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Minnesota Supreme Court Holds That Common Interest Associations Are Only Required to Disclose Records That Fall Within The Categories Listed in Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-118, Which Includes “Records of Membership”.

On April 6, 2022, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that a request for records by a member of a common interest association must be granted only if such request falls within the categories listed under Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-118. Interpretation of this statute rests on the meaning of the phrase “all records … shall be made reasonably available for examination.” The Court determined that “all records” is limited to the certain categories listed in the statute but goes beyond the statutorily minimum required records if that record is included in one of the previously mentioned categories. In the underlying action,  … Read more

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CVMM Congratulates Michael Barrett and Meaghan Bryan on a Defense Verdict Following a Six-Day Jury Trial.

Attorneys Michael Barrett and Meaghan Bryan were proud to defend a family owned business and property owner from claims that it was negligent and in breach of its lease agreement with a commercial tenant, when a roof replacement project that was negligently performed by a roofing contractor resulted in flooding and property damage to the leased premises.   After testimony from many fact witnesses and three expert witnesses, the jury found that our client had no fault with regards to the Plaintiff/commercial tenant’s damages.  It was a pleasure to assist our client through the defense of this stressful case and we were very happy  … Read more

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Minnesota Supreme Court holds that summary judgment is no longer available in slip and fall cases when a plaintiff’s theory of liability rests on speculation and inference that a known hazard caused the injury; this is a dramatic revision to Minnesota slip and fall litigation.

Staub v. Myrtle Lake, LLC & James Lown Minnesota Supreme Court 09/22/2021 On September 22, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that a plaintiff’s assertion that an alleged dangerous stairway condition caused a fall that resulted in a death, with no direct evidence regarding the cause of the fall, was enough to allow the plaintiffs’ claim to survive summary judgment. This holding is a marked departure from prior slip and fall case law, in which Minnesota courts have previously granted summary judgment to the defense in cases that would require a jury to engage in speculation to determine the cause  … Read more

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CVMM Congratulates Shareholders Michael Barrett and Rachel Beauchamp on a defense verdict after a three-day jury trial

Shareholders Barrett and Beauchamp were proud to defend a family owned business from claims that it was negligent with regards to the sales and servicing of equipment which the plaintiff claimed had malfunctioned and partially amputated her finger.  After testimony from many fact witnesses and three expert witnesses, the jury found our client had no fault with regards to the Plaintiff’s accident and resulting injury.  It was a pleasure to assist our client through the defense of this stressful case and we were very happy they received the peace of mind that comes from a jury agreeing that our client  … Read more

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CVMM Lawyers Recognized in 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America ©

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America ©. Congratulations to Michael C. Lindberg (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Christopher P. Malone (Litigation – Insurance and Transportation Law), Susan D. Thurmer (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Railroad Law) and Peter G. Van Bergen (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants). Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process captures, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical  … Read more

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CVMM Attorneys Included on 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers List

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that Peter G. Van Bergen, Christopher P. Malone, Jessica J. Theisen, Meaghan C. Bryan, Tamara L. Novotny, Michael C. Lindberg and Susan D. Thurmer have been selected for inclusion on the 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyer list. We are also proud to announce that Peter M. Lindberg has been selected as a 2021 Minnesota Rising Star. Each year, Super Lawyers selects attorneys from all firm sizes using a detailed selection process that includes peer nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The list of Super Lawyers is published as a special section  … Read more

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United States Supreme Court reaffirms that International Shoe remains the canonical decision in the area of personal jurisdiction in Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court

In the recent decision Ford Motor Co. v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, the United States Supreme Court addressed personal jurisdiction over companies doing business nationwide and reaffirmed that International Shoe remains the canonical decision in the area of personal jurisdiction. This case stemmed from two separate motor vehicle accidents in Montana and Minnesota, respectively. Each accident was caused by defective Ford motor vehicle parts. Each individual motorist filed suit against Ford and alleged, inter alia, products liability, failure to warn, and negligence. Each plaintiff argued that specific jurisdiction existed because a person may have made the decision to purchase  … Read more

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Rachel B. Beauchamp Obtained Summary Judgment in Wisconsin Coverage Case Addressing “Wage and Hour” Claims.

Rachel B. Beauchamp obtained a declaratory judgment of no coverage and no obligations of defense or indemnity on behalf of her client in a Wisconsin declaratory judgment action.   The case addressed an underlying class action lawsuit alleging violations of both Wisconsin and Federal laws regulating overtime, travel time, minimum wage, and computation of overtime and benefits.  Attorney Beauchamp’s insurer had policies of insurance providing CGL coverage, Employee Benefits Liability Coverage, EPLI coverage, and umbrella coverage.   The defendant argued that coverage for the class action claims was found in both the Employee Benefits Liability coverage and the EPLI coverage – and  … Read more

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MSBA Names Christopher Malone A Certified Civil Trial Specialist

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone congratulates its President, Christopher P. Malone, for his certification as a Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. With this achievement, Attorney Malone joins an elite group of attorneys (fewer than 3%) in Minnesota who are certified specialists in their field.   When the Minnesota State Bar Association designates an attorney as a “Certified Civil Trial Specialist”, it is confirming that attorney has significant experience, skill, and knowledge in pursuing civil litigation through trial.  The Minnesota State Bar Association designates lawyers as “Certified” only when they have met those standards as well  … Read more

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Shareholder Rachel Beauchamp Selected to Serve on MDLA Board for 2021 and 2022

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. is pleased to announce that Shareholder Rachel Beauchamp has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA).  MDLA is an association dedicated to the ongoing education and support of civil defense lawyers.  Beauchamp has previously presented at multiple MDLA educational seminars and serves as an editor of MN Defense (the MDLA quarterly magazine).  Beauchamp specializes in the areas of commercial trucking and coverage, but handles all types of civil litigation defense in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  To learn more about Beauchamp, please visit her attorney profile.

