Practice Areas
Brown & Carlson is competent to handle all areas of insurance defense litigation.Brown & Carlson is competent to handle all areas of insurance defense litigation. Our practice includes, but is not limited to, workers’ compensation defense, construction defect, mold/water intrusion, municipal liability, employment law, subrogation, workers’ compensation “Coverage B” – employer liability, administrative law, personal injury defense, commercial litigation, no-fault litigation, and general areas of insurance defense.
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Workers’ Compensation
The defense of workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employers and insurers has always been a large part of the firm’s practice. Brown & Carlson’s workers’ compensation attorneys are some of the most dedicated and talented in the State of Minnesota. Employers and their insurers regularly entrust their most difficult cases to the firm.
The firm represents a variety of clients including, large and small companies, self-insured employers, and employers with high retentions. Whether the employer is dealing with a specific traumatic event that caused the injury or a cumulative trauma from repetitive activity, Brown & Carlson has the legal expertise needed to successfully defend the claim.
The firm’s attorneys handle everything from asbestosis to spinal injuries, from death claims to psychological injuries, and everything in between. Each claim is handled on its own merits with individualized attention to detail.
Employers and insurers also turn to the firm for needs collateral to workers compensation claims, including Coverage B matters, as well as subrogation and intervention proceedings.
The firm emphasizes dedication, high quality work product and close communication to provide its clients with the best legal services available. Brown & Carlson’s attorneys have over a decade of experience in evaluating and defending some of the most intricate medical issues and injuries seen in the workplace.
Automobile and Premises Liability
Brown & Carlson has a long history of representing insurance companies and their insureds in all types of claims arising out of automobile accidents, including claims arising from:
Third-party liability;
Uninsured motorists;
Underinsured motorists; and
Personal Injury Protection (No-Fault).
Our attorneys are seasoned trial litigators, having tried many cases to successful jury verdicts. In addition to trials, our attorneys have participated in countless arbitration proceedings. Although our goal is to quickly and efficiently resolve all auto-related matters, our trial experience provides our clients and their insurers with the security of knowing that their matters will be taken to trial when necessary.
To further assist our clients, our attorneys are experienced speakers and regularly sponsor seminars of interest to insurers, clients and legal professionals alike. Our attorneys are particularly knowledgeable and experienced with such issues as subrogation recovery of no fault benefits, excess coverage, bad faith matters, and priorities of uninsured and under-insured coverages. To request information about one of our seminars in this area, please contact one of our liability attorneys.
Subrogation
The attorneys at Brown & Carlson are experienced at pursuing the subrogation rights of our insurance clients. One area of particular expertise at Brown & Carlson is the recovery of workers compensation benefits paid as a result of third-party liability. Brown & Carlson understands that pursuing a successful subrogation recovery requires a somewhat different approach than defending cases. Successful pursuit of subrogation recoveries requires that our attorneys act aggressively and efficiently in a manner that moves the claim forward, while ensuring the maximum “net” recovery for our insurance clients.
In addition, to pursuing recovery of workers compensation benefits paid, Brown & Carlson is also experienced in pursuing subrogation recoveries in cases involving property damage losses and no-fault benefits.
Brown & Carlson regularly presents seminars to our workers compensation insurance clients on the basics of pursuing workers compensation subrogation as well as more advanced topics, such as the retention of expert witnesses and strategy considerations.
For a no-cost consultation, send an email to Mark Pryor.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation & Arbitration)
In addition to representing clients in all manner of disputes, several Brown & Carlson attorneys act as mediators and arbitrators in order to assist other parties in resolving their disputes. Conducting mediations is a particular area of expertise at Brown & Carlson. The attorneys who conduct mediations at Brown & Carlson understand that every case, regardless of size or complexity is important to the parties. In addition, Brown & Carlson attorneys understand the importance of conducting efficient, cost-effect mediations in order to assist parties in avoiding the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.
Employment law
The attorneys in our employment law practice pride themselves in providing proactive and creative ideas in addressing our clients’ employment law needs. This ranges from assisting clients develop policies and procedures that engage employees to build loyalty, and avoid problems down the road. However, when a problem cannot be avoided, we zealously advocate on behalf of employers in both state and federal court in several areas of employment-related litigation, including:
- discrimination,
- harassment,
- non-compete agreements,
- breach of contract,
- as well as defending wrongful termination claims.
