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A Legacy Of Service In Minnesota

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Steven R. Schwegman

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Areas of Practice

A Closer Look

  • BIRTHPLACE: St. Cloud, Minnesota
  • FAMILY: Wife, Son and Daughter
  • FAVORITE PART ABOUT HIS WORK: Being challenged every day.
  • FAVORITE PLACE VISITED: Grand Marais, Chicago, San Francisco, and Italy.
  • FAVORITE ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF WORK: Spending time with family, going for walks with my wife, travelling.
  • BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Your future is based on what you do today, not tomorrow.

Biography

Steve practices in the area of professional liability and general casualty law. He was selected as one of the Minnesota Attorneys of the Year for 2005. Steve has extensive trial experience, having tried in excess of 145 jury trials involving a wide range of claims including catastrophic personal injury, automobile, construction, hospital liability, and medical malpractice cases. Steve's medical malpractice trial experience includes wrongful death, obstetrics, emergency medicine, orthopedics, urological and family medicine as well as hospital liability. Steve also represents health care professionals before their respective professional Boards. His ability to analyze cases to facilitate optimal outcomes is invaluable to our clients.

Steve has been featured as a speaker at numerous seminars on the subjects of general liability, medical negligence and tort claims. Steve also served as an adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University. Steve was elected as a member in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Steve has also been selected to the Minnesota "Super Lawyers" by Minnesota Law & Politics since 1999. Steve has served in leadership positions for state and national defense organizations. He is a Past-President of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association and has served on DRI's Board of Directors.

Steve was a member of the faculty at Stanford University School of Law for the 42nd Annual Trial Academy, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). The IADC Trial Academy is one of the oldest and most respected programs for developing defense trial advocacy skills. This seven-day intensive program blends faculty instruction and demonstration with individual student participation. The faculty consists of leading defense trial lawyers selected on a national basis from different regions of the country.

Education

  • William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
    • J.D. - 1984
    • Honors: magna cum laude
  • St. Cloud State University
    • B.S. - 1981
    • Honors: cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1984
  • Wisconsin, 2003
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1999
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1985
  • Iowa, 2019
  • U.S. District Court District of North Dakota, 2018

Honors

  • Attorney of the Year Minnesota Lawyer, 2005
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers 2003-2020
  • Awarded AV rating in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Exceptional Performance Citation DRI, The Voice of the Defense Bar
  • DRI Minnesota State Representative
  • DRI Board of Directors, 2009 - Present
  • Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates

Professional Associations

  • United Way of Central Minnesota, Member, Board of Directors, 2001 to 2007
  • United Way of Central Minnesota, Past Chair, 2006 to 2007
  • United Way of Central Minnesota, Chair, 2005 to 2006
  • United Way of Central Minnesota, Vice-Chair, 2004 to 2005
  • United Way of Central Minnesota Campaign Cabinet, Member
  • United Way of Central Minnesota Campaign Cabinet, Member, Leadership Giving Team 2008, 2009
  • United Way of Central Minnesota Campaign Cabinet, Co-chair Leaders in Giving Campaign 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
  • United Way of Central Minnesota Campaign Cabinet, Chair Professional Division 1998 and 1999
  • Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
  • DRI Board of Directors, 2009-Present
  • International Association of Defense Counsel

