News & Resources

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RACHEL B. BEAUCHAMP OBTAINED SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN WISCONSIN COVERAGE CASE ADDRESSING “WAGE AND HOUR” CLAIMS

Rachel B. Beauchamp obtained a declaratory judgment of no coverage and no obligations of defense or indemnity on behalf of her client in a Wisconsin declaratory judgment action.   The case addressed an underlying class action lawsuit alleging violations of both Wisconsin and Federal laws regulating overtime, travel time, minimum wage, and computation of overtime and benefits.  Attorney Beauchamp’s insurer had policies of insurance providing CGL coverage, Employee Benefits Liability Coverage, EPLI coverage, and umbrella coverage.   The defendant argued that coverage for the class action claims was found in both the Employee Benefits Liability coverage and the EPLI coverage – and  … Read more

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MSBA NAMES ATTORNEY CHRISTOPHER MALONE CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL SPECIALIST

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone congratulates its President, Christopher P. Malone, for his certification as a Certified Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. With this achievement, Attorney Malone joins an elite group of attorneys (fewer than 3%) in Minnesota who are certified specialists in their field.   When the Minnesota State Bar Association designates an attorney as a “Certified Civil Trial Specialist”, it is confirming that attorney has significant experience, skill, and knowledge in pursuing civil litigation through trial.  The Minnesota State Bar Association designates lawyers as “Certified” only when they have met those standards as well  … Read more

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Shareholder Rachel Beauchamp Selected to Serve on MDLA Board for 2021

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. is pleased to announce that Shareholder Rachel Beauchamp has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA).  MDLA is an association dedicated to the ongoing education and support of civil defense lawyers.  Beauchamp has previously presented at multiple MDLA educational seminars and serves as an editor of MN Defense (the MDLA quarterly magazine).  Beauchamp specializes in the areas of commercial trucking and coverage, but handles all types of civil litigation defense in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  To learn more about Beauchamp, please visit her attorney profile.

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CVMM Lawyers Recognized in 2021 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America”

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that five of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2021 Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” Congratulations to Michael C. Lindberg (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Christopher P. Malone (Transportation Law), Michael W. McNee (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants) Susan D. Thurmer (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Railroad Law) and Peter G. Van Bergen (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants). Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process captures, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical  … Read more

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CVMM Attorneys Included on 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers List

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that Peter G. Van Bergen, Michael W. McNee, Susan D. Thurmer, Michael C. Lindberg, Meaghan C. Bryan and Tamara L. Novotny have been selected for inclusion on the 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. Each year Super Lawyers selects attorneys from all firm sizes using a detailed selection process that includes nominations, independent research and peer evaluation by practice area.  The list of Super Lawyers is published in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers Magazines and other regional magazines and newspapers.

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Attorneys Beauchamp and Lindberg have article “Same As It Ever Was: Lambertson Contribution in a Post-Fish v. Ramler World” featured in Minnesota Defense Magazine.

The Spring 2020 issue of Minnesota Defense magazine features an article by Rachel Beauchamp and Peter Lindberg titled “Same As It Ever Was: Lambertson Contribution in a Post-Fish v. Ramler World”. In the article, Beauchamp and Lindberg discuss the effect a recent decision has on an alleged tortfeasor’s right to recover contribution from an alleged at-fault employer that has paid workers compensation benefits to an injured worker.   Their article discusses the balancing test of equities and outlines how litigators, and insurers, can analyze the effect, if any, of an employer’s alleged fault on exposure for a bodily injury claim with  … Read more

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RACHEL B. BEAUCHAMP PRESENTS AT MDLA WINTER CONFERENCE

On Saturday January 25, 2020, Rachel B. Beauchamp was a presenter, along with other attorneys and industry experts, at the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Winter Conference.  Beauchamp’s presentation was titled “Defense Against the Dark Arts: Motion Practice in Commercial Trucking Defense.  Beauchamp’s presentation focused on both the practical and theoretical aspects of motion practice in Commercial Trucking and how it is different from standard two-car motor vehicle accident defense.  Her presentation addressed the most common motions being handled in trucking litigation today, and discussed the strategic benefits that motions can bring to commercial trucking cases.  Beauchamp urged attorneys and insurers  … Read more

