James R. Schwebel - Minneapolis, MN

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James R. Schwebel Overview

In 1974, Jim founded what is now Minnesota's largest law practice specializing in personal injury litigation. Today, he and his partners lead a team of 17 attorneys and over 85 employees who are committed to achieving fair and swift compensation for their clients.

Less than 1% of all attorneys in the United States are selected for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America", Woodward White, New York. Jim has enjoyed this unprecedented distinction since its inception in 1988. He is one of only three Minnesota lawyers who were inducted into the Founder's Society of the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. In every year since its inception, he has been listed in "Leading Minnesota Attorneys" published by the American Research Corporation. "Minnesota Lawyer" called him one of "Minnesota's Top 25 Litigators." His achievements have been noted in Minnesota Law & Politics "Top 3 Personal Injury Awards.” "Top 10 Super Lawyers" and National Law Journal recently acknowledged him as one of "Minnesota's Top Ten Litigators."

Jim successfully represented victims of the MGM Hotel fire in Las Vegas and the Williams Pipeline explosion in Roseville. In addition, he was appointed by the Court as a member of the Plaintiff's liability Committee to handle claims for many Minnesotans who lost family members in the Galaxy Airlines crash in Reno, Nevada. In a 2002, jury trial he received the highest award ever handed down for the wrongful death of a young man. Jim received record post-trial settlements for victims of the Nicollett Mall Hollidazzle Crash.

Jim was one of the first attorneys in Minnesota to be certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He was also chosen for membership on the American Board of Trial Advocates. Jim was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to serve on the Board of Professional Responsibility and on the Board of Law Examiners.

Practice Areas

• Auto & Motorcycle Accidents
• Aviation & Railroad Accidents
• Personal Injury
• Product Liability
• Slip & Fall Accidents
• Trucking Accidents
• Wrongful Death
• Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiff - Accidents

Litigation

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Current Employment Position(s)

• Managing partner
• President

Languages

• English (Primary)

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1968
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1970
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1970
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1981

Specialties and Certifications

• Civil Legal Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), 1984
• Civil Trial Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2002

Other Affiliations

• International Society of Barristers, 2006 - Present (Fellow)
• Minnesota Association for Justice (MTLA), 1980 - 1982 (Secretary)
• Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) (Corporate Advisory Board)
• American Board of Trial Advocates (Member)
• Million Dollar Advocate Forum (Member)
• American Association for Justice (Member)
• Hennepin County Bar Association (Member)
• Supreme Court of MN Lawyers, 1982 - 1989
• Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners, 1973 - 1982 (Member)
• Member of Corporate Advisory Board, 1975 - 1980
• Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (Underwriting Committee of MN)
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield Subscriber Litigation
• Hennepin County Legal Medical Committee, 1972 - 1975 (Secretary)
• Central Minnesota Legal Services (Board of Directors)
• Member Lawyers Credit Union, 1983 - Present (Board of Directors)
• American Bar Association, Insurance, Negligence & Compensation Law
• American Bar Association, Twin Cites Advisory Council, 1987
• American Bar Association, National Panel of Arbitrators
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1977 - 1980 (Advisory Council)
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1970 - 1978 (MV Committee)
• American College of Trial Lawyers, 2002 - Present (Member)
• Minnesota Association for Justice (MTLA) (Member)
• Minnesota Association for Justice (MTLA) (Board of Governors)
• Minnesota Association for Justice (MTLA), 1998 (Founders Society)
• Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners, 1979 - 1982 (Secretary)
• American Board of Trial Advocates, 1989 - Present (Member)
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1970 - Present (Member)
• Minnesota State Bar Association, 1980 - 1982 (Secretary)
• Minnesota State Bar Association (Co-Chairman, Insurance and Negligence Law )
• Minnesota State Bar Association (Subcommittee on No- Fault Insurance)
• American Arbitration Association (Member, National Panel of Arbitrators)
• American Arbitration Association (Chair, Insurance, Negligence & Compensation)
• American Arbitration Association, 1987 (Twin Cites Advisory Council)
• Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, 1982 - 1989 (Board Member)
• Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers, 2000 - Present (Member)
• Hennepin County Bar Association, 1970 - 1975 (Ethics Committee)
• American Association for Justice, 2000 - Present (Leaders Forum Patron)
• Mother's Against Drunk Driving (Corporate Advisory Board)
• Mother's Against Drunk Driving (Member)
• Better Business Bureau, 2006 - Present (Member)
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1984 - Present (Civil Trial Specialist)
• American Arbitration Association (Member)

