Attorneys / David M. Dahlmeier
David M. Dahlmeier
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Practice Groups
Agriculture Equipment, Catastrophic Injury / Wrongful, Fire / Explosion & Catastrophic Loss, Food Safety, HVAC Equipment, Industrial Equipment, Property Damage, Torts & Products Liability, Torts and Product
Biography
David 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.
David’s experience in fire and explosion cases is unmatched. He has handled more than 500 fire and explosion investigations and cases nationwide, drawing on his extensive forensic investigation and technical training relating to propane and natural gas. He has also handled many products liability cases related to agribusiness.
As lead counsel on a substantial number of large exposure cases before state and federal courts across the nation, David Dahlmeier leverages his litigation experience and technical knowledge to favorably resolve his clients’ disputes.
David Dahlmeier is chair of Bassford Remele’s Products Liability Practice Group.
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 Appeal, 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
Representative Cases
Trials
- Obtained a directed verdict in federal district court in Minnesota for an industrial tank cleaner. Plaintiff claimed that the cleaner failed to properly clean and inspect the vessel before putting it back into service. (Product Liability)
- 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 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)
- 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)
- Obtained a defense verdict in Wisconsin for a retail propane supplier in a case where frozen water pipes burst and caused water damage. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant improperly installed, modified, or inspected a venting system in the second-stage regulator or a boiler. (Product Liability)
- 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)
- Successfully represented a 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 complete defense verdict in Iowa for a propane provider in an explosion case where the homeowner was killed. (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 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)
- Obtained affirmance of summary judgment on behalf of wholesale suppliers in a lawsuit involving a propane explosion. The court held that defendants could not have reasonably foreseen the events leading up to the explosion of the plaintiff’s home. (Product Liability)
- Obtained a directed verdict on behalf of an industrial cleaning company sued for allegedly hydroblasting a rag into an oil compressor. (Gas Refinery Overhaul)
- 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)
- Obtained affirmance of a grant of summary judgment where defendant repaired water damage in plaintiff’s home after a fire. (Construction Defect)
Nationwide Representation
- Alabama: RV fire – two fatalities.
- Arkansas: Church fire – major property damage.
- Colorado: House explosion – one adult with severe burn injuries.
- Connecticut: House explosion – property damage.
- 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.
- Illinois: House explosion – property damage.
- 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 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, http://theclm.litigationmanagement.epubxp.com/i/479296-spr-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
Bar Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Agricultural and Rural Law Section
- Corporate Counsel 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
Honors & Awards
- Top Lawyers list, Insurance Law, Minnesota Monthly, 2022-2023
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Agriculture Law, 2020-present; Insurance Law, 2021
- Minnesota Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers, 2014-present
- Minnesota Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers, 2008
