Areas of Practice

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Arbitration & Mediation
• Commercial Construction Claims
• Construction Law
• Fidelity, Guaranty & Surety
• Government Contracts
• Litigation & Appeals
• Mechanics' Liens
• Residential Defect Claims

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1985
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1985
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1987

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota, June, 1985
  J.D.
  
  
• St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, June, 1978
  B.A.
  Honors: Cum Laude
  Major: Economics
  Major: English
  
  

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Alternative Dispute Resolution, Minnesota Construction Issues - Lorman Education Services, 2002
• Arbitrating and Mediating Mechanics' Lien Foreclosure Actions, Lorman Education Services, 2001 - 2007
• Avoiding Claims of Bad Faith, MILE, 1998
• Bad Faith Claims and the Performance Bond Surety, MILE, 1994
• Bad Faith Horror Stories, MILE, 1999
• Bankruptcy and Mechanics' Liens - A Play in Two Acts, MILE, 1995
• Construction Arbitration: Proper Preparation and Use of the Arbitrator's Notebook, MSBA - ADR Institute, 2000
• Construction Lien Law in Minnesota, Lorman Education Services, 2001 - 2007
• Difficulties With Contract Forms, DBE - Legal Aspects of Highway Contracting, 1989
• Discovery In Arbitration Proceedings, MILE, 2001
• Fundamentals of Construction Contracts, Lorman Education Services, 2007 - 2008
• Getting Paid For Your Work, MUCA, 2002 - 2005
• Liquidated Damages, MUCA, 2002 - 2005
• Payment Bonds, Minnesota Construction Issues - Lorman Education Services, 2002
• Potential Liability of Agents in the Bonding Process, MILE, 1990
• Recent Developments in Standard Form Construction Contracts, Mn. CLE, 2008
• Representing Homeowners With Water Intrusion and Mold Problems, MSBA, 2002
• Resolving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems, Lorman Education Services, 2003 - 2004
• Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems-Legal Issues, Lorman Education Services, 2002
• Termination & the Surety-You Did What To My Principal?, MSBA, 2003
• Why Contractors Fail, North Dakota Associated General Contractors, 2001

Honors and Awards

• Named to Super Lawyers List, 1998 - 2009

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry
  
  
• American Bar Association, Surety Law Committee of the Tort and Insurance Practice Section
  
  
• Hennepin County Bar Association
  
  
• Minnesota State Bar Association, Construction Law Section
  
  
• Construction Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.
  
  
• Associated Builders and Contractors
  
  
• Associated General Contractors
  
  
• Minnesota Surety Association
  
  
• Minnesota Utility Contractors Association
  
  
• Construction Management Association of America, Mn. Chapter, 2008
  Board Member
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Holper, Welsh, Mitchell & Anderson, P.A., Partner, 1994 - 1995
• Christoffel & Elliott, P.A., Partner, 1989 - 1994
• Richard Knutson, Inc., General Counsel, 1987 - 1989
• Fabyanske, Svoboda & Westra, Associate, 1984 - 1987
• Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, Senior Bond Representative, 1980 - 1983

Birth Information

• 1955, Fargo, Minnesota, United States of America