|   | | Law Firm in Sioux Falls, South Dakota | |
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| | Address | | 300 South Phillips Avenue, Suite 300, P.O. Box 5027 | | Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-5027 | | (Lincoln & Minnehaha Cos.) | | | |
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(Main Office)
| Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. practices in the following areas of law:
Antitrust and Trade Regulation, Appellate Practices, Aviation, Bankruptcy, Banks and Banking, Business Law, Civil Practice, Civil Rights, Collections, Commercial Real Estate, Commercial Law, Construction Law, Contracts, Corporate Law, Debtor and Creditor, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits, Employment Law, Environmental, Family Law, Government, Health Care, Insurance, Insurance Defense, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Leases and Leasing, Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Mortgages, Municipal Law, Negligence, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Probate, Products Liability, Professional Liability, Real Estate, Securities, Sports Law, Taxation, Torts, Trusts and Estates, Wills, Workers Compensation, Zoning, Planning and Land Use. | | Year Established: 1887 | Firm Profile:
Since the firm's beginning in 1887, Woods, Fuller, Shultz & Smith P.C. has been a team of legal professionals committed to providing quality legal services. Our clients come from all over the country, but our roots are in South Dakota. Over the years, the law has become more complex, and we have responded to continuing changes by broadening our services and increasing our specialization. We have the talent to serve your short and long-term needs and offer a variety of services with a strong commitment to quality. Our firm is large enough to serve all your needs, but small enough to give you personalized attention. The firm represents corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships and non-profit organizations in all aspects of business. We assist with mergers, acquisitions and shareholder relations. We help with regulatory matters and security transactions and can assist with virtually any legal issue involving employee relations. Our business lawyers also represent a variety of clients in contract development and negotiation. The commercial law attorneys work with lenders and borrowers in negotiating and litigating disputes in bankruptcy liquidation and reorganization, as well as foreclosures and other contract disputes. The tax and estate planning team offers a variety of asset management services, including advice and counsel in tax planning, tax appeals, gifts, estate tax, income tax and sales and use tax. Our estate planning lawyers have years of experience in preparing wills and living, charitable and insurance trusts. The firm represents individuals, corporations and other entities in civil and criminal litigation at all judicial levels, and before local, state and federal administrative agencies. Our attorneys are engaged extensively in defending civil litigation involving civil rights, employment matters, personal injury, property damage and products liability claims, as well as business and commercial disputes. We represent employers in the complex area of worker's compensation law. We serve as lobbyists to represent the best interests of our clients in legislative matters. We have developed an extensive and highly reputable environmental practice, including the areas of land use, hazardous waste and regulatory compliance. In addition to South Dakota, the firm has lawyers who are admitted to practice in Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the various federal and tribal courts. Many of the firm's lawyers completed clerkships before joining the firm. The firm's lawyers maintain membership in recognized legal associations, including the American Bar Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, American College of Trial Lawyers, The Association of Trial Lawyers, Association of Insurance Attorneys, Defense Research Institute, State Bar of South Dakota and other state and legal associations. For well over a century, we have continued to expand our services and respond to needs. As society and the law grow more complicated, we will continue to add new areas of practice. The learning continues and quality service remains our goal. | | Firm Size: 38 | Representative Clients:
Acuity Insurance; AIG; Associated Aviation; Bell, Inc.; Broin Companies; City of Sioux Falls; Coca Cola Bottling; County of Minnehaha; Dacotah Bank; Farmers Insurance; Fireman's Fund; Gallagher Bassett; Home Federal Bank; Hy-Vee; L.G. Everist; Medical X-Ray Center; Midland Insurance; North Central Heart; Northwest Airlines; Qwest; Rapid City Regional Hospital; Security State Bank; South Dakota Automobile Dealers; South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance; South Dakota Soybean Processors; State Farm Insurance; State of South Dakota; Tiger Corporation; Tyson, Inc.; U.S. Bank; United Airlines; University Physicians; Wal-Mart; Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Westfield Companies; Williams Companies; Zurich American. | Office Hours:
