Mendota Lawyers

As a member of the Smith, Paulson, O’Donnell and Associates team, I work with highly skilled attorneys, including a certified real property specialist and a certified labor and employment specialists, to provide comprehensive care to the needs of my clients. I am a seasoned trial lawyer with over a decade of courtroom experience. I welcome complex family law matters including, but not limited to, divorce, child custody, child protection and child support. As a former prosecutor I offer my criminal defense clients aggressive, and highly competent, protection of their constitutional and statutory rights.

Free Advice: Do not do the “Monkey Tests” on the side of the road, do not answer any questions without an attorney and never give the cops permission to search your car or anything else for that matter.

I have tried 300+ felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor cases to jury verdict. At one point I won 12 DWI jury trials in a row in just one jurisdiction alone. I am listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” and am a Life Member to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a founding member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal...

Carol has been practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate, real estate, tax and business law for over 25 years.

Dan is a lifelong resident of Minnesota. Born in St. Paul, Dan spent many of his formative years growing up there before moving to White Bear Lake. After graduating from White Bear Lake, Dan spent four glorious years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a degree in two majors. Dan worked as a Senior Investigator at the Minnesota Department of Commerce for several years after graduating from college. During his final years Dan attended William Mitchell College of Law while still working full-time. During this exhausting 3 ½ year period Dan honed his skills in becoming an efficient,...

Mr. Sackett decided to become an attorney due to his desire to help others in a meaningful way. Since being admitted to practice law in Minnesota in 2014, Mr. Sackett has been successful in protecting his clients’ interests through foresight, preparation and zealous advocacy. Mr. Sackett has experience in a wide range of civil litigation practice areas including family law, breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence claims, products liability, construction defect, insurance defense and insurance subrogation. Outside of his law practice, Mr. Sackett enjoys bicycling, golfing, watching movies and reading. He also enjoys taking long walks with...

Frederick A. Bechtold has been an attorney for over thirty years, becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 1990, the Minnesota Bar in 1999, the Wisconsin Bar in 2012, and the bar the United States Supreme Court in 2019. Currently, Fred practices exclusively criminal appeal law in the State of Wisconsin.

Nathan P. Fuglestad is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, and started practicing law in North Branch, Minnesota in 1992. He has over 25 years of expierience and uses that experience to help you down a path to the results you need. Schedule your free phone consultation today.

Thomas B James (Thomas James attorney at law) is a private practice attorney with over 25 years experience at the Law Office of Tom James in Cokato, Minnesota. He focuses on copyright and trademark law. Thomas James is licensed to practice in Minnesota state and federal courts, the 8th and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal; and the United States Supreme Court. He is authorized to represent client nationwide in U.S. trademark and copyright registration applications, and in Trademark Trials and Appeals Board (TTAB) and Copyright Claims Boards proceedings. In addition to practicing law, attorney Tom James is the author of "E-Commerce...

VWLF focuses solely on family law. Attorney Amanda Van Wyhe has been providing compassionate and zealous advocacy since 2005, representing clients in all types of divorce, child custody and family law cases. VWLF has office locations in Rochester and Owatonna and serves clients in the surrounding areas in southern Minnesota and north central Iowa. At VWLF, we believe that " Your. Family. Matters. " We understand that the process of going through a divorce or any other family law matter is difficult, to say the least. VWLF is here to help. Call us today for a free 30 minute...

Ruth received her law degree from the University of Minnesota and has been helping injured and disabled clients since 1980. She practices in the following areas of law:

Workers Compensation:

Injured at Work
Denied Benefits
Social Security:

Social Security Disability Benefits Applications
Social Security Disability Appeals

Sometimes your injury or disability could involve more than one area of law and Ruth knows how these work together.

She knows what steps need to be taken to make sure your rights are not endangered. She is active in the Minnesota State Bar Association and past chair of the Civil Litigation Section.

Ruth has published articles in professional journals, including helping a...

I practice law in St. Cloud. I am a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. I understand the financial pressures my clients face because I experienced some of these same pressures growing up. I know that most of my clients end up in debt through no fault of their own. People call me because their income fell or their expenses rose. For instance, people get laid off because the business closes or moves away. Or they get divorced and when there was barely enough money to run one household before the divorce, suddenly there are two...

Specialties: Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Administration; Contested Trust & Estate Litigation; General Litigation; Business Planning, Real Estate, Tax

Attorney Scott J. Curtis, a shareholder with the firm, practices in the areas of probate estates & trusts, general business law, estate planning, litigation, business formation & administration, business succession planning, estate and trust litigation, real estate, non-profit organizations, professional practices, estate planning, and general litigation.

Proficient in comprehensive estate planning, Mr. Curtis structures succession and estate plans for owners of family businesses engaged in numerous industries. In the field of probate and trust administration, Mr. Curtis has a reputation for success handling...

