Scott N. Heidepriem
Partner
Location:
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Phone:
605-610-2188
866-258-0645 (Toll Free)
866-258-0645 (Toll Free)
Fax:
605-338-4162
E-mail:
Scott Heidepriem graduated from the USD law school in 1980 and Harvard University with an MPA in 1992. He has practiced in South Dakota his entire career. He is a past president of SDTLA, and past president of ABOTA, and a partner in the Sioux Falls firm of Johnson, Heidepriem & Abdallah. Heidepriem has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of civil litigation each year since 1998. Heidepriem has been listed in Super Lawyers of the Midwest Top 25, as one of the top 25 trial lawyers in a three state area (ND, SD, NE), and as one of only Five in South Dakota. He has held this designation each year since its inception in 2007. Heidepriem served in the South Dakota legislature for 12 years, being chosen as Speaker of the House, Pro Tempore, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Minority Leader for four years. Heidepriem was chosen the Democratic Party’s nominee for Governor of South Dakota in 2010.
Heidepriem’s practice is confined to civil litigation. He is board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial advocate. Scott is married and his wife’s name is Susan. They have two sons, Sam and Peter. In his spare time Scott is writing a book about a murder case his father tried back in 1969.
Areas of Practice
- Complex Litigation
- Arbitration
- Bad Faith
- Class Actions
- Federal Courts
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Pharmaceutical Products
- Premises Liability
- Railroad
- Slip and Fall
- State Trial Practice
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US Supreme Court
- Workers' Compensation Appeals
- Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff
Litigation Percentage
- 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- South Dakota, 1980
- Minnesota, 1990
- U.S. District Court District of South Dakota, 1981
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1982
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
Education
- University of South Dakota School of Law, Vermillion, South Dakota
- J.D. - 1980
- Harvard University
- M.P.A. - 1992
- University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
- M.A. - 1983
- Major: History
- University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
- A.B. - 1978
- Major: Political Science
- Major: History
Published Works
- "Tort Reform in South Dakota - The Plaintiffs Perspective" (Co-authored with Nancy Turbak), Volume 42, Issue 2, 1999
- "The Case of the Smoking Belly Button", South Dakota Barrister, 1999
- A Fair Chance for a Free People, The Biography of Karl E. Mundt, Mundt Foundation, 1988
- Bring on the Pioneers, A History of Hand County, State Publishing, Pierre, SD, 1978
Representative Cases
- Bair v. Callahan, 664 F.3d 1225 (8th Cir. 2012)
- Nohr v. Callahan (D.S.D. 2011)
- Stockwell v. Stockwell, 790 N.W.2d 52 (S.D. 2010)
- Bird Hotel Corp. v. Super 8 Motels, Inc. (D.S.D. 2010)
- Haar v. Callahan (D.S.D. 2009)
- Papke v. Harbert, 738 N.W.2d. 510 (S.D. 2007)
- FB & I Bldg. Products, Inc., v. Superior Truss & Components, a Div. of Banks Lumber, Inc., 727 N.W.2d 474 (S.D. 2007)
- Zavadil v. Alcoa Extrusions, Inc., 437 F.Supp.2d 1068 (D.S.D. 2006)
- Johanns v. Livestock Marketing Ass'n, 544 U.S. 550 (2005)
- Frankenfeld v. Crompton Corp, 697 N.W.2d 378 (SD 2005)
- Olson v. Equitable Life Assur. Co., 681 N.W.2d 471 (S.D. 2004)
- In re Arendt, 684 N.W.2d 79 (S.D. 2004)
- Kwongyuen Hangkee Co., Ltd. v. Starr Fireworks, Inc., 634 N.W.2d 95 (S.D. 2001)
- Jackson v. Motel 6 Multipurposes, Inc., 1998 WL 154451, 11 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 660 (M.D. Fla. 1998)
- Sorrels v. Queen of Peace Hosp., 575 N.W.2d 240 (S.D. 1998)
- Cramer v. Smith, 572 N.W.2d 445 (S.D. 1997)
- Himrich v. Carpenter, 569 N.W.2d 568 (S.D. 1997)
- Bruske v. Hille, 567 N.W.2d 872 (S.D. 1997)
