Family Law

• Child Custody and Visitation
• Guardianship
  Obtained dismissal of a court action for a protective order that would impose visitation restrictions on an individual not otherwise subject to guardianship.
• Child Abuse
  Represented amicus curiae Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, American Medical Association, Minnesota Orthopaedic Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota Chapter in a matter involving the Child Abuse Reporting Act.

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Part of a litigation team that obtained a defense verdict for a dermatopathologist accused of failing to diagnose melanoma in a wrongful death case.
• Sex Crimes
• Fraud
  Antitrust Law and Unfair Trade Practices: Remedies under the State and Federal Antitrust Laws, Minnesota Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and Consumer Fraud Statutes, presenter, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, 1986
• Theft
• Arson
  Investigations Involving Gas Systems and Appliances and Legal Considerations, presenter, International Association of Arson Investigators, Minnesota Chapter, webinar, May 12, 2021
• Restraining Order
  Represented personal representatives and trustees in rejecting a preliminary injunction and overturning a temporary restraining order against them to administer estates and revocable trusts. Also represented personal representatives and trustees in action to remove them.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Our team of experienced attorneys brings a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of corporate and transactional law, including buy-sell agreements, mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance, contracts, financing, and compliance. We understand that navigating the legal aspects of running a business can be daunting, which is why we strive to make the process as seamless and straightforward as possible. By leveraging our extensive experience and insights into various industries, we are able to offer customized legal strategies that not only protect your interests but also propel your business forward. Whether you’re looking to expand your operations, negotiate a critical deal, or ensure your company’s compliance with ever-changing regulations, we are here to support you every step of the way.
• Business Disputes
  Our team includes a Minnesota Supreme Court-qualified arbitrator and mediator and a designated Special Master who has been appointed in both state and federal courts to assist with pre-trial discovery and other related responsibilities. Additionally, we regularly serve as arbitrators and mediators for the American Arbitration Association and are frequently retained by private parties and corporations to help resolve business disputes.
• Construction Contracts
  Representation of numerous owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers in connection with the drafting and negotiation of a variety of construction contracts, purchase orders, architect agreements and engineering agreements.
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of commercial litigation, insurance law, intellectual property litigation, and legal ethics and professional responsibility law. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2003 and has the highest rating of AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell. He is Chair of the Bassford Remele Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group and served as the firm’s General Counsel for many years.
• Unfair Competition
  Today, litigation has become an inevitable part of doing business. When it comes to the varied legal issues companies face, we have seen it all—from unfair competition claims, to business contract lawsuits, to shareholder rights disputes and more. For decades, we have represented companies of all sizes across a broad range of industries, including banking law, accounting, and manufacturing, to name a few.
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  The Ethical Implications of Accepting Cryptocurrency for Legal Fees, Ransomware, and Other Technology-Related Issues in Legal Ethics, presenter, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Workers' Compensation Institute, April 26, 2022
• Wrongful Termination
  Represented an employee on appeal, obtaining a decision affirming that an employee terminated in violation of the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act may seek damages for wrongful discharge.
• Employment Discrimination
  Successful jury trial: obtained complete defense verdict for international food company, as well as a $90,000 judgment against plaintiff in employment discrimination lawsuit. (Employment)
• Employment Contract
  Ms. Fitzsimmons counsels clients on day-to-day employment matters, including hiring, promoting, disciplining, terminating, implementing workforce reductions, determining reasonable accommodations, and ensuring compliance with state and federal wage, hour, and leave requirements. Ms. Fitzsimmons also represents clients in drafting, negotiating and enforcing all types of employment agreements, including executive, inducement, severance, separation and change in control agreements.
• Employment Litigation
  Christopher Morris defends financial institutions and firms against consumer and regulatory lawsuits and advises businesses on compliance with federal credit and collection laws. He also defends attorneys, engineers, and other professionals, and represents businesses and individuals in commercial and employment disputes.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Ms. Fitzsimmons works with employers on a wide variety of employment disputes and litigation. She represents clients in state and federal courts, as well as before state, federal and local agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, and various city human rights commissions. Ms. Fitzsimmons defends employers facing allegations of violations of employment statutes, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. She also represents employers seeking to enforce employment contracts, including non-compete agreements, and defends employees against restrictive covenant claims.
• Severance Agreement

