David Bradley OlsenAttorney, Shareholder

By nature, I am direct. You can rely on me for the concise answer; I am succinct and provide straightforward options, strategies, and advice tailored to meet your goals.

For nearly 30 years, I have represented individuals and companies of all sizes in a wide variety of litigated disputes, including:

• bankruptcy and debtor/creditor issues
• business litigation, both civil and commercial
• violation of constitutional rights
• employment issues
• insurance coverage claims
• intellectual property and technology disputes
• malpractice cases
• non-compete and trade secret litigation
• products liability and mass tort lawsuits
• securities fraud and shareholder disputes

Your best interests are foremost; I constantly weigh risks, rewards, and expenses to achieve optimal results. Focused on resolving cases early, I explore all forms of settlement, but if a fair resolution cannot be attained, I bring vast experience litigating in state and federal courts. I have a proven track record of handling complex, high-stakes cases, including winning a high-profile case that was deemed unwinnable.

Recognizing that my clients have serious issues, I am earnest in my approach. As an advocate, counselor, negotiator, and champion for my clients, I lead with professionalism—honesty, fairness, and respect for others.

David’s approach to litigation:

Jesse Ventura’s libel suit:

 

ASSISTANT

Nina Adelson

(612) 252-2873

nadelson@hensonefron.com

• Lead Starkey Hearing Technologies’ high-profile internal investigation that resulted in criminal conviction of former president in $20 million fraud scheme, and guilty pleas by former chief financial officer and subsidiary president
• Successful representation of defendant in $30 million antitrust suit tried for seven weeks in Ramsey County District Court
• Successful representation of plaintiff in $1 million intellectual property suit tried for three weeks in federal district court
• Successful representation of landowner in eight-year lawsuit against city, culminating in largest fee award issued as a sanction for bad faith litigation by a Minnesota court
• Successful representation of manufacturer in multi-million dollar commercial arbitration
• Successful representation of personal care assistance agencies, home health care workers, and disabled individuals, resulting in a declaration that discriminatory statute is unconstitutional
• Successful representation of celebrity plaintiff in multi-million dollar defamation action tried for three weeks in federal district court
• Continuing representation of both employers and employees in matters involving non-competition agreements, restrictive covenants, and trade secrets
• Continuing representation of businesses and individuals in the areas of contract, shareholder, employment, construction, intellectual property, product liability, toxic tort, and personal injury litigation
• Counsel to Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura

