Jack’s practice focuses on resolving disputes as a mediator, arbitrator, and court-appointed special master. He also provides counsel to a variety of private and public entities.
Before joining the firm, Jack was a Ramsey County District Court judge from 1998 to 2015. While on the bench, Jack handled all types of cases which included misdemeanors to murders on the criminal side; and simple to multi-party, multi-issue, multi-million dollar civil matters.
As a District Court judge, Jack chaired the Civil and Family/Juvenile Divisions in Ramsey County District Court and was appointed Lead Judge for the Minnesota Asbestos Litigation which involved over 1,500 asbestos-related cancer claims. He also presided over the Ramsey County Juvenile Substance Abuse Court for two years. It was the first such Specialty Court in Minnesota. The Minnesota Supreme Court assigned Jack to address sensitive attorney disciplinary proceedings, sex offender appeals, and a 2014 United States Senate election contest. For three years, at the conclusion of his judicial career, Jack presided over the highly-publicized and challenging clergy sex abuse cases in Minnesota. These involved issues of first impression and attracted national attention.
Jack had a distinguished career as an attorney. While working for the Minnesota Attorney General and in private practice, he specialized in matters involving regulated industries and environmental contamination for more than 25 years. He represented individuals, businesses and municipalities in ground breaking cases before the Public Utilities Commission, the Pollution Control Agency, and in court. He was Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel in a 10 year lawsuit between the United States Government and Minnesota municipalities and individuals over groundwater contamination at the Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant. He defended industrial clients against Superfund liability at sites throughout the State of Minnesota.
Since joining Larson • King in June 2015, Jack has helped resolve over 250 matters, through arbitration and mediation, including cases of the following types:
- Trust Administration
- Defamation
- Divorce
- Personal Injury
- Premises Liability
- Employment
- Environmental
- Historic Preservation
- Condemnations
- Attorney Fee Disputes
- Construction Defects
- Insurance Coverage
- Damages Allocation
- Product Liability (GMOs and Asbestos)
- Medical Malpractice
- Business Dissolutions
Finally, Jack has been appointed as a Special Master and SLC (Special Litigation Committee) by Minnesota District Court judges in approximately twenty cases over the past six years. These have included a five billion dollar agriproduct class action and a $150 million corporate dissolution.
Law School
University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1970
College
Saint John’s University, Collegeville, B.A., 1967
Professional Associations
Minnesota State Bar Association
Ramsey County Bar Association
Admitted
Minnesota; U.S. Supreme Court (inactive); U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (inactive); U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit (inactive); Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice; AAA Arbitrator
Honors and Awards
American Board of Trial Advocates’ Best Trial Judge in MN, 2014
Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award, Ramsey County Bar Association, 2011
William Spurgeon National Explorer Scouting Award,1999
Who’s Who in American Law, 1994-1995
The Best Lawyers in America, 1997-1998
Minnesota Leading Attorneys, 1994-1996
Publications
Co-Author, 2nd Judicial District Condemnation Proceedings Handbook, (2013)
MSBA Civil Gideon Task Force Report and Symposium, (December 2011)
William Mitchell Law Review, “Problem-Solving Judges: Meddlers or Innovators?”, 32 Wm. Mitchell L. Rev. 3 (April 2006)
William Mitchell College of Law Symposium on Regulating Judicial Campaign Speech (March 2006)
Representative Types of Cases Handled as an Attorney or Judge
- Sexual Abuse of Minors by Clergy
- Asbestos/Mesothelioma
- Medical Malpractice
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Telecommunications and Energy
- Groundwater and Air Contamination/Toxic Tort
- Construction Design and Defect
- Insurance Coverage
- Anti-Trust and Consumer Protection
- Franchise and Agency Agreements
- Complex Commercial Leases and Contracts
- Defamation
- Non-Compete and Tortious Interference
- Whistleblower and Wrongful Discharge
