Bemidji, MN

Gary M. Hazelton

I was born in Jamestown, North Dakota, where my dad grew up. We moved to a suburb of Minneapolis in 1962 when I was 5. My dad was a blue-collar tradesman who could do anything from build large commercial buildings to fine furniture to rebuild engines. So I grew up around that stuff. We bought a fishing resort in the fall of 1972 and moved to Northern Minnesota. Hard work and long days in season but we met so many people from the 5-state area who stayed at the resort and became long-term friends. I graduated from Bemidji High School in 1976 and went to college only to play football. No plan for what I wanted to do. A fellow defensive back told me to go into Industrial Education because "you get to work on all the machines" - so that is what I did. The student teaching experience left me second guessing a teaching career. Got married in 1979 after playing in the homecoming game. My wife was headed into teaching. An uncle, who was a lawyer, was back to my parent's resort and after discussing my lack of desire to teach he told me to go to law school and he would give me a job. So, by mere happenstance I went to law school, graduating from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1985. My wife Diane and I raised our 4 children in the Bemidji area. Diane retired from teaching about 6 years ago and spends much time with our 6 grandchildren. We have just completed a new home on a lovely chain of lakes and love lake living. In October 2000 I attended Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College (famed Wyoming trial attorney), am past president of the Minnesota Association of Justice and frequent presenter on and have written extensively on all aspects of trial skills. For about 10 years I have studied significantly in the field of neuro-linguistics and neuro-semantics and breaking down every aspect of trial practice from presence to story structure to semantic use of space in the courtroom. My practice is limited to personal injury with much emphasis on product liability. I am licensed in Minnesota, North Dakota, Alaska, Red Lake Nation and Leech Lake tribal courts. The relationship you form with your lawyer is the difference that makes a difference. The insurance adjusters sense the difference, and the jurors see the difference. When we know your story we can tell your story in a way that the felt sense is that of a lived experience. That is what it motivates the adjuster or jurors to act make it right. That is true justice.

Brooks M. Hazelton

I was raised in Bemidji, Minnesota. In 2011, I married my wife Lauren from Anchorage, Alaska. In 2013 I joined my dad’s law practice but hung my own shingle in the 49th state. We lived full-time in Alaska until 2017, when we had our first child. Then we returned to Bemidji to raise our kids. We now have three. Lauren is an optometrist and owns the only locally owned eye clinic in Bemidji. White Spruce Optometry. My passions include my family, and like many northern Minnesotans and Alaskans, I love to hunt, fish, and play outside. Fortunately, my job is also a passion. My job is to advocate for the injured and the families of those who are wrongfully killed. In my daily practice, I work across from defense lawyers and insurance adjusters. The fire lit inside of me early in my career. In 2015, I represented a woman in Alaska. It was an injury claim that all the other lawyers she spoke with rejected. My client’s significant medical condition resulted from a relatively low speed rear-end collision. She had been representing herself, her husband had left her, and I couldn’t say no. State Farm Insurance Company was our opponent. Unwilling to be fair, they offered $6,000 of go-away money to settle my client’s claim. I spent a year working on the case headed for a trial. My dad flew to Alaska, and we tried the case for three weeks to an Anchorage jury. When we were done, my dad flew home to Bemidji before the jury verdict came. We were called to the courtroom for the verdict, and it totaled $620,526. My client collapsed into my arms in tears of joy. It wasn’t about the money; it was that she was heard, and she was believed. From that day forward, I knew I was doing exactly what I was put on this earth to do. And I was energized to be the best at it. Aside from the trial skills, I enjoy getting to know my clients. We often have a very personal relationship as I help them navigate, likely one of the worst experiences of their life. I take that job seriously and enjoy finding the right strategy for each client to maximize their recovery while maintaining their quality of life and mitigating their risk. I can often settle my client’s case for a fair amount of money without stepping into a courtroom. But if we need to go there, we are prepared, and the insurance industry knows that. I am licensed in Minnesota and Alaska. My practice has been limited to personal injury and wrongful death claims for over a decade. I emphasize wrongful death because, for many in my field, they are some of the most challenging claims to present effectively and to resolve fairly. But I can because my focus is on relationship loss and the presentation of that loss. I have represented parents who have lost their young children and adults who have lost their elderly parents. And sadly, many other relationships between. Not one is the same, and I handle each to their unique circumstances. Recently, I have expanded my practice. Over the years, I have recognized the value of civility and professionalism in the legal process. There are usually good people represented by hard-working and caring advocates on both sides of a dispute. Although most of my practice continues to be as an advocate for plaintiffs. I believe in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system, and my experience in both trial and ADR has led me down the path to becoming a qualified neutral on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s civil mediation roster. Alternative dispute resolutions, like mediation, often provide significant benefits in these emotionally charged and financially taxing cases. I am mutually selected as a mediator. When I am hired as a mediator, I carefully prepare for each mediation by reviewing case details and listening to all parties, working towards settlements that meet their needs.

Steven M. Fuller

Mr. Fuller specializes in personal injury, including trials and settlement of accident-related claims. He has over 33 years of experience trying civil and criminal cases and has achieved numerous successful jury verdicts and settlements. He is from Longville, MN and enjoys hunting, fishing, reading and woodcarving.

Jason D. Pederson

Mr. Pederson is a trial lawyer with experience in serious injury, wrongful death, product liability, employment discrimination, medical negligence, and agricultural accident litigation. He also practices criminal defense and real estate/business disputes. He is a board member of the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and enjoys hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational activities.

Robert M. Wallner

Mr. Wallner specializes in personal injury, estate planning, probate, criminal defense, and business and real estate litigation. He enjoys hunting, fishing, trapping, harvesting wild rice, and raising cattle and horses.

John Bailey

John Bailey is an attorney at Bailey Law Offices, Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota. He is admitted to practice in North Dakota and Minnesota State Bars, as well as the Minnesota Federal District Courts. John has extensive experience in workers' compensation and personal injury law, having represented numerous clients in these areas.

Ronald S. Cayko

Mr. Cayko specializes in family law, including dissolutions, custody and parenting time matters, parentage actions, uncontested step-parent adoptions, support hearings, and landlord/tenant matters. He has experience in trial and Appellate Court work. He is from Walker, MN and enjoys fly fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and other outdoor activities.