Lauren E. Nuffort
Areas of Practice: Construction Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Professional Liability Defense, Legal Malpractice Defense, Attorney Discipline and Ethics, Property Subrogation and Catastrophic/ Large Loss Investigation, Automobile Liability
Office Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Direct: 612.336.9308 / Email: lnuffort@lommen.com
Lauren E. Nuffort / Biography
Lauren Nuffort is a civil litigator practicing in the areas of insurance law, insurance coverage disputes, personal injuries and wrongful death, transportation law, professional liability, and construction law.
A large portion of her practice includes defending businesses and individuals in liability claims and representing professionals in malpractice actions. She has experience handling a wide range of general liability defense matters, including construction defect, professional negligence and legal malpractice, passenger vehicle and commercial transportation accidents, property damage, premises liability, personal injury, and wrongful death. She has also defended and prosecuted contractual indemnity and declaratory judgment actions. She is frequently retained for complex insurance coverage litigation and to provide coverage opinions and make recommendations regarding all lines of property and casualty insurance.
She also represents insurance companies and their insureds in subrogation claims against third parties for property losses. She has obtained significant recoveries for her clients in losses involving fires, water intrusion, and structural failures. She is also retained to investigate and pursue the subrogation interests of self-insured motor carriers and companies providing truck insurance products and services.
Lauren is the co-editor of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, a 26-chapter deskbook on insurance coverage. She is also the author of Chapter 3 on “Misrepresentation or Omission in Applications for Insurance” and Chapter 10 on “Fire and Property Insurance.” She frequently speaks on insurance-related issues. She is actively involved in the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (MDLA). She has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© for her work in the practice areas of Litigation – Insurance and Litigation – Construction, has been recognized as a Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers since 2019 and was the joint recipient of the 2018 MDLA President’s Award and the 2015 recipient of the MDLA Deb Oberlander Young Lawyer Award.
She also serves on the MPLS Regional Chamber Executive Women’s Council Committee and the Hennepin County Bar Association Professionalism and Ethics Section.
Leadership + Activities
- MSBA Professionalism & Ethics Section, Member of the Governing Council
- Minnesota State Bar Association (including Hennepin County Bar Association)
- Minnesota Defense Lawyer’s Association, Board
- Minneapolis Women’s Executive Council
- Professional Liability Defense Federation
Community + Pro Bono Work
- Outside of the office, Lauren is an active volunteer with the Allina Health Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute where she teaches adaptive downhill skiing to children and young adults with physical disabilities
Presentations
- “The Client File and Responding to Subpoenas,” Moderator, MSBA Professionalism & Ethics Section, July 2023
- “Property Appraisals: What’s New Since Poehler v. Cincinnati Insurance Company?” Hot Topics in Insurance Law, Minnesota CLE, April 2023
- “Misrepresentation or Omission in Applications for Insurance,” Insurance Law Essentials Webcast Series, Minnesota CLE, October 2019
- “Managing Partners Panel: Leading and Succeeding,” MDLA Women in the Law Committee, September 2018
- “Attention Zealous Advocates: Don’t Forget Your Shield – Protecting Your Practice and Avoiding Traps in Legal Ethics and Malpractice Claims,” 2018 Trial Techniques Seminar, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, August 2018
- “Construction Litigation: Lessons from the Trenches Part II,” Minnesota Construction Association, June 2018
- “Negligence and Evidence: From a Recovery and Liability Perspective,” Sedgwick Claims Management Services, June 2017
Published Articles
- “Chapter 3: Misrepresentation or Omission in Applications for Insurance” and “Chapter 10: Fire and Property Insurance,” Update to Fifth Edition of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, April 2023
- “Misrepresentation or Omission in Applications for Insurance” and “Fire and Property Insurance,” Update to Fifth Edition of the Minnesota Insurance Law Deskbook, Minnesota CLE, July 2021
- “Tales From the Trenches From the Defense Perspective,” newsletter of Minnesota Lawyers Mutual, The View, January 2021
- “A Systematic Approach: Defending Claims Involving Future Radiofrequency Neurotomy Treatments,” ABA’s Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Summer 2020
- “When Attorneys Are Sued by Non-Clients: The Immunity and Privilege Rule,” Professional Liability Defense Quarterly, September 2019
- “Minnesota Amends its Rule of Professional Conduct Authorizing a Lawyer Admitted in Another Jurisdiction to Provide Legal Services in Minnesota,” Minnesota Lawyer, June 2019
- “Defending Claims Involving Future Radiofrequency Neurotomy Treatments,” For the Defense, October 2018
- “Construction Litigation: Lessons from the Trenches Part II,” Minnesota Construction Association, June 2018
- “Assembling Your Team: Managing Today’s Fire Investigation,” Subrogator Magazine, Spring/Summer 2016 (authored with Jessica Allen)
- “Paying it Forward: Approaching Mentorship as a New Lawyer,” Minnesota Defense, Winter 2015 (authored with Rachael Holthaus, Paul Shapiro and Peter Stiteler)
- “Recovering the Cost of Code Required Repairs,” Subrogator Magazine, Winter 2015 (authored with Jessica Allen)
- “Tips from the Trenches: How to Succeed as a Summer Associate and as a First-Year Associate,” Minnesota Defense, Winter 2014 (authored with Paul Shapiro)
- “The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008: Raising a Shield to Genetic Discrimination in Employment and Health Insurance,” 21 Health Law. 1, 2009
Education
- St. Lawrence University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2006
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 2010
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 2010
- North Dakota, 2017
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 2011
- U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, 2021
Awards
News + Articles
Assumption of Risk Doctrine Remains in Minnesota, But Held Not to Apply to Recreational Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
On January 23, 2019, the Minnesota Supreme Court decided for the first time that the doctrine of implied primary assumption of risk does not apply to recreational downhill skiing or snowboarding. Soderberg v. Anderson, --- N.W.2d --- (Minn. Jan. 23, 2019). This means...
Commercial Litigation Q&A by Lauren Nuffort
Why is early involvement so important in property subrogation? [Transcript] Why are contracts so important in construction defect litigation? [Transcript] What is a rewarding aspect in your practice as a professional liability defense attorney? [Transcript] View all...
How did these three get to be shareholders in 2019?
They focused on client successes (not their own). They helped our clients accomplish goals. And, in the end, they gave our clients peace of mind. While Lauren Nuffort, Cameron Kelly and Jesse Beier may have different practices, they share a philosophy of the “client...
Defending Claims Involving Future Radiofrequency Neurotomy Treatments
John Crawford and Lauren Nuffort co-authored an article in the October 2018 For the Defense magazine by DRI, the Voice of the Defense Bar. The article also appeared in the Winter 2019 Minnesota Defense and the Fall 2018 newsletter of the Trucking Industry Defense...
Managing Partners Panel: Leading and Succeeding
Lauren Nuffort moderated an MDLA Women in the Law Committee CLE on September 18, 2018, titled "Managing Partners Panel: Leading & Succeeding. Overview: The panel members will discuss how they navigated law firm life to get where they are today, leadership...
Lauren Nuffort Receives 2018 President’s Award of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
Lauren Nuffort was the joint recipient of the 2018 Minnesota Defense Lawyer’s Association (MDLA) President’s Award. Each year at the Association’s annual meeting, the MDLA President has the privilege of bestowing upon a member the President’s Award to recognize his...