Practice Areas

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Employment Law and Litigation
• Professional Liability
• Worker's Compensation

Experience

Mike McKnight has represented hundreds of employers and their insurers across South Dakota in the past 22 years of practice. A partner in our employment law section, Mike’s vast experience before the South Dakota Department of Labor includes having tried over 100 cases in front of administrative law judges. In addition, he has handled administrative appeals to both the circuit court and the South Dakota Supreme Court. A representative sample of reported decisions includes:

• Kuhle v. Levy Chiropractic, 711 NW2d 244 (SD 2006)
• Woodcock v. City of Lake Preston, 704 NW2d 32 (SD 2005)
• Clausen v. Northern Plains Recycling, 663 NW2d 685 (SD 2003)
• St. Luke’s Midland Regional Medical Center v. Kennedy, 653 NW2d 880 (SD 2002)
• Vaughn v. John Morrell & Co., 606 NW2d 925 (SD 1999)
• Sutherland v. Queen of Peace Hosp., 576 NW2d 21 (SD 1998)

Mike has also defended worker's compensation bad faith claims and has an active practice as a mediator. Mike has lectured extensively on the subject of worker's compensation and employment law. He has also served as an expert witness for the defense in bad faith cases.

As a past member of both the State Bar Disciplinary Board and Ethics Committee, Mike's practice has also included representing lawyers in claims of professional malpractice.

Education

• J.D., University of South Dakota School of Law (1986), with honors
• B.S., South Dakota State University (1981)

Presentations & Publications

• Speaker, “Return to Work Issues,” (January 2001)
• Speaker, “ADA, FMLA and Worker’s Compensation in South Dakota,” (July 2000)
• Speaker, “Worker’s Compensation,” Defense Practice Seminar (February 2000)
• Speaker/Author, “Worker’s Compensation in South Dakota,” (1999)
• Speaker/Author, “Employee Handbooks,” (1998)
• Speaker/Author, “Return to Work Issues in South Dakota,” (1998)
• Speaker/Author, “Worker’s Compensation Issues in South Dakota,” (1998)
• Speaker/Author, “Advanced Worker’s Compensation in South Dakota,” (1996)

Associations

• The Defense Research Institute (Worker’s Compensation Committee)
• South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
• State Bar of South Dakota (Disciplinary Board and Ethics Committee)
• American Bar Association (Labor Law)
• Member of National Worker’s Compensation Defense Network
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Admitted to Practice

• South Dakota