Classes & Seminars

  • "Keeping Long-Term Members and Past Presidents Involved in State and Local Defense Organizations." DRI Annual Meeting, October 8, 2009. Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Chicago, Illinois
  • "2009 DRI North Central Regional Meeting. SLDO: Geography and Its Problems." January 15-17, 2009. The Bellagio. Las Vegas, Nevada
  • “Malpractice Risks – The Basics.” St. Cloud Dentists and Oral Surgeons’ Study Club, May 17, 2007. St. Cloud, MN
  • “Malpractice Risks and Basics.” MHA Insurance Company, April 20, 2007. Willmar, MN
  • “Nursing Home Litigation – Recent Developments.” Mahowald Insurance Agency and Clients. March 20, 2007
  • "2007 DRI North Central Regional Meeting. Getting New Lawyer Members Involved and Keeping Current Members Active." Charleston, SC. January 11-13, 2007
  • “Malpractice: Risky Business 101.” St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Little Falls, MN. June 22, 2006
  • “Malpractice Risks – Healthcare: A Risky Business.” Quinlivan & Hughes. St. Cloud Civic Center, St. Cloud, MN. April 6, 2006
  • “Fry-Mack Strategies.” 2005 Medical Malpractice Conference, Co-Sponsored by Hennepin County Bar Assoc., Minnesota Defense Lawyers Assoc. and Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. April 21, 2005
  • “Medical Malpractice – Principles and Issues.” CentraCare Health System, March 2005. St. Cloud, MN
  • “Managing Business and Difficult Litigation Issues and Techniques." MDLA 29th Annual Trial Techniques Seminar – Seminar Coordinator, August 19-21, 2004 The Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth, MN
  • “Miller Shugart, Drake Ryan & Other Complex Releases.” State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, April 6, 2004. Plymouth, MN
  • "Investigation, Research, Discovery (Resources for the Litigation Paralegal)." MDLA and Minnesota Paralegal Association. September 25, 2003. Four Points Sheraton, St. Paul, MN
  • “Overview of Wrongful Death Liability.” MDLA 28th Annual Trial Techniques Seminar, August 15, 2003. Duluth, MN
  • “Medical Malpractice Update.” 2002 Risk & Insurance Management Business & Education Meeting, Catholic Health Initiatives. Embassy Suites Hotel – Bloomington, MN (April 25, 2002)
  • “A Smorgasbord of Legal Topics.” MDLA 37th Annual Mid-Winter Conference. Giant’s Ridge, Biwabik, MN (February. 16-17, 2002) - Seminar Coordinator
  • “Medical Malpractice – Principles and Issues.” Midsota Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons. St. Cloud, MN (January 15, 2002)
  • “EMTALA Training: What, Why, When, Where, & How?” Catholic Health Initiatives at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Park Rapids, MN (December 2001)
  • “Automobile Insurance Law – Update 2000.” Quinlivan & Hughes Annual Client Seminar, St. Cloud, MN. August 2000
  • Billing and Auditing Issues" Seminar Coordinator, Mid-Winter Meeting of Minnesota Defense Lawyers, Alexandria, February 1998
  • "1999 MDLA 37th Annual Mid-Winter Conference." Radisson Arrowwood, Alexandria, MN (February. 19-21, 1999) - Seminar Coordinator
  • "1998 Sauk Rapids – Rice High School Career Fair presentation." Sauk Rapids, MN February 19, 1998
  • "Declaratory Judgment Actions." Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, annual conference Insurance Law Oct 1994
  • "How to Handle a Personal Injury Case - Mandatory ADR and Settlement" Speaker, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota CLE Conference Center, Minneapolis, May 1998
  • "American's with Disabilities Act- Legal Implications." MCIT, Risk Mgmt Seminar, March 1992 (4 presentations)
  • "ADR, State of the Art." Stearns Benton Bar Association Feb 1996
  • "No-Fault Case Law; Rules of the Road, Multiple Coverages; Release of Medical Records." State Farm. Rochester, Minn. August 1997
  • "Legal Resources – Information Sharing and the Internet.” MDLA 22st Trial Techniques Seminar, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Duluth, Minn. August 1997
  • "Rules of Evidence." State Farm. St. Cloud, Minn. September 1997
  • "A Smorgasbord of Legal Topics" Seminar Coordinator, Mid-Winter Meeting Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Alexandria, Minn. February, 1997
  • "Ethics in ADR" Mid-Winter Mtg of Minnesota Defense Lawyers Assoc. Alexandria, February 1997
  • "Multiple Coverages." State Farm. Marshall, Minn. October, 1997
  • "Rules of Evidence; Negotiations." State Farm. Marshall, Minn. February 1998
  • "Accident Reconstructionists, How and When to Retain Them." State Farm. St. Cloud, Minn. January 1998
  • "Retaining and Using Vocational Experts.” State Farm. St. Cloud, Minn. May 1998
  • "Selecting Witnesses, Preparation of Witnesses and the Art of Communication Through Witnesses: Ethical and Strategic Considerations." Minnesota Defense Lawyers Annual Trial Techniques Seminar, Duluth, MN August 20,1999
  • "Appellate and Legislative Update; Bad Faith in Minnesota; Understanding Brain Injuries." State Farm, St. Cloud, Minn. September 1996
  • "Collateral Sources and the Collateral Source Rule" State Farm, Brainerd, MN. August 1996. Utah Court Transition Workshop, Utah Judicial Council, Utah, Oct 1991