May & Johnson, P.C.
Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense
- Telephone: 605-336-2565
- Fax: 605-336-2604
- Toll Free: 800-365-4529
- E-Mail: firm@mayjohnson.com
- Website: www.mayjohnson.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 88738, Sioux Falls, SD 57109-8738
Established: 1924
Practice Areas
- Insurance Defense
- Automobile
- Bad Faith
- Product Liability
- Casualty
- Professional Malpractice
- Construction Liability
- Employment Discrimination
- Workers' Compensation
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- Mediation
Cases Gone to Trial: 45
About Us
The law firm of May & Johnson, P.C. was established ninety-five years ago. Robert May was one of the country's leading attorneys in the field of motor carrier law. The firm's attorneys have also included a South Dakota Governor and one of the youngest United States Attorneys in the country's history. Firm members are active in the Defense Research Institute and the International Association of Defense Counsel, and include past presidents of the State Bar of South Dakota and the South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association. In addition to its litigation practice, the firm has established a reputation as the leading mediation and ADR neutral in the state. The firm has a solid civil litigation and general insurance defense practice, including automobile, bad faith, casualty, product liability, professional malpractice, construction liability, employment discrimination, deceptive trade practices and worker's compensation. The firm also practices in the areas of general business, corporate, estate planning, probate, trusts, real estate, collections, subrogation and criminal law.
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- ACUITY Group
- Aetna Insurance Company
- ALLIED Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Allstate Insurance Company
- American International Group, Inc.
- Attorneys Liability Protection Society
- Austin Mutual Insurance Company
- Buckeye State Mutual Insurance Company
- Cameron Mutual Insurance Company
- Celtic Insurance Company
- Chartis
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- CIGNA Group
- CNA Insurance Companies
- Columbia Insurance Group
- Continental Insurance Company
- COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company
- De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance Company of South Dakota
- Employers Mutual Companies
- Employers Reinsurance Corporation
- Farm and City Insurance Company
- Farmers Insurance Group
- Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
- Great West Casualty Company
- Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company
- Guaranty National Group
- Hanover Insurance Company
- The Hartford Insurance Group
- Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company
- Insurance Corporation of America
- John Hancock Life Insurance Company
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
- Lloyd's
- Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company
- Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
- National Indemnity Group
- Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company
- Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
- Nautilus Insurance Group
- Northland Insurance Company
- North Star Mutual Insurance Company
- OneBeacon Insurance
- Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
- Prudential Insurance Company of America
- Royal Insurance Group
- Safeco Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- TIG Premier Insurance Company
- Travelers Property Casualty Corporation
- United Fire & Casualty Company
- Unum Life Insurance Company of America
- USAA Casualty Insurance Company
- Western National Mutual Insurance Company
- Westfield Group
Non-Insurance Clients
- Aero Adjusters, Inc.
- Ladder Management Services
- Lancer Claims Services, Inc.
- Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance
- Underwriters Adjusting Company
Personnel Information
Firm Members
R. G. May — (1913-1996)
Harold C. Doyle — (1926-2009)
George O. Johnson — (Retired)
James R. Becker — (Retired)
Lon J. Kouri
Sioux Falls, SD
- E-Mail: lkouri@mayjohnson.com
Years of Experience: 37
Practice Areas
- Mediation
- Arbitration
Admitted
- South Dakota, 1980
- U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 1980
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1982
Additional Biographical Details:
Great Plains Super Lawyers; Best Lawyers in America; Benchmark Litigation Star
Memberships:
- The State Bar of South Dakota
- Second Judicial Circuit Bar Association (President, 1990-1991)
- South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association (Board of Governors, 1994-2001; President, 1996-1997)
- Defense Research Institute (South Dakota State Representative, 1998-2002)
- National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (South Dakota Charter Member)
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- American Board of Trial Advocates
Certifications:
- Board Certified Mediator
Education:
- Augustana College, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1977
- University of South Dakota, J.D., 1980
Jeff D. Brekke
Sioux Falls, SD
- E-Mail: jbrekke@mayjohnson.com
Years of Experience: 35
Practice Areas
- Corporate Law
- Business Law
- Real Estate
- Wills
- Trusts
- Estates
Admitted
- South Dakota, 1980
Additional Biographical Details:
Certified Public Accountant, South Dakota, 1977 (Inactive)
Memberships:
- The State Bar of South Dakota
Education:
- University of South Dakota, B.S., 1977
- University of South Dakota, J.D., 1980
Born: 1955
Richard L. Travis
Sioux Falls, SD
- E-Mail: dtravis@mayjohnson.com
Years of Experience: 37
Practice Areas
- Civil Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Workers' Compensation
- Personal Injury
- Bad Faith
Admitted
- South Dakota, 1980
- U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 1980
Additional Biographical Details:
Great Plains Super Lawyers
Memberships:
- The State Bar of South Dakota (President, Young Lawyers Section, 1985-1986; Bar Commissioner, 1989-1994; Disciplinary Board, 1994-2000; Judicial Qualifications Commission, 2003-2011; President-Elect, 2006-2007; President, 2007-2008)
- Second Circuit Bar Association
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors, 1992-1993)
- South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
- Defense Research Institute
- American Board of Trial Advocates
Education:
- University of South Dakota, B.S., 1976
- University of South Dakota, J.D., 1980
Born: 1954
Jason W. Shanks
Sioux Falls, SD
- E-Mail: jshanks@mayjohnson.com
Years of Experience: 17
Practice Areas
- Insurance Litigation
- Insurance Defense
- Civil Litigation
- Construction Law
- Collections
- Agriculture
- Subrogation
Admitted
- South Dakota, 2002
- Minnesota, 2010
- U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota, 2002
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2009
Memberships:
- The State Bar of South Dakota
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Second Circuit Bar Association
- South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association
Education:
- Southwest State University, B.A. (with honors), 1999
- University of South Dakota School of Law, J.D., 2002
Service Areas
Brookings, South Dakota, USA 50 miles
Watertown, South Dakota, USA 106 miles
Yankton, South Dakota, USA 83 miles
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