Introduction
Edward Cassidy is an officer shareholder and practices in the Employment & Labor Group and Litigation Section of Fredrikson & Byron. He is a litigator with more than 29 years of experience in workers’ compensation, employment law, civil litigation, and OSHA.
Ed’s workers’ compensation practice focuses on advising and representing employers in all phases of risk assessment and management, implementation and maintenance of modified duty programs, defending workers’ compensation claims through trial and related civil matters such as retaliatory discharge and disability discrimination (ADA) claims, third-party liability suits and subrogation.
In addition, Ed represents healthcare, manufacturing, and construction clients in multiple state and federal OSHA jurisdictions. He works with clients throughout the OSHA inspection, citation, and dispute resolution process, including trial. In the last two years, Ed has successfully contested through trial willful violations for a construction client and willful violations involving a fatality for a railroad client. He has represented multiple employer ERISA funds and state insurance plans and subrogation matters arising under personal injury disputes in state and federal courts and on issues related to client interpretation.
Ed also represents clients in state and federal court in commercial and general litigation matters.
Pro bono and community involvement has been an integral part of Ed’s practice for almost 30 years. He has represented indigent parties in family law matters, housing issues, and post-conviction criminal proceedings, and he has been appointed by the court many times as the guardian ad litem in Ramsey County child protection proceedings.
Education
- Hamline Law School, J.D., 1981
- University of Minnesota, B.A., 1973
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1981
Practice Areas
- Workers’ Compensation & OSHA
- Employment & Labor
- Litigation
- Construction
- Aging & Disability Providers
Selected Publications & Presentations
- “Workers’ Compensation Claims/ADA/FMLA: How to Make it All Work,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 27th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, November 10, 2011
- “OSHA Issues Important to ND Employers,” Fredrikson & Byron’s Employment Law Seminar, May 12, 2010
- “Independent Medical Exams,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 25th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 8, 2009
- Speaker, Workers’ Compensation and Beyond: Key Trends and Developments that Employers Need to Know, May 5, 2009
- “Worker’s Comp Light Duty, Disability, and FMLA,” Fredrikson & Byron’s 24th Annual Employment & Labor Law Seminar, October 30, 2008
Professional Activities
- Member, Minnesota Supreme Court’s Legal Services Advisory Committee (LSAC)
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
- Member, Ramsey County Bar Association
Honors & Distinctions
- A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Certified Trial Specialist, Civil Trial Litigation Section, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1989-1995
- Certified, Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem in Ramsey County District Court
- Annual Pro Bono Award by
Community Involvement
- Legal Assistance to the Disadvantaged Committee (Chair, 1992-1995)
- Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem, Ramsey County Child Protection Proceedings
- Chair Ramsey County Correction Board (Chair, 2006-2009)
Current Major Pro Bono Case & Board Activities
- In July 2009, the Louisiana Supreme Court appointed Ed lead counsel to represent an inmate on
- Ed is currently a member of the Supreme Court’s Legal Services Advisory Committee that is responsible for making recommendations to the Supreme Court about the allocation of legislatively appropriated funds for legal services providers in