I grew up on a dairy farm in northern Minnesota and graduated  from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 1977.  Later in 1977 I  volunteered for a three year stint with the Peace Corps in Guatemala, Central America where I worked  with their Department of  Agriculture in a livestock development program.

    In 1986, I graduated from William Mitchell College of Law.  Currently I am a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, and am a member of  Real Property section, certified as a real property specialist.  I am licensed to practice  in both the Minnesota State District Courts and in the Federal Courts of the District of Minnesota.  

     I've been practicing law since 1986, and my office is located in Lindstrom, Minnesota, about 2 miles from the Chisago County Courthouse.   I live outside of Lindstrom on a hobby farm with my wife and a variety of animals.

Last updated3/11/2010

.I am not a "super lawyer" or "rising star" as per the "SuperLawyer" (trade mark) website!!  However, I was surprised to see that I am listed as an attorney with "star search credentials".  They describe star credentials as follows:

"Some attorneys are listed on this website because they have, what we call, "Star Search" credentials. Though they haven't been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers or Rising Stars, their Star Search credentials indicate a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Examples include state certification as a specialist in a particular practice area, or membership in a prestigious organization such as the American College of Trial Lawyers" 

They go on to describe the process:

""Star Search" process

Our attorney-led research staff searches for lawyers who have attained certain honors, results or credentials, which indicate a high degree of peer recognition or professional competence—what we term "Star Search Credentials." For example, certification as a specialist in a particular area of practice, or admission to prestigious colleges or academies, e.g., The American College of Trial Lawyers. The staff identifies these Star Search Credentials by reviewing a proprietary listing of more than 150 database and online sources, as well as national and local legal trade publications.  

Most of the lawyers we identify in the Star Search process have also been nominated by their peers. Occasionally, however, we find outstanding lawyers who have been overlooked in the nomination process. These "overlooked" attorneys fall into predictable categories. These include: lawyers with national litigation practices who rarely appear in the courts of their home jurisdiction; lawyers in smaller firms or from smaller communities; and lawyers practicing in less visible or highly specialized practice areas."