Kathleen M. Loucks
Areas of Practice: Business Litigation, Catastrophic Injury, Construction Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Professional Liability Defense, Vaccine Injuries, Wrongful Death, Insurance Defense
Office Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota / Hudson, Wisconsin
Direct: 612.336.9348 / Email: kloucks@lommen.com
Kathleen M. Loucks / Biography
Kathleen Loucks is admitted to practice in Minnesota and Wisconsin state and federal courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, is certified as a civil trial specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association and is a member of the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota.
She is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for her work in the practice area of Litigation – Insurance, has been listed as a Minnesota Super Lawyer since 2021 and was listed as a Minnesota Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers in 2011 and from 2006 to 2008. She received a Client Satisfaction 10 Best Female Attorneys Award by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys in 2016 and 2017. She was honored as one of the 10 Best Female Attorneys in Minnesota by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. She was recognized for excellence in litigation law by the Association of America’s Top Lawyers in 2019.
She started her career in the courtroom, cutting her teeth in criminal court as a prosecutor. Before joining Lommen Abdo in 2014.
Kathleen has championed individuals and businesses in state and federal courts throughout the region. Her practice includes representing plaintiffs and defendants in general litigation matters, personal injury, wrongful death, construction defects, and products liability. She also represents attorneys in professional liability matters, and plaintiffs in vaccine litigation in the United States Court of Federal Claims.
“I have significant experience on both the defense and plaintiff side of simple and complex litigation all the way through jury verdict. My clients have learned to appreciate this about my advocacy,” says Kathleen. “This insight enables me to make wise choices about when to be collaborative with opposing counsel, and when to be a strong advocate for my clients. My clients want more than a one-size-fits-all approach to their case – they deserve a seasoned and wisdom-driven advocate with a full spectrum of tools, who will talk with them candidly and straightforwardly about their options, and who will choose the best tools available to serve their interests. That’s how I practice and that’s what I’m committed to delivering to every client I have the privilege of serving.”
Leadership + Activities
- Vaccine Petitioners Bar Association
- Court of Federal Claims Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bench & Bar Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association (including Hennepin County Bar Association)
- Innocence Project of Minnesota, Advisory Board, 2010 to 2016
Community + Pro Bono Work
Project Family Connect; United Gospel Mission
Feedback
Kathleen Loucks provided excellent legal counsel to our association in a complex construction defects lawsuit. Kathleen is a superb communicator who provides sound counsel that is clear, comprehensive and understandable to clients. She is an experienced, effective, straightforward, pragmatic and responsive attorney whom I recommend without reservation.
Larry B., Golden Valley
I have had the pleasure of working with Kathleen on several occasions and would highly recommend her as legal counsel to anyone. While working with Kathleen, I was impressed by her depth of knowledge, prompt follow-up, ability to quickly resolve matters, the ability to clearly articulate matters so that those without a legal background understand and, moreover, her compassion for what she does as a legal professional. Throughout my career I have worked with many lawyers and Kathleen has proven to be one of the finest.
Deborah H., Property Manager and CEO
Kathleen defended our company on a products defect case. We were very pleased with her defense of the case including her diligent and thorough investigation of the facts, knowledge of the law, and effective negotiation strategy. Kathleen was very prompt in her communications to us and made the matter a priority.
General Counsel at a Wisconsin manufacturing company
Experience
- Shierts v. University of Minnesota Physicians et al. – medical malpractice wrongful death verdict $1,200,000
- Jane and John Doe v. Minnesota Clinic – medical malpractice wrongful death settlement $687,500
- Campbell v. Falcon Ridge, et al. – settlement of catastrophic injury claim $750,000
- Wildman v. Coyers – settlement of catastrophic injury claim $225,000
- Jane Doe as Trustee v. Midwest Clinic – wrongful death settlement arising out of suicide 1.75 million
- Vaccine settlements:
- Shoulder Injury (SIRVA) following flu shot $ 60,254
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following tetanus shot $450,000
- Shoulder Injury (SIRVA) following flu shot $75,000
Presentations
- “Vaccination Law 101,” Annual Meeting of the 18th District Bar Association, 2021
Published Articles
- “COVID-19 Countermeasures Receive Broad Immunity,” Minnesota Lawyer, May 2020
- “When Attorneys Are Sued by Non-Clients: The Immunity and Privilege Rule,” Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, September 2019
- “Shoulder Injuries from Vaccines? Separating Fact from Fiction,” Mitchell Hamline Law Review Blog, February 2019
- “Drilling Down: The Vaccine Act,” Mitchell Hamline Law Review, May 2018
- “Rule Changes for Homeowner Associations,” Minnesota Lawyer, September 2017
- “Vaccine Law: Where it Came From, How it Works,” Minnesota Lawyer, May 2017
- “When a Client Dies During…Litigation,” Hennepin Lawyer, March/April 2016
- “Notable Verdicts: Organ Transplants Gone Wrong, Botched Surgeries, Bad Priests,” Minnesota Lawyer, 2015
- “Judicial Ride-Along Program: Another Look,” Hennepin Lawyer, 2011
Education
- University of Minnesota, B.A., 1995
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 1999
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1999
- Wisconsin, 2015
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2019
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 2016
Awards + Certifications
News + Articles
Kathleen Loucks participates in national vaccine injury conference
The United States has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history, according to the Department of Health and Human Resources. In the majority of cases, vaccines causes no side effects. However side effects can occur, as with any medication. Very rarely,...
When a Client Dies During…Litigation
At common law, a personal injury action abates with the death of either party. The Supreme Court in Johnson v. Consolidated Frieghtways, Inc. discussed the rationale behind the common law: The old non-survival rule sprang from the medieval view of torts as a form of...
Notable Verdicts: organ transplants gone wrong, botched surgeries, bad priests
Minnesota Lawyer included a recent Lommen Abdo case in an article titled, "Notable Verdicts: organ transplants gone wrong, botched surgeries, bad priests." The plaintiff underwent a pancreas transplant at the University of Minnesota and within the year was dead from...
Jury Finds for Plaintiff in Transplant Case
A Hennepin County jury recently found the University of Minnesota Physicians and Dr. Ty Dunn negligent in accepting a pancreas for transplantation where the cause of the donor’s death was unclear. The case was tried by Kathleen Loucks of Lommen Abdo and Edward...
Resolving Property Damage Insurance Claims
This year has again brought us countless hail and extreme weather events. In fact, only Texas has more hail claims per year than Minnesota. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that where there is property damage, insurance claims and disputes soon follow. Fortunately,...
Vaccine Injury, Medical Malpractice & Civil Litigation Q&A with Kathleen Loucks:
Why would a client hire you? [Transcript] You’ve handled medical malpractice cases both for the plaintiffs and for the defendants – how does that impact your handling of any case? [Transcript] What should I look for in choosing a lawyer to handle my vaccine-related...