Education
- University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota
- J.D. - 1985
- South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota
- B.S. - 1982
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Economics
- Major: Political Science
Classes & Seminars
- Give the Jury a Place to Hang Its Hat--Simplify Your Case, Galaxy of Rising Stars Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1991
- Dealing with Dirty Tricks: Zealous Advocate or Hardball Litigator?, Mastering Trial Strategies and Tactics Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Maui, Hawaii, 1992
- Demonstrative Evidence--Storyboards and PET Scans, South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Spring Seminar, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 1994
- Know When to Run (How Do You Handle Difficult Clients), South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Fall Seminar, Deadwood, South Dakota, 1994
- David v. Goliath?--Using Chiropractic Experts to Prove Damages, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Jazz Fest, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1996
- Issues & Lessons from Grizzly Gulch Power Line Fire Litigation, 2011
- Oil Creek Fire: A Slippery Slope, 2017
Pro Bono Activities
- South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commissioner, 1997 to 2005
- Belle Fourche Community Center Board., 1997 to 2005
- Chair, South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commissioner, 1998 to 2005
Published Works
- "The New Federalism: Time for States to Pull the Plow in Soil Conservation", South Dakota Law Review, Vol. 30 S. D. L. Rev. No. 3
- "Jury Selection in the Next Century" , NDTLA, October, 1999
- "Making an Impact: The Trial of an Automobile Collision Case", ATLA, January, 2000
Professional Associations
- State Bar of South Dakota, Member, Committees on Lawyer Referral and Negligence and Tort Law
- Wyoming State Bar, 1995
- American Bar Association
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce, President, 1988
- South Dakota Board of Regents, Student Regent, 1982 to 1985
- Butte County Bar, President, 1990
Certified Legal Specialties
- Board Certified Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Business Litigation
- Insurance Litigation
- Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)
- Products Liability
- Premises Liability
- Professional Liability
- Spinal Injury
- Condemnation
- Brain Injury
- Fraud and Deceit
Bar Admissions
- South Dakota, 1985
- Wyoming, 1996
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
Honors
- Named in "The Best Lawyers in America" Continuously since 2001
- Personal Injury – Plaintiffs Lawyers of the Year – Rapid City Area for years 2013, 2016 and 2019 selected by his peers
- Super Lawyers, continuously since 2007
Representative Cases
- Lesmeister v. American Colloid Company, 1993174690
- Holzer v. Provider's Fidelity Insurance Company
- Stevens v. Wood Saw Mill, et al.
- McIlravy, et al. v. Kerr-McGee, 1997162479
- Filip Johnson v. Central Plains Clinic, et al.
- Schuldies v. Millar, et al., 1996217901
- Galen Andrews v. Medical Associates Clinic, et al.
- Brunner v. Lear-Siegler, 1991130494
- Clausen v. Aberdeen Grain Inspection, 1999129653