• Beck v. Austin, No. 19-CV-1453 (PJS/ECW), 2020 WL 4476443 (D. Minn. Aug. 4, 2020)
• B. Riley FBR, Inc. v. Clarke, No. 18-CV-2318 (NEB/BRT), 2019 WL 4242537 (D. Minn. Sept. 6, 2019)
• McNeilus Truck & Mfg., Inc. v. Swagelok Co., No. 18 CV 0997 (PJS/KMM), 2019 WL 6037574 (D. Minn. Nov. 14, 2019)
• In re McNeilus Mfg. Explosion Coordinated Litig., No. 17-CV-5237-PJS-KMM, 2019 WL 2387110 (D. Minn. June 6, 2019)
• In re McNeilus Mfg. Explosion Coordinated Litig., 381 F. Supp. 3d 1075 (D. Minn. 2019)
• Qwinstar Corp. v. Anthony, No. CV 15-2343 (PAM/BRT), 2019 WL 10893359 (D. Minn. Feb. 25, 2019)
• Qwinstar Corp. v. Anthony, No. CV 15-2343 (PAM/BRT), 2018 WL 5847243 (D. Minn. Nov. 8, 2018)
• Miller v. Starkey Lab'ys, Inc., 299 F. Supp. 3d 1046, 1048 (D. Minn. 2018)
• United States v. Ruzicka, No. CR 16-246 (JRT/FLN), 2018 WL 747411 (D. Minn. Feb. 7, 2018)
• Guggenberger v. Starkey Lab'ys, Inc., No. CV 16-2021 (JRT/LIB), 2016 WL 7479542 (D. Minn. Dec. 29, 2016)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 825 F.3d 876 (8th Cir. 2016)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2015 WL 12832722 (D. Minn. 2015)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2015 WL 12826467 (D. Minn. 2015)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 63 F.Supp.3d 1001 (D. Minn. 2014)
• Janos v. Kyle, 2014 WL 12617419 (D. Minn. 2014)
• Mark Wandering Medicine v. McCulloch, 2014 WL 12588302 (D. Mt 2014)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 8 F.Supp.3d 1115 (D. Minn. 2014)
• Hutterville Hutterian Brethren, Inc. v. Sveen, see 8th Cir. Opinion at 776 F.3d. 547 (8th Cir. 2015)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2013 WL 12155277(D. Minn. 2013)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2013 WL 12145009 (D. Minn. 2013)
• In re Duy, 484 B.R. 742, (D. Minn. Bankruptcy 2012)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2012 WL 12896526 (D. Minn. 2012)
• Ventura v. Kyle, 2012 WL 6634779 (D. Minn. 2012)
• HealthStar Home Health, Inc. v. Jesson, 827 N.W.2d 444 (Minn. Ct. App. 2012)
• Ventura v. Napolitano, 828 F.Supp.2d 1039 (D. Minn. 2011)
• Starlite Ltd. Partnership, Inc. v. Landry’s Restaurants, Inc., 780 N.W.2d 396 (Minn. Ct. App. 2010)
• Duy v. Lake-Weed-A-Way, Inc., 2009 WL 1919296 (Minn. Ct. App. 2009)
• Southco, Inc. v. Reell Precision Manufacturing Corp., 556 F.Supp.2d 505 (E.D. Pa. 2008)
• Domain Assets, LLC v. Petters Group Worldwide, LLC, 2008 WL 11347731 (D. Minn. 2008)
• Domain Assets, LLC v. Petters Group Worldwide, LLC, 2008 WL 11347930 (D. Minn. 2008)
• Southco, Inc. v. Reell Precision Manufacturing Corp., 2006 WL 3354148 (D. Pa. 2006)
• United Products Corporation of America, Inc. v. Cederstrom, 2006 WL 1529478 (Minn. Ct. App. 2006)
• Duy v. Lake Weed-A-Way, Inc., 2005 WL 1154291 (Minn. Ct. App. 2005)
• Lutheran Assn of Missionaries and Pilots, Inc. v. Lutheran Assn of Missionaries and Pilots, Inc., 2005 WL 629605 (D. Minn. 2005)
• Hypro, LLC v. Reser, 2004 WL 2905321 (D. Minn. 2004)
• Lutheran Assn of Missionaries and Pilots, Inc. v. Lutheran Assn of Missionaries and Pilots, Inc., 2004 WL 2730104 (D. Minn. 2004)
• Ventura v. Davis, 2004 WL 1381256 (Minn. Ct. App. 2004)
• Crablex, Inc. v. Cedar-Riverside Land Company, 2003 WL 21448807 2003 WL 21448807 (Minn. Ct. App. 2003)
• Erickson Plus Ltd. v. Ventura, 2002 WL 31867733 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002)
• Valley Paving, Inc. v. Dexter & Chaney, Inc., 2000 WL 1182800 (Minn. Ct. App. 2000)
• World Championship Fighting, Inc. v. Janos, 609 N.W.2d 263 (Minn. Ct. App. 2000)
• Greiner v. Sofamor, S.N.C., 1999 WL 716891 (D. Minn. 1999)
• In Re Orthopedic Bone Screw Litigation, 1999 WL 628688 (D. Minn. 1999)
• Bruzer v. Danek Medical, Inc. 1999 WL 613329 (D. Minn. 1999)
• Bruzer v. Danek Medical, Inc., 1998 WL 1048225 (D. Minn 1998)
• Crablex, Inc. v. Cedar-Riverside Land Company, 1997 WL 729210 (Minn. Ct. App. 1997)
• Otte v. Olmschenk, 1996 WL 745272 (Minn. Ct. App. 1996)
• Ventura v. Titan Sports, Inc., 116 S.Ct. 1268 (1996)
• Ventura v. Titan Sports, Inc., 65 F.3d 725 (8^th Cir. 1995)
• Prestressed Concrete, Inc. v. Bladholm Bros. Culvert Co., 498 N.W.2d 274 (Minn. Ct. App. 1993)

• J.D., High Honors, University of Arkansas, 1987
• B.S., Iowa State University, 1982

• Minnesota
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits
• United States Supreme Court
• Multiple state and federal court admissions, pro hac vice

• Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers® in 2000 and 2011–2022
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018-2020, Litigation - Labor and Employment; 2021-2022, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs; 2023, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
• Named to America’s Top 100 Bet-The-Company Litigators by America’s Top 100 LLC, 2019-2020
• Featured in Minnesota Monthly Magazine as The Best Lawyers in America® 2019
• Selected as a Minnesota Lawyer Attorney of the Year in 2013 and 2014
• Selected for inclusion in Top 100: Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2018
• Who’s Who in American Law, Honors Edition, 2005–2006
• Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition 1999
• AV® Preeminent peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Vice Chair, Moot Court Board, University of Arkansas School of Law
• Member, Arkansas Law Review
• Co-Editor, Waterman Journal, a law school newspaper, University of Arkansas School of Law
• Outstanding Student Scholar, University of Arkansas School of Law

• Hennepin County Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• American Bar Association, Litigation and Intellectual Property Sections
• Federal Bar Association

• Law Clerk to The Honorable Henry Woods, United States District Judge, Eastern District of Arkansas

