Practice Focus
Personal Injury
Daniel J. Bellig practices as a Minnesota personal injury and civil litigation lawyer. He helps clients injured or killed in car accidents or by other negligence. Dan also helps clients with complex litigation matters, including business disputes, real estate disputes, probate and trust disputes, and vaccine injury claims.
Case Results
Dan has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients and has also successfully defended clients against potentially ruinous claims. As a result of his achievements, Dan was recognized was a Lawyer of the Year, recognized as Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers, and worked on a Minnesota Law & Politics Case of the Year.
Appellate Work
In addition to his litigation practice, Dan is heavily involved in research and writing for all types of litigation matters both in the trial court and on appeal. Some of Dan’s representative appellate work includes:
- American Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inc. v. Yuan, 2024 WL 3755921 (Minn. App. 2024)
- Huseth v. Goodhue County Cooperative Electric Association, 2024 WL 1044560 (Minn. App. 2024)
- Stephens v. Goodwin, 2023 WL 5185872 (Minn. App. 2023)
- Swanson v. Wolf, 986 N.W.2d 217 (Minn. App. 2023)
- In re Trust of Lawrence B. Schwagerl, 965 N.W.2d 772 (Minn. 2021); 2023 WL 6206257 (Minn. App. 2023)
- Knewtson v. Knewtson, 2021 WL 668191 (Minn. App. 2021)
- Hendricksen v. Jensen, 2019 WL 4594515 (Minn. App. 2019)
- Wenker v. LeSueur County, 2019 WL 3294076 (Minn. App. 2019)
- Yocom v. RAM, 2019 WL 1591814 (Minn. App. 2019)
- Getz v. Peace, 934 N.W.2d 347 (Minn. 2019); 918 N.W.2d 233 (Minn. App. 2018)
- Apel v. MRCI, 2019 WL 418537 (Minn. App. 2019)
- Phillips v. State, 2018 WL 3097697 (Minn. App. 2018)
- Kind Heart Daycare, Inc v. Commissioner of Human Services, 905 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 2017); 2016 WL 3961815 (Minn. App. 2016)
- Back v. State, 902 N.W.2d 33 (Minn. 2017); 883 N.W.2d 614 (Minn. App. 2016); 992 N.W.2d 363 (Minn. 2023)
- Bunde v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 2014 WL 4055995 (Minn. App. 2014)
- Poppler v. Wright Hennepin Co-op. Elec. Ass’n, 845 N.W.2d 168 (Minn. 2014); 834 N.W.2d 527 (Minn. App. 2013)
- In re Estate of Rosenbrook, 2013 WL 2301954 (Minn. App. 2013)
- Bearder v. State, 806 N.W.2d 766 (Minn. 2011); 788 N.W.2d 144 (Minn. App. 2010)
- McMullen v. South Cent. Elec. Ass’n, 2010 WL 1967889 (Minn. App. 2010)
Biography
Dan is a lifelong resident of the Mankato area. He grew up in North Mankato and attended undergraduate and graduate programs at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Dan started working with Farrish Johnson in 2002, while studying at MNSU. During law school, Dan continued working with the firm while commuting to the Twin Cities for class. Dan continues to live in the Mankato area. In his free time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and four children and practicing martial arts.
Experience
Dan’s litigation experience is vast, including:
- Numerous settlements of personal injury claims for insurance policy limits.
- Represented clients in actions for wrongful death, including deaths involving farm tractor versus semi-tractor, pedestrian versus automobile, and slip and falls.
- Represented parents and minor children for enforcement of genetic privacy rights against State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health.
- Represented plaintiffs in claims, including class action claims, against government employees and entities for unlawful access and use of driver’s license records.
- Resolution of multiple medical privacy and statutory privacy claims.
- Resolution of multiple employment discrimination claims in state and federal court.
- Represented employee covered by ERISA policy that excluded injuries under an illegal activity exclusion and defeated Rule 12 motion for dismissal.
- Represent multiple plaintiffs in fraud claims brought against brokers for sales of securities.
- Represent utilities in the defense of stray voltage actions throughout Minnesota.
- Represented clients in real estate disputes, trust disputes, and will contests.
Dan is also a Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the General Rules of Practice and is available to serve as a mediator and arbitrator. He is also on the Panel of Arbitrators for No-Fault Arbitration in Minnesota.
Community Involvement
Outside of his law practice, Dan runs his own martial arts studio, Kawatani Dojo and has been an adjunct professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In the past he served on the Mankato Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and the Habitat for Humanity Resource Development Committee. He was also a member of the Greater Mankato Young Professionals, VFW Men’s Auxiliary, and Blue Earth County Historical Society.
Accomplishments
- Adjunct Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato (Sports Law)
- Selected for inclusion on the Minnesota Rising Stars list (since 2012)
- Minnesota Lawyer, Attorneys of the Year (2011)
- Minnesota Law & Politics, Lawsuits of the Year (2009), Bearder v. State
- Appointed to the Panel of Arbitrators for No-Fault Arbitration
- Scott V. Kelly & Daniel J. Bellig, The Helmet Defense Rule in Minnesota, Minnesota Defense, Fall 2008, at 11.
