News

Soule & Stull Helps Client Win Defense Verdict

March 1, 2024. Soule & Stull partner Ike Messmore helped to successfully defend his client, a large auto manufacturer, obtaining a complete defense verdict in a jury trial in Hennepin County District Court. Plaintiff alleged a defect in the high-voltage battery of his electric vehicle and sought damages for breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, and violation of the Minnesota warranty statutes. Ike helped try the case with Kent Hanson of Hanson Law LTD. After three hours of deliberation, the jury returned a complete defense verdict, finding in the defendant’s favor on all claims and all questions.

Ike Messmore Presents on Digital Safety Communications at DRI

February 9, 2024. Soule & Stull partner Ike Messmore and Steve Hall of Applied Safety and Ergonomics, A Rimkus Company, presented at the Defense Research Institute’s 2024 Product Liability Conference in Denver, Colorado. Ike and Steve discussed the digitization of warnings and instructions, including information about the forthcoming ANSI standard on warnings in electronic media, consumer preferences regarding modern safety communications, and potential pitfalls and liability concerns for manufacturers seeking to embrace digital warnings and instructions. Ike is the current Chair of the DRI Consumer Goods and Office Equipment Subcommittee, and Steve is the current Chair for the ANSI Z535 Committee on Safety Signs and Colors.

Soule & Stull Is Proud to Support University of Minnesota Women’s Basketball Student-Athletes

January 22, 2024. Soule & Stull is supporting four University of Minnesota Women’s Basketball players – Amaya Battle, Mara Braun, Mallory Heyer, and Nia Holloway. The exciting new world of NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) permits the firm to partner with the athletes.

The four student-athletes played at Twin Cities’ high schools and joined the Gophers together in 2022. Sophomores now, the four are key contributors to the team’s success.

“We had the chance to meet with the four athletes recently to discuss their basketball achievements, college life, and future plans,” Partner Melissa Stull said. “They are incredibly strong, hard-working, focused young women who are balancing the demands of D-1 basketball and a rigorous class schedule. We are happy to support these role models for Minnesota youth.”

Stay tuned—you can meet the Gopher athletes at the firm’s Spring Lawn Party in April.

Soule & Stull Welcomes Lezlie Ott Marek

October 4, 2023. George and Melissa proudly announce that Lezlie Ott Marek will join the firm as ADR Counsel. Lezlie will offer Alternative Dispute Resolution services, including arbitration, mediation, and special master assignments.

Governor Tim Pawlenty appointed Lezlie Ott Marek to the Ramsey County District Court in 2010 and she won election in 2012 and 2018. She retired in 2021. As Judge, she presided over hundreds of civil cases, including contract, tort, employment, business, real property, trust and probate, and governmental agency disputes. The Minnesota Supreme Court appointed her to preside over the trials of all Minnesota cases alleging personal injury or death from asbestos exposure.

Lezlie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the College of St. Catherine and from Notre Dame Law School. Before her time on the bench, Lezlie had a nationwide civil litigation practice for 27 years as a partner at Bowman and Brooke LLP and Hanson Marek Bolkcom & Greene, Ltd. in Minneapolis.

“I am happy to work with my former partner again,” George Soule said. “Lezlie has a wealth of experience in civil cases as a trial lawyer and judge. She will be a real asset to the Minnesota legal community in resolving cases.”

Soule & Stull Welcomes Ike Messmore

September 12, 2023. George and Melissa are delighted that Ike Messmore has joined the firm as a partner. Ike will focus his practice on product liability defense, commercial litigation, and regulatory advising.

Ike has over 11 years of experience as a litigator and trial lawyer in product liability, class action, and commercial cases. After graduating from the University of Minnesota law school, magna cum laude, in 2012, Ike worked with George and Melissa at Bowman and Brooke LLP before helping open a new Minneapolis office for a large national firm. He has represented corporate clients in high-exposure cases across the country, including motor vehicle, powersports, chemical, and industrial equipment manufacturers. He has also provided extensive product-safety and regulatory guidance, particularly regarding recalls and compliance with CPSC and NHTSA regulations. Ike was recently selected as a 2023 “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, an accolade he has earned every year since 2017.