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Meaghan C. Bryan obtains summary judgment in premises liability suit based on the trespasser doctrine

Meaghan C. Bryan obtained a dismissal of all claims against her client, a plumbing subcontractor, in a personal injury suit arising out of an ongoing residential construction site.  The plaintiff and her husband had gone on an evening walk around their affluent Lake Minnetonka neighborhood and chose to enter and explore an active residential construction site under the control of a general contractor with whom they had a prior personal/family relationship.  There were no workers onsite, it was after-hours, and there were not any “no trespass” signs or fencing blocking the site off.  The plaintiff entered the home and fell  … Read more

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Meaghan C. Bryan obtains summary judgment in favor of a certified home inspector in a real estate disclosure suit arising from alleged mold infestation

Meaghan C. Bryan obtained summary judgment in favor of a certified home inspector who allegedly failed to observe and report to the plaintiff homebuyers signs of water intrusion and mold in the home at the time of the home inspection.  According to the plaintiffs, who were first-time homebuyers of a home that allegedly developed a mold infestation within a month of the purchase, the home inspector should have noticed and disclosed that the drywall had been replaced throughout the home and basement, there was heavy white paint covering the concrete walls of the basement, and there were rusty drywall screws  … Read more

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CVMM Lawyers Recognized in 2020 Edition of “Best Lawyers in America”

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2020 Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.”Congratulations to Michael C. Lindberg (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Michael W. McNee (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants) Susan D. Thurmer (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Railroad Law) and Peter G. Van Bergen (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants). Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their process captures, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.  

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MICHAEL LINDBERG OBTAINS DEFENSE VERDICT IN AVIATION COMMERCIAL DISPUTE

CVMM lawyer Michael Lindberg successfully defended an aircraft renovation business in a four-day jury trial in Dakota County, Minnesota with the assistance of CVMM associate Peter Lindberg .  A wealthy businessman engaged CVMM’s client to renovate a 54-year-old airplane, including installation of a new engine, propeller, cowling, lighting, and cockpit instruments.  During the ten months of work, unknown discrepancies were discovered, discussed with the aircraft owner, and corrected.  Unfortunately, the new propeller was slightly damaged in a test flight, so the CVMM client paid for a repair.  The owner sued, alleging that he had been overcharged; that the aircraft was  … Read more

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CVMM Attorneys included on 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists!

We are pleased to announce that Peter G. Van Bergen, Michael W. McNee, Susan D. Thurmer and Michael C. Lindberg have been selected for inclusion on the 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers list. Meaghan C. Bryan and Stephanie M. Maser have been selected for inclusion on the 2019 Minnesota Rising Stars list. Each year Super Lawyers and Rising Stars selects attorneys from all firm sizes using a detailed selection process that includes nominations, independent research and peer evaluation by practice area.  These lists are published in state and regional editions of Super Lawyers Magazines and other regional magazines and newspapers.

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Rachel B. Beauchamp Successfully Defends Attempts to Revise Minnesota’s Property Damage Recovery Standards

Rachel B. Beauchamp obtained summary judgment defining the scope of “loss of use” damages recoverable in a case involving multiple severed telecommunications cables.  Attorneys around the country have brought lawsuits alleging that telecommunications companies are entitled to hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of dollars of damages for “loss of use” during the time it takes to repair damaged or severed cables even if the companies were able to reroute their traffic onto alternative capacity cables and have not issued any refunds to customers, have not lost any revenue, and have lost no profits.   Some jurisdictions have allowed telecommunications companies  … Read more

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TAMARA L. NOVOTNY RECEIVES COMPLETE DISMISSAL OF MULTI-COUNT INSURANCE COVERAGE CASE IN MINNESOTA

