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George W. Soule
 Minneapolis, Minnesota
George Soule is at home in any courtroom in America. George has tried cases in 17 states, ranging from rural courthouses and tribal courts to big city federal courts.
From small-town Minnesota, George went to Harvard Law School, where he served on the Law Review with now-Chief Justice John Roberts. He returned to Minnesota in 1979 to begin his career as a trial lawyer.
George has tried over fifty cases to verdict involving products liability, commercial and negligence claims. He also has coordinated products liability litigation nationwide and counseled manufacturers on product safety issues. He has written and lectured extensively on products liability, litigation and judicial selection.
His clients include manufacturers of medical devices, farm and industrial equipment, vehicles, and consumer products. He also frequently represents local, national and international businesses in commercial litigation in Minnesota courts.
In addition, George serves as a qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.
George is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, an Associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2010). From 1999-2003 under Governor Jesse Ventura, he served as Chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection. He is a past President of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.
When not defending his clients, he spends time working on political campaigns and enjoys baking chocolate chip cookies.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Business, Commercial and Financial Litigation
- Construction and Industrial Equipment
- Construction and Power Tools Litigation
- Dealer and Franchise Litigation
- Drug and Medical Device Litigation
- Farm Equipment
- Fire Litigation
- Motorcycles, ATVs and Other Wheeled Vehicles
- Product Liability
- Product Safety and Liability Prevention
- Trucking and Bus Company Litigation
- 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- Minnesota, 1979
- Wisconsin, 1985
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1980
- U.S. District Court District of North Dakota, 1989
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1988
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1988
- Harvard University Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts,
1979
J.D.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Law Review:
Editor, Harvard Law Review, 1978 - 1979
- Moorhead State University, Moorhead, Minnesota,
1976
B.A.
Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Major: Economics
Major: Political Science
- Product Liability Litigation: Current Law, Strategies and Best Practices (Stephanie A. Scharf et al.), Chapter: Post-Sale Responsibilities in the United States and Foreign Countries (with Kenneth Ross), Practicing Law Institute, October, 2009
- Stop the Partisan Politics, The National Law Journal, July 21, 2008
- Judicial Elections in Minnesota: Past, Present, and Future, The Hennepin Lawyer, p.7, January, 2007
- Campaign Handbook for Minnesota Judicial Elections, 2006
- Post-Sale Duties: A Minefield for Manufacturers (Co-author), Defense Research Institute - In-House Quarterly Defense, p.20, Fall, 2006
- Protecting an Independent and Qualified Judiciary, Bench and Bar, April, 2005
- Minnesota Products Liability Law 1992-2003, Minnesota Defense, Spring and Winter, 2004
- Judicial Appointments and Elections: Reaching for the Robe (Co-author), For the Record - 150 Years of Law & Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1999
- The Selection and Preparation of Product Liability Experts, West Products Liability Advisory, July, 1998
- Failure to Warn in Minnesota, the New Restatement on Products Liability, and the Application of the Reasonable Care Standard (Co-author), 21 William Mitchell Law Review 389, 1995
- Minnesota Products Liability Law: 1986-1992 (Co-author), Minnesota Defense, p. 10, Summer, 1992
- Returning Negligence Principles to the Trial of Failure to Warn Claims in Minnesota, Minnesota Defense, p. 2, Spring, 1988
- Recent Developments in Minnesota Products Liability Law (Co-author), Minnesota Defense, p. 2, Winter, 1986
- Rients v. International Harvester Co., 346 N.W.2d 359
(Minn.App. 1984)
- Nelson v. International Harvester Corp., 394 N.W.2d 578
(Minn.App. 1986)
- Wilken v. International Harvester Co., 363 N.W.2d 763
(Minn. 1985)
- Wilken v. International Harvester Co., 701 F.2d 730
(C.A.8 (Minn.) 1983)
- Tracy A. Marshall, Appellant-Plaintiff v. Clark Equipment Company and Clark Lift Corporation of Indiana, Appellees-Defendants
(Court of Appeals of Indiana 1997)
- International Truck and Engine Corporation
- Medtronic, Inc.
