Ronald H. McLean was born and attended school in Fargo, North Dakota. He is married to Mona and has one daughter, Chelsea, and two sons, Colin and Ian.
Mr. McLean is a trial lawyer. He graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1975, and immediately joined the Serkland Law Firm. He practices in all state and federal courts in North Dakota and Minnesota. His areas of practice include products liability, personal injury, oil and gas, class action, business dispute litigation, insurance law, employment law, professional ethics disputes and business torts.
Mr. McLean wrote the article "Admissibility of Polygraph Evidence" which was published in the North Dakota Law Review in 1975. He has spoken at many seminars. Mr. McLean's past and present activities include the North Dakota Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Commission (1985-1996, Chair 1991-1994; appointed by the North Dakota Supreme Court); Member of the North Dakota Supreme Court Joint Procedures Commission since 1985 (appointed by the North Dakota Supreme Court to draft procedural rules); Board of Directors, Attorneys Liability Protection Society (Chair Person, 1997-present).
His areas of concentration of practice are commercial litigation and personal injury litigation. He is a member of the North Dakota Defense Lawyer's Association and the Defense Research Institute. Mr. McLean is licensed to practice law in North Dakota and Minnesota. He is Norwegian Consul for North Dakota.
Mr. McLean is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is a group limited to one percent of lawyers in the United States. He is also a member of the International Society of Barristers, which is an organization of trial lawyers limited by invitation to approximately 800 lawyers in the United States. He has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in the Great Plains region and has been noted by Law and Politics Magazine as one of the top 25 attorneys in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Mr. McLean also was honored by Chambers USA as being among the top commercial litigators in North Dakota. The authors noted Mr. McLean is a "skilled and knowledgeable negotiator” and is “an outstanding litigator who makes excellent use of analogies and is brilliant on cross-examination."
Mr. McLean was voted the best commercial litigator in Fargo/Moorhead by a survey of local attorneys. He has been statewide defense liaison counsel in asbestos litigation since 1985, and fen-phen litigation since 2000. He practices throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. He has successfully represented defendants in serious cases. He has secured awards in excess of $1 million for plaintiffs in business litigation. He has represented law firms, individual lawyers, judges and law school professors. He enjoys reading, baseball, skiing and golf.
Areas of Practice
- Complex Commercial Litigation and Class Actions
- Business and Commercial Law
- Insurance Litigation
- Negligence and Personal Injury
- Professional Disciplinary Action Defense
- Professional Malpractice Defense
Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- North Dakota, 1975
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court District of North Dakota
Education
- University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota, 1975
J.D.
Honors: Dean's List
Honors: Senior Editor, University of North Dakota Law Review, 1974-75
Law Review: Admissibility of Polygraph Evidence, 1975
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1972
B.A.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: With Honors
Published Works
Admissibility of Polygraph Evidence 51, North Dakota Law Review 679, 1975
Representative Cases
- Western National Mutual Insurance Co. v. University of North Dakota, 643 N.W.2d 4 (N.D. 2002)
- Warner and Co. v. Solberg, 634 N.W.2d 65, 145 Lab.Cas. P59, 474, 17 IER (N.D. 2001)
- Ritter, Laber and Associates, Inc. v. Koch Oil, Inc., a Div. of Koch Industries, Inc., 623 N.W.2d 424 149 Oil & Gas Rep. 261 (N.D. 2001)
- Lonesome Dove Petroleum, Inc. v. Nelson, 611 N.W.2d 154, 145 Oil & Gas Rep. 87 (N.D. 2000)
- Ritter, Laber and Associates, Inc. v. Koch Oil, Inc., a Div. of Koch Industries, Inc., 605 N.W.2.d 153, 149 Oil & Gas Rep. 87 (N.D. 2000)
- Black v. Abex Corp., 603 N.W.2d 182 Prod.Liab.Rep (CCH) p15, 730 (N.D. 1999)
- Smits v. Wal-Mart Stores, inc., 525 N.W.2d 554 (Minn. App. 1994)
- Dullea v. Dullea Co., 1991 WL 271479 (Minn. App. 1991)
- In re North Dakota Personal Injury Asbestos Litigation, No. 1, 737 F. Supp 1087, 58 USLW 2695 (D.N.D. 1990)
- Nogosek v. Asbestos Corp. of America, 129 F.R.D. 540 (D.N.D. 1989)
- Greenwood v. American Family Insurance Co., 398 N.W.2d 108 (N.D. 1986)
- Ray E. Friedman & Co. v. Jenkins, 738 F.2d 251 (C.A.8 (N.D.) 1984)
- Hall GMC, Inc. v. Crane Carrier Co., 332 N.W.2d 54 (N.D. 1983)
- American Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Jordan, 315 N.W.2d 290 (N.D. 1982)
- Twin City Const. Co. of Fargo v. Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians through LaFromboise, 866 F.2d 971 (C.A.8 (N.D.) 1989)
- State Bank of Fargov. Dakota Bank and Trust Co., 305 N.W. 2d 661 (N.D. 1981)
- Dehn v. Otter Tail Power Co., 251 N.W.2d 404 (N.D. 1977)
- Smith v. F-M Ambulance Service, Inc., 914 F. Supp. 359, 131 Lab.Cas. P 33, 379 (D.N.D. Nov. 9 1995)
Representative Clients
- Bankers Life & Casualty
- Center for Claims Resolution (Asbestos Producers)
- Liberty Mutual Ins. Company
- Lloyds of London
- Mass. Mutual Life
- Medmark Insurance Co.
