Jeffrey Underhill
Counsel
Overview
Jeff Underhill is an attorney in Maslon's Litigation Group who focuses on construction, real estate, and general commercial disputes. He has managed construction defect cases, mechanic's lien claims, insurance coverage and recoupment claims, complex voidable transfer cases, real estate disputes, shareholder conflicts, and a variety of contract matters.
Jeff's strengths as a trial attorney, developed over more than a decade, lie in analyzing complex issues and distilling them into simple, cogent arguments. He enjoys advocating for clients in what can be stressful situations, and finding workable solutions to legal and practical challenges clients face.
While at William Mitchell School of Law, Jeff interned for the Honorable William Howard in Minnesota's Fourth Judicial District (Hennepin County), served as editor of the William Mitchell Law Review, and was a semifinalist at the national Ruby Vale Corporate Law Moot Court Competition.
Experience
- Lead trial counsel in defense of claims brought against former shareholder for tortious interference resulting in on-the-record agreement to dismiss claims and pay client monetary settlement on second day of jury trial. PinPoint Homes, LLC et al v. Day Construction et al., Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota, Case No. 27-CV-20-4876.
- Appellate counsel successfully obtaining reversal of judgment on purported guaranty of developer’s obligations to contractor. S.M. Hentges & Sons, Inc. v. Mark Elliot Homes, LLC, No. A22-0736, 2023 WL 125847 (Minn. Ct. App. Jan. 9, 2023).
- Lead counsel successfully obtaining summary judgment on conversion, civil theft, breach of fiduciary duty, and related claims brought against trustees of trust by beneficiary of sub-trust. In re: the Karel A. Laing Revocable Trust Agreement and the Jennifer Cheesebrough Irrevocable Trust Agreement, Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota, Case No. 27-CV-21-5898.
- First chair counsel in bench trial of shareholder dispute resulting in $6 million judgment for minority shareholder against majority shareholder for oppression and attempted freeze-out. Puklich v. Puklich, 930 N.W. 2d 593 (N.D. 2019).
- First chair counsel in jury trial of case brought against former employee resulting in verdict for employer for misrepresentation. Waymouth Farms, Inc. V. Shuquin Liu, Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota, Case No. 27-CV-16-7213.
- Lead counsel for the plaintiffs in case brought by tenants in common against sponsors of tenant in common investment offering. After successfully defending the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, obtained favorable settlement for clients. Geneva OSWX I, LLC. et al. v. Duane H. Lund, et al., Fourth Judicial District of Minnesota, Case No. 27-CV-15-4968.
- Lead counsel for contractor in case brought by homeowner alleging fraud. After obtaining summary judgment on the plaintiff’s claims, tried and obtained judgment exceeding $900,000 on contractor’s counterclaims. Kladek v. Pacific Management, Inc., First Judicial District of Minnesota, Case No. 19HA-CV-12-812.