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1968
  J.D.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: With Honors
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1965
  B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Honors: With Honors
  Major: Political Science

Past Positions

• Deqarcq, Anderson, Perl, Hunegs, 1968 - 1972
• Deqarcq, Anderson, Perl, Hunegs & Schwebel, 1972 - 1974
• James R. Schwebel & Associates, 1974 - 1981

Classes and Seminars

• "Anatomy of the Personal Injury Trial", MTLA Seminar, 2005
• Guest Lecturer, "Wrongful Death Cases", MTLA Seminar, 2004
• Guest Lecturer, "Looking Back on Settlement Thousands of Cases-Plaintiff's Perspective", MILE, 2002
• Guest Lecturer, "Holidazzle Trial", MTLA Convention, 2002
• Speaker, "UIM & UM Developments", MTLA Seminar, 2000
• Speaker, "Proving Damages", MTLA Seminar, 1999
• Speaker, "Claims Handling from the Plaintiff's Prospective", Twin Cities Claims Conference, 1999
• Speaker, "Handling the Multi-Million Dollar/Complex Products Liability Case", MTLA Seminar, 1998
• Speaker, "What Went Right?, Failure to Warn in Major Products Liability Case", MTLA Seminar, 1995
• Guest Lecturer, "UM & UIM Motorist Coverage", MTLA Seminar, 1995
• Guest Lecturer, "Symposium of UM & UIM Claims", MTLA Seminar, 1994
• Guest Lecturer, "No-Fault , Twenty Years Later", MTLA Seminar, 1994
• Guest Lecturer, "The Masters of Negotiation, No-Fault Insurance, Underinsured Motorist Coverage and Principles of Insurance Contract Interpretation", ABTA, 1993
• Guest Lecturer, "A Plaintiff Lawyer's Perspective on Minnesota", Twin Cities Insurance Club, 1993
• Guest Lecturer, "Plaintiff's Perspective on UM/UIM Issues", "Minnesota Automobile Insurance Claims", MILE Seminar, 1993
• Guest Lecturer, "Recent Developments in UM and UIM Claims", MTLA Seminar, 1993
• Guest Lecturer, "Insurance Coverage 101", MDLA Seminar, 1992
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Personal Injury Law, A Ten Year Perspective", MTLA Convention, 1992
• Guest Lecturer, "The Complete Insurance Law Course", MTLA Seminar, 1992
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist", MTLA Seminar, 1991
• Guest Lecturer, "Wrongful Death, A Plaintiff's Perspective", MTLA Seminar, 1991
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Automobile Insurance Law", MTLA Seminar, 1991
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota No-Fault Insurance Update", Minnesota Chiropractic Association, 1990
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Personal Law Update", Twin Cities Claims Association, 1990
• Contributor, "Effective Opening Statement", MTLA Seminar, 1990
• Guest Lecturer, "Minneapolis Personal Injury Law Update", MTLA Convention, 1990
• Guest Lecturer, "Presenting and Defending the Claim for the Seriously Injured", Twin Cities Claim Association, 1990
• Guest Lecturer, "Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Strategies in Arbitration and District Court", MILE, 1990
• Guest Lecturer, "Death Claims of the Young Adult, The Plaintiff's Case", MTLA Seminar, 1989
• Lecturer, "Automobile Insurance Law Update", MTLA Annual Convention, 1989
• Lecturer, "Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Claims", MILE, 1989
• Guest Lecturer, "Legislative Changes--Underinsured Motorist-Uninsured Motorist", MTLA Seminar, 1989
• Guest Lecturer, "Winning at Trial and in the Appellate Courts", MSBA/CLE, 1989
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Products Liability Law", MILE Seminar, 1989
