PRINCIPAL
James R. Schwebel (Principal) born Saint Paul, Minnesota, June 30, 1942; admitted to bar, 1968, Minnesota; 1969, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1970, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1971, U.S. Supreme Court; 1981, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., 1965; J.D., 1968). Listed, Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, 1991-2008; Minnesota's Top 10 Super Lawyers, St. Paul Magazine, Minneapolis; Top 3 Personal Injury Attorneys, Minnesota Law & Politics, Minnesota. Minnesota's Top 25 Litigators, 1991. Minnesota's Top Litigators, National Law Journal, 1999. Author: "Minnesota No-Fault Update," Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1979; "Practitioner's Guide to the Minnesota No-Fault Act," Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, 1981, Second Edition, 1983. Contributor: "Effective Opening Statements," Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. Member: Standing Committee for No-Fault Insurance, 1975-1980; Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on No-Fault Arbitration Rules, 1981-1990; Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 1994 Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, 1981-1990; Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners. Member: Minnesota State Bar Advisory Counsel; Minnesota Association for Justice; American Association of Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: International Society of Barristers; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist); (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocacy Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability.Email: James R. Schwebel
SHAREHOLDERS
William R. Sieben (Shareholder) born Hastings, Minnesota, May 8, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1978, District of Columbia. Education: St. Cloud State University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1973); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1977). Adjunct Professor, Hamline University School of Law, 2005, 2006. Listed: "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, 2001-2008; "Distinguished Alumni," St. Cloud State University, 2001; Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers, 2003; International Society of Barristers, 2007. Named the "Top Personal Injury Lawyer in Minnesota," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2001, 2002, 2003; "Top Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, August 2000. Named to the Minnesota Legal Hall of Fame, One of the 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Minnesota History, 2007. Member: White House Staff of Vice President Walter F. Mondale, 1977-1978; Board of Directors, Taylor Investment Corporation, 1986. Board Member, Regina Hospital Foundation, 2000. Member: American Association for Justice (Member, Board of Governors, 1990-1995); Minnesota Association for Justice (President, 1986-1987); Douglas Amdahl American Inn of Court (President, 1998-1999); American Board of Trial Advocates (President, 1999 and Member, Minnesota Chapter). (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability.Email: William R. Sieben
Richard L. Tousignant (Shareholder) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, June 13, 1951; admitted to bar, 1986, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A.S., 1983); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1986). Listed: "Top 100 Super Lawyer" and "Top 40 Personal Injury Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1999-2008; The Best Lawyers in America-Woodward/White, 2005-2008. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice (Member, Board of Directors); American Association for Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death.Email: Richard L. Tousignant
Peter W. Riley (Shareholder) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 27, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1978, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: Williams College (B.A., cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1974); University of Minnesota (J.D., cum laude, 1977). Member, Law Review. Member, Minnesota Supreme Court Standing Committee on No-Fault Rules. Member, Minnesota District Court Judges Association Jury Instruction Guide Committee, (Fourth Edition, 1999; Fifth Edition, 2005); "Top 100 Super Lawyers and Top 25 Personal Injury Lawyers," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1997-2008. Named in "Best Lawyers in America" (Woodward & White), Minnesota Lawyer "Attorney of the Year" 2004. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice (President, 2003-2004); American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Minnesota, Chapter, 2007); Million Dollar Advocate's Forum; American Association for Justice. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist); (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability; Medical Malpractice; Premises Liability.Email: Peter W. Riley
Paul E. Godlewski (Shareholder) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 11, 1947; admitted to bar, 1973, Minnesota; 1999, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Court. Education: Bemidji State University (B.A., 1970); University of North Dakota (J.D., 1973). Member: Minnesota Million Dollar Roundtable, 1993; Board of Directors, Brain Injury Association of Minnesota. Listed: "Top 100 Super Lawyer" and "Top 40 Personal Injury Attorney," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2001-2007; Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, Board of Directors, 2006-2008; "The Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, 2008. Recipient, Bemidji State University Outstanding Alumni Award, 2006. Member: Hennepin County, Anoka County and Minnesota State (Member, Civil Litigation Section) Bar Associations; American Association for Justice (Member, Railroad Law Section); Minnesota Association for Justice. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury Law; Wrongful Death Law; Products Liability Law; Railroad Grade Crossing Litigation.Email: Paul E. Godlewski
William A. Crandall III (Shareholder) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 23, 1938; admitted to bar, 1970, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1979, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Minnesota (B.S.B., 1963); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1970). Member, Minnesota House of Representatives, 1979-1980. Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1996-2006. Qualified Mediator Under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. Member: Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability.Email: William A. Crandall III
MEMBERS
