Protecting Clients’ Rights For Over 30 Years

Case Results

$1.8 Million

Auto Accident

Client was operating a motorcycle on a highway in North Dakota. Another driver in a pickup pulling a utility trailer pulled out directly in front of the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist struck the trailer and ended up losing his left leg just below the knee. When law enforcement arrived to the scene of the accident, the client was lying on the roadway, bleeding profusely, with his lower leg separated from his body on the road. The driver operating the pickup was operating a commercial vehicle and towing a commercial trailer for purposes of business. A settlement was obtained in the amount of $1.8 million for this motorcyclist who lost his lower leg with all medical expenses paid separately.

$350,000

Premises Liability

The client was renting a home. The home was in disrepair and the renter reported this condition on numerous occasions to the property owner. The disrepair resulted in several unsafe conditions regarding the property. The property owner did nothing to remedy the unsafe conditions which existed in the home. The renter was always timely with their rental payments and there were no issues whatsoever other than these unsafe conditions. The renter suffered a serious injury to her knee when she fell as a direct result of these unsafe conditions. The injury required several surgeries. The case was eventually resolved for $350,000.

$275,000

Distracted Driving

The client was at a complete stop on the interstate as a result of construction and roadwork. The area was clearly marked for several miles as a construction zone with signage indicating slow and stopped traffic as a result of the highway construction taking place. The signs also indicated highway workers were present and to reduce speeds. While the client was at a complete stop, another driver was texting on their phone and not paying attention. The at-fault driver struck the client’s vehicle at a high rate of speed resulting in the client’s vehicle being completely totaled in the accident. The client did undergo a significant back surgery procedure. The client’s case was settled for $275,000.

$260,000

Auto Accident

Client was involved in an automobile accident while a passenger was in a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle lost control in icy conditions. The passenger suffered a broken pelvis and internal bleeding. The claim was asserted against the driver under the automobile liability policy for the driver’s excessive speed in unsafe conditions. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $260,000.

$230,000

Trucking Accident

Client was the driver of a minivan driving down a two-lane divided highway when a semi pulled out from a stop sign blocking her lane of travel. The accident occurred between vehicles as a result of negligence of the semi driver pulling out in front of the oncoming minivan. The law firm represented the driver of the minivan who sustained a broken ankle in the accident. Settlement was obtained of $230,000 from the commercial vehicle insurance carrier which provided coverage for the semi.

$201,000

Negligence Claim

Client was injured as a result of an accidental gunshot to the arm. The gun owner negligently discharged the firearm resulting in injury. The insurance carrier for the gun owner initially denied insurance coverage under the portion of the policy that precludes coverage for criminal acts. Because the gun owner was charged with negligent discharge of a firearm resulting in serious bodily injury, there was a criminal case that the insurance company asserted was a legal basis to deny any insurance payments for the injury. Our law firm was able to get the insurance company to reverse its denial of coverage and eventually settled the injury claim for $201,000.

$201,000

Auto Accident

The client was a passenger in a semi riding with her boyfriend at the time of an accident. Her boyfriend the driver was not paying attention when he rear-ended the trailer of another semi on the interstate. The client reached out to brace herself on the dashboard and suffered a broken hand requiring surgery. The claim was asserted under the commercial policy for the semi she was occupying as a passenger at the time of the accident. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $201,000.

$194,500

Truck Accident

The client was a passenger in a semi at the time of injury. As a result of a defective door latch on the passenger side of the semi-tractor, the client fell out of the moving semi. Client suffered a concussion and had shoulder surgery as a result of the incident. The commercial insurance carrier initially denied any insurance coverage because the passenger was not an employee lawfully occupying the semi-tractor at the time of the incident. Because the passenger was in the semi-tractor with the permission and consent of the driver, the denial of coverage was reversed by the commercial insurance carrier. The case was resolved for $194,500.

$170,000

Auto Accident

The client was rear-ended by a distracted driver while at a complete stop in a construction zone on the interstate. The client had appropriately come to a stop as a result of road construction which was taking place. The at-fault driver was not paying attention and did not notice the stopped vehicles in the clearly marked construction zone. The client did have minor back surgery as a result of the incident. The case was resolved for $170,000.

$160,000

Slip and Fall

The client was a teenage boy playing basketball at a local youth center. The youth center had a leaking roof with water accumulating on the basketball court. The youth center was aware of the roof leaking and did nothing to remedy or repair the leak. The youth center also failed to prevent the use of the basketball court during the leaking conditions, even though that condition was known. The client sustained a knee injury when in the course of a basketball game, he slipped on the accumulated water and struck his knee causing a substantial injury. A settlement was obtained in the amount of $160,000.

