Hal is a partner with Flynn, Gaskins & Bennett and has been with the firm since its inception. His practice is exclusively litigation. Hal has tried numerous cases to verdict and has obtained dismissals through motion practice. He represents product manufacturers on claims involving personal injury, death and property damage. He represents directors, officers and companies on professional liability and employment practices claims. He has worked on mass tort and class action claims, including the Minnesota Tobacco litigation. He has represented insurance carriers on coverage and fraud claims. He also defends companies on premises liability and construction defect claims.

Hal’s broad experience is evidenced by the variety of reported cases he has handled.

Oman v. Losing, 1989 WL 100643 (Minn.Ct.App. 1989) (premises liability)

Bostow v. Austin Mut. Ins. Co., 1990 WL 140712 (Minn.Ct.App. 1990) (insurance coverage)

Henry v. Raynor Mfg. Co., 753 F.Supp. 278 (D.Minn. 1990) (products liability)

Patton v. Yarrington, 472 N.W.2d 157 (Minn.Ct.App. 1991) (products liability)

Fremont 66, Inc. v. Maryland Cas. Co., 1992 WL 54934 (Minn.Ct.App. 1992) (insurance coverage)

Lloyd F. Smith Co., Inc. v. Den-Tal-Ez, 491 N.W.2d 11 (Minn. 1992) (products liability)

Group Health, Inc. v. Heuer, 499 N.W.2d 526 (Minn.Ct.App. 1993) (insurance coverage)

Quade & Sons Refrigeration, Inc. v. Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co., 510 N.W.2d 256 (Minn.Ct.App. 1994) (commercial contract)

Alderman’s, Inc. v. Shanks, 536 N.W.2d 4 (Minn. 1995) (building code/fire litigation) 

Smith v. Integrity Mut. Ins. Co., 1996 WL 393967 (Minn.Ct.App. 1996) (insurance coverage)

Masepohl v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., 974 F.Supp. 1245 (D.Minn. 1997) (consumer fraud)

Montenari Homes, Inc. v. Integrity Mut. Ins. Co., 1999 WL 242695 (Minn.Ct.App. 1999) (civil arson)

Thompson v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., et al, 189 F.R.D. 544 (D.Minn. 1999)

St. Paul Companies v. Van Beek, 609 N.W.2d 256 (Minn.Ct.App. 2000) (insurance coverage)

State of Minnesota v. Philip Morris et al., 606 N.W.2d 676 (Minn.Ct.App. 2000) (consumer fraud)

Group Health Plan, Inc. v. Philip Morris, 188 F.Supp.2d 1122 (D.Minn. 2002) (consumer fraud)

Fischer v. Rheem Mfg. Co., 2004 WL 1088328, 64 Fed.R.Evid.Serv. 553 (D.Minn. 2004) (products liability)

Plante v. Foster Klima & Co., LLC, 2004 WL 2222318 (D.Minn. 2004) (director and officer’s liability)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS:

"Merchants of Goods of the Kind: Minnesota’s New Interpretation of the Economic Loss Doctrine," Minnesota Defense, Vol. 14, No. 1, Winter 1993

Minnesota Law & Politics, Rising Star
Minnesota Law & Politics SuperLawyer, 2004 and 2006

Minnesota State Bar Association (Member – Professionalism and Rules of Professional Conduct Committees)
Hennepin County Bar Association

State of Minnesota, 1988
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1989
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2001
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1990
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2007

• Grace Lutheran Church - Council President, Secretary, Sunday School Teacher, Choir Member;
• St. Croix Lutheran High School Development Committee;
• United Way Campaign Coordinator;
• Leadership South St. Paul member;
• Youth Athletics Coach.