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Verne Goodsell

Past President: South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
Latest Thinking from the President of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
  • Legislative Update: Modified Contributory Negligence
  • Modified Comparative Negligence - G. Verne Goodsell
  • The Essence of a South Dakota Trial Attorney
  • July 2014 Letter from the President of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
Education
Washburn University School of Law
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence

Northern State College
  • Graduate School, Master of Science in Education

Northern State College
  • Graduate School, Bachelor of Science in Education

Oklahoma Wesleyan University
  • Associate in Arts
Admitted to Bar
  • 1974 – No. 614
Admitted to Practice
  • State of South Dakota
  • United States District Court for South Dakota – February 10, 1977
  • United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States – April 27, 2005
  • Various Tribal Courts
Legal Experience
  • Bad Faith Litigation
  • Personal Injury Litigation
  • Birth Trauma Injuries Litigation
  • Medical Injuries Litigation
  • Business and Commercial Litigation
Professional Memberships & Associations
  • The State Bar of South Dakota
    • President (2003-2004)
    • Commissioner (1984-1987)
    • Secretary, Professionalism Committee (1989-1990)
    • Disciplinary Committee (1990-1996)
    • Advertising Committee (1999)
    • Chairman - Multi-Jurisdictional Practice/Internet (2000-2001)
    • Chairman – Ethics (2000-2001)
  • Dakota Plains Legal Services
    • Board of Directors (Appointed 9.2009)
  • South Dakota Equal Justice Commission
  • South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
    • Member
    • Secretary/Treasurer 2012
    • President Elect 2013
    • President 2014-2015
  • American Association for Justice
    • Member
    • State Delegate (2006-2009)
  • American Bar Association
    • Member
    • Vice Chairman, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
  • Pennington County Bar Association
    • Member
    • President (1981)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • South Dakota State Commission of Engineering, Architectural and Land Surveying Examiners
    • Counsel (1995-2003)
  • Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards (1997-2003)
  • CAMA (Cooperative Association of Malpractice Attorneys) 2008-Present
  • TAOS Injury Attorneys—2010-Present
Attorney Recognitions and Selections
  • Best Lawyers in America—Selected
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Banking and Finance Litigation
    • Construction Litigation
    • Intellectual Property Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
  • Super Lawyers—Selected
    • Great Plains Super Lawyers—2007-2017
  • Martindale-Hubbell
    • AV Preeminent Attorney—highest rating
Public Service & Civic Activities
  • Military Affairs Committee (2008)
  • Delta Dental of South Dakota, Director (1980-1985) (1992-present)
  • Christian Life Ministries, Director (1985-2000)
  • Black Hills Playhouse, Director (1999-2002)
  • Rapid City Cosmopolitan Club, President (1981-1982) & Director
  • Club Champions of America - 1991, 1989, 1998
  • Young Life Committee Committee—2011
  • Young Life Committee Chair—2012-2015
Presentations
  • SDTLA—"Stories that Live in the Hearts of the Jurors" April, 2018
  • SDTLA—"Simplifying Legal Principles: Helping Juries Understand Core Issues In Disputes." May, 2011
  • Structured Settlement Black Hills Claims Association Seminar 1981
  • Analysis of the Defendant's Case in a Civil Lawsuit - Pennington County Legal Secretaries Association Seminar November 7, 1987
  • Bad Faith Pennington County Legal Secretaries Association Seminar May 16, 1990
  • Adverse Possession/Litigation South Dakota State Bar - Trial Potpourri CLE in Scottsdale, AZ March 9 - 11, 1998
  • Preparing a Persuasive Settlement Brochure Black Hills Legal Professionals Association November 5, 1999
  • Internet Advertising SD State Bar Commissioners' Meeting, Deadwood, SD January 7, 2000
  • Transactional Law and Litigation – State Bar of South Dakota Omni Tucson National Golf Resort, Tucson, AZ, March 13 – 15, 2000
  • Engineering Expedition 2003 SD Engineering Society 43rd Annual Conference, Pierre, SD, April 2-4 – "Ethics and Regulations"
  • Never be a Victim USD Law School's Orientation Week 2003, 2004, 2005
  • Insurance Abuse CAMA (Cooperative Association of Malpractice Attorneys) 2009
Attorney Best Lawyer Awards
  • Best Lawyers in American—Named
  • Bet-the Company Litigation—2006-Present
  • Commercial Litigation—2006-Present
  • Banking and Finance Litigation—2006-Present
  • Construction Litigation—2006-Present
  • Intellectual Property Litigation—2006-Present

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Mention a 45.5 million-dollar verdict, million-dollar settlements, professional and community awards and positions, and Verne Goodsell's name will readily register. Concentrating on Insurance Bad Faith, Personal Injury, Birth Trauma, and Medical Malpractice, Verne has a wealth of experience and expertise which has resulted in significant verdicts and settlements. If you need representation to assist with a catastrophic problem and want the playing field leveled, Verne is prepared to do the job.

Highlights of Verne's numerous professional accomplishments include President of the State Bar of South Dakota, President of South Dakota Trial Lawyers, President of the Pennington County Bar Association, Board of directors of Christian Life Ministries, Committee Chair of Young Life, Delta Dental of South Dakota Board of Directors, and Counsel for the Board of South Dakota Technical Professions.

Verne also participates in numerous national attorney organizations including the American Association of Justice, the American Bar Association, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Taos Business Retreat Group, and the Cooperative Association of Malpractice Attorneys. For additional information on Verne's recognitions and honors, please see the extended bio.