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STEPHEN P. LAITINEN is a partner with Larson King, LLP, where he concentrates his civil and commercial practice on the representation of clients involved in complex commercial, professional liability, construction defect, and product liability disputes. He has tried cases to verdict in state, federal and administrative courts, and has litigated in state and federal courts throughout the country. Mr. Laitinen is chair of the Commercial Litigation Committee and a voting member of the Amicus Curie Committee for the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association. He is a frequent regional and national speaker on complex commercial litigation issues. He wrote "Defending the Fortress: Guarding Your Client's Trade Secrets in Minnesota," with Carrie A. Daniel, Spring 2002 Edition, and "Prior Bad Acts: Keeping Your Client's Skeletons Where They Belong - In the Closet," with Jennifer G. Daugherty, Fall 2003 Edition, for the MINNESOTA DEFENSE, as well as "Civil Juries and the Gordian Knot of Complex Litigation," with Jennifer Lurken, July 2005, FOR THE DEFENSE and Destroying the Opposing Expert's Credibility, with David Classen, September 2007, FOR THE DEFENSE. Mr. Laitinen is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; the U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit; and the Eastern District for U.S. District Court, District of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Minnesota State, Ramsey County and Hennepin County bar associations, the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute. Mr. Laitinen earned his B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his J.D. degree from Drake University. DAVID L. LILLEHAUG is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. His practice primarily focuses on complex litigation. Mr. Lillehaug's construction and real estate dispute resolution practice involves representing building owners, contractors and design professionals in lawsuits, arbitrations, mediations and governmental proceedings. He was the founding chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association's Construction Law Section. Mr. Lillehaug also is in demand as a mediator. He has mediated real estate, construction, environmental and regulatory cases. Mr. Lillehaug earned his B.A. degree, highest honors, from Augustana College and his J.D. degree, honors, from Harvard University. He is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association (member, Construction Law Section). Mr. Lillehaug was the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, the Federal Government's Chief Prosecutor and Civil Lawyer from 1994-1998, former officer, MSBA Civil Litigation Section, was profiled in "Who's Who in American Law," "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the World" and received the author's award, MSBA. ERIC A. RUZICKA is an attorney in the Minneapolis Trial, Regulatory and Technology group at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP. Mr. Ruzicka practices in the areas of litigation focusing on construction and real estate litigation. His practice includes experience in a variety of types of commercial litigation and arbitrations with emphasis on representation of owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in construction disputes and the representation of landlords and tenants in commercial lease disputes. Mr. Ruzicka has previously presented at CLE seminars for the Minnesota State Bar Association and has written on the topics of "Title Insurance Case Update" and "Key Construction Contract Provisions." He earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Saint John's University and his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School. CHARLES J. SCHOENWETTER is an attorney with the firm of Bowman and Brooke LLP, where he concentrates his civil litigation practice in the areas of general commercial, construction and employment litigation, with a special focus relating to UCC, products liability, tort and breach of contract/warranty claims. Mr. Schoenwetter's experience also extends to the area of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration. He was a member of the Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on ADR in Family Court, and sat on the task force's Drafting Subcommittee. In 1998, Mr. Schoenwetter was recognized for his distinguished service rendered as a member of the MSBA Board of Governors. His bar association activities have also included membership on the HCBA Governing Council and Governance Committee, as well as being a director and vice chair of the New Lawyers Section. Mr. Schoenwetter has presented seminars and published numerous works on his areas of practice. He earned his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Boston College and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was on the dean's list and Maynard Pirsig Moot Court. Mr. Schoenwetter is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Builders Association of Minnesota, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, the National Association of Home Builders and the Hennepin County Bar Association. Mr. Schoenwetter also is active in the Associated Builders & Contractors. ROBERT P. THAVIS is a shareholder in the Minneapolis law firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard, Professional Association, and founded the firm's insurance coverage practice group. Mr. Thavis has extensive experience representing corporate policyholders in state and federal trial and appellate courts in numerous jurisdictions in a broad range of coverage disputes, including litigation seeking coverage for suits alleging securities and financial fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition and other business torts, construction, intellectual property, product liability, and large casualty and business interruption claims. He earned his J.D. degree from Yale Law School. Mr. Thavis is a member of the Hennepin County, Minnesota State (member, Civil Litigation Section), Federal and American bar associations, and is particularly active in the Section of Litigation's Insurance Coverage Committee, including service as vice chair of the committee and chair of its mid-year meeting. He is a frequent lecturer on insurance coverage issues both locally and nationally.
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