Monday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
| | Francis M. Smith (1910-2004). | | Melvin T. Woods (1899-1983). | | Howell L. Fuller (1909-1981). | | John B. Shultz (1912-1975). | | Merle A. Johnson (Member) born Hawarden, Iowa, December 8, 1930; admitted to bar, 1955, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (J.D., 1955). Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel. Member: Christian Legal Society. Practice Areas: Probate; Trusts and Estates; Wills; Adoption Law. Email: Merle A. Johnson | | Richard O. Gregerson (Member) born Hartington, Nebraska, April 27, 1932; admitted to bar, 1963, South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.S., 1957); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1962). Former Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Member, South Dakota State Senate, 1979-1982. Member: Uniform Law Commission (Commissioner, 1983—). Practice Areas: Eminent Domain; Government; Insurance; Litigation; Election, Campaign and Political Law. Email: Richard O. Gregerson | | William Taylor (Member) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, November 24, 1946; admitted to bar, 1971, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (B.A., 1968; J.D., cum laude, 1971). Practice Areas: Construction Law; Business Law; Trial Practice; Environmental Law; Energy Practice; Condemnation. Email: William Taylor | | Gary P. Thimsen (Member) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, December 21, 1947; admitted to bar, 1976, South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.S., 1973); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1976). Listed in: Best Lawyers in America; Chambers USA America's Leading Business Lawyers; Great Plains Super Lawyers in the area of Business Litigation, 2007 and 2008 Edition. Member: Lawyer Pilot Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; American Board of Trial Advocates. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: Employment Law; Insurance Defense; Aviation; Civil Rights Section 1983. Email: Gary P. Thimsen | | Bradley C. Grossenburg (Member) born Winner, South Dakota, April 24, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, South Dakota and Minnesota. Education: South Dakota State University (B.S., 1974); Hamline University (J.D., 1977); University of Florida (LL.M., Taxation, 1978). Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel and American College of Trust & Estate Counsel. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Taxation; Estate Planning; Probate. Email: Bradley C. Grossenburg | | James M. Wiederrich (Member) born Yankton, South Dakota, June 24, 1955; admitted to bar, 1980, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (B.S., 1977; M.B.A., 1980; J.D., 1980). Practice Areas: Business Law; Corporate Law; Agribusiness; Real Estate; Commercial Law; Contracts. Email: James M. Wiederrich | | Comet H. Haraldson (Member) born Sharon, North Dakota, February 11, 1949; admitted to bar, 1979, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (B.A., 1971; M.A., 1978; J.D., 1979). Member: State Bar of South Dakota. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation. Email: Comet H. Haraldson | | J. G. Shultz (Member) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 22, 1958; admitted to bar, 1983, South Dakota. Education: Carleton College (B.A., 1980); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1983). Member: Defense Research Institute. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Workers Compensation Subrogation; ERISA; Litigation. Email: J. G. Shultz | | Roger W. Damgaard (Member) born Britton, South Dakota, September 21, 1951; admitted to bar, 1983, South Dakota. Education: Northern State University (B.S., 1973); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1983). Law Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of South Dakota, 1983-1984. Listed in: Best Lawyers in America, 1993-2007; Chambers USA America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003-2007; 2007 Edition of Great Plains Super Lawyers in the area of Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights. Past-Chairman, Committee on Local Bankruptcy Rules of Procedure. Past-Chairman and Member, State Bar UCC Committee. Former Special Counsel to Governor, State of South Dakota, 2000-2001. Member: The State Bar of South Dakota. Practice Areas: Creditor Bankruptcy; Business Litigation; Commercial Workouts; Foreclosures; Creditor Rights; Uniform Commercial Code. Email: Roger W. Damgaard | | David C. Kroon (Member) born Detroit, Michigan, September 24, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (B.S., 1981; J.D., 1984). Practice Areas: Business Law; Labor and Employment; Employee Benefits; Health Care. Email: David C. Kroon | | James E. Moore (Member) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 9, 1964; admitted to bar, 1989, South Dakota. Education: St. Olaf