Daniel J. Cragg’s practice focuses on complex personal injury matters, commercial litigation, labor & employment law, factoring and asset-based lending, admiralty and maritime law, and procedurally complex cases, including cases against the government. Daniel has represented clients in State and Federal trial court and in administrative proceedings at the Federal, State and local levels. He has also argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. As a dedicated litigator, Daniel applies his extensive knowledge of procedure and judicial remedies to a wide array of case types, such as:
- Complex personal injury matters, including product liability and medical/professional malpractice.
- Breach of contract and related business torts, including prosecuting and defending claims for breach of licensing agreements, factoring agreements, sale and lease of goods, settlement agreements, and complex service contracts.
- Competitor lawsuits, including trade secret claims, false advertising, Lanham Act, disparagement, unfair competition, and tortious interference with contract.
- Complex creditor/debtor relationships, liens, and security interests.
- The Uniform Commercial Code.
- Enforcement of maritime contracts and liens, the maritime arrest and attachment procedures of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims, and the defense of maritime claims under COGSA, the Jones Act, and the general maritime law.
- Defense of manufacturers/importers from claims by independent sales representatives, including claims under Minnesota’s Independent Sales Representative Act, Minn. Stat. 325E.37.
- Defense of employment discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
- Defense of Grievances in arbitration under Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Judicial Review of Federal Agency actions under the Administrative Procedures Act.
- Bid Protests at the Federal and State level.
- Municipal land use and regulatory issues.
Representative Practice Experience:
- Obtained $35.7 million dollar verdict in two-and-a-half-week jury trial in Ramsey County District Court in product liability burn injury case arising out of a workplace injury caused by scalding hot water accidently releasing from a hose coupling. This is believed to be the largest single claimant personal injury verdict in Minnesota state court history.
- Complete defense verdict in jury trial in commercial case and nearly $1 million verdict on client’s counterclaims and subsequent judgment of $1.2 million after costs, fees, and interest. Follow on litigation against judgment debtor’s account debtors yielded $1.2 million in recovery on judgment.
- Obtained $1.4 million verdict for client in jury trial in commercial case.
- Obtained finding of liability and award of damages in arbitration of prime/sub breach of contract dispute arising out of government contract work.
- Obtained finding of liability and award of damages for plaintiff companies and two company officers in defamation claims in weeklong jury trial as well as finding of no liability on counterclaims.
- Obtained reversal of civil jury trial verdict for instructional error on contract interpretation from Minnesota Court of Appeals and then unanimous affirmance of the Court of Appeals’ decision at the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Daniel is a cum laude graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. He received his B.A. in history and international studies from the Virginia Military Institute.
Daniel is also a Rule 114 qualified civil adjudicative neutral and available to arbitrate complex civil matters.