James S. Ballentine (Member) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 5, 1948; admitted to bar, 1990, Minnesota, Wisconsin and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: Pillsbury College (B.A., 1970); Central Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1974); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1990). Instructor, William Mitchell College of Law, 1995-2008. Recipient, Ross Quaintance Trial Advocacy Award, 1989. Listed, "Super Lawyers," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2003-2008. Member: Hennepin County and Minnesota State Bar Associations; Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: Brown v. Allstate Ins. Co., 481 N.W.2d 17 (Minn. 1992); Loven, et al, v. City of Minneapolis, 639 N.W. 2d 869 (Minn. 2002); Wu v. Shattuck-St Mary's School, 393 F.Supp.2d 831 (D.Minn. 2005). Practice Areas: Wrongful Death; Civil Appeals; Products Liability; Personal Injury.Email: James S. Ballentine
John C. Goetz (Member) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 18, 1947; admitted to bar, 1976, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., summa cum laude, 1973; J.D., magna cum laude, 1976). Listed, "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward/White, 2003-2008. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice; American Association for Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocacy Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability; Medical Malpractice.Email: John C. Goetz
Mark H. Gruesner (Member) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 7, 1951; admitted to bar, 1978, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., 1973); Hamline University (J.D., 1977). Adjunct Professor, Hamline University of Law, 1980. Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1999-2007. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice; American Board of Trial Advocates; Million Dollar Advocate's Forum. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocacy Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability.Email: Mark H. Gruesner
Max H. Hacker (Member) born Princeton, Indiana, October 6, 1951; admitted to bar, 1980, Minnesota; 1981, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: Purdue University (B.A., 1973); University of Minnesota (J.D., 1980). Named "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law and Politics, 1998-2005. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability; Nursing Home Litigation.Email: Max H. Hacker
William E. Jepsen (Member) born Omaha, Nebraska, July 1, 1947; admitted to bar, 1972, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: University of Nebraska (B.A., 1969); University of Minnesota (J.D., 1972). Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1994-2005. Member: Washington County Bar Association (President, 1979-1980); Minnesota Association for Justice (President, 1990); American Board of Trial Advocates. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Product Liability.Email: William E. Jepsen
Robert L. Lazear (Member) born Youngstown, Ohio, February 18, 1957; admitted to bar, 1985, Minnesota and U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., 1979); University of Minnesota (J.D., cum laude, 1985). Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2003-2005. Member: Minnesota State Bar Association; Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Products Liability; Wrongful Death; Insurance Law.Email: Robert L. Lazear
Richard J. Nygaard (Member) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 13, 1942; admitted to bar, 1967, Minnesota; 1969, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1981, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of St. Thomas (B.A., 1964); University of Minnesota (J.D., 1967). Delta Theta Phi. Member, Judicial Selection Commission, 1980-1981. Listed, "Top 100 Super Lawyers," Minnesota Law and Politics; Named, "Best Lawyers in America," Woodward & White, 1989-2008. Member: Hennepin County, Minnesota State and American Bar Associations; Minnesota Association for Justice; Federation of Insurance and Corporate Counsel. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Products Liability; Construction Law; Wrongful Death.Email: Richard J. Nygaard
Robert J. Schmitz (Member) born St. Paul, Minnesota, June 2, 1954; admitted to bar, 1980, Minnesota; 1989, Wisconsin; 1986, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota and Western District of Wisconsin. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., 1976); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1980). Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2002-2005. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death.Email: Robert J. Schmitz
Larry E. Stern (Member) born Grand Forks, North Dakota, March 5, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, Minnesota and North Dakota; 1982, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 1986, Montana. Education: University of North Dakota (B.A., 1973; J.D., 1977). Minnesota Law & Politics Super Lawyer, 1997-2005. Member: Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist); (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Practice Areas: Personal Injury Law; Wrongful Death; Dog Bites.Email: Larry E. Stern
James G. Weinmeyer (Member) born Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 4, 1949; admitted to bar, 1978, Minnesota and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; Court of Military Appeals; Court of Military Review. Education: University of Minnesota (B.A., 1974); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1978). Outstanding Lawyer of America. Listed, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1998-2005. Member: Minnesota Association for Justice; Million Dollar Advocates Forum. [USNR, 1967-1970; CDR, USNR-R, 1983-2003]. (Minnesota State Bar Association Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist) (Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy). Languages: German. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Products Liability.Email: James G. Weinmeyer
ASSOCIATE
Courtney A. Lawrence (Associate) born Hastings, Minnesota, February 1, 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, Minnesota. Education: University of Wisconsin (B.S., 2005); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 2008). Member: Hennepin County (Member, New Lawyers Section) and Minnesota State Bar Associations; Women Lawyer's Association. Practice Areas: Personal Injury; Wrongful Death.
SG&S attorneys are members of American Association for Justice, American Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, American Trial Lawyers Association, Better Business Bureau, Brain Injury Association of Minnesota, Douglas Amdahl Inn of Court in Minneapolis, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Minnesota Women Lawyers, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota, Supreme Courts Board of Continuing Legal Education.