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Bard D. Borkon

Bard D. Borkon

Partner
Phone:612-672-3241

Bard Borkon is a first-chair trial attorney with extensive experience in defense of high-exposure catastrophic injury product liability litigation. He has tried cases for the world's largest automobile manufacturers in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin, and has participated in trials in six additional states. He has also argued before the Missouri Supreme Court on behalf of a major automobile client. 

With a unique focus in automotive litigation, Bard serves as lead counsel managing national litigation programs and coordinating discovery. He defends a wide range of industry issues including rollovers, seat belts, airbags, unintended acceleration and electronic stability control. The majority of his cases require a deep dive into technical issues involving injury mechanism, accident reconstruction and statistical analysis. Bard also has represented automotive clients in class actions involving product-based allegations.

In addition, Bard's product liability experience includes defending corporate clients nationwide in personal injury litigation involving a wide variety of other products, including computer keyboards, construction equipment, wood finishing materials, farm machinery, power tools and bicycles.


Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota, 1993
  • Nevada, 2005

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1993
    cum laude

    Minnesota Law Review, Associate Managing Editor, 1992 - 1993

  • University of Michigan, B.A., 1990
    with distinction

Professional Associations

    • Leland-Johnson Common Vision Program
      — Pro-Bono Attorney
    • American Bar Association
    • Minnesota Bar Association
    • Hennepin County Bar Association

Distinctions

    • The Legal 500
      —Named in Litigation: Product Liability Defense, Automotive/Transport, 2015, 2020 – 2021, 2023 – 2024
    • Benchmark Litigation
      —"Local Litigation Star," 2016
      —"Future Star," 2019
    • Super Lawyers Magazine
      —Minnesota Rising Star, 2006 – 2007 

Recent Verdicts & Case Studies


CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.

Recent News, Events and Blogs


Speaking Engagements

  • “Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and HAVs: Current Trends and What’s Ahead in the 2020s,” Moderator, DRI Strictly Automotive Seminar, September 2019
  • "When the Product Doesn't Match the Promise: Are We Doing or Saying Too Much?," Speaker, DRI Strictly Automotive, September 2017
  • "The Impact of Product Liability Pattern Litigation in the 21st Century," Bowman and Brooke Hot Topics Seminar, Minneapolis, MN, November 11, 2010

Publications