Law Firm Overview

Jim Schwebel graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1968. He accepted his first position as an attorney under the employment of William Deparcq, a move that would prove to be a defining period in Jim's career as Deparcq was one of the foremost personal injury attorneys in the United States. Six years later, with one legal assistant and one secretary, Jim ventured off to build a reputation of his own.

Those were the ingredients that formed James R. Schwebel & Associates back in 1974. He was joined by shareholders John Goetz and William Sieben in 1979. Since that time, Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben has grown to become the largest personal injury law firm in the state of Minnesota, building a team of 17 attorneys and over 75 total employees.

Experience

The lawyers of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben have an average of 25 years experience in assisting the victims of personal injury. Our attorneys have handled cases throughout the United States and numerous countries. The firm has represented victims of the Hollidazzle Parade tragedy in downtown Minneapolis, the Galaxy Airlines in Reno and the Singapore Airlines Crashes in Taipei, Taiwan as well as the MGM Hotel fire in Las Vegas and the Williams Pipeline explosion in Roseville, Minnesota. And although Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben has received more than 60 verdicts and settlements in excess of $1,000,000, our lawyers continue to provide the same level of expert assistance to every client, regardless of how large or small their case may be.

Since many of our lawyers are nationally certified as civil trial specialists, they are often called upon to provide counsel to other law firms, as well as education and training for law students and practicing attorneys. Lawyers from all over the United States have referred cases to Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, a sign that our peers regard this firm as a leader in complex personal injury litigation.

Commitment

Jim Schwebel attributes the growth of the firm to the exceptional dedication of his fellow lawyers and staff. The culture of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben is one of exceptional service to our clients, built on a foundation of respect, sensitivity and strength.

Each employee understands that personal injury victims have often suffered serious or even catastrophic losses. Sometimes, those losses may be limited to minor injuries and some car repairs. Others may have to endure disastrous financial expense, personal pain and suffering, or even the loss of someone very dear to them. It can be a traumatic time for the people we serve. And the people at Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben consider it their personal responsibility to make recovering from those circumstances as swift and complete as possible. That commitment is spelled out in the firm's service credo.

Reputation

It's this simple: The biggest source of new business for our firm is referrals from former clients and their friends and family. Prospective clients are invited to review a wide range of letters we have received from former clients, citing not only our effective legal representation, but also the attentive service we strive to provide to every personal injury victim we represent.

Professional Recognition

Attorneys from Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben have established a national reputation and been recognized in such periodicals as The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward and White, the annual publication of “Super Lawyers” by Minnesota Law & Politics, and Martindale Hubbell (AV Rated). Many of our lawyers have also been named Top Attorneys by Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business. In addition, the firm and all of its eligible attorneys have been given the highest possible rating by the Martindale-Hubbell attorneys rating service. We always remember, however, that the most important awards are those that help victims to recover from the effects of personal injury.

Looking to the future, we strive to continue our tradition of aggressive, competent legal representation. We view it as our on-going mission to persevere in helping injured persons and their loved ones achieve justice, and to act as a catalyst for the kind of change that helps everyone live safer lives.

Areas of Practice

• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Animal Bites -- Plaintiff
• Aviation Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Premises Liability -- Plaintiff
• Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff
• Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff
• Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff

Published Works

• The Practioner Guide to Civil Trial Practice, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1981
• The Illustrated Guide to Soft Tissue Neck Injury, Burgess Publishing, 1983
• The Ultimate Trial Notebook, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Chapter, Damages in Automobile Collision Cases, Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1998
• ROPS Revisited, Damages for Wrongfull Death of a Child, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, Vol.23 No. 2.
• Damages for Wrongfull Death of a Child, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, Vol. 3, No. 10.
• Settlement of Underinsured Motorist Claims After Schmidt v. Clothier, Legislature Adapeted Conflicting to No Fault Provisions, Minnesota Trial Lawyers, 1985
• Low Speed Impact: Does No Property Damage = No Injuries?, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, Spring, 1997
• The Impact of the Joiner and Carmichal Decisions on Expert Testimony, Minnesota Trial Lawyers, Summer, 1999
• Minnesota No-Fault Update, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1979

Pro Bono Activities

• Public Television
• Wright County Humane Society
• Native American Center
• Page Education Foundation

Representative Clients

• $15 Million Verdict: Product Liability Case
• $12 Million Settlement: 16-year-old girl Quadriplegic Car Accident
• $5,000,000 Settlement, High School Student Made Quadriplegic, 1999
• $4,500,000 Settlement, Product Liability Action, 1998
• $2,100,000 Settlement, 66 Year-Old Homemaker, 1999
• $2,900,000 Arbitration Award, Brain-Damaged Pedestrian, 1997
• $1,580,000 Jury Verdict, Farmwife Struck by a Semi Tractor-Trailer
• $9,000,000 Recovery for a 30-Year-Old Man Suffered a Brain Injury
• $2,500,000 For the Family, Mother and Daughter Burned to Death
• $6,000,000 35 Year Old Mother Suffered Brain Damage
• $1,500,000 Settlement for Severe Neck Injury of a Teenager
• $3,700,000 Compensation and $4,500.000 Punitive Damage Award

Representative Cases

• Englund v. MN CA Parnter/MN Joint Ventures, 555 N.W. 2d 328 (Minn. App. 1996)
• Kaiser v. Memorial Blood Center, 486 N.W. 2d 762 (Minn. 1992)
• O'Neil v. Wells Concrete Products Co., 477 N.W. 2d 534 (Minn. App. 1991)
• Parsons v. Parsons, 413 N.W. 2d 185 (Minn, App. 1987)
• Reno Air Crach of Jan. 21,1985 v. Galaxy Airlines, Inc., 391 N. W. 2d 77 (Minn. App. 1986)
• 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 Net Yachts, Inc., 552 N. W. 2d 269 (Minn. App. 1996)
• Home Indem. Co. v. Walthour, 1993 WL 89541 (Minn. App. 1993)
• Walk v. Starkey Machinery Inc., 180 F. 3d 937 (C.A.B. (Minn.) 1999)

References

• Larry Olson, Metro Plains
• Laurie Bongelt, US Bank

West Practice Categories

Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Animal Bites -- Plaintiff, Aviation Accidents -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff