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David M. Dahlmeier

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David M. Dahlmeier

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Email ddahlmeier@bassford.com

Phone 612.376.1651

Fax 612.746.1251

Practice Groups

Products Liability

Industry Groups

Agribusiness Industry

Overview Education & Admissions Experience News & Events Professional & Civic Accolades Nationwide Representation Publications Seminars

Overview

Mr. Dahlmeier is a products liability trial lawyer with extensive experience defending agribusinesses, product manufacturers, and product suppliers across the United States. He is national counsel for several propane suppliers.

As lead counsel on a substantial number of large exposure cases before state and federal courts across the nation, Mr. Dahlmeier leverages his litigation experience and specialized technical knowledge to favorably resolve his clients’ disputes. He has handled more than 500 fire and explosion investigations and cases, often drawing upon his extensive forensic investigation and specialized technical training relating to propane and natural gas. He has also handled many products liability cases related to agribusiness.

Mr. Dahlmeier is chair of Bassford Remele’s Products Liability Practice Group.

EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS

Education

William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1996
Hamline University, B.A., cum laude, 1992

Bar Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, District of North Dakota
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Minnesota
Iowa
North Dakota
Wisconsin

Judicial Clerkships

Sixth Judicial District, Carlton County District Court, The Honorable Robert E. Macaulay, Law Clerk, 1996-1997

EXPERIENCE

Representative Cases

Successfully represented homeowner’s association in Minnesota in a construction defect trial. (Construction Defect)

Represented a propane distributor in Iowa in an explosion case involving two minors who sustained serious burn injuries. (Product Liability)

Represented a truck driver in Minnesota in a motor vehicle collision trial [and obtained a favorable settlement for the client]. (Property Damage)

Obtained a defense verdict in Minnesota for a farmers’ cooperative against a plaintiff seeking damages for alleged crop overspray. The court found that plaintiff failed to convince the court that the damages to his corn were caused by the cooperative. The cooperative was awarded monetary damages for products they supplied the plaintiff. (Pesticide Application)

Obtained reversal of a grant of summary judgment in a subrogation action involving a fatal propane explosion on behalf of an insurer. The court held that genuine issues of material fact still existed for the negligence claim. (Product Liability)

Appellate Cases
Obtained affirmance of a defense verdict where the court of appeals held that the district court did not err when it declined to give the jury a res ipsa loquitur instruction. Tamco Pork II, LLC, 876 N.W.2d 226 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). (Product Liability)

Obtained affirmance of a grant of summary judgment where defendant repaired water damage in plaintiff’s home after a fire. (Construction Defect)

Obtained a defense verdict in Iowa for a cooperative in a lawsuit alleging that defendant negligently installed a propane system for a new hog-production facility. (Product Liability/Construction Defect)

Defended a gas station in Wisconsin in a personal injury trial, where plaintiff allegedly injured his ankle when he stepped on uneven concrete while exiting his truck. (Premises Liability)

Trials
Successfully defended a farmers’ cooperative in North Dakota where an electrician was severely burned when exposed to scalding water overflowing from a condensate tank system designed by defendant. Post-trial, the court denied both plaintiff’s motion for a new trial and plaintiff’s motion to alter and amend under Rule 59(a), holding that defendant was not jointly liable for the percentage of damages allocated to plaintiff’s employer. (Product Liability)

Obtained affirmance of the district court’s grant of summary judgment in an explosion case where plaintiff was severely burned and his house was destroyed. Ciomber, 527 F.3d 635 (7th Cir. 2008). (Product Liability)

NEWS & EVENTS

26 Attorneys Selected to Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

Bassford Remele is proud to announce that 26 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2025...

Twenty-Nine 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 2024...

David Dahlmeier Receives Summary Judgment for Propane Gas Company

David M. Dahlmeier represented a propane gas company in circuit court and obtained summary judgment...

