Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Antitrust & Trade Regulation
• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law and Litigation
• Professional Liability

Experience

Chris Madsen is a partner in our litigation section. After graduating from law school he was a law clerk for Circuit Judge Steven L. Zinter, who is now a Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court. He began practicing law in Spearfish, SD representing clients in criminal and civil litigation. He then became a Deputy State’s Attorney for Lawrence County where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony level criminal cases. He has participated in approximately 100 jury trials. Chris joined our law firm in 2003.

Chris was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005. He served as Speaker Pro Tempore from 2003 to 2005. He is presently a member of the South Dakota Board of Elections. Chris is also a member of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Since joining our firm Chris has been involved in the following types of cases:

• Defense of claims of sexual abuse against a religious order in conjunction with the order’s work at a boarding school.
• Represented a client in litigation involving claims of breach of duty of loyalty, tortuous interference and unfair competition. The case involved extensive discovery of documents and computer data.
• Arbitrated before NASD panel relating to alleged breach of employment agreements by securities brokers.
• Represented client in several permitting proceedings to build a coal-fired power generation facility.
• Handled various administrative appeals regarding South Dakota sales and use tax issues.
• Obtained dismissal of a class action lawsuit alleging failure to discount costs for uninsured patients against a regional health care provider.
• Representation of clients regarding enforcement of employment agreements and covenants not to compete.
• Defended directors and officers in claims involving breach of their duties to corporation and shareholders.
• Defended financial institutions regarding breach of contract in lending situations.

Education

• J.D., University of South Dakota School of Law (1993)
• B.A., University of South Dakota (1990)

Presentations & Publications

• Author of South Dakota section and regional editor of Unfair Trade Practices: A Compendium of State Law, Defense Research Institute.

Associations

• Defense Research Institute (Commercial Litigation Committee)
• South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
• State Bar of South Dakota (former member of Board of Bar Commissioners, Ethics Committee)
• American Bar Association

Admitted to Practice

• South Dakota