Soule & Stull client prevails on Federal Court Motion to Dismiss

June 29, 2018.  Soule & Stull won dismissal of a claim against its clients alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.  Plaintiffs alleged Defendants violated the Act by sending allegedly unsolicited text messages.  Because Defendants were based principally in South Carolina, the firm asserted the defense of lack of personal jurisdiction.  Minnesota’s federal court granted the motion, dismissing the case at its earliest stage.  Kevin Curry wrote the brief and argued the motion for the firm. 

Plaintiffs had visited Defendants’ facility on guest passes, and argued the Defendants were subject to personal jurisdiction in Minnesota because one of the Defendants sent text messages to Plaintiffs’ Minnesota cell phones.  The Court disagreed, reasoning that text messages were insufficient to confer jurisdiction under Eight Circuit case law, which holds that telephone calls and similar communications to the forum state do not create sufficient contacts to comport with due process.  Additionally, the Court reasoned that sending text messages to cell phones with Minnesota area codes was insufficient to confer jurisdiction because a cell phone area code is not a reliable indicator of residence.

You may read a copy of the opinion here.

George Soule speaks at Minnesota Judicial Campaign Law and Ethics Seminar

June 22, 2018.  George Soule discussed Judicial Campaign Conduct and Activities at a seminar sponsored by the Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards.  Several 2018 state court candidates, and their supporters, attended the seminar.  George discussed several aspects of judicial campaigns, including statutes, rules and codes that govern candidates’ conduct.  George has co-chaired several campaigns for election of Minnesota Supreme Court justices and has served on committees for several other state court candidates.

George Presents at Ethics Seminar

George meets Justice Clarence Thomas

May 18, 2018.  Today, George attended the Investiture of Eighth Circuit Judge David Stras (former Justice, Minnesota Supreme Court) in Minneapolis.  Associate Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at the event on behalf of his former law clerk.  George had a chance to meet Justice Thomas at the reception after the event.  George also caught up with his friend Rachel Brand, former United States Associate Attorney General and current Executive Vice President of Global Governance and Corporate Secretary at Walmart.

Justice Clarence Thomas and George

Rachel Brand and George

George presents cross-examination demonstration at ABOTA Masters in Trial program

May 17, 2018.  George Soule was a faculty member today at Minnesota ABOTA’s Masters in Trial program in Minneapolis.  George cross-examined plaintiff’s accident reconstruction expert, and joined plaintiff’s counsel Nate Bjerke in a discussion of the demonstration.  Approximately 60 Minnesota lawyers attended the program.  George is former President of Minnesota ABOTA, and now serves as ABOTA National Board Member from Minnesota.

George cross-examined plaintiff’s accident reconstruction expert

Soule & Stull sponsors Laura Jeffrey Academy Spring Gala

May 17, 2018.  Soule & Stull helped sponsor the Laura Jeffrey Academy’s Spring Gala, celebrating its tenth year. The Laura Jeffrey Academy is a public charter school in St. Paul that offers a unique STEM-focused, girl-focused education for middle school students. Anna serves on the school’s Board of Directors. As a math major and former middle-school math and science teacher, Anna strongly supports the school’s mission of ensuring STEM-focused educational opportunities for young women in the Twin Cities.

George and Lisa, Anna and Jonathon

Kevin Curry featured in Minnesota Lawyer “Breaking the Ice”

May 11, 2018.  Minnesota Lawyer featured Kevin Curry in today’s edition.  Minnesota Lawyer is a biweekly newspaper about Minnesota lawyers and law.  In the Q & A, Kevin discusses his legal career, as well as his athletic accomplishments and community volunteer activities.  Here is an excerpt:

Attorney Kevin Curry of Soule & Stull has tried cases from coast to coast in representing large corporations in product liability, commercial litigation, personal injury and other cases.

Curry also covers a lot of ground outside of his legal practice. He’s a two-time Ironman triathlon participant, marathoner, certified National Ski Patrol team leader and, most recently, yoga practitioner.

Gaining Ski Patrol training, which Curry completed three years ago, included three months of first-aid training.

