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Stephen O. Plunkett
Shareholder
Stephen O. Plunkett
Shareholder
Professional Liability/Claim Prevention, Organizational Liability for Sexual Misconduct/Abuse
Health Care Industry
Overview
Mr. Plunkett concentrates his practice in health care and sexual misconduct defense, bringing more than 30 years of experience to his role as litigator and counsel.
Mr. Plunkett has defended health care and other clients in hundreds of cases involving bodily injury or the death of residents in group homes and assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. Mr. Plunkett and his health care team have obtained defense verdicts in significant pressure wound injury cases. Mr. Plunkett also represents corporations sued for their employees’ sexual misconduct. Recently, he obtained a favorable resolution of several high-profile cases involving former high school students’ sexual abuse claims.
Mr. Plunkett recently served as Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Law Institute, where he oversees national seminars on health care law topics including long-term care, medical liability, and other related topics. In 2021, he was elected as a National Director to DRI's Board of Directors.
Mr. Plunkett is a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee, Chair of its Strategic Planning Committee, and member of its Associate Development Committee.
EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS
Education
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1989
- University of Minnesota, B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1985
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
EXPERIENCE
Representative Cases
Butts v. Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Soc’y, 802 N.W.2d 839 (Minn. Ct. App. 2011), reversed trial court’s voluntary dismissal and ordered summary judgment for defendants.
Fiers v. La Crosse Cty., 132 F. Supp. 3d 1111 (W.D. Wis. 2015), dismissal granted against claim for alleged violations of a nursing facility patient’s rights under FNHRA.
Obtained defense award finding no liability for defendants in alleged physical and sexual abuse of nursing home resident.
Does AB, XY, and YZ v. Shattuck-St. Mary's Sch., 101 Fed. R. Evid. Serv. (Callaghan) 783 (D. Minn. Oct. 5, 2016), successful resolution of former students’ suits involving claims of sexual abuse against private boarding school.
Carolina Cas. Ins. Co. v. Burbach, 354 F.3d 929 (8th Cir. 2004), reversed trial court’s grant of summary judgment.
Conlin v. City of Eagan, 482 N.W.2d 519 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992), affirming trial court's denial of summary judgment.
Doe v. Lutheran High School of Greater Minneapolis, 702 N.W. 2d 322 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005), affirmed trial court’s summary judgment regarding MN Human Rights claims.
Dornfeld v. Oberg, 491 N.W. 2d 297 (Minn. Ct. App. 1992).
Dunham v. Roer, 708 N.W.2d 552 (Minn. Ct. App. 2006), affirmed trial court’s summary judgment regarding numerous personal injury claims.
NEWS & EVENTS
Fifteen Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America
Bassford Remele is pleased to announce that fifteen lawyers have been included in the 2024 Edition...
15 Attorneys Named to the 2023 Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyers List
Congratulations to our 15 attorneys on the 2023 Minnesota Monthly Top Lawyers List: David M....
Seventeen Attorneys Selected to Super Lawyers Lists; Lew Remele is Top Vote-Getter
Bassford Remele is pleased to announce that Lewis Remele is the top vote-getter in the 2023...
Steve Plunkett Receives DRI's Tom Segalla Award and Elected to Board of Directors
Steve Plunkett has been named this year’s recipient of the DRI Tom Segalla Excellence in Education...
Steve Plunkett Obtains Defense Jury Verdict in Skilled Nursing Facility Case
Steve Plunkett received a jury defense verdict in a nursing home trial in Eau Claire, Wisconsin....
PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC
Professional Associations
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Thomas Segalla Excellence in Education Award, 2021
- Board of Directors, 2021-present
- Law Institute
- Chair, 2018-2020
- Vice Chair, 2016-2018
- Member, 2008-2021
- 2019 Annual Meeting Planning Committee, Chair, 2018-present
- Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee Chair, 2007-2009
- Long Term Care Subcommittee of the Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee Chair, 2005-2007
Bar Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Hennepin County Bar Association
ACCOLADES
Honors & Awards
- Defense Research Institute, Thomas Segalla Excellence in Education Award, 2021
- Best Lawyers, Minneapolis Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants Lawyer of the Year, 2023 and 2021
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, 2018-present; Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants, 2019-present
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2007-present
- Minnesota Super Lawyers Top 100 list, Super Lawyers, 2009
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Seminars
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Cannabis Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Washington, DC, May 15, 2019
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Nashville, TN, March 20-22, 2019
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Marijuana Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Chicago, IL, June 26-27, 2018
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, San Diego, CA, March 1-2, 2018
- Litigation & Risk Management Considerations in Senior Living & Social Services, presenter, M3 Insurance, Minneapolis, MN, November 8, 2017
- Section 1983 Litigation and Olmstead Defenses in Long Term Care, presenter, M3 Annual Defense Strategies Symposium, Madison, WI, August 23, 2017
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Marijuana Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Seattle, WA, June 22-23, 2017
- Seminar Moderator/Planner, Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, March 2-3, 2017
- Power of Apology, presenter, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, April 23, 2015
- Power of Apology, presenter, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Roseville, MN, September 11, 2014
- Power of Apology, presenter, Minnesota Care of the Aging Conference, Minneapolis, MN, February 25, 2013
- Medical Spa Litigation, presenter, 2012 Medical Malpractice Conference, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Hennepin County Bar Association and Minnesota Association for Justice, Minneapolis, MN, April 19, 2012
- Medical Spas: The Next Wave of Litigation in a Rapidly Growing Field? presenter, Medical Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, New Orleans, LA, March 8-9, 2012
- Power of Apology, presenter, Minnesota Medical Directors Association Fall Conference, Bloomington, MN, October 22, 2009
- Committee Chair, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Scottsdale, AZ, September 10-11, 2009
- Committee Chair, Medical Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Orlando, FL, March 11-13, 2009
- Committee Chair, Complex Medicine Seminar, Defense Research Institute, San Diego, CA, November 13-14, 2008
- Committee Chair, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, Orlando, FL, September 4-5, 2008
- Seminar Moderator, Medical Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, March 7-9, 2007
- What Meetings Hosted by Corporate Health Providers Can Do for your Seminar Attendance, presenter, Defense Research Institute, Annual Meeting, October 11, 2006
- Seminar Moderator, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, September 7-8, 2006
- Seminar Moderator, Medical Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, March 1-3, 2006
- Long-Term Care Panel, moderator, ALF Health Care Seminar, November 11, 2005
- Seminar Chair, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, September 15-16, 2005 and September 9-10, 2004
- Discovery Issues – Defense Perspective, presenter, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Representing Injured Elders, April 16, 2004
- Use of Technology at Trial, presenter, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, September 18, 2003
- Update on Legislative Initiatives affecting Long-Term Care, presenter, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Long Term Care in Crisis, April 1, 2003
- Use of Experts, presenter, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Fourth Annual Nursing Home Seminar, March 21, 2003
- Successful Case Management from Investigation to Trial, presenter, National Business Institute, Nursing Home Malpractice in Minnesota, November 22, 2002
- Trends in Nursing Home Litigation, presenter, Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar, Defense Research Institute, September 12, 2002
- Use of Experts, presenter, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Nursing Home Litigation, June 28, 2002
- Defense Perspective on Discovery, presenter, Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Third Annual Nursing Home Seminar, February 22, 2002
- Handling the Defense of Personal Injury Claims through Trial, presenter, National Business Institute, Trying the Automobile Injury Case, March 1, 2002
- Nursing Home Liability, presenter, Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance, July 31, 2001
- 11th Amendment Immunity, presenter, Federal Bar Association, June 1, 2000
- Laws Regulating Insurance Agents, presenter, Prosource, October 29, 1999
- Litigation Issues for Agents & Brokers, presenter, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minnesota Law on Insurance Agents & Brokers, October 20, 1999
- Agent and Brokers Liability, presenter, Prosource, May 10, 1999
- Course Co-Chair, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Release Deskbook, September 23, 1998
- Settlement and Ethics, presenter, National Business Institute, Adjusting the Automobile Injury Claim, March 10, 1998
- Defense Planning, Settlement Methods, Ethical Considerations, Trial, and Post-Trial Motions, presenter, National Business Institute, Trying the Automobile Injury Case, February 15, 1995
- CGL Issues and Answers, presenter, Prosource, October 12, 1993 and September 17, 1993