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Overview
TOM DEVELOPS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR GOALS, AND THEN, USING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OBTAINS THE BEST PROFESSIONAL RESULT FOR THOSE CLIENTS.
Tom is currently of Counsel and past Chair of the 30-lawyer Commercial Litigation practice group. He was a member of the Management Committee for 15 years and former Minneapolis Office Head.
Experience
Representative Work
- Whitaker v. 3M (Age class action – represented 3M)
- SUPERVALU v. Cal Growers Corp. (represented SUPERVALU) (Colorado arbitration of contract claim and Robinson Patman counterclaim - decision for plaintiff)
- Cargill v. Lonestar Steel (represented Cargill as plaintiff in $30,000,000 jury verdict for plaintiff)
- ABC Corp. v. XYZ Corp. (Confidential arbitration - contract/restraint of trade) (prevailed on $17,000,000 claim)
- Fillipas v. Northwest (represented NWA in pilots age class action) (summary judgment granted)
- Vitale v. Gannett Satellite Information Networks, Inc. (represented Gannett and KARE 11-TV in defamation action) (jury trial - verdict for defendant)
- Schlieman v. Gannett Co. (represented Gannett in jury trial - verdict for defendant)
- University of Minnesota v. Medical, Inc. (represented the University regarding the patent validity and infringement by a manufacturer of the Lillehei-Kaster Heart Valve) (jury trial - verdict for plaintiff)
- University of Minnesota v. Applied Innovations (case concerning validity of the copyright to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (court trial - decision for plaintiff)
- Northwest Airlines v. American Airlines (represented Northwest Airlines – issues concerned alleged trade secrets of American Airlines in the pricing and yield management areas) (temporary injunction trial - decision for Northwest – case settled)
- Midwest Machinery v. Northwest Airlines (represented Northwest Airlines in class action antitrust claim regarding hub pricing)
- Martens, et al. v. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (represented 3M in class action, by all technical employees) (favorable decision by Minnesota Supreme Court)
News & Resources
Articles
August 2, 2019
February 5, 2019
August 3, 3018
Rationalizing Discovery of Metadata (co-author), U.S. Law Week
2013
Applying a Rational Approach to Judicial Independence and Accountability on Contemporary Issues, William Mitchell Law Review
2011
Plausible Answers and Affirmative Defenses (co-author), U.S. Law Week
2011
The Uses and Misuses of Statistical Proof on Age Discrimination Cases, Vol. 27, No. 2 Hofstra Labor and Employment Law Journal 357
2010
Prosecution and Defense of Misdemeanors in Minn. (co-author)
1971
News & Press Mentions
August 15, 2024
August 17, 2023
September 18, 2020
August 15, 2018
August 15, 2017
August 15, 2016
August 17, 2015
June 22, 2015
May 18, 2015
November 22, 2006
Industries & Practices
Antitrust & Competition Law
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Antitrust & Competition Law
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Minnesota State Bar Association, past President
- Hennepin County Bar Association, past President
- The Fund for the Legal Aid, past chair and current emeritus Board member
- National Lawyers Committee, Board member 1995–2009
- Volunteer Lawyers Network, past chair and on Board for 36 years; 40 years attending Clinics to provide pro bono advice, Past Chair, Founder and current member VLN Benefactors Board
- Hennepin County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, chair 1994-2000
- Numerous invited CLE presentations (evidence, technology, civil procedure)
- Legal Teaching
- William Mitchell College of Law – Visiting Professor – 2010
- William Mitchell College of Law – Adjunct Professor – 2009 and 2011
- Founder and current chair Hennepin County Pro Bono Project
- Past Board Member: Call for Justice
- Past member MSBA Civil Gideon Committee
Community Involvement
- Founder and original Board Member – The Advocates
- Minnesota Gender Bias Task Force (1988-1992)
- Minnesota Public Television - Board Member – past
- Periodically active in DFL party – past co-chair 3rd Congressional District
- Children’s Theatre Board Member – past
- Planned Parenthood Board Member – past
- William Mitchell College of Law, Trustee 2005–2013
- Co-Chair or Treasurer of many judicial campaigns
- Osceola Medical Center Foundation – Board Member - past
Accolades
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation, 1989-2025
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- Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020-2022
- Recognized for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, Minnesota Supreme Court, 2019
- Hennepin County Bar Association Professionalism Award, 2015
- MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2012-2023
- VLN Pro Bono Distinguished Service Award, 2012
- Distinguished Service Award, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2011
- Distinguished Leadership in Justice Award, VLN, 2000
- Lifetime pro bono award, Dorsey & Whitney
- Regularly named one of Minnesota's Best Business Lawyers, Chambers
- Winner Harvard Law School Moot Court Finals
