Minnesota State Court District Judge, 10th Judicial District, Anoka County, 01/2010 to 05/2019
- Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP (now Robins Kaplan LLP) Minneapolis office, Partner, 1993-2009; Associate Attorney, 1988-1993
- Morrison & Foerster, Washington, D.C. office, Associate Attorney, 1986-1988
Published Works
- “Wyeth v. Levine: The United States Supreme Court Rejects Preemption of Failure to Warn Claims Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals,” Minnesota Trial, Summer 2009 (with Anne Workman)
- “Tort Reform: Perception Verses Reality,” Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Winter 2003 (with Bruce A. Finzen and Brooke B. Tassoni)
- “The Recovery of Emotional Distress Damages in Negligence,” Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Spring 2002 (with Brooke B. Tassoni)
- “The Future of Products Liability in America,” 27 William Mitchell Law Rev. 86, Oct. 2000 (with Gary Wilson and Vincent Moccio)
- “Tort Reform, The Jury Questionnaire and Striking Jurors For Cause,” Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Oct. 1996
- “Acquiring AIDS Through a Blood Transfusion: A Product Liability Analysis Under United States Law,” International Bar Association, Oct. 1996
- “Drug Overpromotion: When is a Warning Not Enough,” Trial, 1992 (co-author with Martha Wivell)
Professional Associations
- Former Member, Minnesota Association for Justice (MNAJ). While active, served on the MNAJ Board of Governors, MNAJ Executive Board, and as the co-chair MNAJ Trial PAC (2 terms) and MNAJ Products Liability Committee
- Former Member, Ramsey County Bar Association, Former Co-chair for “Families First” Event
- Amdahl Inn of Court
- Former State Delegate, American Association for Justice
- Minnesota Bar Association (MSBA)
- MSBA Civil Litigation Section, Governing Council, Treasurer
Current Employment Position
- Attorney
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1989
- Virginia, 1986
- District of Columbia, 1988
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia, 1988
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2005
- U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, pro hac vice
Honors
- One of the Minnesota Attorneys of the Year for 2009 presented by Minnesota Lawyer
- 1980 Harry S Truman Scholar for Montana
- University of Montana Circle of Scholars Inductee