Timothy J. Mattson

As a veteran trial lawyer in product liability, commercial and intellectual property matters, Tim Mattson has represented clients in courtrooms and jurisdictions across the United States. He has tried high-profile cases, often to verdict, in Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia Wisconsin and even Quebec, Canada.

For nearly 35 years, Tim has had a particular focus defending product liability and personal injury claims on behalf of vehicle manufacturers, including automobiles, trucks, SUVs, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles. A transmission design engineer for John Deere in his earlier days, Tim is at ease with the scientific, technical and mechanical issues common to these clients and their cases. He has dealt with nearly every type of claim a vehicle faces—rollovers, stability control, fuel systems, brakes, crashworthiness, fires, seats, vehicle structures, door latches, and more. Tim has defended a wide range of other products, including industrial equipment, personal watercrafts, tractors, heavy loaders, buses, spray guns, plastic winding machines, industrial grinders, batteries, anhydrous ammonia and LP gas handling equipment, and lawn and garden equipment.

Tim has been awarded four patents for his previous engineering work. While at John Deere, he specialized in the design of transmission components and hydraulic transmission control valves. He has been a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers for more than 40 years and is also a member of the Defense Research Institute.

Bar Admissions

Minnesota, 1988
Iowa, 1987
Wisconsin, 2014

Court Admissions

U.S. Federal Court
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1986

with honors
University of Northern Iowa, M.B.A., 1984
Iowa State University, B.S., 1977

Agricultural Engineering
with distinction
Tau Beta Pi
Alpha Epsilon

Professional Associations

Defense Research Institute, Inc.
Society of Automotive Engineers, 1978 – Present
—On-Road Automated Vehicle Standards Committee
——Subcommittee, Guidelines for Safe and Efficient On-Road Testing of Prototype Automated Driving Systems on Vehicles with High Levels of Automation
American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers, 1976 – Present
Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
American Bar Association

Distinctions

Super Lawyers Magazine
—Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2015 – 2019

Patents

Wide Speed-Range Multi-Speed Power Shift Transmission
Tractor with Large Caster Angle to Improve Steering Clearance
Control System for Transmission Engagement
Compactor Device for Large Bales

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.

Case	Date	Practice	Industry
Orange County Jury Unanimously Rejects Plaintiff's $16.7 Million Claim in the Last Active California JCCP Yamaha Rhino Case	Feb 27, 2015	Product Liability Litigation	Motor Vehicles
Defense Verdict in Five Week Yamaha Rhino Trial	Apr 15, 2011	Product Liability Litigation	Motor Vehicles
Defense Verdict in Seven Week Yamaha Rhino Trial	Aug 11, 2010		Motor Vehicles
Claims Dropped in Shamrock Development v. Smith	Aug 07, 2008	Commercial Litigation
Garvey v. Polaris - Defense Verdict	Jul 19, 2004		Motor Vehicles

Recent News, Events and Blogs

Name / Date / Type	Practice	Industry
Ault v. Yamaha Selected As A Top Product Liability Verdict by Law360 August 6, 2015 Media Mention	Product Liability Litigation Class Action and Multidistrict Litigation	Motor Vehicles
Minneapolis Attorneys Recognized By Super Lawyers Magazine July 7, 2015 News
Defense Verdict in Five Week Yamaha Rhino Trial April 2011 News	Product Liability Litigation	Motor Vehicles
Three Major Verdicts in Product Safety & Liability Reporter August 2010 News	Product Liability Litigation	Motor Vehicles

Speaking Engagements

"Defending Occupant Retention and Safety Features Such as Doors, Nets, and Shoulder Barriers," Client Seminar, November 2015

Trial History

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.

Defense Verdict
Elizabeth Ault-Smietana v. Yamaha (Named a Top Product Liability Verdict in the First Half of 2015, Law360)
Superior Court of California, Orange County
2015

Defense Verdict
Clifford McAnelly v. Yamaha
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County
2011

Settled in Trial
Sheri Mee v. Johnson Controls Inc., et al
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
2011

Defense Verdict (Selected as one of Top Defense Verdicts in CA in 2010)
Jacob Lewis and Patrick Hernandez v. Yamaha
Superior Court of California, San Bernardino County
2010

Defense Verdict
Kevin and Paige Garvey v. Polaris Industries Inc.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
2004

Defense Verdict
Dennis Theriot v. Polaris Industries Inc.
San Luis Obispo, CA
2003

Settled in Trial
Michael Divicino v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
United States District Court, Connecticut
2003

Plaintiff Verdict
Betty Verburg, Administratrix of the Estate of Sander Verburg v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
District Court of County of Chittenden, Vermont
2002

Directed Defense Verdict
Ralph Brauser v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
West Palm Beach, FL
2002

Defense Verdict
Robert Davidson v. Polaris Industries Inc.
Stoughton, MA
2001

Defense Verdict
Harvey R. Sookiayak, Sr., Personal Representative of the Estate of Tony L. Sagoonick v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
Nome, Alaska
2000

Defense Verdict
Dan and Alaina Vogler v. Polaris Industries Inc.
Abilene, TX
2000

Settled in Trial
Lanae Woodruff v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
District Court of Lane County, Oregon
2000

Settled in Trial
Randall Bennett v. Polaris Industries Inc., et al.
United States District Court, Portland, Maine
2000

Defense Verdict
Jean-Claude Berube, et al. v. Polaris Industries Inc.
Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Canada
2000

Defense Verdict
Mildred Howard v. General Motors
Jefferson County, West Virginia
1997

Defense Verdict
Gary and Lisa Smart v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
United States District Court, S.D. Iowa
1995

Defense Verdict
Manford Carwile, Jr. vs. Honda Research & Development Co., et al.
United States District Court, E.D. Michigan.
1994

Defense Verdict
Timothy Oldeen v. American Honda, et al.
United States District Court, Western District, Wisconsin
1994

Defense Verdict
Kenneth Trunnell v. Navistar
United States District Court, Minnesota
1994

Timothy J. Mattson

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Education

Professional Associations

Distinctions

Patents

Recent Verdicts & Case Studies

Case

Date

Practice

Industry

Recent News, Events and Blogs

Name / Date / Type

Practice

Industry

Speaking Engagements

Trial History

Trial History