Newsletters

February 2005

Commercial Litigation Update

Commercial Litigation Update is published quarterly by the Commercial Litigation Practice Group to keep our clients informed on the ever-changing complexities of Minnesota law.

In this issue:

• The Admissibility Of Expert Testimony – A Special Report Introduction
• Was The Sander Defective?
• Did The Canon Copier Cause The Fire?
• Conclusion - The Admissibility Of Expert Testimony
• About the Authors

The Commercial Litigation Group at Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, P.A. has extensive experience and expertise providing full defense and litigation management services for our clients.  For more information about this group, click here . 

If you would like a hard copy of this newsletter mailed to you, please contact Jenny Frost at 612-375-5908 or jlfrost@arthurchapman.com.

HOW CAN WE ASSIST YOU?

The Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Arthur, Chapman, Kettering, Smetak & Pikala, P.A. has a broad range of experience handling matters involving business disputes, intellectual property, products liability and professional liability. As a mid-size firm specializing exclusively in litigation, trials and appeals, we are large enough to have depth of expertise, but small enough to provide individual attention and service.

Business Disputes

Our firm has provided its clients with a variety of services in the field of commercial litigation. These services include both lawsuits defended under terms of applicable insurance contracts, as well as direct representation of businesses and individuals. These include contract disputes, unfair competition, intellectual property, UCC matters, employment, real estate and shareholder disputes. We represent several companies in the computer industry in connection with lawsuits stemming from claimed losses alleged to have resulted from deficiencies in software development, service and maintenance contracts, and electronic conversions. Several of our attorneys have represented both company management and individual shareholders in disputes in closely-held companies, including minority shareholder rights and remedies, stock redemption and buy-sell agreements, and business valuation issues.

Intellectual Property

Our experienced trial lawyers assist individual and corporate clients in patent, trademark, copyright, trade name, trade secret, unfair competition, licensing agreements, and other intellectual property claims. We have decades of complex commercial litigation experience in numerous areas including medical devices, consumer products, industrial machinery, agricultural devices, and recreational products. For a copy of our Intellectual Property Reference Guide, please contact Jenny Frost at 612.339.3500 or jlfrost@arthurchapman.com.

Products Liability

For about 15 years, our firm has chaired the major annual seminar in product liability litigation in Minnesota, and has published 15 editions of the most comprehensive book on product liability law in Minnesota. The practice group has extensive experience defending a broad range of lawsuits, involving a wide variety of industries and products. The group's experience ranges from pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, to agricultural and consumer products, from fire origin and cause litigation, to mass tort and serial product liability claims. For a copy of our 2002 Products Liability Manual, please contact Jenny Frost at 612.339.3500 or jlfrost@arthurchapman.com.

Professional Liability

We have substantial professional liability experience involving lawyers, accountants, appraisers, doctors, psychologists, teachers, architects, the clergy, insurance agents, real estate professionals, and corporate officers and directors. The firm currently represents several of the major underwriters of these coverages in this state.

Securities Law

Our securities team has represented broker/dealers, officers/directors, and investors, in securities arbitrations and federal and state courts across the country. We have expertise in handling claims of underwriting negligence and fraud, unsuitability, churning, unauthorized trading, control person liability, breach of fiduciary duty, common law negligence and other state and federal securities law claims. We also have extensive experience in matters related to employment issues, both within and outside the financial community. We have extensive expertise in class action litigation, including securities classes. Our attorneys have represented clients in complex class actions in federal and state court in Minnesota and other states. We have litigation support software systems in place to code, abstract, and provide quick access to large volumes of records in document intensive cases.

If you are interested in exploring how we can assist you, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your case over the phone or in person.