Construction law

Commercial litigation

Public bidding and procurement

Surety law

Arbitration and mediation

OSHA

J.D., summa cum laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 1994

Class Salutatorian

National Moot Court Team, Rosalie Wahl Moot Court

B.A., Lafayette College, 1990, Marquis Scholar

Double Major: Economics and Government

Kraus-Anderson v. City of Chanhassen (Carver Cty. Dist. Ct. 2006). Bench trial. Successful defense of 98+% of contractor's claims against the City related to construction of $5.1 million public library. De minimis award below settlement offer.

Washington County v. Knutson Construction Services Corp. (Wash. Cty. Dist. Ct. 2005). Complete defense of County's $2.0+ million claim for alleged construction defects to repair the County's Law Enforcement Center.

Raytheon, Ames, Kraemer v. MnDOT (2000). Bench trial. Largest successful bid protest in Minnesota history.

L&S Contracting, Inc. v. MnDOT (2002). Administrative hearing. Reverse MnDOT's decision to decertify DBE contractor as controlled by a non-DBE firm. Successfully defend against MnDOT's first-ever attempt to decertify an existing DBE firm.

Stiglich Construction, Inc. v. Larson (Minn. Ct. App. 2001). Represented contractor on appeal. Reverse district court finding that contractor waived right to seek attorneys' fees by prosecuting mechanic's lien and breach of contract claims in arbitration.

Woodside 5 Partnership, LLC, et al. v. Interspace-West, Inc., et al., Court File No.: AC99-14328 (Hon. Cara Lee Neville, Henn. Cty. Dist. Ct. 2000). Represented building owner. Obtain dismissal of mechanic's liens totaling $345,000 for failing to provide lienable services and intentionally overstating lien amounts.

M.N. v. D.S. (Minn. Ct. App. 2000). Represented Defendant in district court and on appeal. Successfully defended and obtained dismissal of breach of contract, emotional distress, fraud and "heart balm" claims arising from alleged breaches of promises to marry and to have children.

Speaker, "Responding to a Catastrophic Accident - What you Need to Know About an OSHA Investigation," American Bar Association Forum on the Construction Industry, 2008 Annual Meeting (La Quinta, California, April 24, 2008)

Speaker, "Dealing with MnOSHA," Associated General Contractors, Minnesota Chapter, Safety Committee (March 6, 2008) (spoke to Safety Directors of AGC members and other members of AGC's Safety Committee)

Keynote Speaker, "Mechanic's Liens" and "Bidding" at the Minnesota Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors 2008 Annual Convention in Duluth, Minnesota (February 29, 2008)

Speaker, "Defending and Managing OSHA Citations," MnAGC Annual Convention (January 10, 2008)

Speaker, "Construction Law, Mechanic's Liens, and Bid Issues," Multi-Association Seminar sponsored by Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association and National Electrical Contractors Association at the Ewald Conference Center (December 14, 2007).

Speaker, "Construction Law and Liability for the Non-Specialist," Real Estate Institute, Minnesota State Bar Association (November 9, 2007).

Speaker, Minneapolis Construction Expo 2007, "Do's and Don'ts of Construction Contracts" (October 31, 2007).

Speaker, Minnesota State Bar Association Construction Law Section, "Bidding, Bid Mistakes, Bid Protests and Best Value Legislation" (October 12, 2007).

Host, Minnesota State Bar Association Construction Law Section's 2007 Symposium on Site Safety (June 8, 2007) and Speaker, "MnOSHA," Minnesota State Bar Association Construction Law Section's 2007 Symposium (June 8, 2007)

Speaker, "Using a Mechanic's Lien to Get Your Money," National Business Institute (June 11, 2007)

Speaker, "A Practical Guide to Bidding, Negotiating and Site Safety Issues," American Subcontractors Association (March 29, 2007)

Keynote Speaker, PHCC's 2007 Annual Convention, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors' Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota (February 9, 2007)

Speaker, "Managing Lien Rights, Retainage, and Payment," American Subcontractors Association Meeting (December 7, 2006)

Speaker, "Drafting Ironclad Construction Contracts," National Business Institute Seminar, Bloomington, Minnesota (June 26, 2006)

Speaker, "How to Get Paid," American Subcontractors' Association meeting (April 27, 2006)

Keynote Speaker, "Mechanic's Liens, Payment Bonds, Performance Bonds, Contractors' Rights, ADR, and Project Documentation," Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors' Convention, Alexandria, Minnesota (February 8, 2006)

Presenter, "I0 Worst Things That Can Happen to a Contractor," MnAGC Annual Convention (January 19, 2006)

Author/Lecturer, "Bid Protests," Minnesota State Bar Association, Construction Law Section (January 13, 2006) (invited to speak to 40+ construction lawyers)

Author/Lecturer, "Construction Lien Law in Minnesota," (Lorman Education Services 2005)

Author/Lecturer, "The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts in Minnesota," (Lorman Education Services 2004)

Author/Lecturer, "Construction Litigation: Claims, Damages & Contract Provisions," (Minnesota State Bar Association 2002)

Author/Lecturer, "Arbitrator Disclosure Requirements," (Minnesota Institute for Legal Education 2001)

Author/Lecturer, Minnesota Construction Law Seminar: Performance Bonds (Lorman Education Services 2001)

Co-Author/Lecturer, "Mechanic's Liens: Who May File and What is Covered" (Minnesota Institute for Legal Education 2001)

Contributor, Wiley Construction Law Update, Midwest Chapter (Wiley Law Publications, 2000)

Author/Lecturer, "Payment Bonds: Who and What are Covered," (Minnesota Institute of Legal Education 1999)

Co-Author, "Partnering for Construction Projects: Can Partnering Help Save the Job?" (Lorman Education Services 1999)

Co-Author, "Witnesses," The Minnesota Ultimate Trial Notebook II (Minnesota State Bar Association 1997 and 1998)

Research Assistant, Minnesota Practice Series: Civil Practice Forms, (West 1995)

Research Assistant, Fundamentals of Pretrial Litigation, Second Edition, (West 1992)

Selected as Super Lawyer in Minnesota by Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics (multiple years since 2003) and as a Rising Star in Minnesota's legal community (2000, 2001 and 2002)

Selected by Hennepin County District Court to serve as Conciliation Court Judge and Arbitration Referee (2003-2008)

William Mitchell College of Law Alumni Board (2003-2008)

Member, Board of Directors, American Subcontractors Association, Minnesota Chapter (2008-2010)

Member, Minnesota State Bar Association and Construction Law Section

Member, American Bar Association

Member, ABA Forum on the Construction Industry

"AV" (highest) rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory

Law Clerk, Hon. James M. Rosenbaum, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota, 1994-1996

Law Clerk, Hon. David S. Doty, United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota, 1994

United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1996

United States District Court, Minnesota, 1995

State of Minnesota, 1994

State of Wisconsin, 2005

State of North Dakota, 2006