• Guest Lecturer, "Current Issues in UM and UIM Motorist Coverages", MTLA Seminar, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Cross-Examination of the Adverse Medical Specialist in a Serious Orthopedic Injury Claim", Serious Orthopedic Injuries Seminar, 1988
• Course Chair, "New Developments in the Law - A Plaintiffs Perspective", No-Fault UM/UIM Law Seminar, 1988
• Lecturer, "Auto Insurance Under the Minnesota No-Fault Act", Independent Insurance Agents of Minnesota, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Underinsured Motorist Coverage after Broton", MTLA Convention, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Effective Cross-Examination", MILE, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Minnesota Civil Trial Specialization", MILE, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "No-Fault Act Revisited", MILE, 1988
• Guest Lecturer, "Discovery and Trial Strategy", Insurance Agent Liability, MTLA Seminar, 1987
• Guest Lecturer, "The Chiropractic Physician in the Courtroom", University of Minnesota, 1987
• Guest Lecturer, "Underinsured Motorist Law Update", MTLA Convention, 1987
• Guest Lecturer, "The Minnesota No-Fault Act, Into the Second Decade", MILE, 1986
• Guest Lecturer, "Facts that Count in a Wrongful Death Claim", MTLA Seminar, 1985
• Guest Lecturer, "The Chiropractic Physician in the Courtroom", University of Minnesota Law School, 1985
• Guest Lecturer, "Handling the Automobile Injury", MTLA Seminar, 1985
• Guest Lecturer, "Cross Examination of the Defense/Insurance Company Doctor", Education Program Advanced Legal, 1985
• Guest Lecturer, "Fair Claims Practices", Northwest Claims Seminar, 1984
• Guest Lecturer, "Recent Changes in Minnesota No-Fault", MTLA Seminar, 1984
• Faculty Member, "Anatomy of a Trial", Mock Trial, MTLA Seminar, 1983
• Lecturer, "Minnesota No-Fault", MTLA Convention, 1983
• Guest Lecturer, "A Neoteric Look", Personal Injury Advanced Legal Education, Hamline University School of Law, 1983
• Guest Lecturer, "Automobile Policy Exclusions", MCLE, 1982
• Guest Lecturer, "The Handling of a No-Fault Claim", MSBA, 1982
• Guest Lecturer, "Ethical Considerations in Drafting and Negotiating Settlements", MTLA Seminar, 1982
• Guest Lecturer, "How to Prepare a Personal Injury Case", MCLE, 1981
• Guest Lecturer, "Overview of the Law of Arbitration", American Arbitration Association, 1981
• Guest Lecturer, "Maximizing Your Client's Coverage Under the Minnesota No- Fault Insurance Act", MTLA Seminar, 1981
• Lecturer, "Civil Trial Potpourri", MTLA Seminar, 1981
• Lecturer, "Comprehensive No-Fault and Comparative Fault Update", MTLA Seminar, 1981
• Main Speaker, "Dram Shop", MTLA Seminar, 1981
• Guest Speaker, "No-Fault and Comparative Fault Update", Minnesota Supreme Court's Office of Continuing Education for State Court Personnel Quadna Mountain Resort, Hill City, MN, 1981
• Guest Speaker, "No-Fault and Comparative Fault Update", Minnesota Supreme Court's Office of Continuing Education for State Court Employees, 1981
• Guest Speaker, "Personal Injury Law", MCLE, 1980
• Lecturer, "Minnesota No-Fault Update", MTLA Seminar, 1980
• Guest Lecturer, "Preparing the Winning Law Suit", MTLA Seminar, 1979
• Guest Lecturer, "Proof of Damages, Products Liability Litigation", ATLA, 1979
• Guest Lecturer, "Rules of Evidence", MTLA Seminar, 1979
• Guest Lecturer, "The Meaning of Wasche v. Milbank Mutual Ins. Co.", MTLA Seminar, 1978
• Guest Lecturer, "Stacking of Minnesota No-Fault Benefits", MTLA Seminar, 1977
• Guest Lecturer, "You And The Law Program, Dram shop Liability in Minnesota", Farmers & Mechanics Bank, 1973
• Guest Lecturer, "Subject Settlement Negotiations for the Plaintiff", University of Minnesota Law School, 1972

