Jon K. Iverson and Paul D. Reuvers were named again in this year’s Super Lawyers lists. These lists are exclusive, naming no more than 5 percent of attorneys in Minnesota to Super Lawyers. The selections are made through peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations from a highly credentialed panel of attorneys.
2016 Twin Cities Five Star Financial Services Professional
Iverson Reuvers is pleased to announce Paul D. Reuvers and Andrea B. Smith were named Twin Cities Five Star Financial Services Professionals for 2016. This honor is reserved for lawyers who have superior retention rates, serve a diverse clientele, and perform pro bono and community service work.
Brooklyn Park Officer Wins Jury Trial
On December 19, 2008 Brooklyn Park police executed a traffic stop in response to an arrest warrant issued for Demone Smith. Smith was indicted for distribution of narcotics and was believed to be armed and dangerous. During the traffic stop, Officers used a loud speaker and repeated a series of commands to Smith. Smith refused to comply with Officers’ commands. A Brooklyn Park Canine Officer was requested for assistance. Officers warned Smith a canine would be sent if he continued to defy commands, yet Smith refused to walk toward the Officers as directed. Based on the high risk felony stop and Smith’s non-compliance, Officers deployed the canine to apprehend Smith. Smith suffered minor injuries as a result. Smith sued the Brooklyn Park Canine Officer alleging excessive force. On April 28, 2015, following a jury trial, judgment was entered in favor of the Brooklyn Park Officer. The jury determined the Officer acted reasonably in regard to the circumstances posed by the traffic stop and the canine was reasonably necessary to assist in bringing Smith under control of Officers.
The Brooklyn Park Officer was represented by Nathan C. Midolo.
Metropolitan Council Wins Jury Trial
An employee of the Metropolitan Council filed a lawsuit in December 2012 against the Metropolitan Council alleging violations of Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The employee plaintiff claimed the Council did not promote her in violation of a policy to promote internally. On December 17, 2014, after a three-day trial, a federal United States District Court jury determined agents of the Metropolitan Council did not discriminate in promoting another employee over the plaintiff. The Metropolitan Council and its agents were represented by Susan M. Tindal and Nathan C. Midolo.
Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District wins Appeal in Minnesota State Court
The Goerke Family Partnership brought a declaratory-judgment action in district court challenging the Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed’s approval of landowner William Croatt’s application for a drainage permit. Following a remand to the watershed district’s board of managers for further consideration, the district court affirmed the managers’ approval of the drainage permit. The Goerke Family Partnership appealed, arguing that the district court erred in allowing the board of managers to reconsider the issue and the board of managers erred in determining that the drainage system would be a reasonable use. On December 15, 2014, the Minnesota Court of Appeals held both that the district court properly remanded the issue to the board of managers and the board’s approval of Croatt’s application was reasonable because his proposed drainage system met the elements of the reasonable-use doctrine. Lac qui Parle-Yellow Bank Watershed District was represented by Jason J. Kuboushek.
Chaska Officer Wins Jury Trial
In July 2009 Chaska police received a call from an agent attempting to repossess Plaintiff Mark Grams’ vehicle. When officers arrived, Grams and several neighbors were preventing the vehicle from being repossessed. Grams appeared to punch one of the repossessing agents and was placed under arrest. Grams, however, ignored officer commands, reached back into his vehicle, and physically resisted arrest. Grams was taken to the ground and handcuffed once he stopped resisting. Grams sued the officers claiming they used excessive force. The case went to trial on November 12, 2014, where Grams’ inconsistent statements, undisputed violence, and unsubstantiated injuries were highlighted. After a two-day trial, a federal United States District Court jury found no excessive force was used in Grams’ arrest. The Chaska officers were represented by Nathan C. Midolo.
Lawsuit dismissed against City of Minnetonka
On December 4, 2012 at about 9:30 p.m., Minnetonka Police Officer Dan Aschenbrener’s squad car collided with a vehicle driven by Sean Kian at the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and Woodland Road, resulting in Kian’s death. At the time, Officer Aschenbrener was responding to a 911 call with his emergency lights and Opticom emitter activated. Sean Kian’s vehicle was obstructed from Officer Aschenbrener’s view by a large church sign. The traffic light facing Officer Aschenbrener was red with a solid white Opticom. The traffic light facing Kian was yellow with a flashing Opticom and turned turned red as he entered the intersection.
On July 29, 2014, the lawsuit filed by Kian’s family was dismissed because the district court found Officer Aschenbrener reasonably believed it was safe to proceed through the intersection and he did not act with malice. Officer Aschenbrener was granted official immunity and the City of Minnetonka was granted vicarious official immunity. The court also found Officer Aschenbrener had been properly trained by the City. The City of Minnetonka and Officer Aschenbrener were represented by Paul D. Reuvers and Andrea B. Smith.
2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Iverson Reuvers is pleased to announce Mark J. Condon, Jon K. Iverson, and Paul D. Reuvers were again named Minnesota Super Lawyers for 2014. Each year no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
Iverson Reuvers is also pleased to announce Susan M. Tindal was selected to the 2014 lists of Minnesota Rising Stars and Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota as featured by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine. Rising Stars are recognized as up-and-coming lawyers who are under 40 years old, or are over 40 but practicing law for ten or fewer years. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
Super Lawyers, a Thompson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.