- Vermeer Manufacturing Company
- Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
- Honorable David Doty
- Honorable Thomas B. Heffelfinger
- A. M. "Sandy" Keith
- Honorable Paul Anderson
- Presentation: "Defending a Case Post-Recall or Post-Sale Warning", Defense Research Institute, Product Liability Seminar, February 2007
- Overcoming Mid-Size and Small Firm Challenges, American Conference Institute - 2nd National Forum on Law Firm Diversity, San Francisco,
September 26, 2006
- Overview of Election Law and Ethics for Judicial Candidates, Saint Paul, Judicial Campaign Law & Ethics, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education,
August 2, 2006
- Partisan Judicial Elections: A Threat to Judicial Independence in Minnesota, Judicial Independence v. Partisan Politics, Brainerd, Minnesota, Minnesota State Bar Association Convention,
June 22, 2006
- Economic Loss Doctrine in Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Young Lawyers Section,
May 11, 2006
- Defending Your Product After a Post-Sale Warning or Recall, Amelia Island, Florida, Product Liability and Product Safety Council, Manufacturers Alliance / MAPI,
April 21, 2006
- Products Liability Landscape, Minneapolis, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Instrumentation and Measurements Society,
April 6, 2006
- Partisan Judicial Elections: A Threat to Judicial Independence in Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota Commission for the Preservation of an Impartial Judiciary,
March 27, 2006
- The Confirmation of Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Saint Paul, Warren Burger Inn of Court,
March 15, 2006
- The Future of Minnesota Judicial Elections (panelist), Minneapolis, Partisan Endorsements and an Independent Judiciary, University of Saint Thomas Law School,
February 25, 2006
- Development of JIG V and Partisan Judicial Elections: A Threat to Judicial Independence, Biwabek, Minnesota, MDLA Mid-Winter Conference,
February 11, 2006
-
February 12, 2006
- Judicial Elections and Chief Justice John Roberts, Minneapolis, Amdahl Inn of Court,
January 19, 2006
- Judicial Selection, Judicial Elections and John Roberts, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, 1666 Coffman (retired University of Minnesota professors),
January 7, 2006
- Judicial Selection, Judicial Independence, and Chief Justice John Roberts, Battle Lake, Minnesota, Otter Tail County Bar Association, Annual Banquet,
November 4, 2005
- General Overview of Products Liability in Minnesota, Golden Valley, Minnesota, Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel,
October 20, 2005
- Quest for the Gavel - How Minnesota Selects Judges (program chair), Minneapolis, Minnesota State Bar Association and minority bar associations,
June 27, 2005
- Diversity Initiatives in the Minnesota Legal Market (panel discussion), Minneapolis, 31st Annual Federal Practice Seminar, Federal Bar Association,
June 14, 2005
- Minnesota Products Liability - Where Are We Today?, Minneapolis, Products Liability 2005, Clarion Legal,
April 28, 2005
- Products Liability Law and Practice, Bloomington, Minnesota, Northwestern Lumber Association,
February 25, 2005
- Minnesota Jury Instruction Guide, 5th Edition - Proposed Revisions. Alexandria, Minnesota, Mid Winter Conference, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association,
February 5, 2005
- Developments in Minnesota Products Liability Law, Products Liability Committee, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Minneapolis,
September 15, 2004
- 2004 Judicial Elections in Minnesota, Minnesota District Judges Association Fall Conference, Brainerd, Minnesota,
September 9, 2004
- Preparing for Your Judicial Election Campaign, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
May 22, 2004
- Motor Vehicle Design and Safety, LaFayette Hill, Pennsylvania, Transportation Law Seminar, ACE USA,
April 16, 2004
- Judicial Election Campaigns: What You Can and Can't Say, Minneapolis, Annual Meeting, Minnesota District Judges Association,
December 5, 2003
- Do You Have What It Takes? Advice on Becoming a Partner, Minneapolis, New Lawyers Nuts & Bolts, Hennepin County Bar Association,
December 4, 2003
- Products Liability Developments, The Very Best in Complex Litigation, Minnesota State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis,
August 7, 2003
- The Impact of the Budget Crisis on the Minnesota Courts (panel discussion), Minneapolis, Annual Meeting, Civil Litigation Section, Minnesota State Bar Association,
April 9, 2003