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CVMM Lawyers Recognized in 2021 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America”

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that five of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2021 Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” Congratulations to Michael C. Lindberg (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Christopher P. Malone (Transportation Law), Michael W. McNee (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants) Susan D. Thurmer (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Railroad Law) and Peter G. Van Bergen (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants). Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process captures, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical  … Read more

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CVMM Attorneys Included on 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers List

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that Peter G. Van Bergen, Michael W. McNee, Susan D. Thurmer, Michael C. Lindberg, Meaghan C. Bryan and Tamara L. Novotny have been selected for inclusion on the 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. Each year Super Lawyers selects attorneys from all firm sizes using a detailed selection process that includes nominations, independent research and peer evaluation by practice area.  The list of Super Lawyers is published in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers Magazines and other regional magazines and newspapers.

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Attorneys Beauchamp and Lindberg have article “Same As It Ever Was: Lambertson Contribution in a Post-Fish v. Ramler World” featured in Minnesota Defense Magazine.

The Spring 2020 issue of Minnesota Defense magazine features an article by Rachel Beauchamp and Peter Lindberg titled “Same As It Ever Was: Lambertson Contribution in a Post-Fish v. Ramler World”. In the article, Beauchamp and Lindberg discuss the effect a recent decision has on an alleged tortfeasor’s right to recover contribution from an alleged at-fault employer that has paid workers compensation benefits to an injured worker.   Their article discusses the balancing test of equities and outlines how litigators, and insurers, can analyze the effect, if any, of an employer’s alleged fault on exposure for a bodily injury claim with  … Read more

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Rachel B. Beauchamp Presents at MDLA Winter Conference

On Saturday January 25, 2020, Rachel B. Beauchamp was a presenter, along with other attorneys and industry experts, at the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Winter Conference.  Beauchamp’s presentation was titled “Defense Against the Dark Arts: Motion Practice in Commercial Trucking Defense.  Beauchamp’s presentation focused on both the practical and theoretical aspects of motion practice in Commercial Trucking and how it is different from standard two-car motor vehicle accident defense.  Her presentation addressed the most common motions being handled in trucking litigation today, and discussed the strategic benefits that motions can bring to commercial trucking cases.  Beauchamp urged attorneys and insurers  … Read more

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CVMM Lawyers Recognized in 2020 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America”

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2020 Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.”Congratulations to Michael C. Lindberg (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Michael W. McNee (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants) Susan D. Thurmer (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Railroad Law) and Peter G. Van Bergen (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants). Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process captures, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.  

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Michael Lindberg Obtains Defense Verdict In Aviation Commercial Dispute

CVMM lawyer Michael Lindberg successfully defended an aircraft renovation business in a four-day jury trial in Dakota County, Minnesota with the assistance of CVMM associate Peter Lindberg .  A wealthy businessman engaged CVMM’s client to renovate a 54-year-old airplane, including installation of a new engine, propeller, cowling, lighting, and cockpit instruments.  During the ten months of work, unknown discrepancies were discovered, discussed with the aircraft owner, and corrected.  Unfortunately, the new propeller was slightly damaged in a test flight, so the CVMM client paid for a repair.  The owner sued, alleging that he had been overcharged; that the aircraft was  … Read more

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CVMM Attorneys included on 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists!

We are pleased to announce that Peter G. Van Bergen, Michael W. McNee, Susan D. Thurmer and Michael C. Lindberg have been selected for inclusion on the 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. Meaghan C. Bryan and Stephanie M. Maser have been selected for inclusion on the 2019 Minnesota Rising Stars list. Each year Super Lawyers and Rising Stars selects attorneys from all firm sizes using a detailed selection process that includes nominations, independent research and peer evaluation by practice area.  These lists are published in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers Magazines and other regional magazines and newspapers.

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Rachel B. Beauchamp Successfully Defends Attempts to Revise Minnesota’s Property Damage Recovery Standards

Rachel B. Beauchamp obtained summary judgment defining the scope of “loss of use” damages recoverable in a case involving multiple severed telecommunications cables.  Attorneys around the country have brought lawsuits alleging that telecommunications companies are entitled to hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars of damages for “loss of use” during the time it takes to repair damaged or severed cables even if the companies were able to reroute their traffic onto alternative capacity cables and have not issued any refunds to customers, have not lost any revenue, and have lost no profits.   Some jurisdictions have allowed telecommunications companies  … Read more

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Tamara L. Novotny Receives Complete Dismissal of Multi-Count Insurance Coverage Cage in Minnesota

Tamara L. Novotny obtained complete dismissal of claims asserted against her client, a commercial trucking insurer, in a January 2019 Order.  The case arose from an accident in which a truck driver suffered multiple fractures when an 1,800-pound hay bale fell off a trailer which was being loaded.  Attorney Novotny initially obtained dismissal of a claim for uninsured motorist benefits brought against her client in the underlying lawsuit, but months later the driver reasserted a claim for no-fault benefits, which had been denied. In a declaratory judgment action, the driver asserted a counterclaim and sought damages in excess of $1.6  … Read more

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Tamara L. Novotny Obtained Summary Judgment in North Dakota Insurance Coverage Case

Tamara L. Novotny received a favorable Order in January 2019 wherein a North Dakota federal judge found her client, a commercial trucking insurer, did not have a duty to defend or indemnify various entities, including the owner of an oil well, in two lawsuits brought by truck drivers who suffered serious burn injuries from a flash fire.  The oil well owner and others argued they were entitled to coverage as additional insureds and/or pursuant to an agreement entered into with the insurer’s named insured.  The court found the drivers’ injuries were related to hydrofracking and the storage and disposal of  … Read more