• Pro Bono Representation of Montana Indian Tribes in Federal Voting Rights Case
• Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure
• Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Jury Instruction Guide VI Subcommittee on Defamation and Privacy
• Co-Chair, Minnesota State Bar Association Civil Jury Instruction Guide V Subcommittee on Business Torts and Commercial Law
• North Star Lawyer, Honored by Minnesota State Bar Association for commitment to pro bono service
• Past Statewide Member, Minnesota Judicial Selection Commission
• Past Member, Campaign Leadership Committee, Campaign for Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services
• Past Director, Vice President and Treasurer, Ventura for Minnesota, Inc. (non-profit corporation)
• Past Director, Committee Co-Chair and Volunteer Attorney, Volunteer Lawyers Network
• Past Volunteer Lawyer, Hennepin County Legal Access Point Project
• Past Coach, Eagan Athletic Association (soccer, track) and Eagan Hockey Association
• Former Minnesota State High School League and USA Hockey certified referee

• Co-Author, "Contractual Obligations During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Avoidance, Enforcement, and Renegotiation," Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
• Co-Author, "Coronavirus and Insurance Coverage: Does your business have insurance coverage for losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic?" Henson Efron Thought Leadership, March 2020
• Author, “Family Advisors: The Student Athlete’s Rights,” Let’s Play Hockey Magazine, 2012
• Author, “Family Advisors: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” Let’s Play Hockey Magazine, 2012
• Co-Author, “Navigating the Legal Impact of Airport Security Measures: An In-Depth Look at Passenger Profiling and Its Effect on the Public,” Aspatore Special Report, Thomson Reuters, 2011
• Author, “The Arkansas Wrongful Death Statute ‑ Judgment for Personal Injuries as a Bar to Recovery,” 40 Ark. L. Rev. 421 (1987)

• “Jesse Ventura Glad Legal Battle Against ‘American Sniper’ Is Over,” Associated Press, December 4, 2017
• "Judge Won't Dismiss Ventura 'American Sniper' Suit," Associated Press, March 19, 2014
• "Native Vote Lawsuit Heads Back to District Court and a New Judge," Indian Country, November 1, 2013
• "Appeals Court Rules for Personal Care Assistants," Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 25, 2013
• "Minnesota’s 20% Relative Pay Cut is History," Access Press, February 8, 2013
• "PCA Pay Disparity Unconstitutional," MPR News, December 17, 2012
• "Lawyer: Ex-Seal Could Have Hit Ventura Imposter," St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 20, 2012
• "There is a Lot of Competition in Non-Compete Contracts," Minneapolis Star Tribune, December 11, 2011
• "Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Cuts to Family Care Providers," Politics in Minnesota, October 28, 2011
• "The Fighters Behind the Ultimate Fighter," Minnesota Law & Politics, June/July 2009
• "Brock Lesnar, WWE Settle Lawsuit," Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal, April 24, 2006
• "Gov. Jesse Ventura as a Football Commentator," ABC News, November 16, 2000
• "Jimmy v. Jesse," City Pages, August 11, 1999

• What is your approach to litigation?
• What sets Henson Efron’s litigation team apart from others?
• What single piece of advice do you find yourself repeatedly giving clients?
• What are the keys to an effective cross-examination?

• Tom Petters Litigation
• Deposing Tom Petters
• Constitutional Litigation
• Jesse “The Body” Ventura v. The WWF
• Professional Malpractice Litigation
• Working With Wrestlers
• Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation
• Shareholder Disputes
• Starkey Hearing Technologies Case
• Successful defense in $30 million antitrust trial
• Largest fee awarded for bad faith litigation
• Jesse Ventura’s libel suit

• What is defamation?
• How do you prove defamation?
• What are the consequences of defaming someone?
• Can my opinion be defamatory?
• How has the internet changed proving a case for defamation?
• Why is the First Amendment important?
• What is the historical origin of the First Amendment?

• What is a public figure in the context of defamation?
• What is the higher standard a public figure must prove?
• What are some recent examples of public figures pursuing defamation suits in Minnesota or in the United States?

• What is the difference between, libel, slander and defamation?
• What are the defenses to libel or slander?
• Why don’t tabloids get sued more often for their libelous stories about celebrities?
• Can media outlets legally report on a public controversy?
• Can politicians be sued for slander when making public campaigning statements about other politicians?

• Ventura Defamation Lawsuit: What were the facts of this case?
• Ventura Defamation Lawsuit: Why was this a controversial case?
• Ventura Defamation Lawsuit: What was the result?
• Ventura Defamation Lawsuit: What were the challenges of working on such a high profile case?
• Ventura Defamation Lawsuit: What made the burden of proof in this case more difficult?
• Why did Jesse Ventura choose you to represent him in this case?

• What is your experience with First Amendment issues?
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your law practice?
• Discuss your law firm, Henson & Efron