Practice Group | Bassford Remele

Restrictive Covenants

For more than 30 years, the Bassford Remele team has been involved in many of the most important unfair-competition cases in the state. In fact, we have been a major player in developing Minnesota law in this arena. But our experience extends beyond Minnesota — spanning state and federal courts throughout the country and representing clients in a wide range of industries from small businesses to Fortune 500 Companies.

Whether we are defending unfair competition claims or acting to enforce restrictive covenants, our significant courtroom experience means we have the know-how to help clients understand the best way to handle their dispute and to guide their cases to successful conclusion.

Representative Cases

Represented a global medical-device company in district court and on appeal, winning summary judgment on liability for breach-of-contract and tortious interference claims, together with a jury verdict and seven-figure judgment, including an attorneys’ fees award. St. Jude Med., S.C., Inc. v. Biosense Webster, Inc., 818 F.3d 785 (8th Cir. 2016).

Represented a global medical-device company, obtaining a decision sustaining judgment as a matter of law enforcing a sales representative agreement and dismissing a $30 million counterclaim. St. Jude Med. S.C., Inc. v. Tormey, 779 F.3d 894 (8th Cir. 2015).

Represented an international manufacturer, obtaining a decision establishing a principle that an enforceable noncompetition covenant can be defined in terms of “conflicting product” and “conflicting organization” without express geographic limitations. This was the first case to establish that unreported Minnesota Court of Appeals’ decisions have no precedential value. Dynamic Air Inc. v. Bloch, 502 N.W.2d 796 (Minn. App. 1993).

Represented an agricultural cooperative, obtaining a decision establishing many principles of South Dakota law concerning noncompetition agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and related recovery of compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees. CENTROL, Inc. v. Morrow, 489 N.W.2d 890 (S.D. 1992).