Since 1982 Mr. Conlin has helped families and individuals get back on their feet after experiencing a serious injury or the loss of a loved one. His 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 through negligence, greed, incompetence, or breach of contract. No case is too complicated for Mr. Conlin to understand and—if necessary—to explain to the jury. And throughout his career Mr. Conlin has spent many hundreds of hours 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. Mr. Conlin has a special interest in helping the most vulnerable in our society.
Watch Tom’s interview with ReelLawyers where he discusses:
Focus of Practice
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Dangerous and defective products
Experience
Tom has achieved settlements and/or handled trials in a wide variety of cases: personal injury; wrongful death; product liability; railroad, airplane, and car crashes; construction defect; and consumer claims.
He has handled cases throughout Minnesota, but also in North Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, Idaho, New York, Iowa, Texas, South Dakota, and Oregon.
Conlin Law Firm, LLC
- Owner/Founder, January 2006-Present
William Mitchell College of Law
- Adjunct Professor - Legal Practicum (Tort), August 2005-December 2006
- Various Trial Skills Instruction, including NITA programs
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi LLP
- Partner, 1988-2005
- Associate Attorney, 1982-1988
- Various Trial Skills Instruction, including NITA programs
Certifications and Recognitions
- Certified Civil Trial Specialist
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Super Lawyers 2008-Present
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum (reserved for lawyers who have achieved seven-figure verdicts or settlements)
- Mpls/St. Paul Magazine “The Best Lawyers in Minnesota” (2009)
- Two-time recipient of the highest award of the Minnesota State Bar Association, “Professional Excellence Award,” 2006 and 2009. One of the awards was due to participation in the Pro Bono Consortium, a group of Minnesota trial lawyers who agreed to represent the survivors of the Minneapolis 35W bridge collapse for free.
- The Public Service Award of the Minnesota State Bar Association, for service on the MSBA’s Katrina Relief Fund Task Force (2005).
Selected Cases
- Airplane crashes in Antarctica, Costa Rica, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
- Railroad crossing crashes in Minnesota and North Dakota.
- Car and truck safety defects.
- Motorcycle accidents.
- Car and Truck crashes.
- Dog attacks.
- Injuries from falls; dangerous public places.
- Snowmobile injuries.
- Skiing injuries
- Semi-trailer rear underride guard.
- Dangerous products with defects, including tractors, farm implements, grain dryers, bale shredders, trenchers, backhoes, stump grinders, road graders, forklifts, snowmobiles, drugs, and medical devices.
- Recreational injuries, including snowmobiles, ski lifts, skiing hazards, swimming pools, and ATVs.
- 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
- “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
- Legal Services Advisory Committee, July 2005-Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee, Member 2001-2006; Co-chair 2004-2006
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Assembly, July 2004-2009; 2011
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Board of Governors, July 2004-2005
- Hennepin County Bar Association, Affiliation Agreement Advisory Group (2005-06)
- Tubman Center, Pro Bono Safety Project, volunteer attorney
- Pro Bono Consortium, I-35W Bridge Collapse, 2007-2010
- Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund Task Force
- 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
I was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota, the eighth of ten kids. I graduated from Williston High School in 1975. I then enrolled at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where I graduated in 1979. I moved to Minnesota where I enrolled in law school at the University of Minnesota Law School and, where I met my wife, Kathleen. Kathleen and I have been married since 1985, and God has blessed us with two children. I have always enjoyed sports, and I still enjoy playing basketball, golfing, snow skiing, and water skiing. I have always loved the outdoors and spend time every year hunting and fishing and enjoying the outdoors. Music has always been a part of my life, and I enjoy playing the piano and guitar. I have a passion for trying to help those less fortunate than I have been.
