Practice Group | Bassford Remele

Employment Litigation/Advice

For more than 30 years, the Bassford Remele team has been involved in many of the most important unfair competition cases in the state. In fact, we have played a big part in developing and shaping Minnesota law in this arena. But our experience extends beyond Minnesota — spanning state and federal courts throughout the country and representing clients in a wide range of industries from small businesses to Fortune 500 Companies.

Whether we are defending unfair competition claims or helping to enforce non-compete agreements, our significant courtroom experience means we have the know-how to help clients understand the best way to handle their dispute and to guide their cases to successful conclusion.

Representative Cases

Represented a global medical-device company in district court and on appeal, winning summary judgment on liability for breach-of-contract and tortious interference claims, together with a jury verdict and seven-figure judgment, including an attorneys’ fees award. St. Jude Med., S.C., Inc. v. Biosense Webster, Inc., 818 F.3d 785 (8th Cir. 2016).

Represented a global medical-device company, obtaining a decision sustaining judgment as a matter of law enforcing a sales representative agreement and dismissing a $30 million counterclaim. St. Jude Med. S.C., Inc. v. Tormey, 779 F.3d 894 (8th Cir. 2015).

Represented a global medical-device company, obtaining a decision reversing the district court’s grant of a preliminary injunction in an action to enforce non-competition covenants. Medtronic, Inc. v. Doerr, 2015 WL 1674567 (Minn. Ct. App. Feb. 9, 2015).

Represented an international manufacturer, obtaining a decision establishing a principle that an enforceable noncompetition covenant can be defined in terms of “conflicting product” and “conflicting organization” without express geographic limitations. This was the first case to establish that unreported Minnesota Court of Appeals’ decisions have no precedential value. Dynamic Air Inc. v. Bloch, 502 N.W.2d 796 (Minn. App. 1993).

Represented an agricultural cooperative, obtaining a decision establishing many principles of South Dakota law concerning noncompetition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and related recovery of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. CENTROL, Inc. v. Morrow, 489 N.W.2d 890 (S.D. 1992).

accolades

Metropolitan Tier 1 Firm in the area of Labor and Employment Litigation
Metropolitan and National Litigation-ERISA Firm
Star Tribune Gold Winner in Civil Litigation
Alan Silver 2012 & 2020 Minneapolis Litigation-ERISA Lawyer of the Year