Richard D. Snyder

Shareholder

Email: rsnyder@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7145
Assistant: Mary Peterman, 612.492.7559

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PRIMARY SERVICES

Insurance Coverage Litigation
Appellate
Environmental Law
Real Estate Litigation

ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE

Litigation

Overview

Rick is a civil litigator representing businesses and individuals in a wide variety of commercial disputes.

He also has a substantial appellate practice, and is the Chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Appellate Group. Among his specialty areas of practice, Rick represents individuals and companies in environmental disputes and insurance coverage disputes. Rick also specializes in representing landowners in disputes with governmental entities and others over land use rights. Each year Rick volunteers a substantial amount of time to represent indigent clients on a pro bono basis.

Experience

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

Environmental Compliance and Litigation

CERCLA/MERLA Litigation

Superfund Litigation
- Represent RPRs in state and federal Superfund cases
Cost Recovery
- Represent municipality in ongoing litigation against U.S. Army regarding funding for treatment systems to remove legacy contaminants from arsenal operations from municipal drinking water supply
- Represent landowner plaintiffs in state court jury trial under Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act

Compliance

Enforcement Proceedings
- Represent clients responding to NOVs and other regulatory enforcement
- Negotiate stipulated penalties
Respond to CAA Section 114 information requests
Negotiate air permit modifications
Internal investigations and self-audits
Develop internal environmental compliance programs

Selected Insurance Coverage Cases

Damman v. Progressive Direct Ins. Co., 856 F.3d 580 (8th Cir. 2017): Class action alleging improper claim payments under auto insurance policies.
In Re Pet Food Product Liability Litigation, MDL Docket No. 1850: Insurance coverage for $25 million settlement of thousands of consolidated pet food product liability claims.
Bright Woods v. Bankers Standard Ins. Co., 665 N.W.2d 544 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003): Insurance coverage action for recovery of $8 million incurred in recall of defective window components.
David Matthew, MD v. Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, 639 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2011): Following a jury trial obtained $1.5 million judgment against disability insurer.
Lakeland Pipeline Co. v. American Home Assur. Co., 981 F. Supp. 1205 (D. Minn. 1997): Insurance coverage for $25 million property damage and business interruption claim following the rupture of a major petroleum pipeline.
JBA International, Inc. v. St. Paul Mercury Fire Ins. Co., No. 01-297 JNE/JGL, 01-2161 (D. Minn.): Multi-million dollar coverage and bad faith action against technology errors and omissions insurer for recovery of defense expenses, settlements and damages related to underlying lawsuits against software developer.
In re Silicone Implant Ins. Coverage Litigation, 652 N.W.2d 46 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002) aff’d in part, 667 N.W.2d 405 (Minn. 2003): Represented insurers in $1 billion coverage action for manufacturer’s liabilities for silicone breast implants.
Old Republic Insurance Co. v. Thomas Pearson, et al., Court File No. 04-1398 JNE/RLE (D. Minn.): Coverage and bad faith action against aviation insurer following its refusal to cover claim by injured children who survived a plane crash. Insurer settled action by payment of a confidential sum representing amounts owned under policy and additional damages.

Selected Land Use Cases

EHW Properties v. City of Eagan, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, Case No. 00-CV-690 (JMR/FLN): Takings claim and challenge to City’s action of downzoning client’s property from commercial to single-family residential zoning classification. City settled prior to trial by restoring prior zoning and paying damages.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy v. City of St. Paul Park, 711 N.W.2d 526 (Minn. App. 2006): Defeated challenge by environmental group to 665-acre multi-use housing project on Mississippi River.

Selected Appellate Cases

Damman v. Progressive Direct Ins. Co., 856 F.3d 580 (8th Cir. 2017): Affirmed dismissal of class action lawsuit against automobile insurer alleging improper application of deductibles in claim payments.
Jerry’s Enterprises Inc. v. U.S. Specialty Ins. Co., 845 F.3d 883 (8th Cir. 2017): Affirmed summary judgment in insurance coverage dispute concerning D&O insurance.
Northwestern Mut. Ins. Co. v. Weiher, 809 F.3d 394 (8th Cir. 2015): Reversed summary judgment in disability insurance dispute.
Matthew v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America, 639 F.3d 857 (8th Cir. 2011): Affirmed jury verdict in disability insurance claim.
Capital Computer Group v. Gray Ins. Co., (11th Cir. 2011): Affirmed Miller Act claim against surety.
O’Hagan v. United States of America, 86 F.3d 776 (8th Cir. 1996): Tax litigation.
Wixon Jewelers vs. Di-Star, Ltd., 218 F.3d 913 (8th Cir. 2000): Distributor termination and franchise litigation.

Articles & Presentations

Financial Institution Bond May Cover Losses from Fraudulent Wire Transfers – Even Where Bank Employees Are at Fault

March 1, 2017

By Richard D. Snyder

Even the most well-designed security plan for preventing financial losses from fraudulent acts has a potential weak spot—the humans at the bank who are responsible for implementing the plan.

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Fredrikson & Byron Represents City of New Brighton in Contamination Settlement with U.S. Army

February 5, 2015

Fredrikson & Byron represented the City of New Brighton in achieving a $59.4 million settlement with the United States Army.

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Honors & Education

EDUCATION

William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 1988, cum laude
University of Minnesota, B.A., 1982, Urban Affairs

BAR ADMISSIONS

Minnesota Supreme Court, 1988
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1989
U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1995
U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2015
U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 2008
United States Supreme Court, 1995

HONORS

Minnesota State Bar Association, North Star Lawyer, 2012, 2015-2017
William Mitchell Law Review, 1986-87

Professional Activities

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure
Governing Council, Minnesota State Bar Association Appellate Practice Section
Minnesota State Bar Association Court Rules and Administration Committee
American Bar Association Appellate Practice Subcommittee of the Section of Litigation
Hennepin County Bar Association, Insurance, Environmental Law and Civil Litigation Committees
Judicial Clerkship, Minnesota Supreme Court, Chief Justice Douglas K. Amdahl and Justice A.M. (Sandy) Keith, 1988-89
Board Member, Minnesota Land Trust