We also represent our clients in:
- administrative proceedings,
- arbitrations,
- and alternative dispute resolution settings.
For more information about how Brown & Carlson can meet your needs in this area, please contact one of our employment law attorneys.
Insurance Coverage
Issues arising from insurance coverage disputes can be complicated and frustrating to everyone involved. The attorneys at Brown & Carlson have experience in addressing insurance coverage disputes on behalf of insurance companies, businesses and individuals. Whether the issue at hand requires a coverage opinion; a reservation of rights letter; a declaratory judgment action, or simply a telephone conversation to discuss the nature of the issue, Brown & Carlson can provide advice based upon years of experience working the insurance companies, businesses and individuals both advising and litigating insurance coverage issues involving both personal and commercial insurance policies.
Products Liability and Casualty Losses
Product liability claims and severe personal injury and property losses often present serious risk management problems for companies, clients and their insurers. To enable our clients to effectively manage these risks, Brown & Carlson is committed to delivering creative and candid advice and prompt service. We work hard to build strong, long-lasting relationships with clients.
Brown & Carlson regularly litigates catastrophic losses and property damage from fires, explosions, mold, as well as defective and unreasonably dangerous products. Backed with superior trial skills and litigation experience, our attorneys have successfully litigated a wide variety of issues including waterproofing, a variety of window products, gas-fired appliances, fires, gas explosions, mechanical equipment and vehicles, as well as hazardous materials and chemicals. We have handled even the most complex cases involving engineering, architectural, chemical and technology-related issues.
Our clients benefit from our knowledge of the intricate issues often involved in these types of matters including warranties, disclaimers, the admissibility of scientific and technical evidence, alteration, misuse, bulk and component suppliers, economic losses, and corporate and successor liability. Although we have first-chair trial capacity, our clients are not burdened with the size and overhead of larger law firms.
Construction Defect
Brown & Carlson has a team of talented and experienced attorneys who regularly defend construction contractors in all trades including general contractors, framers, stucco applicators, roofers, masons, landscapers, waterproofing installers and design professionals. Our construction defect attorneys have successfully litigated and tried a broad range of even the most complex construction defect matters including water intrusion, structural and drainage design, design professional liability and structural integrity failures involving both residential and commercial projects.
Though construction defect litigation has always plagued the industry, recent years have seen a rise in the number of residential water intrusion cases involving stucco, vinyl, flashing, windows, and roofing. Because of this, many important issues in this area of law have been under constant, rapid change leaving it a difficult area in which to practice. In fact, despite the numerous appellate decision made in recent years, many questions remain unanswered including the triggering rules for continuing losses in water intrusion cases, statutes of limitation for third-party actions and the applicability of statutory warranty laws to subcontractors.
Having practiced extensively in this area, Brown & Carlson’s construction defect attorneys are on the cutting edge of the current trends in construction defect law, providing their clients with the confidence and security they need. Our firm regularly provides seminars to insurers, clients and other legal professionals regarding the latest trends in issues relating to construction defect law and coverage. For more information about how Brown & Carlson can meet your needs in this area, please contact one of our construction defect attorneys.
Employer Liability
One of the most unusual areas of insurance defense litigation is the representation of employers in third-party liability claims arising out of work-related injuries. Employer liability claims are somewhat unusual and always complicated. Brown & Carlson attorneys have had the opportunity to represent many employers, and their insurers, in employer liability claims. Given our large workers compensation defense and subrogation practices, Brown & Carlson attorneys are uniquely qualified to advise and represent employers, and their workers compensation insurers, on the intricacies and competing interests in these unusual and often complex cases.
Commercial Litigation
Brown & Carlson has represented and advised numerous business entities in connection with commercial disputes arising from breach of contracts, breach of warranties and Uniform Commercial Code issues. Brown & Carlson recognizes the importance of trying to avoid litigation through planning and negotiations, however, some disputes must be resolved by litigation, and Brown & Carlson’s extensive trial experience results in quality representation of our clients regardless of the manner in which the dispute is resolved.