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Throughout his more than 20 years of practice, Jon has focused on helping clients successfully resolve breach-of-contract disputes. Although he has litigated virtually every kind of contract imaginable, Jon has particularly extensive experience with Uniform Commercial Code issues, real estate and construction litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and federal healthcare reimbursement cases. Whether it be through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, administrative hearing, motion practice, trial, appeal or providing behind-the-scenes advice, Jon helps his clients resolve their contract disputes as effectively and economically as possible. Recent examples of his practice include:Obtaining two summary judgments in Minnesota U.S. District Court on behalf of a client against an insurer. One judgment declared that the insurer had a duty to defend the client from a breach-of-contract claim; the other that the insurer had to reimburse the client both for the settlement that Jon helped the client negotiate and for the client�s attorneys� fees. Assisting a major Twin Cities commercial property owner in success-fully negotiating resolution of several million-dollar construction disputes without resorting to litigation. Obtaining a summary judgment in Minnesota U.S. District Court that dismissed a $2 million claim for indemnification against a client. The dispute arose out of a settlement agreement the client had signed with an insurer without consulting counsel. In an American Arbitration Association proceeding on behalf of condominium purchasers, obtaining class certification and then a class decision that declared unconscionable a buy-back option in owners� purchase agreements. Representing numerous individual homeowners in various Minnesota state courts in claims against contractors relating to mold and/or moisture-intrusion issues in houses. Many of the claims were settled in pre-trial mediation. Representing a client in Illinois U.S. District Court, in Hennepin County (Minnesota) state court and ultimately in the Minnesota Court of Appeals to successfully reduce a $1 million breach-of-contract claim to no more than $34,000, based on a contractual limitation of liability and obtaining an award of attorneys� fees. Representing a provider of Medicare-covered services in two actions against the federal government for reimbursement in Pennsylvania U.S. District Court. One action tried to a conclusion and the other then settled, resulting in a total of recovery of nearly $10 million. In awarding attorneys� fees, the federal judge stated: Plaintiff relies on Mr. Bye�s significant expertise in a very complex area of the law. We find that he has such expertise. We find that he is an extremely able lawyer with a mastery of the arcane world of Medicare law and its regulations. He made our job easier. Jon�s clients echo the Pennsylvania federal judge, saying that Jon excels at quickly grasping the unique aspects of their situation, applying the complexities of the law to it, and then presenting their case in common-sense terms that make favorable decisions by the judge, jury or arbitrator seem easy. For the last 10 years, Jon has chaired Lindquist & Vennum�s Public Service Committee. For the last nine of those years, the firm has met the American Bar Association�s Pro Bono Challenge by having at least 3 percent of its lawyers� time donated to help people in need. Unlike any other major firm we are aware of, Lindquist & Vennum has achieved this with the participation of every lawyer in the firm. In 2006, The American Lawyer recognized our firm�s pro bono contributions, ranking us first among the nation�s top 200 law firms in the percentage (94.5%) of attorneys who each contributed 20 hours or more of pro bono work during the year, a figure the magazine referred to as staggering. In 1997, in recognition of Jon�s efforts organizing the firm�s pro bono efforts, Lindquist & Vennum awarded him the Leonard E. Lindquist Pro Bono Award. In 2006, he was selected to serve on the board of the Volunteer Lawyers Network, which matches volunteer attorneys with people at an economic disadvantage in Hennepin County. Jon is also an active member in the Dartmouth Lawyers Association, believed to be the only undergraduate alumni law association in the country.
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