$145,000

Negligence Claim

Client was a six-year-old girl who was a backseat passenger in a vehicle that rolled off the highway. She sustained a concussion when she was thrown inside the vehicle. A claim was asserted against the driver for not only negligence but also failure to have the child properly restrained in a car seat. Settlement for this young victim was obtained in the amount of $145,000.

$130,000

Distracted Driving

A driver was at a complete stop when they were rear-ended by another driver who was texting and not paying attention. There was substantial property damage. The client had a concussion as well as a neck injury not requiring surgery. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $130,000.

$130,000

Auto Accident

The client was struck while riding his bicycle in a congested city area. The bicyclist did nothing wrong as he proceeded through the intersection on a green light. The driver of a motor vehicle was making a right turn and failed to look for bicycle or pedestrian traffic. As the driver made his right turn without looking, he struck the bicyclist and knocked the bicyclist to the ground. Because the driver had looked where he was turning, he was unaware initially he struck the bicyclist and as a result dragged the bicyclist a substantial distance. The bicyclist suffered several broken bones but no surgery was required. The case was resolved for $130,000.

$130,000

Drunk Driving Accident

The client was injured while a passenger in a vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment. Client did have minor shoulder surgery as a result of the automobile accident where she was a passenger. It was unknown to the passenger that the driver had been drinking before providing a ride to the passenger. The passenger was completely unaware of the extent of the alcohol consumption by the driver in advance of the accident. The insurance company initially denied any coverage whatsoever as a result of the driver’s intoxication and asserted the passenger should have been aware the driver was intoxicated and impaired. Through significant investigation, it was shown the passenger was unaware of the driver’s alcohol consumption. The case was resolved in the total amount of $130,000.

$130,000

Auto Accident

The client was a passenger in a car that rear-ended another vehicle. The client passenger was obtaining a ride from a family member. The passenger was unaware the driver was under the influence of illicit drugs. Although the insurance company initially denied any coverage, it was proven the passenger was completely unaware of the driver’s drug use prior to getting the vehicle. The client did undergo minor surgical procedure as a result of the accident. The case was resolved for a total of $130,000.

$130,000

Truck Accident

The client was at a complete stop for a stop sign in traffic. The vehicle stopped in front of him began pulling out into the roadway and realized a large semi was coming at a high rate of speed. That driver slammed his vehicle in reverse to avoid the collision with the semi and instead struck the client’s stationary vehicle while moving backward. As a result of the at fault driver pulling in front of an oncoming semi thereby requiring the evasive action of throwing his vehicle in reverse, the client suffered a minor injury to his knee requiring a minor surgical procedure. That case was eventually resolved for $52,300.

$118,000

Negligence Claim

While working as a farm hand on a small North Dakota farm, the client suffered a compound fracture of his lower leg as a result of being struck by an auger which was accidentally activated by another coworker. Because this was a small North Dakota farm, there was no worker compensation coverage. The claim was a basic negligence claim under the farm negligence policy. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $118,000 for this leg injury.

$100,000

Drunk Driving Accident

Client was stopped waiting to make a turn on the highway. He was rear-ended by an intoxicated driver at a high rate of speed. The injuries were soft-tissue in nature. The at-fault intoxicated driver was not only intoxicated but driving at a speed of approximately 100 miles per hour and had a prior history of alcohol offenses. The case was settled for $100,000.

$99,000

Auto Accident

The client and his wife were driving down a roadway in North Dakota when another driver pulled out from a stop sign directly into their oncoming path failing to yield the right-of-way. A significant accident occurred between the vehicles. The client was an elderly gentleman who sustained a broken leg. He was confined to a wheelchair for approximately three months given his age and issues with his broken leg. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $99,000.

$70,000

Auto Accident

The client was standing in the parking lot of a large commercial business having a conversation with an acquaintance he came across in the parking lot. While standing and speaking to his friend, the client was struck by a driver pulling into a parking spot when that driver pinned the client between the driver’s vehicle and a parked vehicle. The pumpers caused an injury to the client’s knees which did not result in surgery or any broken bones. However, the client did have a significant soft-tissue injury to his knees as a result of being pinned between these vehicles by the negligent driver. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $70,000.

$63,000

Premises Liability

Client was a resident of an apartment building where the sidewalk was in significant disrepair. The property owner was aware of the deteriorated sidewalk and despite numerous complaints from residents, failed to repair the condition of the deteriorating sidewalk which included exposed rebar. While walking on the sidewalk, the client fell when her foot struck the exposed rebar. She fell to the ground and required a minor shoulder surgery procedure. The case was resolved for $63,000.

