Steven R. Kluz

Litigation requires heavy lifting. That means working hard for you using the tools from the litigator's toolbox. Where I see opposing counsel often stumble is by using those same tools without truly understanding the critical issues in the case or developing a sophisticated litigation plan.

I believe that winning depends on developing a well-thought-out strategy that you understand and approve. Working side-by-side with you, we develop a strategy that effectively meets your goals. I am mindful that our litigation strategy must also be flexible enough to respond to unexpected challenges while allowing us to take advantage of any opportunity those challenges bring.

Bar Admissions

State Bar of Minnesota
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Education

University of Minnesota, J.D., 1998, cum laude
Carleton College, B.A. History, 1993, cum laude

Awards

Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics
Rising Star, Minnesota Law & Politics
Stoel Rives Coach of the Year, 2015

Outside of Work

I fly fish, downhill ski, read philosophy, coach soccer, and serve on the board of one of the largest homeowners' associations in the country. I also enjoy canoeing and camping with my family in the Boundary Waters and the Quetico. My wife and I live in North Oaks with our two children, a golden retriever, and a flat-coated retriever.

Steve's Representative Matters

Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury

Obtained substantial settlement for a client who was paralyzed due to misdiagnosis by hospital staff.
Obtained substantial settlement for a client who developed traumatic brain injury after hospital staff overdosed her on fentanyl.
Obtained multimillion-dollar wrongful-death judgment against a trucker and trucking company and judgment against an insurer in a related declaratory judgment trial.
Obtained substantial trial verdict for a client injured in an automobile accident.
Obtained substantial settlements for clients injured in accidents with cars and trucks.

Trust and Estate Litigation

Successfully defended personal representative of the estate against will contest and efforts to remove her as personal representative.
Successfully defended trustee against removal efforts and breach of fiduciary duty claims.

Obtained trial verdict in favor of the estate beneficiary against a sibling who had misappropriated assets from the estate.
Obtained attorney's fee award and full summary judgment for trustees against beneficiary's conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, and undue influence claims.
Obtained favorable settlement for personal representative in complicated, multiparty litigation involving issues of equitable mortgage, negotiable instruments, and receivership law that culminated in transfer to the estate of multiple businesses and parcels of real estate.

Insurance and Indemnity

Secured summary judgment for insurance company clients in cases involving tens of thousands of breach-of-contract auto-glass claims arising in 16 states; asserted insurance fraud claims; and obtained successful confidential settlement of all claims.
Successfully defeated consolidation of hundreds of auto-glass claims and obtained summary judgment for insurance company clients in U.S. District Court U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Successfully defeated claims in the New York Supreme Court for indemnification from an outdoor equipment company and its stockholders in excess of $4 million for defense costs related to patent litigation.

Commercial

Lead counsel for two Minnesota counties in achieving favorable arbitration award in binding arbitration involving an eight-figure valuation of a facility that produces refuse-derived fuel as part of a waste-to-energy process.
Obtained transfer of seven-figure breach of supply agreement case from plaintiff's backyard in Michigan to defendant co-op's home in Wisconsin and obtained summary judgment on technical statute of fraud theory.
Prevailed on motion for judgment on the pleadings in six declaratory judgment actions brought in five Minnesota counties and consolidated by the Minnesota Supreme Court, brought by investor partners against the general partners in low-income tax-credit-housing partnerships.
Obtained dismissal of seven-figure loss of prospective profit claim brought against food production and packaging company.
Settled two-phase auction rate securities case against broker-dealer on behalf of biodiesel fuel company for over $5 million.
Obtained transfer of complex interest rates swap case from New York federal court to Missouri, concluding with favorable confidential settlement for a biodiesel fuel company.

Pro Bono

Successfully represented victims of terrorist attacks in obtaining benefits from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.

Justin H. Evans

I help people with all types of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury, business, and trust and estate cases. My job is to fully understand the issues you're facing and to develop clear, effective strategies to address those issues. I know from experience that navigating a lawsuit often feels overwhelming. I'll work with you every step of the way to answer your questions, to make sure you're comfortable with the process, and to make sure you're fully informed about what's going on. Being there for you is my number one priority.

Bar Admissions

State Bar of Minnesota
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
University of Minnesota, B.A., Sociology

Justin’s Representative Matters

Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury

Obtained substantial settlement for a client who was paralyzed due to misdiagnosis by hospital staff.
Obtained substantial settlement for a client who developed traumatic brain injury after hospital staff overdosed her on fentanyl.
Obtained a substantial trial verdict for a client injured in an automobile accident.
Obtained substantial settlements for clients injured in motor vehicle accidents.

Trust and Estate Litigation

Successfully defended the personal representative of the estate against will contest and efforts to remove her as personal representative.
Successfully defended trustee against removal efforts and breach of fiduciary duty claims.

Obtained a trial verdict in favor of the estate beneficiary against a sibling who had misappropriated assets from the estate.
Obtained attorney's fee award and full summary judgment for trustees against beneficiary's conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, and undue influence claims.

Commercial Litigation

Obtained arbitration award in favor of homeowner clients against defendant contractor who failed to complete major home renovations.
Obtained favorable trial verdict for employer client who was sued for race discrimination.
Successfully defended an employee against his employer's efforts to enforce oppressive non-compete provisions.

Pro Bono

Helped the client expunge a total of 27 decades-old criminal convictions that were preventing her from obtaining stable housing and employment.
Represented an environmental organization in its efforts to reduce pollution at a mining site in northern Minnesota.

Clayton W. Chan

I am an attorney with the law firms of Chan, PLLC, and Carlson Estate Planning. Under the umbrella of these firms, I guide clients through all aspects of estate planning, including wills and trusts, elder law planning, probate and trust administration, incapacity planning, and business succession planning. Together, my estate planning expertise and KluzEvans' litigation experience ensure that clients are covered for the full range of the estate planning process, from the initial structuring of the estate plan through the resolution of any disputes that may develop into litigation.

Bar Admissions

State Bar of Minnesota
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

Education

University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., cum laude
University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, M.B.T. (Master of Business Taxation), major degree requirements completed
The University of Minnesota, B.S., Economics, cum laude