Michael C. McCarthy
Partner
Overview
Mike McCarthy is a partner in Maslon's Litigation and Financial Services Groups. He represents clients in complex litigation and appeals. He has represented clients in the federal and state appellate courts in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Mike has extensive experience with corporate trust-related litigation and has defended putative class actions involving securities and consumer fraud, environmental claims, and antitrust and other alleged statutory violations. He also has experience with and expertise in technology-related litigation (including intellectual property disputes), medical-device liability, and commercial contract disputes.
Before joining Maslon, Mike served as a law clerk to Judge Gerald W. Heaney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and Judge Louis H. Pollak of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Experience
Representative Appeals
- In re HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-10, No. A18-0043 (Minn. Ct. App. 2018). Challenge to court’s in rem jurisdiction over residential mortgage-backed securitization trust.
- Frederick v. Wallerich, 907 N.W.2d 167 (Minn. 2018). Amicus brief on behalf of Minnesota State Bar Association in case addressing accrual of limitations period for legal malpractice.
- Marks v. Commissioner of Revenue, 875 N.W.2d 321 (Minn. 2016). Challenge to taxation of part-year resident.
- EOG Resources, Inc. v. Soo Line R.R. Co., 867 N.W.2d 308 (N.D. 2015). Amicus brief on behalf of BNSF Railway Company in dispute involving interpretation of deeds and scope of property interests conveyed to railroad.
- Marshall v. NFL, 797 F.3d 502 (8th Cir. 2015). Challenge to class-action settlement of claims related to retired players’ publicity rights.
- Medical Staff v. Avera Marshall, 857 N.W.2d 695 (Minn. 2014). Amicus brief on behalf of Minnesota Hospital Association in dispute involving medical staff bylaws.
- State of Minnesota v. 3M Co., 845 N.W.2d 808 (Minn. 2014). Challenge to disqualification of opposing counsel.
- Triple Five of Minnesota, Inc. v. Simon, 404 F.3d 1088 (8th Cir. 2005). Reversal of order transferring ownership of substantial interest in Mall of America as remedy for fiduciary duty breach in partnership dispute between owners.
- Bruggeman v. Jerry's Enterprises, Inc., 591 N.W.2d 705 (Minn. 1999). Reversal of summary judgment because merger doctrine inapplicable to option to repurchase land.
- Narum v. Faxx Foods, Inc., 590 N.W.2d 454 (N.D. 1999). Affirming dismissal of securities fraud claims as barred by statute of limitations.
- Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. v. Nishika Ltd., 565 N.W.2d 16 (Minn. 1997). Obtained ruling resulting in reversal of $30 million award under UCC warranty.
Representative Cases in District Courts
- In re Municipal Stormwater Pond Coordinated Litigation, No. 18-3495 (D. Minn.). Successful defense of eleven actions brought by municipalities involving claims of fraud, product liability, nuisance, and trespass related to presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in stormwater ponds.
- In re MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust 2006-OA2, 2007-1 & 2007-3, No. 62-TR-CV-18-35 (Ramsey Cty. Dist. Ct.). Obtained approval after bench trial of $850 million settlement of RMBS putback action.
- In re MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trusts 2006-HE3 & 2007-WMC1, No. 62-TR-CV-14-59 (Ramsey Cty. Dist. Ct.). Obtained trust instruction for corporate trustee after trial on investors' objections to requested instruction.
- U.S. Hotel & Resort Mgmt. v. Onity, Inc., No. 13-1499 (D. Minn. 2014). Dismissal of putative class action alleging design defect in hotel door locks due to lack of injury and therefore no Article III standing.
- Hennepin Cty. v. Fannie Mae, 933 F. Supp. 2d 1173 (D. Minn. 2013), aff’d, 742 F.3d 818 (8th Cir. 2014). Dismissal of putative class action alleging failure to pay state deed tax in connection with acquisition and sale of mortgages.
- State of Minnesota v. 3M Co., No. 27-CV-10-28862 (Hennepin Cty. Dist. Ct.). Defense of claims for natural resource damages (2011 to 2016).
- Braswell v. Polaris Indus., Inc., No. 09-2919 (D. Col. 2009). Defense of putative nationwide class action alleging warranty and consumer fraud claims related to snowmobile engines.
- Williams v. Geithner, No. 09-1959 (D. Minn. 2009). Dismissal of putative class action alleging due process violations related to implementation of mortgage modification program.
- Paulson et al. v. 3M Company, No. C2-04-6309 (Washington Cty. Dist. Ct.). Defeated motion seeking class certification of a 67,000 member putative class claiming chemical exposure via drinking water contamination (2007) and obtained a defense verdict on the merits after a seven-week jury trial (2009).
- In re Canadian Import Antitrust Litig., 385 F. Supp. 2d 930 (D. Minn. 2005), aff’d, 470 F.3d 785 (8th Cir. 2006). Dismissal of putative class action alleging antitrust liability in connection with restrictions on importation of prescription pharmaceuticals purchased from Canadian pharmacies.
Pro Bono
- Ex parte Armstrong (Tex. Crim. App. 2017). Member of team of Maslon lawyers serving as pro bono counsel for Douglas Tyrone Armstrong, a Texas death row inmate convicted of capital murder in 2006. The team successfully secured the vacation of Armstrong's death sentence by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Honors
Local Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2023
POWER 30: Business Litigation, Minnesota Lawyer, 2022 (POWER 30 is a regular feature that examines the power brokers who lead and influence various parts of the Minnesota legal community.)
Recognized on Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2003-2005, 2018-2022 (Minnesota Super Lawyers® is a designation given to only 5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2014, 2017-2023
Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2018
Light of Justice Award, Texas Defender Service, 2018
Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota 500, 2018-2019
North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2014, 2017 (North Star Lawyer is a designation that recognizes members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services in a calendar year.)
AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell®