Attorney Profiles

Ted E. Sullivan 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Partner
phone (612) 333-3637
fax (612) 333-1030
email Email Me

On December 15, 2009, our friend and partner Ted Sullivan died unexpectedly. Ted was a devoted husband, proud father, caring friend, trusted mentor, and an exceptional lawyer.  His partners and colleagues at Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson received words of comfort from countless lawyers and judges, all of whom had their own Ted stories.  The firm and Ted's family appreciate all the support and kind words they received.

Ted was a husband to Caryn, father to Caitlin (28), Daniel (25), John Jack (18) and Julia (15). Ted is survived by his parents, six siblings, and 22 nieces and nephews.  Although Ted always joked about being a stay-at-work-Dad (and also a trophy-husband), he was very devoted to his family and friends.

Ted graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, in 1977 and went on to graduate from Hamline University School of Law in 1980.  After working with the Lommen firm for more than a decade, Ted joined with Rick Lind and Tom Jensen to start their own firm on March 15, 1991. 

Ted had an active practice throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Over the years Ted tried more than 100 civil cases and was involved in dozens of decisions from the appellate courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  He was certified as a civil trial specialist by both the National Board of Trial Advocacy and the Minnesota State Bar Association. 

If you knew Ted or even just met him, you felt his infectious spirit.  He loved to make people laugh, whether it was through a story, a self-deprecating joke, or even just in introducing himself as Mick Jagger.  Ted had a big and welcoming personality.  He was never shy about sharing some advice or imparting Ted's view of the world.  At the firm it was not uncommon to see Ted walk through the halls in spandex bicycle shorts after a ride into work, or for him to put a Love Ted post-it note on the flowers you received, or to even wear a cheese hat in support of the Green Bay Packers.

He will be greatly missed.

Areas of Practice:
Complex Civil Litigation
Contract Disputes
Employment Litigation
Insurance Coverage
Products Liability
Professional Liability
Certification/Specialties:
Civil Trial Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, 1994
Civil Trial Advocate, NBTA, 1995
Bar Admissions:
Minnesota, 1980
Wisconsin, 1984
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1980
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1991
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1996
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2005
Education:
Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1980
J.D.


University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, 1977
B.S. Political Science
Minor:  Public Administration


Published Works:
"Thermography - Ideas for Cross-Examination", Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Summer, 1984
"Minnesota Landfill Cleanup Act Update", Midwest Environmental Claims Association Newsletter, August, 1997
Representative Cases:
Minnesota Brewing Co. v. Egan & Sons Co. (reversing 560 N.W.2d 111), 574 N.W.2d 54 (Minn. 1998)
Minnesota Brewing Co. v. Egan & Sons Co., 560 N.W.2d 111 (Minn.Ct.App. March 11, 1997)
Albert v. Paper Calmenson & Company (modifying 515 N.W.2d 59), 524 N.W.2d 460 (Minn. 1994)
Albert v. Paper Calmenson & Company (Modifying Previous), 515 N.W.2d 59 (Minn.Ct.App. 1994)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Adjunct Professor of Law, Hamline University School of Law, 1993-1996; 1998-1999
Seminar Instructor: Tort Law Institute, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, June 0, 1987
Seminar Instructor: Tort Law Institute, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, September 8, 1988
Seminar Instructor: Environmental Coverages Update, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, February 19, 1989
Seminar Instructor: Coverage Defense, Duty to Cooperate, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, September 0, 1992
Seminar Instructor: Environmental Bodily Injury Claim Law Update, Midwest Environmental Claims Association, Chicago, Illinois, October 7, 1993 - October 8, 1993
Seminar Instructor: Insurance Fraud Update, St. Paul Companies, January 0, 1996
Seminar Instructor: Living Legends of the Law, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 23, 1997
Guest Lecturer: Environmental Law Update, Northern Suburban Chamber of Commerce, June 18, 1997
Seminar Instructor: Minnesota Landfill Cleanup Act, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 2, 1998
Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Arbitration Association, 1995 - Present
Past Employment Positions:
Hon. Edward Devitt, U.S. District Court, Legal Intern, 1979 - 1980
Lommen, Nelson, Cole & Stageberg, P.A., Attorney, October 1, 1980 - March 1, 1991