For more than 25 years, Mary Vasaly has practiced in the areas of appeals, probate/trust litigation and commercial litigation. She has appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court, and has tried cases and argued appeals in state and federal courts in Minnesota and other states. She is included in "Best Lawyers in America."
Mary has been named a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, a "Top 100 Super Lawyer" and "Top 25 Appellate Super Lawyer" by Minnesota Law & Politics and, in 2003, was named a "Lawyer of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer. She edited the Eighth Circuit Appellate Practice Manual, now in its third edition, among other books and articles and has taught appellate practice at the University of St. Thomas Law School and the University of Minnesota Law School. Mary is active in a number of bar organizations, having served as the President of the Hennepin County Bar Association, President of Minnesota Women Lawyers, and the Council of Appellate Lawyers. She received the 2006 President's Award from the Minnesota State Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honor limited to no more than the top 1/3 of 1 percent of attorneys in each state. Mary is a 1983 cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School.
- Litigation
- Appeals
- Amicus Curiae Practice
- Appeals to Other Courts
- Consulting on Appellate Matters
- Eighth Circuit Appeals
- Minnesota Appeals
- U.S. Supreme Court Appeals
- Business Litigation
- Competitive Practices/Unfair Competition
- Construction Litigation
- Construction Claims
- Contract Formation and Administration
- Defective Construction Claims
- Employment Litigation
- Defending Employers
- Insurance
- Insurance Coverage Litigation
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Condemnation/Eminent Domain and Relocation Benefits
- Disputes between Buyers and Sellers
- Landlord Tenant Disputes
- Landowner Disputes
- Tort & Product Liability
- Drugs and Medical Devices
- Products Liability
- Punitive Damages
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
1983, J.D.
Honors: Cum Laude
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
1980, B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude
- Normandale Community College, Bloomington, Minnesota,
1977, A.A., Associate in Arts
Experience
- Played a major role in representing corporate defendant in a federal jury trial which resulted in complete vindication of Maslon's client, the defendant in the action. The twelve person jury found that Maslon's client had neither misappropriated trade secrets nor breached its contract to maintain the confidentiality of information. The jury completely rejected the plaintiff's claim for $110 million, which under the applicable trade secret statute could have been doubled to $220 million plus attorneys' fees. During the three week trial the jury heard testimony from more than a dozen fact witnesses as well as from five expert witnesses. (2007)
- Handled noncompete litigation for a major medical device manufacturer.
- Represented major medical device manufacturer in a complex trade secret case.
- Represented clients in the United States Supreme Court.
- Secured appellate victories in important probate and trust cases, and established new Minnesota law on the issues involved.
- Obtained Eighth Circuit reversal of a district court decision in an ERISA matter.
Cases & Transactions
- Becker v. Mayo Foundation, 737 N.W.2d 200 (Minn. 2007) (appellate counsel for amicus Children's Law Center of Minnesota in a case involving the liability of a medical provider for failing to report suspected child abuse)
- In re Guardianship and/or Conservatorship of Ficken, #A07-1848 (Minn. Ct. App. 2008)
- In re Estate of Kinney, 733 N.W.2d 118 (Minn. 2007)
- Abram v. Cargill, 395 F.3d 882 (8th Cir. 2005)
- Greuling v. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., 690 N.W.2d 757 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005)
- Minnwest Bank Central v. Flagship Properties, LLC, 689 N.W.2d 295 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
- AIG v. Conseco, 354 F.3d 755 (8th Cir. 2004)
- Kielley v. Kielley, 674 N.W.2d 770 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
- Watkins v. Lewis, 346 F.3d 841 (8th Cir. 2003)
- In re Trust Under Agreement with Lane, 660 N.W.2d 421 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
- In re Conservatorships of Smith, 655 N.W.2d 814 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
- State v. Hatfield, 639 N.W.2d 372 (Minn. 2002)
- Kallok v. Medtronic, Inc., 573 N.W.2d 356 (Minn. 1998)
- Nunez-Escudero v. Tice-Menley, 58 F.3d 374 (8th Cir. 1995)
- Gray v. Farmland Industries, Inc., 529 N.W.2d 514 (Minn. 1995)
- Independent School District No. 622 v. Keene Corporation, 511 N.W.2d 728 (Minn. 1994)
- Spinnaker Software Corporation v. Nicholson, 495 N.W.2d 441 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993)
- St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company v. Mentor Corp., 503 N.W.2d 511 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993)
- Casanova Beverage Co., Inc v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 486 N.W.2d 448 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992)
- Uselman v. Uselman and Carol A. O'Toole, 464 N.W.2d 130 (Minn. 1990)
Extended Bio
|