Joseph Gangi is a Mankato-area trial and appellate lawyer. Give Joseph a call today: 507-625-2525.

Patrick Casey focuses his practice on criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. He provides client-centered representation and is sensitive to his clients’ needs. Patrick is an award winning trial attorney. He was Minnesota Attorney of the Year in 2019. Most recently the Mankato Free Press named Patrick the Best Attorney for 2023.

I practice in the areas of real estate, business law, and legal planning. My practice focuses on assisting individuals and businesses with a variety of legal needs, including real estate transactions, commercial transactions, business disputes, and succession planning. My goal is to provide both legal expertise and practical advice to my clients.

Chris is a 1994 graduate of University of Jamestown (Summa Cum Laude) and a 1997 graduate of Michell Hamline School of Law (Magna Cum Laude).

He has spent his entire career helping disabled or injured individuals.

When practicing Workers Compensation law, Chris only represents injured workers and never represents insurance companies or employers.

Chris uses his knowledge and experience to guide you through each step taken on your case and inform you of all available options. He is a strong and well-respected advocate who is a leading attorney in the fields of Workers Compensation and Social Security.

He is member of the Sixth District...

Born and raised in Southeastern Minnesota, Karl has years of experience in general practice. He advises clients on a wide range of legal subjects including commercial and criminal law with special emphasis on family and bankruptcy law. His experience includes a focus on consumer bankruptcy proceedings for businesses and individuals wishing to alleviate the burden of unmanageable debt, as well as non-bankruptcy debt workouts. He has represented numerous individuals and business concerns guiding them from commencement of their bankruptcy case to their discharge, and other post-discharge issues. Karl also has focuses much of his practice on family law, including marital dissolutions, paternity,...

Jason Wagner serves individuals, families, and businesses in the areas of estate planning, business law, real estate, and farm law. Jason practices law with the Rochester, Minnesota law firm of Wagner Oehler, Ltd., which was founded in 1974. Jason was raised on a farm in Wabasha County. Mr. Wagner received his Juris Doctor degree and business law concentration, magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2013, and his Bachelor of Arts degree, with high distinction, from the University of Minnesota in 2009. Jason was recognized for his commitment to public service in law...

Jim attended William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell | Hamline) from August, 2012 until graduation in January, 2015. Jim focused on courses that teach practical skills of an attorney, including trial skills, negotiation, and mediation. While in law school, he tried three mock jury trials, numerous mock bench trials, and a juvenile certification trial. In his first year of law school, Jim received the Kirwin Award for Legal Professionalism. This award is given once per section each year to the student who most exemplifies what it means to be an attorney. Upon graduation, Jim received the prestigious Student...

Aaron’s dynamic background in real estate and finance allows him to guide families and businesses through major transactions and life events.

Aaron provides general counsel services to his clients in all aspects of real estate, corporate governance, business succession and wealth planning. Aaron’s engagements range from representing start-up entrepreneurs in connection with business formation, governance and financing, to the representation of established private business enterprises in evaluating strategic acquisition, divestiture, financing and succession planning initiatives.

Aaron also works with individual clients and families to evaluate and implement strategic personal wealth and estate planning strategies. He helps clients effectively plan for and ultimately...

Joe is an experienced trial attorney with an emphasis on personal injury, insurance defense, estate/probate litigation, real estate litigation and municipal law. He also frequently serves as special counsel to governmental entities with respect to various civil litigation matters, such as eminent domain proceedings and governmental liability claims. Joe has made court appearances in most counties in southern and central Minnesota and enjoys working in various parts of the state.

Claire believes that explaining law in understandable terms is crucial.

As a former chemist, Claire is meticulous and methodical
Surprisingly, Claire’s background prior to becoming a lawyer was in the technical sciences. She majored in Chemistry at Carleton College, worked at 3M, and later was employed at the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. on the international and litigation teams. Her background in the hard sciences fostered her development in becoming a thorough lawyer.

Claire’s family has lived in Rochester for more than a century
Claire has deep roots in this community. Her great-grandparents arrived in Rochester around the turn of the twentieth century....

Attorney Lallemont enjoys the variety and challenges her law practice provides – real estate, bankruptcy, family law, alternative dispute resolution and estate planning. The laws change, each client’s situation is unique and presents new challenges. Each day provides new learning experiences. Attorney Lallemont is an experienced trial attorney in both Minnesota district courts and the court of appeals. Angela represents clients facing a variety of family law issues. Her passion for her work is apparent in every client interaction. As an adult child of divorced parents, she provides a unique perspective to the effects of the divorce process on children. Angela understands...

Beau received his undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota State and the Winona County Bar Associations.

Beau represents clients in criminal defense, DUI/DWI cases, family law, landlord/tenant disputes, debt collection, and real estate matters.

Beau is married and has four wonderful children. He enjoys playing and watching sports and is very active in the community. Beau has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors at Ready Set School and has served as President...