College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1986); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1989). Law Clerk to the Honorable C. Arlen Beam, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1989-1991. Practice Areas: Eminent Domain; Products Liability; Civil Rights Defense; Trial Practice. Email: James E. Moore | | Kristine K. O'Connell (Member) born Sioux Fall, South Dakota, January 20, 1957; admitted to bar, 1993, South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.A., Nursing); University of South Dakota (J.D., Sterling Honors, 1993). Sigma Theta Tau. Member, International Nursing Honor Society. Registered Nurse, South Dakota, 1979—. Recipient, Women In Law, Attorney of the Year for South Dakota, 2008. Member: State Bar of South Dakota; (Past State Bar Commissioner, Bench/State Bar Liaison Committee); Second Circuit Bar (Past President, Local Bench/Bar Liaison); DRI, South Dakota Defense Lawyers; South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Litigation; Health Law; Insurance; Family Law; Government; Lobbying. Email: Kristine K. O'Connell | | Elizabeth A. Lewis (Member) born Aberdeen, South Dakota, May 28, 1969; admitted to bar, 1993, South Dakota. Education: Northern State University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1990); University of South Dakota (J.D., Sterling Honors, 1993). Judicial Law Clerk, Second Judicial Circuit Court, South Dakota, 1993-1994. Practice Areas: Business Transactions; Real Estate; Commercial Law; Banking Law; Corporate Law. Email: Elizabeth A. Lewis | | Tim R. Shattuck (Member) born Gregory, South Dakota, March 9, 1967; admitted to bar, 1992, South Dakota; 1994, U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 2000, U.S. Court of Federal Claims; 2005, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit. Education: Augustana College (B.A., summa cum laude, 1989); University of Southern California (J.D., 1992). Order of the Coif. Notes Editor, Southern California Law Review, 1991-1992. Law Clerk to the Honorable Roger L. Wollman, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1992-1994. Member: Defense Research Institute; South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Trade Secret Misappropriation. Email: Tim R. Shattuck | | Melanie L. Carpenter (Member) born Vermillion, South Dakota, February 1, 1969; admitted to bar, 1994, South Dakota. Education: Iowa State University (B.S., 1991); University of South Dakota (J.D., Sterling Honors, 1994). Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard Battey, United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, 1994-1996. Member: International Association of Defense Counsel; Defense Research Institute; South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense Litigation; Products Liability; Labor and Employment; Personal Injury; Business Litigation; Commercial Litigation. Email: Melanie L. Carpenter | | William G. Beck (Member) born Aberdeen, South Dakota, April 16, 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, Nebraska; 1996, South Dakota; 2004, Iowa. Education: Northern State University (1987-1989); Dakota State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 1992); Creighton University (J.D., summa cum laude, 1995). Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Wm. G. Cambridge, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. Member: Defense Research Institute; South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Commercial Collections; Commercial Litigation; Construction Litigation; Contract Litigation; Corporate Litigation; Personal Injury Defense. Email: William G. Beck | | Daniel J. Harmelink (Member) born Sioux Center, Iowa, May 3, 1974; admitted to bar, 1999, Iowa; 2000, South Dakota; 2008, North Dakota. Education: Dordt College (B.A., 1996); University of Iowa College of Law (J.D., with highest distinction, 1999). Order of the Coif. Law Clerk to the Honorable Roger L. Wollman, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1999-2000. Practice Areas: Business Law; Corporate Law; Real Estate; Agricultural Law; Mergers and Acquisitions; Commercial Law. Email: Daniel J. Harmelink | | Jennifer L. Wollman (Member) born Cedar Rapids, Iowa, September 30, 1973; admitted to bar, 2000, South Dakota. Education: South Dakota State University (B.S., cum laude, 1996); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1999). Moot Court Board, 1997-1999 (Vice-President, 1999). Law Clerk to the Hon. Justice David Gilbertson, South Dakota Supreme Court, 1999-2000. Member: The State Bar of South Dakota; Defense Research Institute; South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; Workers Compensation Defense; Litigation; Personal Injury Defense; Governmental Liability. Email: Jennifer L. Wollman | | Lisa J. Maguire (Member) born Chisago Lakes, Minnesota, February 4, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.A., magna cum lade, 1995); University of South Dakota (J.D., 1998). Law Clerk: Second Judicial Circuit, South Dakota, 1998-1999; U.S. District Court for Northern District of Iowa, 1999-2000. Member: Sioux Falls Estate Planning Council. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Trusts and Estates; Wills; Estate Planning; Probate. Email: Lisa J. Maguire | | Christopher J. Lent (Member) born Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 10, 1968; admitted to bar, 1996, New Hampshire; 2001, South Dakota; 2007, Iowa. Education: College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1991); Franklin Pierce Law Center (J.D., 1995). Practice Areas: Business Organization; Corporate Law; Blue Sky Law; Public And Private Offerings; Securities Regulation. Email: Christopher J. Lent | | Troy N. Leonard (Member) born Great Falls, Montana, October 24, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, South Dakota. Education: University of South Dakota (B.S., 1984; J.D., 1987). Member: International Trademark Association. Practice Areas: Trademarks; Intellectual Property. Email: Troy N. Leonard | | Jeffrey A. Proehl (Member) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, November 1, 1965; admitted to bar, 1991, Minnesota; 2000, South Dakota; registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Education: South Dakota State University (B.S.M.E., 1988); William Mitchell College of Law (J.D., 1991). Member: American Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association. Practice Areas: Patent Prosecution; Patent Infringement; Patent Litigation. Email: Jeffrey A. Proehl | | Gregory S. Starnes (Member) born Austin, Minnesota, November 23, 1958; admitted to bar, 1985, Colorado; 1988, South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.A., 1981); University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 1985). Practice Areas: Business Transactions; Real Estate; Business Organization; Mergers and Acquisitions; Venture Capital; Value-Added Agriculture; Private Offerings. Email: Gregory S. Starnes | | —————————— | | Jeffrey L. Bratkiewicz (Associate) born Sioux City, Iowa, December 16, 1972; admitted to bar, 2000, Nebraska; 2003, South Dakota; 2004, Iowa. Education: South Dakota State University (B.A., 1996); University of South Dakota (J.D., 2000). Law Clerk to the Honorable Lyle E. Strom, Senior U.S. District Court Judge, District of Nebraska, 2000-2002. Practice Areas: Federal Civil Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Defense; Products Liability; Construction Litigation; Civil Rights; Appellate Practice. Email: Jeffrey L. Bratkiewicz | | Carey A. Miller (Associate) born Mitchell, South Dakota, June 18, 1975; admitted to bar, 2003, South Dakota; 2004, Iowa. Education: University of South Dakota (B.S./B.A., with highest honors, 1997); Drake University Law School (J.D., with highest honors, 2003). Order of the Coif. Associate Editor, Drake Law Review, 2003. Recipient, Opperman Scholarship, 2000-2003. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Real Estate; Easements; Land Sales; Taxation; Sale of Goods; Secured Transactions; Business Law; Commercial Law; Small Business Law; Family Business Law; Zoning, Planning and Land Use. Email: Carey A. Miller | | Mary A. Akkerman (Associate) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, August 11, 1970; admitted to bar, 2001, Minnesota; 2002, South Dakota, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota; 2003, U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. Education: South Dakota State University (B.A., 1994; M.A., 1998); University of South Dakota (J.D., with Sterling Honors, 2001). Member, Thomas Sterling Honor Society. Recipient, Everett Bogue Memorial Scholarship. Board of Editors, South Dakota Law Review, 2000-2001. Member: State Bar of South Dakota; Minnesota State Bar Association; American Bar Association; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and Section of Taxation. Practice Areas: Trusts and Estates; Contested Trusts and Estates; Guardianship and Conservatorship; Estate Planning; Probate Administration; Wills; Adoption Law; Premarital Agreements; Business Successions; Taxation. Email: Mary A. Akkerman | | J. Vincent Jones (Associate) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, April 19, 1979; admitted to bar, 2004, South Dakota; 2005, Minnesota. Education: St. John's University (B.A., 2001); University of South Dakota (J.D., 2004). Member: State Bar of South Dakota; Minnesota State Bar Association; Second Circuit Bar Association; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Law; Environmental Law; Civil Litigation. Email: J. Vincent Jones | | Cheri S. Raymond (Associate) born Pierre, South Dakota, April 19, 1978; admitted to bar, 2004, South Dakota. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., high distinction, 2000; J.D., with distinction, 2003). Moot Court Board. Law Clerk for the Second Judicial Circuit, South Dakota, 2003-2004. Practice Areas: Insurance Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Employment Law. Email: Cheri S. Raymond | | Scott J. Hendricks Leuning (Associate) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, February 22, 1966; admitted to bar, 1995, South Dakota; 1997, Alaska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; Alaska Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, District of Alaska. Education: St. Olaf College (B.A., cum laude, 1988); University of Chicago (M.A., with honors, 1991); University of Minnesota (J.D., cum laude, 1995). Member: Alaska and American Bar Associations; State Bar of South Dakota; Defense Research Institute; and the South Dakota Lawyers Associations. Practice Areas: Professional Liability; Products Liability; Litigation; Insurance; Commercial Law; Health Law; Personal Injury. Email: Scott J. Hendricks Leuning | | Sander J. Morehead (Associate) born Sioux City, Iowa, January 26, 1973; admitted to bar, 2005, South Dakota and South Dakota Federal Courts. Education: University of South Dakota (B.S., 2002; J.D., Sterling Honors, 2005). Member: State Bar of South Dakota; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: General Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Business Litigation; Family Law. Email: Sander J. Morehead | | Matthew P. Bock (Associate) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, May 5, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005, South Dakota. Education: California Lutheran University (B.S., cum laude, 2002); Willamette University (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Member: Bar Association of the Second Circuit; State Bar of South Dakota; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Organizations; Commercial Litigation. Email: Matthew P. Bock | | Ryan W. Snell (Associate) born Hastings, Nebraska, October 11, 1968; admitted to bar, 2003, Iowa; 2004, South Dakota. Education: Iowa State University (B.A., 1991); University of South Dakota (J.D., Sterling Honors, 2003). Member: Bar Association of the Second Circuit; State Bar of South Dakota; Iowa State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Business Law; Corporate Law; Contract Litigation; Commercial Litigation. Email: Ryan W. Snell | | James A. Power (Associate) born Huntsville, Alabama, February 25, 1967; admitted to bar, 1993, Georgia; 2006, South Dakota; U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business (B.S., with honors, 1989); George Washington University National Law Center (J.D., with high honors, 1992) Order of the Coif; Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., with honors, 2001). Member: State Bar of South Dakota; State Bar of Georgia; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Appellate Practice; Commercial Law; Employment; Insurance; Products Liability. Email: James A. Power | | Justin G. Smith (Associate) born Columbus, Georgia, September 12, 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, South Dakota and U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. Education: Christendom College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2003); Oklahoma City University School of Law (J.D., summa cum laude, Salutatorian, 2006). Member: State Bar of South Dakota; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance; Labor and Employment; Litigation; Medical Malpractice; Personal Injury; Products Liability; Professional Liability; Directors and Officers Insurance Coverage. Email: Justin G. Smith | | Michele A. Munson (Associate) born Sioux Falls, South Dakota, June 16, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, South Dakota; U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. Education: Augustana College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2003); University of South Dakota (J.D., 2006). Law Clerk for the South Dakota Supreme Court, Pierre, South Dakota, 2006-2007. Member: State Bar of South Dakota; American Bar Association; 2nd Circuit Bar Association. Practice Areas: Government; Insurance; Litigation; Personal Injury. Email: Michele A. Munson | | Kathryn A. Ritter (Associate) born Seattle, Washington, July 28, 1979; admitted to bar, 2007, South Dakota. Education: Wofford College (B.S., 2001); Washington State University (M.S. 2003); University of South Dakota (J.D., 2006). Law Clerk for the South Dakota Judicial Circuit Court, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2006-2007. Member: State Bar of South Dakota; American Bar Association; Second Circuit Bar Association. Practice Areas: Business Law; Commercial Law; Mergers and Acquisitions. Email: Kathryn A. Ritter | | OF COUNSEL | | F. Joseph Du Bray (Of Counsel) born Crownpoint, New Mexico, January 20, 1944; admitted to bar, 1973, Florida; 1977, U.S. Supreme Court; 1979, South Dakota; 1982, Iowa. Education: Carleton College (B.A., 1966); University of Florida (J.D., 1973). Associate Professor, University of South Dakota School of Law, 1979-1982. Assistant States Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida, 1974-1977. Member: Iowa State and American Bar Associations; The State Bar of South Dakota; The Florida Bar; South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association; American Health Lawyers Association; Defense Research Institute; National Association of Corporate Directors. Email: F. Joseph Du Bray |
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