Photos

Address

5120 IDS Center 80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402-2227

Phones

612-344-0306
800-752-4265 (Toll Free)

Faxes

612-333-6311

Emails

Contact Us

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Yes

Office Hours

Monday - Friday 8:00 - 7:00, Saturday 8:00 - 4:00

Websites

http://www.schwebel.com
http://www.thepersonalinjurypowerhouse.com (Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben's blog)

Articles

"Three Million Dollar Recovery for Misuse of Child Seatbelt Restraints", 2008

"Update on 35W bridge investigation comes today", Star Tribune, 2008

"35W State Fund for Bridge Collapse Injured and Survivors Adjusted", 2007

"State Establishes Fund for Bridge Collapse Injured and Survivors", 2007

"Lawyers get around Minnesota's seatbelt 'gag rule'", Minnesota Lawyer, 2008

"Seven Schwebel Goetz & Sieben Attorneys Listed in 2008 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America"

"MnDOT Parsimonious with Bridge-Collapse Info", Star Tribune, 2007

"Eleven Minnesotans Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers", American College of Trial Lawyers, 2007

"A Law Firm Sues Mn/DOT to Force Compliance with Minnesota Government Data Practices Act", 2007

"Law Firm Sues MnDOT for Access to Bridge Info", Star Tribune, 2007

"Bridge Victims' Lawyers Sue State", Pioneer Press, 2007

"Firm Sues Over Bridge Collapse Access", Associated Press, 2007

"Lawyers Seek Cause in Preparing for Lawsuits", Star Tribune, 2007

"Law Firm Allowed Limited Access by State to Bridge Collapse Site", 2007

"Law Firm for Some 35W Victims Allowed into Site", The Associated Press, 2007

"Legal Team is Given Access to Bridge Site", Star Tribune, 2007

"Nick Coleman: Protecting Dignity? It's Really Dodging Responsibility", Star Tribune, 2007

"Law Firm Denied Petition For Access To Bridge Site", WCCO TV, 2007

"Law Firm Petitions for Access to Bridge Collapse Site", The Associated Press, Printed: Star Tribune, 2007

"Minnesota Bridge Death Toll up to Eight", USA TODAY, 2007

"Sherburne County Faces $30 Million Lawsuit in Death of Inmate", Press Release, 2007

"Jim Schwebel Inducted in International Society of Barristers", Press Release, 2006

"Five SG&S Attorneys Named The Best Lawyers in America", Press Release, 2005

"Lawyers discuss their practices for checking expert qualifications", Minnesota Lawyer, 2005

"Verdicts and settlements are on the rise in wrongful death cases", Minnesota Lawyer, 2003

"Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben Dominate Top 40 Personal Injury Poll", Press Release, 2003

"Lawmakers change joint and several threshold", Minnesota Lawyer, 2003

"Three Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben Attorneys Listed In The Best Lawyers In America", Press Release, 2002

"Top 100 Super Lawyers, The Cream of the Crop", MPLS ST. PAUL Magazine, 2002

"Holidazzle plaintiffs can recover no-fault benefits", Minnesota Lawyer, 2002

"SG&S Attorney Certified as Civil Trial Specialist", Press Release, 2002

"Holidazzle verdict in, but the battling is not yet finished", Minnesota Lawyer, 2001

"Top Attorneys", MPLS ST. PAUL Magazine, 2001

"Two SG&S Attorneys Named To Best Lawyers In America", Press Release, 2000

"Families of men killed by a police cruiser awarded $1.37 million each", Minnesota Lawyer, 2000

"Fatal accident near University sparks criminal and civil charges", Minnesota Daily, 2000

"Top Ten Litigators Winnin'-sotans", National Law Journal, 1999

"Should municipal liability caps be higher?", Minnesota Lawyer, 1999

"Motorcycle Safety Tips", Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben Website, 2006

"Minnesota No-Fault: Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Law", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Winter, 1997

"Broton and Johnson are Legislatively Overrule", MTLA Magazine, Summer, 1989

"Underinsured Motorist Claims: Is There Life After Broton?", MTLA Magazine, Fall, 1988

"Minnesota Underinsured Motorist Coverage", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1987

"Practitioner's Guide to the Minnesota No-Fault Act", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Second Edition, 1983

"Minnesota No-Fault Update", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1979

Representative Cases

• Loven v. City of Minneapolis, 626 N.W. 2d 198 (Minn. App. 2001)
• Berg v. Nelson, 559 N.W. 2d 722 (Minn. App. 1997)
• Ireland v. Crow's Nest Yachts, Inc., 552 N.W. 2d 269 (Minn. App. 1996)
• Home Indem. Co. v. Walthour, 1993 WL 89541 (Minn. App. 1993)
• Kaiser v. Memorial Blood Center of Minneapolis, Inc., 486 N.W. 2d 762 (Minn. 1992)
• Sargent v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co.,, 486 N.W. 2d 14 (Minn. App. 1992)
• McGuire v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co.,, 1988 WL 15893 (Minn. App. 1988)
• Parsons v. Parsons, 413 N.W. 2d 185 (Minn, App. 1987)
• Reno Air Crash of Jan. 21, 1985 v. Galaxy Airlines, Inc.,, 391 N.W, 2d 77 (Minn. App. 1986)
• Wanschura v. Western Nat. Mut. Ins. Co., 389 N.W. 2d 927 (Minn. App. 1986)