- North Central Life
- Northland Insurance Co.
- Prudential Insurance Companies
- Vikings Insurance
- Wausau Insurance Company
- Peerless Insurance
- Hawk-Eye Security Insurance Company
- American Home Products
- Johnson & Johnson
- AT&T
- Union Carbide
- Empire Insurance
- Sanford Health
- City of Fargo
References
- US District Judge Ralph Erickson
- US District Judge Daniel Hovland
- US Magistrate Judge Karen Klein
- US Magistrate Judge Charles Miller
- Judge Frank Racek
- Judge Douglas Herman
Classes / Seminars Taught
- Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner, 2003
- Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in North Dakota, 2000
- Taking and Defending Effective Depositions in North Dakota, 1999
- Conflicts of Interest Under Professional Responsibility Rules, 1998
- Jury Reform in North Dakota - Presentation to State Bar Association, 1997
- Recent Developments in Law Regarding Fraud, Deceit, Malpractice and Premises Liability, State Bar Association, 1994
- Jury Instruction Presentation, North Dakota Defense Lawyers Meeting, 1993
- How to Limit Damages for the Defense in North Dakota, 1992
- Jury Instruction Presentation, North Dakota Defense Lawyers Meeting, 1991
- Statutory Procedures for Removal of Judge and Opposing Counsel, 1990
- Negotiation Techniques in Civil Litigation, 1989
- How to Evaluate and Settle Personal Injury Claims in North Dakota, 1989
Honors and Awards
- Appointed defense liaison counsel by state and federal Courts to speak for over 50 asbestos defendants in approximately 300 cases.
- Appointed "Fen/Phen" defense liaison counsel by state courts to speak for defendants.
- Chairman of the Board of Attorneys Liability Protection Society, an Insurance company providing insurance coverage to attorneys in 24 states through affilitation with the various state bar associations.
- First appeared in Best Lawyers in America in 2006, and has continued to
be selected by his peers for inclusion including the
2011-2012 edition.
- Named Best Lawyers' 2012 Fargo Commercial Litigation Lawyer of the Year.
- Selected to North Dakota "Top 5" list for Great Plains Super Lawyers 2011.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- North Dakota Supreme Court Joint Procedures Committee, 1985
Member
- North Dakota Bar Association, 1987 - Present
Member, Pattern Jury Instruction Committee
- Lawyer Referral Program of State Bar Association, 1980 - 1984
Chairman
- Legal Assistance of North Dakota, 1984 - 1990
President
- Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Fargo, ND, 1983 - 1990
- Fraser Hall (care giver of developmentally disabled), 1981 - Present
- State Bar Association
- Minnesota Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
- American Bar Association, Class Action Section
- North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- North Dakota Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Commision, 1985 - 1995
Member
- North Dakota Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Commision, 1991 - 1994
Chair
- Legal Assistance of North Dakota, 1983 - 1990
Board of Directors
- North Dakota Supreme Court Pattern Jury Instruction Commision, 1989 - 1990
Past President
- Norwegian Counsel for North Dakota
- Fraser
Board Member
- Kiwanis
Member
- United Methodist Church
Member
- N.D. College of Trial Lawyers of America
State Chair
Birth Information
February 8, 1950, Fargo, North Dakota, United States of America
Licensed to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota, and serving the communities of Fargo, Moorhead, Grand Forks, Valley City, Jamestown, Minot, Bismarck, Alexandria, Wahpeton, Cooperstown, Glyndon, and Dilworth.