Profile
William (Bill) D. Harper is a founding partner of Harper & Peterson, P.L.L.C., a Woodbury, Minnesota, law firm serving clients statewide and nationwide. Bill limits his practice to civil litigation, with an emphasis on cases involving personal injury, products liability, wrongful death and professional malpractice. He has litigated more than 150 jury trials to conclusion over the course of his career, including eight cases that resulted in verdicts or settlements in excess of $1 million.
Bill has been certified as a civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1986, and as a civil trial specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association since 1988 (the first year such certification was available). He is also a former president of the Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, a sustaining member of the American Association for Justice and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Bill has published numerous articles related to his practice areas and frequently speaks about those topics in lectures, seminars and continuing legal education courses attended by other lawyers.
About William Harper
Law School: Hamline University School of Law
Admitted: 1977, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: www.injurylawyersminnesota.com/profiles.html#harper
Honors and Awards:
- Advisory Board Member - The Minnesota Lawyer Newspaper, 2000 to Present
- Fellow - American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member - Minnesota Million Dollar Roundtable
- Member - Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- "Law and Leading Attorneys", American Research Corporation, (featured in their book)
- Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine, Special Focus: Personal Injury The Prizefighter
- From Minnesota Lawyer Publication: ATTORNEYS OF THE YEAR, Bill Harper: Ex-prizefighter Battles for Plaintiffs
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Civil Trial Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, recertified to present
- Civil Trial Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, (First year of its certification program), 1988
- Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, recertified to present
- Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1986
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Douglas Amdahl Inns of Court, from its inception to present, Barrister
- American Arbitration Association, Member
- Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota, Member
- American Association for Justice, Sustaining Member
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1998 - 1999
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, President-Elect, 1997 - 1998
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President, 1996 - 1997
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Secretary, 1995 - 1996
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Treasurer, 1994 - 1995
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Chairperson, Finance Committee, 1990
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Chairperson, Litigation Support Committee, 1988
- Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association, Member, Board of Governors, 1986 - Present
- Washington County Bar Association, Member of the Executive Committee, 1989 - 1993
- Minnesota Bar Association, Member, 1977 - Present
- Minnesota, 1977
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- Handling the Automobile Injury Case - Wrongful Death, MTLA, February 22, 1991
- Maintaining Integrity and Control in the Courtroom, MTLA, February 8, 1991
- Hard Issues in Soft Tissues, MTLA, January 31, 1991
- Cross-examining Expert Witnesses, MTLA, October 31, 1990
- Trial by Jury, Mock Trial Presentation, State Bar, August 1990; August 1991
- Drama in the Courtroom, MTLA, January 12, 1990
- Independent Medical Examiners, MTLA, November 17, 1989; January 30, 1990; October 31, 1990
- Measuring Damages in Wrongful Death Cases, MTLA, June 23, 1989
- Handling the Automobile Injury Case, MTLA, May 4, 1989
- "Litigating Spinal Cord Injuries" - The Use of Nonexpert Damages Witnesses, Wiley Law Publications, Chapter 16, 1995
- "Proving an Insurers Course of Conduct", Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association
Representative Clients:
- The Injured
- Smith v. Spitzenberger, Minn. App., 363 N.W.2d 470, 1985
- Honebrink v. Hutton and Rowe, Minn. App., 351 N.W.2d 405, 1984
- Gawel v. Two Plus Two, Inc., Minn., 309 N.W.2d 746, 1981
Educational Background:
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, B.A., Bachelor of Arts, 1972
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