Jenny Gassman-Pines

EMPLOYMENT

• Co-lead counsel representing Olmsted County in successful two-week jury trial of allegations of age, race, and gender discrimination, and retaliation in which the plaintiff sought $8.2 million in damages. The jury found no liability, discrimination, or retaliation on the part of the County. Jacob v. Olmsted, Case No. 55-cv-22-2347 (Third Judicial District, MN 2024)

• Lead arbitration lawyer for Fortune 100 company defending against wrongful termination, breach of contract, gender discrimination, and defamation claims by senior executive leading to decision in client’s favor on all counts after two-week arbitration.  (AAA 2019-2020)
• Grant of summary dismissal of wrongful termination and breach of contract claims by senior executive. (AAA 2019)
• Successful defense of discrimination and wrongful discharge claims filed by a terminated broker against his financial services employer. Lawsuit voluntarily dismissed in exchange for client-defendants’ agreement not to enforce court sanctions imposed. Paul v. Blaylock Robert Van, LLC, et al., Case No. 13-cv-04068 (N.D. Ill 2015) 

NON-COMPETE DISPUTES AND LITIGATION

• Lead lawyer in case in which court granted preliminary injunction in client’s favor in Ohio Federal Court after two-day evidentiary hearing regarding former employee’s breach of restrictive covenants. (S.D. Ohio 2021) 
• Defeated motion for temporary restraining order in action in which plaintiffs alleged that client tortiously interfered with plaintiffs’ contract with client’s newly-hired employee. Medtronic, Inc. and Medtronic USA, Inc. v. Ernst, Nevro Corp., Case No. 16-cv-244 (D. Minn. 2016) 

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

• Successfully argued motion seeking anti-suit injunction, convincing court to enjoin opposing party from pursuing overlapping claims in a different venue. CRA Holdings Corporation v. Chandler Industries, Inc., Case No. 13-cv-21-868 (Tenth Judicial District, MN 2023) 
• Lead arbitration counsel in confidential breach-of-contract dispute, leading to favorable result for client. (AAA 2021)  
• Co-lead trial lawyer defending Fortune 100 company against allegations of breach of contract and fraud, including successful defense verdict. (Virginia 2018) 
• Successful arbitration of confidential contract dispute regarding allegation that client breached contract and was entitled to multi-million damages award. Arbitrator denied all of claimant’s claims and awarded client damages on client’s counterclaim for breach of contract. (AAA 2016) 
• Successful motion for judgment on the pleadings in membership dispute between members of two limited liability corporations. Court ordered defendants to sell their membership interests to client. Kulesa v. Whitcomb, Novak, Case No. 82-cv-16-3199 (Tenth Judicial District, MN 2016) 

PRODUCTS LIABILITY

• Team member on products-liability case for Fortune 100 company in which we defeated plaintiff’s punitive-damages motion, won partial summary judgment, obtained a comparative-fault verdict form that allowed the jury to consider the fault of other parties not named in the lawsuit, narrowed plaintiff’s expert opinions, and achieved favorable results on motions in limine before reaching a courtroom-steps settlement. Diehl v. 3M Company, Case No. 69du-cv-18-2662 (Sixth Judicial District, MN 2022)
• Trial lawyer, including cross-examination of key expert witness, defending claims of employer liability regarding allegations of sexual misconduct in Ramsey County jury trial. Matter resolved during trial. Bjorklund v. Union Gospel Mission et al., Case No. 62-cv-17-2077 (Second Judicial District, MN 2018) 
• Successful resolution of several products-liability actions against Fortune 100 company across multiple venues. 
• Successfully argued appeal in negligence case and convinced court to recognize for the first time that the sport of snow tubing is an inherently dangerous activity. Grady v. Green Acres, Inc., 826 N.W.2d 547 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013).