Experience
Craig Krummen is a trial lawyer.
In 2010,
Minnesota Lawyer named Mr. Krummen as one of its "Attorneys Of The Year." In 2007, the
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal recognized Mr. Krummen as a recipient of its "40 Under Forty" award, and he was also featured in
Minnesota Lawyer for his involvement in a copyright infringement case of first impression. In addition, Craig was named to the
Super Lawyers list from 2003-2005, and to the
Rising Stars list by
Minnesota Law and Politics from 1999-2002.
Representative Matters
Mr. Krummen's representative cases include:
- Trial counsel for Marvin Lumber and Cedar Company in a national case against a wood preservative manufacturer. Following a four-month trial, the jury awarded a $135.8 million verdict in favor of Marvin, which exceeded $150 million when the Court added an interest award. The trial verdict was recognized by the National Law Journal in its annual list of Top 100 Verdicts.
- Trial counsel for Inspired Technologies, Inc., in a complex case involving improper use of confidential information of paint block technology. Following a bitterly contested trial, a jury rendered a $13.15 million in favor of Inspired Technologies, which was subjected to a remittitur order, a new trial, and a settlement. The trial victory was covered in IP Law360.
- Trial counsel for Rottlund Homes, Inc., in a case against a national builder for copyright infringement of architectural designs and works, and Rottlund Homes sought damages in excess of $30 million. After a four-week trial and an appeal, the matter settled pursuant to a confidential settlement agreement.
- Defense counsel for Marvin Windows, Inc. in a patent infringement case captioned Variant, Inc. v. Sub-Zero, Inc., Marvin Windows, Inc., et al. Achieved complete dismissal of the case with no payment made to the Plaintiff.
Background
In 1995, Mr. Krummen began his law practice at Winthrop & Weinstine. In 2001, he was elected as a shareholder of Winthrop & Weinstine, one year early. In 2002, he was elected as an equity shareholder, two years early.
Mr. Krummen's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and complex commercial litigation. During his legal career, he has tried many cases and represented numerous high-profile clients, including many nationally renowned companies. For example, he was one of two trial lawyers that tried a four-month jury trial on behalf of Marvin Windows and obtained a final verdict, with interest, in excess of $150 million against PPG Industries, a maker of wood preservatives. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed nearly all of this award. Shortly after the case ended, the chief executive officer at Marvin Windows asked him to serve as a Vice President, an executive position he enjoyed until deciding to rejoin Winthrop & Weinstine and return to the challenges presented in the private practice of law. While at Marvin Windows, he managed the company’s intellectual property portfolio and worked closely with outside counsel in patent prosecution and patent litigation matters.
Mr. Krummen later settled a complex copyright infringement lawsuit involving alleged damages in excess of $30 million he brought on behalf of Rottlund Homes against a national builder and its architecture firm for infringement of Rottlund's copyrighted designs. The case settled when the defendants agreed to purchase a license from Rottlund for an undisclosed amount.
Mr. Krummen recently represented a small, start-up company against a publicly traded masking tape vendor. His client, Inspired Technologies, invented and patented an edge-treatment for painter's masking tape. To protect its innovative technology, Inspired Technologies entered into three separate confidentiality agreements with its masking tape vendor known as Intertape. Intertape subsequently sued Inspired Technologies and demanded $5.9 million in damages. Mr. Krummen devised and executed a two-phase legal strategy. Phase one ended when the Court dismissed Intertape's claims on summary judgment and put an end to Intertape's $5.9 million damages claim. Phase two involved a trial on Inspired Technologies' claims, and the jury awarded Mr. Krummen's client $13.15 million in damages. Following a remittitur order, and a retrial on damages, the case settled.
Aside from his busy litigation practice, Mr. Krummen also finds time to give back to the profession and the community. His first law student mentee graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Law and went on to clerk for the Minnesota Supreme Court. His second law student mentee recently graduated from the University of Minnesota College of Law, and began practicing with the prestigious law firm Mayer Brown in Chicago, Illinois.
Within the legal profession, he has worked closely with the American Institute of Architects, lecturing at their Minnesota Chapter's annual meeting about the importance of copyrighting and protecting architectural designs. He has also made presentations regarding copyright law that qualified for AIA credit at over a dozen different architecture firms located in Minnesota.
In addition, he has enjoyed working on a diverse array of pro bono cases, such as his work on
Ryan Anderson vs. U.S. Steel, Minnesota Ore Operations, where he represented an individual with diabetes and a hearing disability against wrongful hiring discrimination practices, his work with the owner of a sole proprietorship construction business who lost a battle with cancer and left behind a wife and five children, his work in
In Re Billy Moman, where he represented a prison inmate seeking a commutation of a prison sentence from the Minnesota Board of Pardons, and his current work involving a police excessive force case.
Other Professional Experience
Mr. Krummen graduated with honors from Iowa State University in 1990 where he received several academic honors including induction into Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies. As an undergraduate, he also received a Lyndon Baines Johnson internship and clerked for the Honorable Congressman Fred Grandy in Washington, D.C. Among other responsibilities, he wrote the national address that Congressman Grandy gave from the House floor shortly after United Flight 232 tragically crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. Over 100 passengers were heroically saved during this terrible accident which also claimed the lives of 200 people.
From 1990 - 1992, Mr. Krummen enjoyed a career as a consultant for former Big Six consulting firm Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture. While there, he was an integral member of a strategic planning team that enabled the systems merger between First Bank and Marquette Bank. In 1995, Mr. Krummen graduated with high distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. While enrolled at this nationally ranked law school, Mr. Krummen clerked for the Dean's Office, was a member of the
Iowa Law Review, and co-authored a continuing legal education article entitled, “Ten Years With The Iowa Rules of Evidence.”
Bar Admissions
Minnesota, 1995
Iowa, 1995
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1996
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1996