 |
Paul
A. Sortland
Attorney
at Law
120 South
Sixth Street, Suite 1510
Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55402-1817
Telephone
(612) 375-0400
Toll-free
(888) 305-0400
Facsimile
(612)
375-0404
E-mail: sortland@sortland.com
-
Practice:
Paul Sortland specializes in civil litigation
with a focus on legal and medical malpractice as well as significant
business
and personal injury lawsuits. Paul Sortland represents individual
persons and companies for
harm and damages caused by the actions or negligence of others.
-
Biographical
Notes: Sortland is certified as a
civil trial specialist by the litigation section of the Minnesota
State Bar Association. His work is recognized by his
inclusion in
"Who's
Who in American Law" and "Who's Who in the Midwest," and also other
publications.
In 1996, Sortland was admitted to the "Million
Dollar Advocates Forum," a national group of successful
attorneys,
in recognition of a $2.8 million medical malpractice verdict, one of
the
largest at the time in Minnesota. Sortland's winning lawsuits have been
noted in
local
newspapers and national industry magazines. He has also been a guest on
public
television's "Almanac"
program.
-
Paul
Sortland has
co-authored two legal publications,
"Trial Advocacy in Minnesota" and "Civil Procedure in Minnesota"
prepared
for continuing legal education courses and has taught several other
continuing
legal education classes. He has also been an adjunct
professor of
business law at Minnesota State
University Moorhead.
His experience includes victorious jury verdicts and settlements in
cases
involving medical and legal malpractice, antitrust, trade secret
violations,
other business torts, construction disputes, major commercial lawsuits,
and cases involving substantial personal injury.
Sortland is the past president of the Minneapolis Kiwanis Club, one of the oldest service clubs in the country.
Paul Sortland has been named a Minnesota "Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics, meaning he has been identified as in the top 5 percent of the attorneys in the state, as chosen by peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. He is rated "av", the best ranking possible, by Martindale-Hubbell, the most recognized and authoritative directory on the legal profession.
Courts: Sortland is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of both Minnesota and North Dakota, to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and to the United States Supreme Court.
Professional Qualifications: Sortland graduated, cum laude, from St. Olaf College in 1975. He received his juris doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1978. Sortland served as a resident manager of a national law firm providing business litigation services. He was later a partner and chair of the business litigation section of a significant Twin Cities law firm. Paul Sortland is now a sole practitioner in order to provide personal attention to the needs of clients. Sortland is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Association for Justice, and the State Bar Association of North Dakota.
Paul Sortland on the Internet:
An
article in
the December, 2005, issue of Forbes
FYI spotlights one of our successful cases where an
elderly
person was deceived and taken advantage of by supposedly reputable
professionals. The article, "My
Father's
Library," is an interesting narrative showing how
professionals can
make poor decisions on behalf of their clients. The reference
to
this office begins on the third page. This article
explains, in a poignant fashion, why our work is necessary.
In June of 2002, the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the punitive damages award we obtained in a case involving only property damage. This case was important because it confirmed the availability of punitive damages in a property damage case where no personal injury was involved. Brantner Farms, Inc. v. Garner, Minnesota Court of Appeals, (June 4, 2002).
Paul Sortland has spoken at several continuing legal education courses for attorneys regarding the tort of invasion of privacy. Invasion of Privacy has only recently been acknowledged as an actionable tort in Minnesota. Paul Sortland was the counsel on one of the more significant cases leading up to this regarding invasion of privacy and trespass by the media, in Special Force Family Ministries vs. CBS, 584 N.W.2d 746 (1998). This case has been cited nationwide regarding limits to proper journalistic activity.
Paul
Sortland was a guest speaker for a couple of years
at the annual meeting of the Vacuum Dealers Trade Association in Las
Vegas
where he was discussed his "Vacuum Doctor" cases concerning trademarks
and insurance law. Scott
Fetzer Company v. Williamson, 101 F.3d 549 (8th Cir. 1996),
and Williamson
v. North Star Insurance Company, (Minn. App., 1997).