Profile - Amanda M. Cialkowski

Company Information

Company

Nilan Johnson Lewis PA
250 Marquette Avenue South
Suite 800 Minneapolis, MN 55401

Phone

(612) 305-7500

Member Bio

Key Practice Experience
•Regional counsel for major automobile manufacturer in asbestos personal injury cases
•National coordinating counsel in defense of personal injury and wrongful death claims against a manufacturer in trace benzene actions across the United States
•Defense of chemical and toxic exposure cases
•Local counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturers in litigation involved in MDLs
•Defense counsel for major retailer in variety of actions
•Defense counsel for major automobile manufacturer in their breach of warranty matters
•Appellate briefing before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Key Industry Experience
•Chemical and Manufacturing
•Pharmaceuticals
•Retail
•Automotive and Trucking
•Security Systems

Representative Cases/Transactions
•Stoddard v. A.H. Bennet, et al. (Ramsey County District Court - jury trial January 2012) (won defense verdict as trial counsel in 2-week jury trial involving plaintiff with mesothelioma allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos-containing products)
•Kleinaitis v. 3M (Madison County Circuit Court – jury trial August 2010) (won defense verdict as lead trial counsel in 2-week jury trial involving personal injury claims as a result of alleged benzene exposure)
•Slidell, Inc. v. Millennium Inorganic Chemicals, Inc., 460 F.3d 1047 (8th Cir. 2006) (won defense verdict as trial counsel in 7-week jury trial including claims of breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and promissory estoppel)
•Thompson v. Hirano Tecseed Co., Ltd., 456 F.3d 805 (8th Cir. 2006) (defended foreign manufacturer who designed a complex laminator to a buyer’s specs)
•U.S. ex rel. Kinney v. Stoltz, 327 F.3d 671 (8th Cir. 2003) (successfully defended Hennepin County Medical Center in qui tam action brought pursuant to the False Claims Act)
•Jefferson County School Dist. v. Lead Industries Ass’n, Inc., 223 F. Supp. 2d 771 (S.D. Miss. 2002) (successfully removed action to federal court on the basis of the fraudulent joinder of 28 co-defendants — case was ultimately dismissed)

Professional Recognitions/Honors
•Again named one of the nation’s top product liability attorneys by Legal Media Group
•Repeatedly named in Minnesota Rising Stars by Law & Politics magazine

Selected Publications/Presentations
•Speaker at DRI Product Liability Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, April 2012, "Mother May I? How You Can Ethically Influence the Internet to Anticipate Jury Misconduct"
•Speaker at DRI Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., October 2007, “Privilege or No Privilege; When are Communications with Third Parties Privileged?”
•Keynote Speaker at Iowa Defense Counsel Association Products Practice Seminar, Des Moines, IA, April 2007, “Recent Developments in Product Liability Law”
•Speaker at DRI’s Product Liability Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 2007, “Jeopardy: Where Your Clients Face New Perils – a Year in Review”
•Moderator at DRI’s Product Liability Conference Young Lawyer Breakout Panel, Las Vegas, NV, February 2006
•Speaker at Minnesota Defense Lawyers’ Annual Meeting, August 2003, Duluth, MN, “Conflicts of Law in Wrongful Death Cases”
•Speaker at DRI’s Product Liability Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 2003, “Oh Bother: The Increasing Use of Public Nuisance Counts in Products Liability Cases”
•Speaker at DRI’s Product Liability Conference, Los Angeles, CA, February 2003, “Face Off: Putting a New Face on Bifurcation”

Professional Associations
•DRI (Steering Committee Coordinator for Substantive Law Groups for Product Liability Committee; DRI Chair of Partnering with Industry Task Force; Women in the Law Committee)
•Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
•Minnesota State Bar Association
•Hennepin County Bar Association

Community Involvement
•Vice President of Board of Isuroon, a Somali women’s health and wellness support group
•Elections judge

Bar Admissions
•U.S. Supreme Court
•U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
•U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
•Minnesota Supreme Court
•Oregon Supreme Court

Other Education
•B.A., Psychology, Carleton College
•Clerked for Oregon Court of Appeals

Firm Information

Since we opened our doors in 1996, we have quietly pioneered a new approach to the practice of law. Our clients see it in our focus on their needs, the accessibility of our customized practice teams, and our creative solutions.