- Dakota Cheese, Inc. v. Taylor, 525 N.W.2d 713 (S.D. 1995)
- Cournoyer v. Montana, 512 N.W.2d 479 (S.D. 1994)
- U.S. v. Hacker, 883 F.Supp. 444 (D.S.D. 1994)
- Mueller v. Zelmer, 525 N.W.2d 49 (S.D. 1994)
- State v. Sondreal, 459 N.W.2d 435 (S.D. 1990)
- Prentice v. Classen, 355 N.W.2d 352 (S.D. 1984)
- Olson v. Cass, 349 N.W.2d 435 (S.D. 1984)
- Gross v. Gross, 355 N.W.2d 4 (S.D. 1984)
- Northwest Realty Co. v. Carter, 338 N.W.2d 669 (S.D. 1983)
- U.S. v. Oakie, 709 F.2d 506 (8th Cir. 1983)
Classes/Seminars
- "Debating the Doctrine: Government Speech", South Dakota Law Review 2012 Symposium, Vermillion, SD, March 1, 2012
- Frequent Lecturer, University of South Dakota School of Law and Trial Techniques Class, Law Day Seminars, Ethics Class and Other Programs
- "Criminal Defense Artistry: Proficiencies & Perspectives", State Bar of South Dakota & Committee on Continuing Legal Education - Sioux Falls, SD, April 17, 2009
- "The 2008 Legislative Session: A Work in Progress", State Bar of South Dakota Early Bird CLE - Rapid City, SD, June 19, 2008
- "Rainmaking", Young Lawyers Regional Conference - Deadwood, SD, September 29, 2007
- "Taking a Medical Deposition that the Jury Can Understand", South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association - Rapid City, SD, September 11, 2007 - Present
- "Preparing the Witness for a Deposition", Trial Academy - USD Law School, Vermillion, SD, July 9, 2007
- "Overcoming Juror Bias: How it Affects Your Case", South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, April 10, 2003 - April 11, 2003
- "Common Sense Rules to Guide Your Trial Practice", "Excellence in Advocacy: Trial Strategies & Techniques", South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, April 13, 2000 - April 14, 2000
- Adjunct Professor, Pre-trial Process, USD Law School, 1998 - Present
- Adjunct Professor, Settlement & Negotiation, USD Law School, 1997 - 1998
- "Tax Consequences of Repossession and New Tax Developments for 1984", An Income Tax Update for the General Practitioner, State Bar of South Dakota Committee on Continuing Legal Education - Mitchell, SD , December 7, 1984
- "Age Discrimination in Employment", Advising Elderly Clients - State Bar of South Dakota Committee on Continuing Legal Education - Pierre, SD, September 18, 1981
Honors and Awards
- Selected in 2012 by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Super Lawyers Top 25 - Listed as one of the top 25 trial lawyers in a 3 state area (ND, SD, NE) and one of only five in South Dakota each year since 2007
- Recipient, Bush Fellowship, 1991 - 1992
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America - Civil Litigation Section, 2000 - Present
- Board Certified by National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate, 1990 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Member, 1980 - Present
- South Dakota Bar Association, Member, 1980 - Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, 1989 - 2008
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1980 - Present
- South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1996 - 1997
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member, 2000 - Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates, President, 2008 - 2009
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member, 1980 - Present
- South Dakota Board of Regents, Member, 1978 - 1980
- South Dakota House of Representatives, Elected 1982, 1984, 1988; Speaker Pro Tem, 1984 - 1987
- South Dakota Senate, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, 1989 - 1992
- National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law, Commissioner, 1986 - 2002
- South Dakota Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, 2006 - 2010
- Nominated for Governor of South Dakota, Democratic Party, 2010 - Present
Past Employment Positions
- Heidepriem, Widmayer, Zell & Jones, Associate Attorney, 1980 - 1992
- Jerauld County, South Dakota, State's Attorney, 1980 - 1982