Lindell & Lavoie, LLP.
2420 Centre Village
431 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
Toll Free: 1.888.339.8811
Local: 612.339.8811
Fax: 612.349.6806
+ Personal Injury
+ Workers’ Compensation
+ Medical Malpractice
+ Drunk Driver Liability
+ Wrongful Death
+ Defective Products Injuries
+ Workers’ Compensation
+ Medical Malpractice
+ Drunk Driver Liability
+ Wrongful Death
+ Defective Products Injuries
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JAMES LINDELL
Partner
Phone:
612-339-8811
888-339-8811 (Toll Free)
888-339-8811 (Toll Free)
Fax:
612-349-6806
Email:
lindell@lindellandlavoie.com
Jim Lindell has specialized in civil litigation during his entire career and is certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. Mr. Lindell has been voted a Super LawyerÂź in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation in annual polls of Minnesota lawyers conducted by Minnesota Law & Politics and Mpls/St. Paul magazine. Jim was invited to membership in the American Society of Legal Advocates, and in 2012 was named Attorney of the Year by The Minnesota Lawyer. He practices in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Jim is a native of Litchfield, Minnesota. Contributing to his effectiveness in his practice is his broad scope of work experience, including:
- United States Army, 1st Lt. 1966-1969
- Management positions in federal and state government
- Staff aide to the governor of Minnesota
- Construction
- Firefighting (smoke jumping) for the U.S. Forest Service
- Life-long interest in flying, private pilot license since 1985.
Mr. Lindell is highly regarded by both clients and fellow attorneys. He enjoys a busy workers’ compensation and personal injury practice and receives numerous referrals of those cases from attorneys in other specialties. He is active in the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota and has served as a board member, officer and dean of that organization. Lindell is rated “a.v.” by Martindale Hubble – the highest rating of competence and ethics available. He is also a qualified neutral arbitrator and mediator.
When Jim is not practicing law, he is challenging himself anew. Working on his Wisconsin cabin (which he built from the ground up with his dad), learning to speak Russian, and learning to play the piano are his most recent endeavors.
Besides the firm’s main office in downtown Minneapolis, Jim maintains an office at his lake home in Webb Lake, Wisconsin.
Cases:
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Medical malpractice – Jury finds doctor negligent in care of post-surgical infection. Result – $584,000 in damages awarded.
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Negligence – Commercial vehicle collision results in leg amputation. Result – $2.2 million settlement.
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Workers’ compensation – Injured carpet layer wins workers’ compensation claim on appeal and secures large personal injury settlement to boot. Result – The workers’ compensation recovery totaled over $165,000 and the third party claim against the negligent driver responsible for the crash settled in mediation for $935,000.
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Wrongful Death – Defendant’s excuse in mail carrier’s death disproved. Result – $1.3 million settlement, including $300,000 which the Defendant had to pay from his own pocket.
Areas of Practice
- Personal Injury
- Workers’ Compensation
- Medical Malpractice
Litigation Percentage
- 85% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Civil Trial Law, Minnesota Bar Association, 1990
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1977
- Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- J.D. – 1977
- International Studies, The American University, Washington
- M.A. – 1970
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- B.A. – 1966
Honors and Awards
- Voted Super LawyerÂź (in top 5% of Minnesota lawyers) every year, 1998 – 2014
- Rated AV, highest rating of Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service, for ethical standards and legal ability since 1998 (top 14% of lawyers in America)
- Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates, by invitation extended to less than 2% of lawyers nationwide
- Named one of Minnesota’s top 40 workers’ compensation lawyers by Mpls/St. Paul magazine and Minnesota Law & Politics
- Named Attorney of the Year for 2012 by The Minnesota Lawyer
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Member
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
- Wisconsin State Bar Association, Member
- Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers, Member
Languages
- Russian
Partner
17 year old client underwent open reduction of his fractured ankle with the use of plates and screws by Defendant medical clinicâs orthopedic surgeon. After surgery, the wound became badly infected. Instead of referring our client to an infectious disease specialist or asking a plastic surgeon with infection control expertise, the orthopedic surgeon kept the patient to himself, and tried and failed on two different occasions to surgically remove the infection on the clientâs ankle. On both attempts the surgeon sutured the wound tightly closed, encapsulating a still active infection. When it became obvious the wound remained badly infected, our client was referred to a plastic surgeon who performed emergency surgery to save his endangered limb. The new physician cured the infection and performed tissue transfer reconstructive surgery to close our clientâs large resulting wound. Represented by Jim Lindell. Following a weeklong trial, the jury in a rural Minnesota county awarded our client $584,000 in damages.
Our client was a passenger in a dump truck which was rear-ended by a semi driver at 70 mph, forcing our clientâs vehicle off the freeway and into a ditch where it rolled several times. He suffered a crushed leg which was amputated below the knee as well as a traumatic brain injury. Represented by Jim Lindell. After a very complicated case in Federal court, in which we employed experts in vocational rehabilitation, medicine, neuropsychology, tax law and economics, we settled the case in three stages for proceeds totaling over $2.2 million. Result – $2.2 million settlement.
Our client, a union floor coverer, was seriously injured in a car crash while driving home after work. Though our client was driving a company vehicle, the workersâ compensation insurer denied benefits claiming our client was merely commuting to his home at the end of his shift, a well-known defense that normally would take the case out of the scope of workersâ compensation. We argued that the general rule of commuting did not apply since our client was transporting the companyâs tools and material to and from the work site, essentially using the company truck as a âshop on wheelsâ. An arbitrator ruled against us and we appealed. In a significant expansion of law favoring commuters who were nevertheless still in the service of their employer, the workersâ compensation Court of Appeals reversed the arbitrator and awarded all benefits claimed by our client. The decision was sustained at the Supreme Court. Represented by Jim Lindell. The workersâ compensation recovery totaled over $165,000 and the third party claim against the negligent driver responsible for the crash settled in mediation for $935,000. Result – The workersâ compensation recovery totaled over $165,000 and the third party claim against the negligent driver responsible for the crash settled in mediation for $935,000.
Our clientâs husband, a rural mail carrier, was killed while placing mail in a rural mailbox when his vehicle was rear-ended by a day-dreaming motorist at highway speed. The Defendant denied negligence, alleging that he suffered a medical emergency immediately prior to the crash and was not responsible for his erratic driving. A thorough investigation of his medical background and depositions of the killer, his wife and his mistress disproved the Defendantâs alleged medical emergency. We advised the Defendant that the case would never settle for the $1 million he had in insurance coverage and that he had better hire personal counsel. Represented by Jim Lindell. The case settled before trial for $1.3 million, including $300,000 which the Defendant had to pay from his own pocket. Result – $1.3 million settlement, including $300,000 which the Defendant had to pay from his own pocket.
 - Voted Super LawyerÂź (in top 5% of Minnesota lawyers) every year, 1998 – 2014
- Rated AV, highest rating of Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service, for ethical standards and legal ability since 1998 (top 14% of lawyers in America)
- Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates, by invitation extended to less than 2% of lawyers nationwide
- Named one of Minnesota’s top 40 workers’ compensation lawyers by Mpls/St. Paul magazine and Minnesota Law & Politics
- Named Attorney of the Year for 2012 by The Minnesota Lawyer