Tamara L. Novotny obtained complete dismissal of claims asserted against her client, a commercial trucking insurer, in a January 2019 Order.  The case arose from an accident in which a truck driver suffered multiple fractures when an 1,800-pound hay bale fell off a trailer which was being loaded.  Attorney Novotny initially obtained dismissal of a claim for uninsured motorist benefits brought against her client in the underlying lawsuit, but months later the driver reasserted a claim for no-fault benefits, which had been denied.   In a declaratory judgment action, the driver asserted a counterclaim and sought damages in excess of  … Read more

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TAMARA L. NOVOTNY OBTAINS SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN NORTH DAKOTA INSURANCE COVERAGE CASE

Tamara L. Novotny received a favorable Order in January 2019 wherein a North Dakota federal judge found her client, a commercial trucking insurer, did not have a duty to defend or indemnify various entities, including the owner of an oil well, in two lawsuits brought by truck drivers who suffered serious burn injuries from a flash fire.  The oil well owner and others argued they were entitled to coverage as additional insureds and/or pursuant to an agreement entered into with the insurer’s named insured.  The court found the drivers’ injuries were related to hydrofracking and the storage and disposal of  … Read more

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Meaghan C. Bryan Receives Defense Verdict in Real Estate Arbitration

Meaghan C. Bryan obtained a complete dismissal of an arbitration and $0-award in favor of her client, a residential real estate broker, in an arbitration on January 25, 2019.  Claimants alleged that the listing agent/broker and his clients, the sellers, failed to disclose material facts regarding the property’s history of water intrusion, mold, and structural issues, which had resulted in the three-season porch sinking and separating from the residence after the sale of the home.  Attorney Bryan successfully argued that the standard of care did not require the listing agent to discover and disclose the alleged defects, and that the  … Read more

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Rachel Beauchamp Named Shareholder

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.  is pleased to announce that Rachel Beauchamp has become a Shareholder with the firm.  Beauchamp practices in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the areas of transportation law (including commercial trucking, FELA and admiralty), appellate law, insurance coverage, personal injury defense, premises liability, subrogation, dram shop, construction defect litigation and general liability.  Beauchamp earned her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, graduating magna cum laude.  To learn more about Rachel Beauchamp, please visit her attorney profile https://cvmmlaw.com/attorneys/beauchamp-rachel-b/    

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Attorney Beauchamp Assists College Student in Obtaining Citizenship

CVMM congratulates Attorney Rachel Beauchamp on her pro bono service.  In addition to her civil practice, Attorney Beauchamp provides pro bono services to legal refugees navigating the complex process of obtaining United States Citizenship.  Attorney Beauchamp was proud to watch her client, a young former refugee from Burma, and current college student, take her oath of citizenship last week!  CVMM encourages community service through both financial contributions to pro bono organizations and by encouraging its associates and partners to provide direct pro bono services.

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Meaghan Bryan Presents at MDLA “Bootcamp”

On Friday, November 9, 2018, Meaghan Bryan was a presenter along with other industry experts during a full-day “bootcamp” program sponsored by the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, entitled: Representing Insurance Companies: What Your Clients Wish You Knew.   Meaghan’s presentation was on Ethical Issues for Insurance Defense Attorneys, which highlighted the ethical challenges inherent in the ‘tripartite relationship’ between defense counsel, the insured, and the insurer, including questions regarding the scope of representation, duties owed to the insured versus the insurer, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, insurance coverage issues, and defending insureds subject to a reservation of rights.  Attendees were given practice  … Read more

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Christopher P. Malone and Rachel B. Beauchamp Deliver Defense Verdict After 4 Day Jury Trial

Shareholder Christopher P. Malone and Sr. Associate Rachel B. Beauchamp were pleased to achieve a defense verdict for their client after a four day jury trial in Hennepin County, MN.  The personal injury trial centered on a semi-tractor and pedestrian accident, including defense of the claimed liability, which involved testimony from an accident reconstructionist and toxicologist.  The trial also involved a claimed traumatic brain injury, and significant orthopedic leg injury requiring multiple surgeries – three separate doctors testified regarding the nature and scope of Plaintiff’s claimed injuries. The parties stipulated to past medical expense damages of $145,0000. Plaintiff asked the  … Read more