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  John possesses extensive knowledge in such areas as construction contract formation, review and disputes, construction defects, warranty issues, mechanic’s liens, surety, payment and performance bonds, contractor licensing and governmental enforcement proceedings, insurance coverage disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, easements, boundary disputes, condemnation, and restrictive covenants. In addition to his construction and real estate practice, John has also litigated a variety of commercial disputes including matters involving shareholder disputes, creditor’s remedies actions, and commercial breach of contract actions.
• Premises Liability
  Defended a gas station in Wisconsin in a personal injury trial, where plaintiff allegedly injured his ankle when he stepped on uneven concrete while exiting his truck. (Premises Liability)
• Construction Litigation
  For more than 100 years, Bassford Remele has successfully represented general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, owners, and design professionals in disputes related to commercial and residential construction projects throughout the Midwest. We have an in-depth understanding of the construction process and we are peer-recognized leaders in construction law, which make us effective advocates for our clients whether we are negotiating contracts on the front end or litigating disputes on the back end of a project.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Part of team who successfully defended against fraud in the inducement claims in connection with a commercial real estate transaction.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  Real estate: zoning and land use, boundary disputes, quiet title, premises liability, purchase and sale, non-disclosure, and fraud.
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage
  Represented a truck driver in Minnesota in a motor vehicle collision trial [and obtained a favorable settlement for the client]. (Property Damage)

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Janine Loetscher is a litigator with substantial large-scale loss experience, whose practice focuses in construction, insurance coverage, products liability, and personal injury matters.
• Medical Malpractice
  Ms. Hoffman is routinely part of litigation teams handling high-damage medical malpractice cases involving complex medical and legal issues.
• Auto Accidents
• Disability Discrimination
  Obtained summary judgment on whistleblower and disability discrimination claims in favor of large public school district. Successfully defended the same matter at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Mr. Silver has been involved in many of the most high-profile trust and estate lawsuits in Minnesota, including litigation involving the Prince Estate, the Hill Trust, the Galloway Trust, the Binger Estate, and the Williams Trust, the family which started the Creamette Pasta Company. He regularly defends large corporations, affluent families, charitable organizations, and individuals in probate, state, federal, and appellate courts, including the Minnesota Supreme Court.
• Wills
  Represented relatives of vulnerable adult in obtaining a temporary conservatorship and litigating against caregiver/new spouse for permanent conservatorship. After vulnerable adult died, litigated against spouse on the validity of new will and trust.
• Trusts
  Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation, Trusts and Estates Litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, 2022-2024
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  Represented multiple consignment creditors in a jointly-administered retail distribution chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving seven separate distribution entities across the U.S. and Canada.
• Foreclosure
  Our bankruptcy and creditors’ remedies practice provides an invaluable service to our commercial clients—financial institutions, corporate entities, receivers, and bankruptcy trustees, among many others. Bankruptcy and insolvency issues are complicated and involve high levels of uncertainty that require experience to navigate. We routinely represent clients in commercial collection, bankruptcy, and insolvency-related disputes, including representation of clients’ interests as both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases, as well as litigation regarding defaulted commercial loans and personal guaranties, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, lien foreclosures, and fraudulent transfers—whether before, during, or after a bankruptcy proceeding, to name a few.
• Debt Collection
  On a state and national scale, Bassford Remele has defended financial institutions, creditors, collection agencies, attorneys, hospitals, and other businesses facing consumer-protection lawsuits. During the last 30 years, we have handled thousands of these cases brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Telephone Consumer Practices Act (TCPA), and other consumer-protection statutes, as well as claims brought by government regulators against clients in the credit and collection industry.