Daniel Julian Cragg

Biography Daniel J. Craggs practice focuses on complex personal injury matters, commercial litigation, labor & employment law, factoring and asset-based lending, admiralty and maritime law, and procedurally complex cases, including cases against the government. Daniel has represented clients in State and Federal trial court and in administrative proceedings at the Federal, State and local levels. He has also argued before the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. As a dedicated litigator, Daniel applies his extensive knowledge of procedure and judicial remedies to a wide array of case types, such as:Complex personal injury matters, including product liability and medical/professional malpractice. Breach of contract and related business torts, including prosecuting and defending claims for breach of licensing agreements, factoring agreements, sale and lease of goods, settlement agreements, and complex service contracts. Competitor lawsuits, including trade secret claims, false advertising, Lanham Act, disparagement, unfair competition, and tortious interference with contract. Complex creditor/debtor relationships, liens, and security interests. The Uniform Commercial Code. Enforcement of maritime contracts and liens, the maritime arrest and attachment procedures of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty and Maritime Claims, and the defense of maritime claims under COGSA, the Jones Act, and the general maritime law. Defense of manufacturers/importers from claims by independent sales representatives, including claims under Minnesotas Independent Sales Representative Act, Minn. Stat. 325 E.37. Defense of employment discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Defense of Grievances in arbitration under Collective Bargaining Agreements. Judicial Review of Federal Agency actions under the Administrative Procedures Act. Bid Protests at the Federal and State level. Municipal land use and regulatory issues. Representative Practice Experience:Obtained $35.7 million dollar verdict in two-and-a-half-week jury trial in Ramsey County District Court in product liability burn injury case arising out of a workplace injury caused by scalding hot water accidently releasing from a hose coupling. This is believed to be the largest single claimant personal injury verdict in Minnesota state court history. Complete defense verdict in jury trial in commercial case and nearly $1 million verdict on clients counterclaims and subsequent judgment of $1.2 million after costs, fees, and interest. Follow on litigation against judgment debtors account debtors yielded $1.2 million in recovery on judgment. Obtained $1.4 million verdict for client in jury trial in commercial case. Obtained finding of liability and award of damages in arbitration of prime/sub breach of contract dispute arising out of government contract work. Obtained finding of liability and award of damages for plaintiff companies and two company officers in defamation claims in weeklong jury trial as well as finding of no liability on counterclaims. Obtained reversal of civil jury trial verdict for instructional error on contract interpretation from Minnesota Court of Appeals and then unanimous affirmance of the Court of Appeals decision at the Minnesota Supreme Court. Daniel is a cum laude graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. He received his B. A. in history and international studies from the Virginia Military Institute. Daniel is also a Rule 114 qualified civil adjudicative neutral and available to arbitrate complex civil matters. Practice Areas Commercial Litigation Labor & Employment Factoring and Asset Based Lending Government Contracts and Claims Against the Government Admiralty & Maritime International Trade and Customs Appellate Practice Professional Liability Bar Admissions Minnesota, 2009 U. S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2009 U. S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2010 U. S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2012 U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2022 U. S. District Court for the District of Colorado 2022 U. S. Court of Federal Claims, 2011 U. S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2010 U. S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2010 U. S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 2011 U. S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2015 U. S. Court of International Trade, 2016 U. S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 2024 U. S. Supreme Court, 2017 Education William Mitchell College of Law, St Paul, Minnesota J. D. - 05/2009 Honors: cum laude Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia B. A. - 05/2004 Honors: With Distinction Major: History Minor: International Studies Cases Dynamic Energy Sols. v. Danna, LLC, 2023 WL 2763191 (Minn. App. 2023)Stemm v. Kraus, 2022 WL 17409892 (Minn. App. 2022)Staffing Specifix, Inc. v. Temp Works Mgmt. Servs., Inc., 913 N. W.2d 687 (Minn. 2018)Staffing Specifix, Inc. v. Temp Works Mgmt. Servs., Inc., 896 N. W.2d 115 (Minn. App. 2017)Gams v. Houghton, 884 N. W.2d. 611 (Minn. 2016)Cole v. Wutzke, 884 N. W.2d 634 (Minn. 2016)Nichols v. State, 858 N. W.2d 773 (Minn. 2015)ARA, Inc. v. Barnes Personnel Management, Inc. et al., 2014 WL 3748633 (D. Minn 2014)U. S. ex rel Sandager v. Dell Marketing, L. P., 872 F. Supp.2d 801 (D. Minn. 2012)Saleem v. Heimies Haberdashery, 2011 WL 4971566 (D. Minn. 2011)City of Minneapolis v. Minneapolis Police Relief Association, 800 N. W.2d 165 (Minn. App. 2011) Presentations Litigation Ledger: Key Tips and Tricks for Factoring Litigation, International Factoring Association, 2025 Factoring Law 101: Key Legal, Regulatory, and Contractual Considerations, Federal Bar Association, 2025 Estoppel Agreements - Best Practices and Pitfalls, International Factoring Association, 2024 State and Federal Court Challenges Faced by Factors, International Factoring Association, 2021 Explaining Factoring to Judges and Juries, International Factoring Association, 2017 Claims Against the Federal Government, SADBOC/ Lorman, 2012 to 2013 State & Local Procurement in Minnesota, Lorman, 2013 Honors & Awards Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer, 2024 Super Lawyer, 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2014-2022 Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Minnesota State Bar Association North Star Lawyer recognition for providing pro bono service Lead Counsel Rated Attorney Minnesota Lawyer Up and Coming Attorney, 2014 Associations & Memberships American Bar Association, Member, House of Delegates, 2019-2022 Federal Bar Association Hennepin County Bar Association HCBA Representative to MSBA Assembly, 2017 to 2023 Member, Board of Directors, 2017 to 2021 Maritime Law Association of the United States Vice Chair, Practice & Procedure Committee Proctor Member Minnesota State Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, 2017 to present Member, Court Rules and Administration Committee, 2015 to present, Chair, 2021-present Member, Legislative Committee, 2017 to 2019, 2021-2023 Chair, Judiciary Committee, 2014 to 2017 Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society(Minnesota) Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board, Member, 2020-present Chair, Rules and Opinions Committee, 2022-present Past Employment Kelly & Lemmons, P. A., St. Paul, MN , 2009 to 2011 Ramsey County Attorneys Office, St. Paul, MN, Certified Student Attorney, 2008 to 2009 Pro Bono Activities Federal Bar Association, Twin Cities Chapter, Pro Se Project, 2012 to Present