Attorney Profile
I'm Tom Conlin. I have enjoyed representing clients in good settlements and trials for nearly 25 years. Most of my clients have been families, children, or spouses who have suffered through one of life’s great burdens, a serious personal injury or a wrongful death, resulting from someone’s negligence. Other clients have lost property or money, or the peaceful enjoyment of their homes, through negligence, greed, incompetence, or breach of contract. And some of my most rewarding work has come on behalf of the poor or disadvantaged in our society through pro bono (free) legal work for those unable to afford an attorney to help with a serious legal matter.
Focus of Practice
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Construction Defects, Mold Contamination
Experience
Has achieved settlements and/or handled trials in a wide variety of cases: personal injury; wrongful death; product liability; railroad, airplane, and car crashes; mold contamination; construction defect; and consumer claims.
Has handled cases throughout Minnesota, but also in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Idaho, New York, Iowa, Texas, South Dakota, Oregon.
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP
Associate Attorney, 1982-1988
Partner, 1988-2005
Various Trial Skills Instruction, including NITA programs
Conlin Law Firm, LLC
Owner/Founder, Jan 2006-Present
William Mitchell College of Law
Adjunct Professor - Legal Practicum (Tort), August 2005-December 2006
Various Trial Skills Instruction, including NITA programs
Certifications and Recognitions
Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.
Professional Excellence Award, Minnesota State Bar Associaton (2006), MSBA’s highest award
Selected Cases
Mold contamination in homes arising from construction defects
Airplane crashes in Antarctica, Costa Rica, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Railroad crossing accidents in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Car and truck safety defects.
Semi-trailer rear underride guard.
Product defect litigation including tractors, farm equipment, trenchers, backhoes, stump grinders, road graders, forklifts
Recreational injury litigation involving ski lifts, swimming pools, chemical poisoning, zambonis.
Liquor Liability/Dram Shop
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota (1982)
- North Dakota (2005)
- U.S. Supreme Court (1995)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (1985)
- U.S. District Court, Minnesota (1982)
- U.S. District Court, Eastern Dist. (WI) (1985)
- U.S. District Court, Western Dist. (WI) (1997)
- Pro Hac Vice Admissions in numerous Courts
Professional Associations
- American Association for Justice
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association
- Public Justice
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Selected Publications
“Going Pro Se: Children and The Law,” the Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, August 2000.
“All Aboard the Preemption Train: How a Lot of Railroad Common Law Liability Went the Way of the Roundhouse,” Minnesota Trial Lawyer Magazine, Spring 2001.
Speaking Engagements/Lectures
“Mold Litigation Issues/Examples,” Eighth Annual Institute for Building Officials, University of Minnesota, January 8, 2004
“Litigating Toxic Mold Cases,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), June 6-7, 2003
“Final Arguments and Voir Dire,” William Mitchell Advanced Summer Advocacy (NITA), May 21, 2003, Minneapolis, MN.
“Preemption: Lost and Found,” November 19, 2002, Minneapolis, MN.
“Expert Witnesses,” June 5, 2002, Minneapolis, MN.
“Products That Injure and Kill People – Ethical Considerations in Products Liability Litigation,” April 26, 1997, New Orleans, LA.
“Federal Preemption,” April 11, 1997, Minneapolis, MN.
“New Methods for Proving Damages,” November 22, 1996, Minneapolis, MN.
“Direct Examination of the Expert – Making the Presentation Memorable,” October 24, 1996, Minneapolis, MN.
Commentator, “Product Liability: Where Does Corporate Responsibility End and Personal Responsibility Begin” Minnesota Public Radio, “Mid-Morning,” July 17, 1996, St. Paul, MN.
“Litigation for Legal Assistants and Attorneys,” November 22, 1994.
“Dealing with the Auto Accident Case in Minnesota,” September 23, 1994, Minneapolis, MN.
Community Work
Minnesota State Bar Association, Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee, Member 2001-present; Co-chair 2004-2006
Minnesota State Bar Association, Assembly, July 2004-present
Hennepin County Bar Association, Board of
Governors, July 2004-2005
Hennepin County Bar Association, Affiliation Agreement Advisory Group (2005-06)
Legal Services Advisory Committee, July 2005-Present
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, Pro Bono Committee, Chair 1994 - 2003
India Association of Minnesota, Board of Directors 1994-1996
Education
University of Notre Dame, B.A., Philosophy (1979)
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D. (1982)
Personal
Born in Williston, ND in 1957.
Williston High School 1975.
Married to Kathleen Marron (1985).
Children: Riley and Erin.
