Minnesota

Minnesota Lawyer Secures Record-Breaking $564 Million Verdict by Uncovering Destroyed Evidence in Historic Ponzi Scheme Case

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – In a groundbreaking verdict, Michael Collyard ’00, a partner at Robins Kaplan, won a jury trial that resulted in a record-setting $564 million judgment. The case centered around Tom Petters’ massive Ponzi scheme, which was one of the largest financial scams in U.S. history and the largest in Minnesota. Collyard strategically focused on the absence of millions of destroyed documents as evidence, ultimately leading to his victory. Collyard served as the lead trial counsel, and in November 2022, a federal jury ordered BMO Harris Bank to pay bankruptcy trustee Douglas Kelley a … Read more

Federal Judge Slashes $110 Million Medical Malpractice Award to $10 Million: Minnesota Case

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – A federal judge has reduced a $110 million jury award in a medical malpractice case to $10 million, calling the original amount “shockingly excessive.” The ruling came in the case of Anuj Thapa, a college student who suffered a serious injury during a soccer match. In May 2022, a Minneapolis federal jury awarded Thapa $111.3 million in damages, including $110 million for pain and suffering, marking the largest award of its kind in Minnesota. The jury determined that negligent care following the injury had caused Thapa extreme pain and permanent disability. The … Read more

Lawsuit Filed Against Minnesota Department of Corrections Over Cancellation of Christian Rehabilitation Program in St. Cloud Prison

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Law Center and True North Legal have filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Corrections over the cancellation of a Christian prison rehabilitation program. The program, known as Quest for Authentic Manhood, was a voluntary and Christian-based initiative offered to inmates at St. Cloud State Prison. According to the lawsuit, the program was abruptly terminated in July following a statement made by an assistant corrections commissioner. The commissioner cited the program’s alleged inconsistency with the department’s Diversity and Inclusion values as the reason for its cancellation. The … Read more

Minnesota Attorney General Seeks $3 Million in Unpaid Wages in Landmark Lawsuit Against Evergreen Acres Housing and Dairy

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has taken legal action against Evergreen Acres Housing and Dairy, seeking compensation of nearly $3 million for unpaid wages, unlawful deductions, and civil penalties. Ellison alleges that the company has deprived dozens of employees of their rightful pay, with each individual losing an average of 12 to 32 hours of wages in every two-week pay period. This lawsuit marks one of the largest wage theft enforcement efforts in the state’s history, according to Ellison’s office. The lawsuit, which was filed in Stearns County District Court, focuses … Read more