KERMIT HOVERSTEN

Kermit Hoversten was born in Lynd, Minnesota, on June 20, 1928. He attended Augsburg College and graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1952. He was a member of the Board of Editors of the Minnesota Law Review and served as a teaching assistant while attending law school. He was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Minnesota in 1952 and became City Attorney for the City of Austin in 1962.  Mr. Hoversten's areas of practice involve a substantial expertise in municipal law, business and corporate law, estate planning, probate and all areas of litigation. His broad experience allows him to advise both personal and business clients as to the consequences of a particular action or activity which the client may be contemplating. Mr. Kermit Hoversten also has done extensive work in mediation and arbitration.  He is certified by the Minnesota Supreme Court as a Civil Mediator.

CRAIG W. JOHNSON 

Craig Johnson was born in Austin, Minnesota in 1945 and attended the University of Minnesota as both an undergraduate and a law student. He obtained his law degree in 1971 and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Minnesota in 1972.  He retired with the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Reserve (Armor) in 1976.  Mr. Johnson is a member of the Minnesota Title Standards Committee, which writes, analyzes, and revises the standards used within the State for examination of real estate titles.  Mr. Johnson also serves on the governing council of the Real Property Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and served as its President in 1994-95.  He has been certified by his peers in the Minnesota State Bar Association as a Real Property Law Specialist.  He is listed in the Commercial Real Estate and Residential Real Estate sections of Minnesota Law and Leading Attorneys, and was elected by his peers into the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, being one of only 25 Minnesota Lawyers admitted into this membership. He currently co-chairs the annual Real Estate Institute of the State Bar Association. Craig Johnson practices in the areas of real estate, business law, corporations, estate planning, probate and trusts. 

DAVID V. HOVERSTEN

David Hoversten was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1951, and graduated from Augsburg College before attending William Mitchell College of Law, where he received his law degree in 1977.  Mr. Hoversten has been licensed to practice law in the State of Minnesota since 1977, which is the year he joined our firm.  David Hoversten has focused his practice on the areas of municipal law, real estate, business law, estate planning and probate, and agricultural lending practices.  Although focusing in these areas, David is a general practitioner giving him considerable experience in the areas of general litigation, family law,  and creditors rights and remedies.  David Hoversten currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of Austin, Minnesota, and is also the attorney for the Austin Port Authority.

JOHN S. BECKMANN

John Beckmann was born in Nebraska in 1954 and attended the University of Minnesota as both an undergraduate and law student.  While an undergraduate, he achieved the honor of Phi Beta Kappa and received his law degree in 1979 cum laude.   Mr. Beckmann was admitted to the practice of law in 1979 and has been a member of our firm since that time.  He has exceptional writing talents, honed while acting as editor of the University of Minnesota literary magazine.  He specializes his practice in the areas of products liability, personal injury, wrongful death, employment law, commercial disputes, fire, arson and construction litigation.  Mr. John Beckmann was recognized by his peers by being invited as a lecturer at continuing legal education seminars.  He has published legal monographs on the effect of recent products liability and judicial decisions and has both written and lectured on medical malpractice, business torts, legal ethics and litigation strategy.  John Beckmann has been listed in the categories of Civil Litigation and Personal Injury Law in the guide book Minnesota Law and Leading Attorneys, having earned the designation by a survey of his peers in the legal profession.  Mr. Beckmann has been, and remains, a member of the Minnesota Bar Association Advisory Committee relating to jury instructions.

STEVEN J. HOVEY

Steven Hovey was born in North Dakota in 1962 and attended the University of North Dakota as both an undergraduate and law student. He obtained his law degree from the university with distinction in 1987 when he was admitted to the practice of law in North Dakota. He served as a law clerk to the State Court for one year and was then admitted to the practice of law in Minnesota in 1988 at which time he joined our firm.  Mr. Hovey practices primarily in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury, workers compensation, products liability, business organization, labor, employment and insurance law.  He is a member of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association.  He has lectured on Employment Polices for employers.

CRAIG M. BYRAM

Craig Byram was born in Davenport, Iowa, in 1968 and attended University of Iowa, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1991 and his Juris Doctor with distinction in 1994.  In 1994, Mr. Byram was admitted to practice law in both Iowa and Minnesota and began his practice in Austin, Minnesota.  Since 1992, Craig has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa State Bar Review School, which is a non-profit organization that provides a high quality review school for graduating law students intending to take the Iowa Bar Exam.  His practice is focused in civil litigation with an emphasis in family law.  Mr. Byram frequently represents clients before Social Security Administrative Law Judges.  Currently, he also serves as Assistant City Attorney, providing advice and guidance to the Austin Planning and Zoning Commission.

MARTY G. HELLE

Marty Helle was born in Austin, Minnesota, in 1974.  Mr. Helle received two bachelor’s degrees from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in 1996, and graduated with honors from the Drake University Law School, in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2000.  While a law student, Mr. Helle served as a teaching assistant in the legal research and writing department and was a torts research assistant.  Mr. Helle was president of the Drake Student Bar Association during his third year of law school. He was admitted to the practice of law in Iowa in 2000, and was a law clerk in Marshall County, Iowa, before joining our firm in January, 2001. Marty Helle is licensed to practice in Minnesota and Iowa.   Mr. Helle primarily practices in litigation, and also does work in real estate, probate, and municipal law.   He also does a great deal of work in the area of medical assistance/nursing home planning.

TRACY J. MORTON

Tracy Morton was born in Warroad, Minnesota in 1973 and graduated from Austin High School in 1991.  Mr. Morton has obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Winona State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point.  He obtained his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2001.  Mr. Morton worked as a law clerk for the personal injury law firm of Milavetz, Gallop, & Milavetz, P.A.  in the Twin Cities and as a law clerk for the Hon. Sharon L. Hall in the 10th Judicial District prior to joining our firm.  He practices in the areas of civil litigation, personal injury, and family law.