$61,000

Premises Liability

Client was in the course of his employment regarding a fuel delivery at a commercial business site. The commercial business site did not have a safe or appropriate manner to access its fuel tanks requiring the employee to hoist himself onto a platform while carrying a heavy fuel delivery hose. The employee was injured in the course of the fuel delivery and suffered soft tissue injuries. The case was resolved for $61,000.

$55,000

Negligence Claim

The client tripped over a utility wire that had been left by a local utility company across a public walking path. The wire had been buried but became dislodged and posed a hazard across the walking path. The client was walking his dog at night when he tripped on the wire while on the walkway which had been negligently left by the utility company. The client sustained a concussion and settlement was obtained in the amount of $55,000.

$45,000

Auto Accident

Client was involved in a car accident involving a driver that went through a red light. One of her front teeth was knocked out as a result of the incident. Settlement was obtained in the amount of $45,000.

$45,000

Premises Liability

The client was walking to her apartment building when she fell on the sidewalk as a result of significant deterioration in the condition of the sidewalk. She suffered a broken wrist which did not require surgery. The insurance carrier for the apartment initially denied coverage for the injury. It was discovered through the information gathering that the property owner had obtained bids for repairing the dangerous condition but felt the bids were too high so the owner never made the necessary repairs. The case was resolved a total amount of $45,000.

$40,000

Auto Accident

The client was a Highway Patrol officer stopped by the side of the road when he was rear-ended by a driver who was not paying attention. The officer was stopped on the side of the highway with his lights activated responding to another vehicle that had to ditch. The at-fault driver was either not paying attention or distracted and rear-ended the officer’s patrol vehicle at a high rate of speed. The law firm obtained a settlement of $40,000 plus all medical expenses paid separately for soft-tissue back injuries.

$40,000

Slip and Fall

The client was dropping off his vehicle at a motor vehicle repair shop. The shop was performing repairs which included the removal of a drainage cover on the floor. The shop did not have any warning signs or orange cones indicating the floor drain cover had been removed. The client was walking across the floor and stepped into a normal area of travel when his foot went into the area where the floor drain cover should have been located. The client sustained soft-tissue injuries to his back as a result of stepping into the drain up to his hip. The claim was resolved against the property owner for $40,000.

$39,500

Negligence Claim

The client was a woman with no prior farming experience or experience with animals. She was asked to assist in regard to gathering cattle for loading and shipment related to sale. She ended up being kicked by one of the animals in the knee causing an injury requiring minor surgery. The case was settled for $39,500.

Negligence Claim

Negligence Claim

The law firm represented the family of a 16 year old who died as a result of being given a mixture of chemicals constituting a drug without his knowledge. The drugs were a lethal mix of chemicals being mixed at home where it was apparent drug manufacturing was taking place. The claim was made under that homeowner policy for negligence regarding the homeowner. It was alleged in the policy that the homeowner was negligent in allowing drug manufacturing to take place in the home. Coverage was initially denied by the homeowner insurance carrier on the basis that drug manufacturing was excluded under the policy. A substantial settlement was obtained for the family related to the death of this young man. This was one of the first successful cases in Minnesota involving a successful negligence claim as a result of the manufacture of unlawful drugs. As a result of the precedent set in this important case, a number of other settlements were obtained by the law firm involving the death of other young adults under similar circumstances involving the manufacturer of lethal substances.

Life Insurance Claim

Life Insurance Claim

A claim was asserted against a life insurance company regarding the death of the named insured. That named insured had a life insurance policy through the company. The company denied coverage under the policy on the grounds the decedent committed suicide within the initial policy period, thereby voiding the life insurance policy. There were facts presented in the investigation which showed that although the decedent contributed to his death, he did not commit suicide. Our office represented the surviving two children of the decedent since both were beneficiaries under this life insurance policy. A claim against the life insurance policy contending its denial of coverage was improper. The life insurance company reversed its position and paid all death benefits plus attorney fees and interest for the stated amount of the death benefit as a result of the litigation.

Homeowner Insurance Claim

Homeowner Insurance Claim

The client owned a small home in a rural area. The home was used for occasional rental on a periodic basis. The client never occupied the home as his residence and had a completely separate home in which he lived. Given the rural nature of the home, it was vandalized and set on fire by a group of unknown individuals. The homeowner did have insurance coverage for any damage or destruction to the property. Because the home was clearly destroyed as an intentional act, the insurance company denied any coverage whatsoever and refused to pay the homeowner for the damage to the property caused by the vandalism. Through extensive litigation, it was proven that the home burned as a result of vandalism rather than any actions on the part of the homeowner. The litigation brought about a reversal of the denial of coverage and payment for the full loss of the home was issued by the insurance company under the insurance policy.