Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts
Best's Insurance Professional Resources
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts


May & Johnson, P.C.

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

6805 South Minnesota Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108-2527

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

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

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

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

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

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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