Ike lives in Minneapolis with his partner and two dogs. Outside of work, he enjoys racing motorcycles, bicycling, music, and reading. 

George Soule speaks at 2023 Minnesota Indian Law Conference

May 5, 2023. George Soule spoke today at the 2023 Indian Law Conference sponsored by Minnesota CLE and the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association. George joined Chief Justice Angelique EagleWoman, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Supreme Court, and Judge Philip Brodeen, Lower Sioux Indian Community, on a panel to discuss deciding cases and writing opinions in tribal court. George has served as a Judge on the White Earth Nation Tribal Court of Appeals since 2012, and also serves on the appellate courts of four other Minnesota Tribes. George was President of the Minnesota American Indian Bar Association in 2004-2006.

Soule & Stull Receives Tier 1 Rank from U.S. News – Best Lawyers

January 4, 2023. U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® ranked Soule & Stull as a Tier 1 Regional Best Law Firm in the area of Product Liability Litigation – Defendants in 2023.

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process collected by those within the product liability community, including clients, law firms, lawyers, and peers of Soule & Stull. Soule & Stull would like to thank those who took time to nominate the firm as a Regional Best Law Firm.

Happy Holidays from Soule & Stull!

December 2022. On the north shore of Bde Maka Ska, we have lots of snow, but we send you warm wishes for a healthy and happy holiday season! We are grateful for our colleagues, family, friends, and clients. Happy Holidays from John, Bethany, George, Alison, Melissa, Kevin, Alice, and Paul.

Soule & Stull Welcomes Bethany Anderson

George and Melissa are delighted that Bethany Anderson has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Bethany will focus her practice on civil litigation, including product liability, commercial, medical negligence, and environmental. She obtained an environmental law concentration during law school.

Prior to joining Soule & Stull, Bethany clerked for two years at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.  There, she worked with four judges and honed her legal research and writing skills.

Before beginning her legal career, Bethany spent three years in China teaching English.  She put her Chinese language undergraduate minor to good use, achieving an intermediate-advanced level of spoken Mandarin.  Upon returning to her hometown of Pella, Iowa, Bethany worked as a legal assistant at a small law firm before heading to law school.

Outside of work, Bethany enjoys running (including two marathons), reading, crocheting, and perusing maps.  But her favorite pastime is being with her husband and son.  You can usually find them taking a walk, reading, or exploring Minnesota’s breweries and parks.

George’s cookies raise $8,000 for Division of Indian Work!

September 26, 2022. George’s chocolate chip cookies were auctioned again this year at Division of Indian Work’s annual LEAP fundraiser. The winning bids (by two bidders) were $4,000! Soule & Stull was a proud sponsor of DIW’s LEAP event, celebrating 70 years of DIW. DIW’s mission is “to support and strengthen urban American Indian people through culturally-based education, traditional healing approaches, and leadership development.” Hundreds of people attended the event to support DIW’s programs. George serves on the DIW Board of Directors.

Melissa Stull presents at Torts, Litigation, and Ethics seminar

September 23, 2022. Melissa Stull presented at the Torts, Litigation, and Ethics XIII seminar in St. Paul on Friday. Melissa offered a primer on products liability law and shared insights on recent Minnesota cases and trends. The seminar was full of excellent presenters from the Twin Cities legal community, including Attorney General Keith Ellison.

MSBA presents Lifetime Achievement Award to George Soule

June 22, 2022. Minnesota State Bar Association President Jennifer Thompson presented the 2022 MSBA Lifetime Achievement Award to George Soule. According to the MSBA:

This award is presented to an experienced member of the State Bar who has continually displayed commitment and contributions to the Bar, the legal profession, and/or the public throughout their career.  Recipients of this award are well respected in the legal community for their integrity, competence, career achievement, and service to the bar and/or community. Individuals presented with this award have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to service which goes beyond ordinary expectations.

In accepting the award, George thanked the MSBA and said “I love being a lawyer. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. My best friends are lawyers and judges. I’m proud of our profession. I humbly accept this award under the condition that this is not the end – of my lifetime or of my practice of law.”