David R. Kelly
Founding Partner
Phone: 612.672.3226
Fax: 612.672.3200
Our Attorneys

David R. Kelly

Biography

One of seven founding partners of Bowman and Brooke, David Kelly concentrates his practice in defending U.S. and foreign corporations in high-profile product liability cases throughout the country.

An experienced trial lawyer, David has appeared as defense counsel for cases in state and/or federal courts in more than 20 states throughout the country. In addition, he is national trial counsel for several automobile manufacturers, as well as international automotive and industrial equipment product companies.

David's extensive trial experience frequently deals with rollover, seat belt and seat back claims, as well as cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful deaths, class actions and appeals. In addition, he has been involved in several successful Daubert motions. 

David’s trial success has been recognized numerous times by both clients and national publications, including the National Law Journal.  He was named an “Attorney of the Year” by Minnesota Lawyer and Minnesota Law & Politics recognized him a Super Lawyer 2007-2011. David was named to The Legal 500 two years in a row, describing him as "an excellent attorney," and "just a brilliant, brilliant man." He is also a frequent and requested speaker for products liability seminars. 

Prior to law school, David served as an officer in the United States Navy.

Education

  • Indiana University School of Law, J.D., 1974
    magna cum laude
    Note and Comment Editor, Indiana Law Review, 1972 - 1973
  • Hanover College, B.A., 1968
    Major:  English

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1975

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1998
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1999
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1976
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1975
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 1999
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 2005

Memberships and Affiliations

Defense Research Institute, Inc., 1987-Present

Society of Automotive Engineers, 1986-Present
Associate Member

Minnesota State Bar Association, 1975-Present

Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, 1991-Present

Hennepin County Bar Association

American Board of Trial Advocates, 2009-Present

Distinctions

Irish Legal 100, 2009-2011

The Legal 500 United States, 2008-2010

"Attorney of the Year," 2007 
    Minnesota Lawyer

Super Lawyer®, 2007-2011
    Minnesota Super Lawyers Magazine

Classes and Seminars Taught

Eighth Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, December 2001

Seventh Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, December 2000

Sixth Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, November 1999

Fifth Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, "Cutting Edge Issues in SUV Litigation", Bowman and Brooke, November 1998

Fourth Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, November 1997

Third Annual Product Liability Hot Topics Seminar for Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, November 1996

Second Annual Hot Topics for Motor Vehicle And Other Manufacturer Product Liability Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, November 1995

Dispute Resolution in the Pacific Rim, ABA Section of Litigation and the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, February 1995

First Annual Hot Topics for Motor Vehicle And Other Manufacturer Product Liability Defense Counsel, Bowman and Brooke, November 1994

Representative Clients

Ford Motor Company

General Motors

Nissan Motors

Mazda Motor Corporation

TM Claims Service, Inc.

Kia Motor Corporation

Takata Corporation

Representative Cases

CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE.
CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.


Fields v. Mazda Motor Corp., Maricopa County Superior Court of Arizona, (September, 2011)

Nemmers v. Ford Motor Co., U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, (April 2011)

Duarte v. Kia, (Fort Meyers, FL 2010)

Poehler v. Ford Motor Co., First Judicial District, Sibley County, MN (Jan. 2010)

Price v. Honda & Takata, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division (April 2009)

Gessling v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of Boone County, Missouri Division II (Jan. 2009)

Zavala v. Takata Corp., Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles (March 2009)

Herbert v. Takata Corp., United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (Oct. 2007)

Russo, et al. v. Takata Corp. and TK Holding Inc., Seventh Judicial Circuit, Pennington County, South Dakota (Aug. 2007)

Robeck, et al. v. Ford Motor Co., United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, St. Paul (July 2007)

Grimes v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County, Florida (May 2007)

Branham v. Ford Motor Co., Court of Common Pleas, Hampton County, South Carolina (Oct. 2006)

Kilgore v. Takata Corp., First Judicial District Court for the County of Santa Fe, New Mexico (Sept. 2006)

Branham vs. Ford Motor Co., Court of Common Pleas, Hampton County, South Carolina (June 2006)

Grimes v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court 15th Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County, Florida (May 2005)

Flis v. Kia, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division (June 2005)

Ingvaldson v. Mitsubishi Motors Corp, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Milwaukee County (May 2004)

Jamison v. Ford Motor Co., Court of Common Pleas, Berkeley County, Moncks Corner, South Carolina (Feb. 2004)

Nemir v. Mitsubishi, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (May 2002)

Gettig v. General Motors Corp., St. Joseph Superior court, Mishawaka, Indiana (March 2001)

Gutierrez v. Kia, Arizona Superior Court, Maricopa County (Oct. 2000)

Noonan v. Mazda North American Operations, Polk County, Des Moines, IA (Nov. 1999)

Ellsworth v. General Motors Corp., Wisconsin Circuit Court, St. Croix County (June 1997)

Ladsten v. General Motors Corp, 9th Judicial District, Koochiching County, Minnesota (Sept. 1995)

Livingston v. Isuzu, U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, Butte Division (June 1995)

Baker/Shoemaker v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, Western Division, Kansas City, MO (August 1993)

Reopelle v. Dana Corp., Second Judicial District Court, Butte, Montana (1991)

Bryant/Johnson v. General Motors Corp., United States District Court, Southern District of Illinois (1989)

Cronwell v. General Motors Corp., Mower County—3rd Judicial District, Austin, MN (1988)

Krein v. General Motors Corp., Anoka County District Court, MN (1985)

Deiss v. General Motors Corp., St. Croix County, River Falls, WI (1983)

Jacobs v. General Motors Corp. and Rosemount Dodge, Dakota County District Court, MN (1981)

Published Works

Threshold Issues for Foreign Litigations in American Courts, Consumer Law Journal, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1995

Note, The Manageability Crisis of Consumer Class Actions: The Severe Example of Eisen III, 7 Ind. L. Rev. 361, 1973

Recent Development, 6 Ind. L. Rev. 781, 1973