“When I’m not practicing law I like being outside,” Curry said. “I grew up as a skier and there was an incident or two where I ended up being hauled off by the Ski Patrol. I admired and appreciated their work and suppose the time came to get involved myself.”

Curry joined George Soule and Melissa Stull at their newly opened firm opened in 2014. Soule and Stull previously were colleagues at Bowman and Brooke, where Curry had worked for 14 years.

With less travel now, “it’s nice getting to know lawyers locally,” Curry said.

Read more:  https://minnlawyer.com/2018/05/11/breaking-the-ice-covering-ground-in-the-courtroom-outdoors/

George presents on Trump Judicial Appointments at 2018 Indian Law Conference

May 4, 2018.  George Soule presented today on Judicial Appointments in the Trump Administration at the 2018 Indian Law Conference, sponsored by the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association and Minnesota CLE.  George was on a panel with national and local Indian law counsel on Perspectives on the Trump Administration’s Impact on Indian Country.  George is former President of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association and serves on the Tribal Court of Appeals for four Minnesota Tribes.  He is former Chair of the Minnesota Commission on Judicial Selection.

Soule & Stull sponsors Civil Litigation Section 2018 Annual Meeting

April 26, 2018.  Soule & Stull was a sponsor of the MSBA Civil Litigation Annual Meeting at Windows on Minnesota in Minneapolis.  Nearly 250 local attorneys, including George, Melissa, Kevin, John, Anna and S&S clients and friends, attended the event.  David Cole, National Legal Director, ACLU, gave the keynote speech.  Mr. Cole spoke aboutEngines of Liberty: How Citizen Movements Succeed (the title of his book).  The Section honored Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks, Minnesota Court of Appeals, with the 2018 Advocate Award.  Melissa will Chair the Civil Litigation Section in 2018.  The Section has 1,375 members.  Soule & Stull is the home of three Civil Litigation Chairs, past and future, as George chaired the Council in 1994-1995 and Kevin in 2011-2012.

Judge Edward Wahl, Judge Jill Flaskamp Halbrooks, Annamarie Daley, Melissa (Section officers with honoree Judge Halbrooks)

Soule & Stull and friends

George presents at Minnesota Supreme Court hearing on enforcement of Tribal Court orders

March 14, 2018.  George Soule testified today to the Minnesota Supreme Court in favor of amendments to Rule 10 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice.  Rule 10 permits Minnesota district courts to enforce orders and judgments from Tribal Courts.  The proposed amendments – supported by the Minnesota Tribal Court State Court Forum and the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the General Rules of Practice – would strengthen the rule to provide for enforcement of Tribal Court orders.  As a Tribal Court Judge for four Minnesota tribes, George is a member of the Forum.  George is past President of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association.

You can read Minnesota Lawyer’s article about the hearing Comity rule for tribal court orders nears finish line here.

Link to Minnesota Supreme Court Video Oral Argument

Soule & Stull sponsors Division of Indian Work fundraiser

February 26, 2018.  Soule & Stull joined other Twin Cities law firms and businesses to sponsor the 3^rd Annual Division of Indian Work LEAP Event on September 26.  DIW provides food, clothing and other services to American Indian individuals and families in need throughout our community.  Over 300 people attended the event – to raise funds for DIW food shelf and youth development programs.  The event featured native drummers, musicians and dancers, and silent and live auctions.  George’s chocolate chip cookies were auctioned again this year; the winning bids totaled $850.  George serves on the DIW Board of Directors.

Soule & Stull Celebrates Fourth Anniversary

January 27, 2018.  Soule & Stull celebrated its Fourth Anniversary with family at Butcher & the Boar in Minneapolis.   George Soule and Melissa Stull started their firm in February 2014.  Kelly Street and Kevin Curry have been with the firm almost from its start, Meghan Feliciano joined us in 2016, and Alice McGlave and Anna Veit-Carter started in 2017.  Retired Justice Paul Anderson and Judge John McShane provide mediation and arbitration and consulting services.  “We have several trials on our docket in 2018, which promises to be our most productive year,” George Soule said.  The firm focuses on product liability, commercial litigation, personal injury and property damage, Indian law, appeals, and alternative dispute resolution.

Happy Holidays from Soule & Stull at Minnehaha Falls!