Practice Areas
Education
Bar and Court Admissions

Thomas B. Caswell, III

Partner
Minneapolis
500 Washington Avenue South
Suite 4000
Minneapolis MN 55415
TEL: (612) 336-9150
FAX: (612) 336-9100
{ mail } tcaswell@zelle.com
{ print } Print PDF
{ vcard } vCard

Tom has successfully represented many clients in a variety of industries during his 25-plus years handling complex litigation throughout the United States and internationally.

Tom's particularly strong expertise in insurance coverage litigation is focused on first party property and liability coverage, construction defect claims, bad faith, time element, and boiler & machinery claims.  While Tom's insurance practice is predominantly defense oriented, he appears at least as often as plaintiff's counsel in other matters - - having made substantial recoveries for his clients following their losses arising out of fires, explosions and mechanical failures in refineries, power plants, foundries, hotels, and large manufacturing facilities.

Tom's practice also includes handling anti-trust matters, privacy and data theft, software licensing disputes, as well as general commercial litigation.

Although Tom strives to reach a settlement or other resolution for his clients short of trial, that is not always possible.  It is at that point when Tom's considerable jury trial experience is truly appreciated by his clients. 

Representative Matters

Prevailing lead counsel in multiple precedent setting matters, including:

Weyerhaeuser Co. v. Thermogas Co., 620 N.W.2d 819 (Iowa 2000) (involving a major fire at a corrugated container plant, cited by over 100 courts and legal publications for its holdings on strict liability, comparative fault, jury instructions and res ipsa loquitur); University of Minnesota v. Chief Industries, 106 F.3d 1409 (8th Cir. 1997) (fire at a university research facility, cited for its holdings on the economic loss doctrine and breach of warranty).

George's Inc. v. Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Co., 596 F.3d 989 (8th Cir. 2010) (W.D. Arkansas) (extra-expense coverage under property policy must result from actual increased monetary expenditure, and not merely increased per-unit production costs).

Allianz Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co., 179 S.W.3d 478 (Mo.App.E.D. 2005) (number of occurrences under property policy).

Hall v. Associated Int'l Ins. Co., 2012 WL 3570729 (10th Cir. 2012) (forced-placed homeowner's coverage is for benefit of lender).

Mies Equipment, Inc. v. NCI Building Systems, 167 F. Supp. 2d 1077 (D. Minn. 2005) (breach of contact, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligent performance claims arising out of building sale and construction).

Articles & Presentations

"Cyber Risk Insurance May Cost More Than You Think," Insurance Law360, May 8, 2013, co-author

"A Super Guide to Superstorm Sandy: Key Adjustment, Coverage and Factual Issues," Zelle Hofmann Webinar, April 19, 2013, co-presenter

"The Brave New World of Cyber Risks," Emerging Issues in Property Insurance, Chicago, IL, March 28, 2013, co-presenter

"What To Know About Obtaining Civil Authority Coverage," Insurance Law360, January 23, 2013, co-author

"Lessons From Past Give Guidance To Sandy-Related Claims," Insurance Law360, January 15, 2013, co-author

"Big Or Small, Cos. Need Insurance Against Data Breaches," Insurance Law360, August 22, 2012, co-author

"An Increase In A Manufacturing Insured’s Per Unit Allocation Of Fixed Costs Does Not Constitute A Covered Extra Expense," TIPS Property Insurance Law Committee Newsletter, Fall 2010, author

"Excess Scheduled Limit of Liability Endorsement Precludes Recovery From a Follow Form Excess Property Insurer Despite Primary Insurer's Payment on a Blanket Basis," Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance ABA Committee Newsletter, Spring 2010, author  

Professional Affiliations

News