Practice Areas

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s attorneys ethically and vigorously represent individuals, businesses, third-party administrators, and local and national insurers in state, federal and appellate courts throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Our attorneys’ diverse experience, knowledge and talents allow us to efficiently and effectively partner with our clients in a wide range of civil litigation cases.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. understand that not every case is meant for trial. With the collective experience of hundreds of trials to draw from, our attorneys understand the risks and benefits of litigating a case through trial, and how to value cases that are best settled short of trial. We routinely represent clients in mediations, arbitrations, med-arbs, property damage and insurance appraisals, and other forms of ADR to settle claims before significant trial expenses are incurred. ...Read More 

Appellate Advocacy

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s appellate attorneys represent clients in state and federal appeals courts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Whether appealing from or responding to an appeal from a summary judgment order or trial verdict, appellate advocacy is a unique area of practice that requires an attorney able to present a compelling argument to a panel of appellate judges who will decide whether to affirm or reverse the trial court’s decision. ...Read More 

Aviation Litigation

CVMM lawyers have defended lawsuits across the upper Midwest on behalf of aircraft and component manufacturers, airlines, aircraft owners, pilots, airframe and power plant mechanics, fixed-base operators, air-taxi operators, repair stations, ground support, and crew. ...Read More 

Care Facility & Nursing Home Litigation

As the age of the population increases, so too are the number of lawsuits brought against care facilities and staff that house and care for elderly and vulnerable adults. The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. practicing in this area appreciate the complexities and challenges that our clients face in their business and when presented with an incident that may or has given rise to litigation. ...Read More 

Cemetery & Mortuary Law

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s Mortuary Law Practice Group and Cemetery Law Practice Group is led by Michael D. Sharkey, who is a licensed funeral director with significant industry expertise and insider knowledge of funeral practice. Our mortuary law attorneys provide advice and counsel for funeral homes, crematories, and licensed funerals directors. They litigate on behalf of funeral practitioners, including defending funeral businesses in civil lawsuits. ...Read More 

Construction Law

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. have provided counsel and representation on a variety of residential and commercial construction matters throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin for more than 40 years. Our clients include insurance carriers, general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, architects, engineers, and utilities. From individual contract matters to complex multi-party litigation, our seasoned attorneys understand the unique challenges presented by construction claims, and have fostered the relationships necessary to help resolve construction claims as cost-effectively as possible. ...Read More 

Employment

The Employment attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. have represented small and large employers in employment claims for years. Our attorneys work closely with our clients to assist them through pre-suit investigations by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, litigation in state and federal courts, and post-trial appeals. ...Read More 

General Liability

The experience and knowledge of Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s attorneys allows us to represent and advocate for clients throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota in a broad range of cases and practice areas. Whether a soft-tissue personal injury case or a case involving catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, a case seeking compensatory, total loss, or punitive damages, or a case involving an unusual legal issue or area of the law, our attorneys work closely with our clients to achieve the client’s objectives. ...Read More 

Insurance Coverage

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. have been representing national and local insurers for more than 40 years. Our attorneys use their years of experience in handling coverage matters and understanding of policy interpretation to help insurers determine their duties and obligations to defend or indemnify named insureds, additional insureds, and third-party claimants under various types of policies and in a wide array of factual situations. ...Read More 

Motor Vehicle Liability

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. are known for their expertise in automobile insurance issues and related litigation in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond. With over 40 years of experience handling these matters on behalf of insurance companies and self-insured entities, the breadth of our practice and experience in these matters cannot be understated. We skillfully represent our clients in all types and through all phases of automobile insurance and liability claims, from no-fault and underinsured/uninsured motorist matters, to liability defense; and from the initial claim investigation through the appellate process. Several of our attorneys are also Rule 14 “qualified neutrals” who are selected to serve as arbitrators in no-fault arbitrations. ...Read More 

Premises Liability

Premises liability defense comprises a prominent part of Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s practice. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of experience defending premises liability cases and developing the very case law that governs these claims today by advocating for the defense in the appellate courts. We understand the varying standards of care and affirmative defenses applicable to owners, possessors, and operators of property, and how to tailor the pretrial investigative and discovery process to best position our clients for a favorable result. ...Read More 

Product Liability

The Product Liability attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. have represented manufacturers, sellers, distributors, and others responsible for maintaining products in claims alleging design or manufacturing defects. These cases are complex and often involve allegations of negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, and failure to warn, and seek damages based on property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death. ...Read More 

Professional Liability & Malpractice

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. defend a wide range of professionals against claims of professional malpractice, errors and omissions, and fraud, including physicians, dentists, registered nurses, long term care facilities, mental health practitioners, real estate agents and brokers, architects, engineers, surveyors, lawyers, accountants, directors and officers, insurance agents and brokers, judicial mediators and funeral directors, among others. ...Read More 

Subrogation

The attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. represent clients throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin on a wide variety of subrogation matters, including automobile, property damage, construction defect, fire damage, and product liability subrogation claims. We understand the importance of early case assessment and streamlining the claim investigation in order to maximize potential recovery and eliminate unnecessary expense and loss. With a vast network of experts to consult on an array of matters large and small, the attorneys at Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A. are equipped to handle subrogation claims efficiently and effectively. ...Read More 

Trucking & Transportation Litigation

Cousineau, Van Bergen, McNee & Malone, P.A.’s trucking and transportation attorneys have extensive experience representing and defending motor carriers, owner operators, and their insurers in state and federal courts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota. Our attorneys are knowledgeable as to the vast state and federal regulations that govern the commercial trucking industry and the many issues and claims that arise therefrom, including leasing requirements, trucking and non-trucking (bobtail) insurance, the MSC-90, driver qualification, operating in hazardous conditions, logging and hours of operation, and inspection and securement requirements. ...Read More