- Trials and Tribulations - Product Risk and Liability Prevention Lessons, Saint Paul, Product Safety & Liability Seminar, The Saint Paul Companies,
September 24, 2002
- Impact of 'Free Speech' on Judicial Campaigns, Update, Minnesota Center for Community Legal Education, St. Paul,
August 14, 2002
- A Trial Lawyer's Wish List, Minnesota Judicial College, Bloomington,
May 9, 2002
- The Judicial System and the Asian American Community (panel discussion), Saint Paul, The Policy Roundtable, Alliance on Asian Minnesota Policy Issues,
March 12, 2002
- The Trial of Products Liability Cases in Minnesota, Tort Law Update (Course Chair), Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis,
February 22, 2002
- The Minnesota Perspective (panel discussion), Selecting Judges in Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota State Bar Association,
December 3, 2001
- So You Want to be a Judge, Saint Paul, Appellate Practice Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association,
June 21, 2001
- Accident Reconstruction Issues in Crashworthiness Cases, Auto Accident Reconstruction, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Brooklyn Center, MN,
May 10, 2001
- A Trial Lawyer's Wish List, Minnesota Judicial College, Bloomington, MN,
May 8, 2001
- A Practicum on the Four Corners of Expert Exclusion: Daubert/Joiner/Kumho Tire, and now, Weisgram, Defense Research Institute, Inc., Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas,
February 23, 2001
- Removal as of Right: Should it be Abolished?, Minneapolis, Civil Litigation Section Annual Meeting, Minnesota State Bar Association,
April 12, 2000
- The History of Minnesota Products Liability Law, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Products Liability -- Minnesota Law and Practice,
March 31, 2000
- Judicial Selection in Minnesota, Meet Our Policy Makers Series, Judicial Issues, The Policy Roundtable, Saint Paul, Pan Asian Alliance on Policy Issues,
December 3, 1999
- Post-Trial Motions, Winning by Motions, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education,
November 12, 1999
- Preparing for Trial--From Design Concept to Verdict, Equipment Manufacturers Institute, 10th Annual Product Safety Seminar,
October 27, 1999
-
October 28, 1999
- Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, So You Want to be a Judge, Saint Paul, Minnesota Women Lawyers,
September 24, 1999
- Preparing for Trial - From Design Concept to Verdict, Increase Safety - Reduce Product Liability II, Milwaukee, Construction Industry Manufacturers Association,
August 9, 1999
- What is Admissible Evidence in a Lost Profits Case? Recovery of Damages for Lost Profits, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education,
November 20, 1998
- Reducing Exposure to Liability in the Production and Design of Equipment, NPES Product Safety Conference, Chicago,
November 18, 1998
- Defending Damages in a Catastrophic Injury Case; Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis,
September 15, 1998
- "Opening Statement" and "The Care and Feeding of Products Experts", National Practice Institute, The 16th Annual Conference on Products Liability Law, Chicago,
May 29, 1998
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2010
- Recipient of The Burton Award for Legal Achievement, Distinguished Legal Writing Award,
2007
- Selected by Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine as a SuperLawyer(R),
2001
-
2009
- Named Minnesota "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer,
2000
- Professionalism Award, Hennepin County Bar Association,
1997
- Howard Lysne 1993 Business & Economics Alumni Achievement Award, Moorhead State University,
1993
- Advocates Award, Minnesota State Bar Association,
2003
- Minnesota State University Moorhead- Distinguished Alumni,
2005
- American Bar Association,
1979
- Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- American College of Trial Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
- Hennepin County Bar Association,
1979
- Present
- Minnesota American Indian Bar Association
- President, 2004-2006, Board of Directors, 2003 - 2008
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association,
1980
- Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association,
1979
- Present
- Chair, Civil Litigation Section 1994 - 1995
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, Associate,
1979
-
1985
- Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection, Chair,
1999
-
2003
- Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis,
1991
- Present
- 1954, Fargo, North Dakota
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