Chris grew up on his family’s grain and cattle farm in southeastern South Dakota. Between farming, fishing, and hunting, Chris developed an early appreciation for land and natural resources. His legal career has followed a similar path, focusing on real estate and natural resource law. Upon graduating from law school, Chris worked for over five years with the Meierhenry Sargent law firm in South Dakota where he litigated complex civil matters which were often steeped in property law.  Chris has successfully tried cases to both judges and juries and has significant appellate experience.

 

Chris and his wife Anne relocated to the Rocky Mountain West in late 2018. When they are not busy working, they are exploring the beautiful rivers and mountains of their new home.

Licensed in:

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South Dakota

Idaho

Montana

United States Court of Federal Claims

United State Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

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Education:

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University of South Dakota School of Law, J.D.  2013

University of South Dakota, B.S. 2010

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Organizations and Affiliations:

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• Lemhi Regional Land Trust - Board of Directors

• American Bar Association - Section of Energy, Environment and Resources - Communications Vice-Chair

 

Reported Cases:

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• Morris Family v. South Dakota Dept. of Transp., 857 N.W.2d 865 (SD 2014).

• Busselman v. Egge, 864 N.W.2d 786 (SD 2015).

• State of SD ex rel. Dept. of Transp. v. Miller, 889 N.W.2d 141 (SD 2016).

• State of SD ex rel. Dept. of Transp. v. JB Enterprises, 889 N.W.2d 131 (SD 2016).

• Schliem v. State of SD ex rel. Department of Transportation, 889 N.W.2d 131 (SD 2016).

• Long v. State of South Dakota, 912 N.W.2d 833 (SD 2017).

• Long v. State of South Dakota, 904 N.W.2d 502 (SD 2017).

• Yankton County, South Dakota v. United States of America, 135 Fed. Cl. 620. (2017).

• Zwart v. Penning, 912 N.W.2d 833 (SD 2018).