In each of our six areas of practice — labor and employment, business law, intellectual property litigation, product liability and mass tort litigation, commercial litigation, and health care — we filter deep expertise through uncommon innovation to give clients exceptional results. Some call our client-focused approach an unusual strategy, one exemplifying a new generation of law firms — we call it business as usual.

The firm is based on six core values; Trust, Excellence, Diversity, Innovation, Profitability and Community.

We value honesty and communication, and have the confidence in each other's motivations to candidly yet respectfully resolve our differences.

We seek constant improvement in the quality of our work and our service to clients, and are committed to investing in even closer partnerships with our clients and greater sophistication in our delivery of top legal services.

We recognize that all talented people can lend value to our organization, and are committed to affording opportunities not only for women and minorities but for those with different backgrounds or lifestyles to share their talents productively.

We are dedicated to anticipating our clients' changing needs and we are willing to take the risks necessary to meet and surpass those needs.

We seek to earn a fair profit as a return on the investment of our skills, experience, time, and resources, and to share our financial success with all those who make it possible.

We will treat each other with respect, and provide an environment where people share a sense of excitement and enjoyment and can flourish in both their personal and professional lives.

Recognized Diversity

Our firm has made a strong commitment to diversity including the hiring and advancement of women, people of color and those with different backgrounds and lifestyles. We seek meaningful ways to retain and support them in developing a rewarding career. We offer:

Flexible scheduling
Domestic partnership benefits for our gay/lesbian employees
Telecommuting options
Reduced hour schedules
Other arrangements designed to help balance family and career

In addition, we support the following organizations:

The Minnesota Minority Recruitment Conference as an active participant and prior co-host

Urban League Scholarships

Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers

National Bar Association which is the nation's oldest and largest national association of predominately African-American lawyers and judges

Minnesota Women Lawyers

The Human Rights Campaign banquet as an annual event sponsor

National Coming Out Day as a banner sponsor

Minnesota Lavender Bar Association

Charting Your Own Course Foundation Sponsor since 1999 through 2001 and 2003, 2004, which is an organization that promotes the professional development of African-American corporate counsel nationwide

Partnership Resources, which is an organization that provides vocational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Minnesota Urban Debate League

Rainbow Families

AMICUS

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law

We have been recognized by others for our efforts to promote diversity in private practice:

Hennepin County Bar Association Award
Halleland received the Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) Diversity Award “For demonstrating outstanding commitment to diversity in the practice of law” in 2004 and 2007. We also won a special achievement award from HCBA in 2006 for "demonstrating our ongoing commitment to diversity."

Minnesota Women Lawyer's Award
In 2001, we were honored with the Minnesota Women Lawyers Leadership Award in recognition for our outstanding efforts to promote the hiring and advancement of women in the practice of law.

University of Minnesota Law School Scholarship
This fund was established in 1999 to support annual scholarships for qualified second and third year law students. Students must demonstrate financial need, outstanding academic achievement and a commitment to entering and enhancing the private practice of law. Preference is given to female students when awarding this scholarship.

Diversity Internship Program
Our Diversity Internship Program partners with area high schools to provide an opportunity for underrepresented minorities, GLBT students, young individuals with disabilities, and students from economically disadvantaged families, to gain experience working in a professional business environment in a legal setting.

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Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation
Mass Tort
Products Liability
Toxic Torts & Environmental Law
Trial Tactics

DRI Committees
Drug and Medical Device
Product Liability
Toxic Torts and Environmental Law
Women in the Law

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Profile - Amanda M. Cialkowski - Bio

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