About JD:

JD was born in Warren, Minnesota in 1959, and grew up in Southwestern Minnesota, in the small towns of Round Lake, Chandler, and Verdi. He graduated from Henderson Public High School in Henderson, Minnesota, in 1978; graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1982; and graduated from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1984.

JD began his legal career by representing defendants and insurance companies in lawsuits. By 1991, he had tried a sufficient number of cases such that he could take the examination tests necessary to be recognized as a "Nationally Board Certified Trial Lawyer" by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has passed those tests and has held that prestigious honor continuously since 1991. In 1996, JD stopped representing insurance companies and began to represent families who had family members killed or seriously injured by others.

Since JD has been a lawyer he has tried 46 cases to juries all over the US and has negotiated settlements in thousands of other cases. He has tried serious injury/wrongful death cases to juries in Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He has negotiated settlements for clients who live in California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, New Hampshire, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

More than 10 years ago, JD realized that what he enjoyed most about being an attorney was that he got the chance to know people well, and to help them during difficult times. Since then, he has limited the number of cases that he takes so that he has enough time to build a strong relationship with each client.

This is the way that JD chooses to practice law. If this approach makes sense to you, please contact our firm if we can help you, or someone you know.

Court Admissions:

• Illinois Federal District Courts (Northern District)
• Iowa State Courts
• Iowa Federal District Courts (North and South)
• Iowa Federal Bankruptcy Courts (North and South)
• Minnesota State Courts
• Minneota Federal District Courts
• Minnesota Federal Bankruptcy Court
• Nebraska State Courts
• Nebraska Federal District Courts
• Nebraska Federal Bankruptcy Court
• North Dakota State Courts
• North Dakota Federal District Courts
• North Dakota Federal Bankruptcy Courts
• South Dakota State Courts
• South Dakota Federal District Courts
• South Dakota Federal Bankruptcy Courts
• Wisconsin State Courts
• Wisconsin Federal District Courts (East and West)
• Wisconsin Federal Bankruptcy Courts (East and West)

Professional Associations:

• National Board of Trial Advocacy
• South Dakota Bar Association
• North Dakota Bar Association
• Wisconsin Bar Association
• Iowa Bar Association
• Iowa Association for Justice
• Nebraska Bar Association