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC

Professional Achievements

Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, Selected Member
International Association of Defense Counsel

Bar Associations

Minnesota State Bar Association
- Agricultural and Rural Law Section
Iowa State Bar Association
- Agricultural Law Section
State Bar Association of North Dakota
State Bar of Wisconsin
Hennepin County Bar Association

Professional Associations

Defense Research Institute
Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
Minnesota Propane Association
Propane Gas Defense Association
Blue Flame Gas Association
National Fire Protection Association
National Propane Gas Association

ACCOLADES

Honors & Awards

Top Lawyers list, Insurance Law, Minnesota Monthly, 2022-2023
Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2014-present
Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2008

David M. Dahlmeier

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Nationwide Representation

Nationwide Representation

Alabama: RV fire - two fatalities.
Arkansas: Church fire - major property damage.
Colorado: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Florida: House fire - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Georgia: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Georgia: Church fire - major property damage.
Idaho: Cabin explosion - one fatality.
Illinois: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Illinois: House explosion - two fatalities.
Illinois: House explosion - six fatalities.
Indiana: House explosion - one fatality.
Indiana: House explosion - one fatality and one adult with severe burn injuries.
Iowa: House fire - one fatality.
Iowa: House explosion - one minor with severe burn injuries.
Iowa: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Iowa: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Iowa: House explosion - one adult with burn injuries.
Iowa: House explosion - two minors with severe burn injuries.
Kansas: Apartment explosion - one fatality.
Kentucky: House explosion - three fatalities.
Kentucky: Cylinder explosion - one fatality.
Maryland: House fire - property damage.
Massachusetts: House explosion – one fatality.
Michigan: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Minnesota: House explosion - two fatalities.
Minnesota: House explosion - one adult and three minors with severe burn injuries.
Minnesota: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Minnesota: House explosion - major property damage.
Minnesota: Explosion at industrial plant - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Mississippi: House explosion - three fatalities, and one adult and one minor with severe burn injuries.
Missouri: House explosion - two adults with severe burn injuries.
Montana: Oil field equipment fire - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Nebraska: Pool house explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
New Hampshire: House explosion - one fatality.
New York: House explosion - one fatality and four adults with severe burn injuries.
North Carolina: Apartment fire - two adults and one minor with severe burn injuries.
North Dakota: Industrial accident - two adults with severe burn injuries.
North Dakota: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
North Dakota: Workplace explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Ohio: House explosion - one fatality.
South Dakota: House explosion - four fatalities, and two adults and one minor with severe burn injuries.
South Dakota: Restaurant fire - two fatalities.
Tennessee: House fire - one adult fatality and one minor with severe burn injuries.
Virginia: Explosion at county fair - two adults with severe burn injuries
Virginia: Fire at commercial property - significant property damage.
Washington: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.
Wisconsin: House explosion - one fatality.
Wyoming: House explosion - one adult with severe burn injuries.

Publications

It's Raining Experts, Selection of Multiple Experts in Complex Fire and Explosion Claims, co-author, Litigation Management Magazine, Winter 2016
Defending a Home Explosion, co-author, Litigation Management Magazine, Spring 2015

Seminars

Using Your Experts to Win at Trial, presenter, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association 2024 Trial Techniques Seminar, August 16, 2024
Investigations Involving Gas Systems and Appliances and Legal Considerations, presenter, International Association of Arson Investigators, Minnesota Chapter, webinar, May 12, 2021
Preventing and Responding to Propane-Related Incidents, presenter, Iowa Propane Gas Association, Pleasant Hill, IA, April 23, 2019
New Case Law and How It Affects Your Case, presenter, Whitemore Fire Annual Seminar, Lakeville, MN, October 12, 2018
Propane and the Law, presenter, Minnesota Propane Gas Association Summer Convention, Walker, MN, July 17, 2018
Customer Safety – A Responsibility, presenter, Minnesota Propane Gas Association Summer Convention, Duluth, MN, July 22, 2015
Protecting Your Company’s Assets, presenter, Minnesota Propane Gas Association Summer Convention, Duluth, MN, July 21, 2015