Minnesota Civil Litigation Lawyers

Civil Litigation

10 South Fifth Street, Suite 800, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Jeff Eckland focuses his practice on government contracts and general commercial litigation. He has litigated cases in state and federal courts across the country, including the state courts of California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas; the federal district courts of Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee; the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC); the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA); the National Appeals Division (NAD) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Courts of Appeals for the States of Minnesota and Texas; and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, and the Federal Circuit. Jeff successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in Franconia Associates v. United States, 536 U.S. 129 (2002), establishing that when the Government transacts business with its citizens it must do so by the same rules as everyone else and that therefore an Act of Congress can constitute a breach of contract. The Franconia Associates line of cases has resulted in aggregate settlements of over $700 Million on behalf of his government contractor clients. Jeff has tried a variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including bid protests, performance disputes, compliance proceedings, terminations for default (T/D) and convenience (T/C), defective pricing, qui tam, and False Claims Act litigation. In addition, he has (i) negotiated at the Pentagon stays of suspension and debarment proceedings; (ii) represented government contractors in civil and criminal environmental proceedings; and (iii) recovered increased costs for the construction of a Naval Brig at Miramar Naval Air Station (Top Gun). Jeff also counsels government contractors and their subcontractors on many transactional and compliance issues, including all phases of contract negotiation and administration, termination settlement proposals (TSPs), cost allowance, intellectual property, and technical data rights. Jeff also pursues claims against the state and federal governments, and their various agencies, for redress of grievances relating to Government abuse of power and discretion under the U.S. and State Constitutions, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Jeff represents businesses and individuals in many other kinds of commercial disputes. His practice includes jury and court trials, appeals, prejudgment injunctions and other remedies, arbitrations and mediations, and administrative hearings. He was a member of the trial teams for the In Re Glacier Bay and Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation cases in Alaska in which he was primarily responsible for developing the evidentiary foundation for the successful fisheries price drop claim in the Glacier Bay case and the supervision of the discovery proceedings involving the Kenai river salmon sonar counters in the Exxon Valdez case. He was also involved in the maritime law aspects of both oil spill cases. He has tried patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, Lanham Act, antitrust, securities, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with contractual relations, RICO, employment discrimination, dealer termination, covenants not to compete, breach of contract, takings, environmental, and other types of cases. In addition to trying cases, Jeff enjoys obtaining quick court action on behalf of clients to protect their interests. He has successfully obtained emergency injunctive relief requested by his clients in over twenty civil actions. Prior to litigation, Jeff also counsels clients about the procedural, tactical, and strategic issues involved in commencing and defending civil actions. He counsels clients on ways to avoid litigation as well as to prevent or reduce liability should litigation occur, and advises clients about the risks, benefits, and costs of litigation. Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979, suma cum laude, and the University of Chicago Law School in 1982. He is a member of the Public Contract Law and Science and Technology Sections of the American Bar Association (ABA). Jeff serves as a member of the State Law Database Committee, where he chairs the drafting of procurement law outlines published by the ABA for the States of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. He is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the upcoming revision of the Model Procurement Code (MPC). He is also a Fellow of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), served on the NCMA’s Board of Advisors, and served as President of the NCMA Twin Cities Chapter from 1995-1996. He is a long-standing member of the Planning Committee for the Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts sponsored by the University of Minnesota. Jeff writes and lectures on a variety of government contract topics.

Civil Litigation

2051 Killebrew Dr, Bloomington, MN 55425

Jeffrey Schiek, concentrates his practice in employment law, representing professionals facing employment-related misconduct allegations. Mr. Schiek represents victims of workplace abuse and harassment. Mr. Schiek has helped develop brochures and articles for workshops nationwide on the topics of criminal law and procedure diversity in education, the community and the workplace, and on the topics of the prevention of workplace violence and harassment. Mr. Schiek has lectured and written on topics for CLE's (Continuing Legal Education). Mr. Schiek was hired by Philip G. Villaume and Associates in 1999 as a law clerk. In 2000, Mr. Schiek was hired as an attorney and is currently a Partner. Since 2000 Mr. Schiek has been providing legal services to professionals and organizations. Mr. Schiek represents professionals accused of employment-related misconduct. Mr. Schiek also provides pro bono legal advice to the Amish community in Minnesota. Mr. Schiek has written and argued numerous cases to the Court of Appeals and to the Supreme Court of Minnesota. Jeff was voted Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers in Minnesota.

Civil Litigation

183 Seventh Avenue South, Waite Park, MN 56387

Civil Litigation

120 South 6th St suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55402, USA

Sonia Miller-Van Oort is a highly respected and accomplished litigation attorney. She has worked on a variety of litigation involving commercial disputes, product liability cases, non-competition and non-solicitation matters, breach-of-contract cases, invasion-of-privacy matters, franchise disputes, tortious interference claims, and misrepresentation and fraud claims. Having represented clients nationally, regionally, and locally, Sonia has a breadth of experience briefing and arguing dispositive and non-dispositive motions, negotiating settlements in complex matters, and trying cases both in state and federal court. Sonia’s clients most value her strong oral advocacy abilities, negotiation skills, and practical, yet innovative approach to addressing their needs. Not only is Sonia committed to her legal practice and meeting her clients’ needs, she is also committed to public service. Sonia was appointed by the ABA President to serve on the prestigious ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary as the 8th Circuit representative; in this capacity, Sonia and the 14-member committee volunteer significant time evaluating presidential nominees to the federal court and issuing ratings to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Department of Justice, and the White House. Over the years, Sonia has provided pro bono assistance to numerous clients, including representation of parents, guardians ad litem, and children caught in foster care and custody disputes. Her commitment to community is also reflected in the variety of non-profit boards of directors on which she has served: the Hennepin County Bar. Sonia’s skills both inside and outside of the courtroom have been recognized by her peers and adversaries alike. In 2002, Sonia was selected as one of only ten attorneys in Minnesota to be recognized as an “Up and Coming Attorney.” She was subsequently named a “Rising Star” by Minnesota Law and Politics in 2005, 2006, 2008, and a “Super Lawyer” in 2013, 2014, and 2015. And in 2007–2008, Sonia had the distinguished honor of being elected the 89th President of the Hennepin County Bar Association (one of the 15 largest county bar associations in the country), serving as the Association’s first Hispanic President and the second youngest President in its history. Sonia served as the first Latino President of the Minnesota State Bar Association and fifth female President in 2017–2018. In September 2020, Indiana University-Mauer School of Law presented Sonia with its Distinguished Service award in recognition of her extraordinary service to the legal community. Foundation, Volunteer Lawyers Network, University of Minnesota Legal Services, and the Notre Dame Club of Minnesota. Sonia also served for eight years on the School Board of the Hopkins-based Spanish-immersion public charter school, International Spanish Language Academy, serving as Chair for two years and an officer for several. Sonia feels a strong allegiance to her law school and was honored to be asked to serve on the Indiana University Alumni Board of Directors for several years, as well as the Latino Alumni Advisory Board. Those who know Sonia know she takes her fun seriously. In addition to playing many board games with her husband and two nearly-grown children, Sonia loves travel, playing competitive tennis, dancing the night away, and cheering on the Notre Dame football team.