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Richard C. Landon

Richard Landon is a trial and appellate attorney with extensive experience in both state and federal courts. Richard has represented clients with a wide array of complex legal issues, including antitrust, distribution, and franchising, as well as shareholder disputes, fiduciary litigation, First Amendment issues, will contests, non-compete agreements, discrimination claims, and claims against higher education institutions. Before joining the firm, Richard was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Michael J. Melloy for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and Richard continues to focus much of his practice on appellate work and he co-leads the Lathrop GPM appellate group.

Richard's representation of manufacturers and distributors covers a variety of commercial disputes, including dealer terminations, antitrust, and other unfair competition claims. Richard also regularly helps franchisors enforce post-termination rights and defends against claims by sales representatives for unpaid commissions and wrongful termination. In addition to litigation, Richard advises clients on antitrust issues in product distribution and franchising, including advice and employee training on pricing issues and other supply practices, as well as the application of state dealership laws and franchise relationship laws.

Representative Experience

Litigation

  • Represented dealer of wireless services in tortious interference dispute against its competitor and former sub-dealer.
  • Obtained $8.5 million judgment after six-day bench trial representing agricultural supply store in dispute over failed merger.
  • Obtained defense verdict for railroad in three-day jury trial against contractor seeking $1 million for breach of contract.
  • Obtained dismissal for heavy equipment dealer and auction services provider against Sherman Act conspiracy claim.
  • Obtained summary judgment for national equipment manufacturer on statutory wrongful termination claims brought by former dealer.
  • Successfully defended national furniture manufacturer against unfair business practices and contract claims in suit by terminated dealer.
  • Obtained trial verdict for public transportation contractor after two-week trial in public-bidding challenge from a losing bidder.
  • Successfully defended heavy equipment distributor against price discrimination and breach of contract claims by terminated dealer.
  • Represented former employees in the transportation logistics industry in two-week trial, involving allegations of trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
  • Successfully defended heavy equipment dealer in two-day bench trial for negligent repair claim.
  • Represented national restaurant franchisor in arbitration against claims of state franchise law violations.
  • Represented national hotel franchisors in suits involving franchise termination and allegations of state franchise law violations.
  • Represented national fitness club franchisor in arbitrations seeking damages for premature terminations by franchisees.

Appellate

  • Argued before the Minnesota Supreme Court in landmark case involving the educational adequacy of segregated schools under the Minnesota Constitution. Cruz-Guzman v. State, A22-0118.
  • Obtained affirmance from Sixth Circuit of summary judgment for agricultural distributor in dispute regarding warranties for seed, herbicide, and fertilizer. Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC v. AAA Turf, Inc., 2023 WL 4842838 (6th Cir. Apr. 21, 2023).
  • Obtained affirmance from Minnesota Court of Appeals of $8.5 million judgment and piercing of the corporate veil. FKS Enterprises, Inc. v. Whebbe, 2022 WL 1920600 (Minn. Ct. App. Aug 23, 2022).
  • Obtained affirmance from Sixth Circuit of judgment on the pleadings for licensor in dispute regarding contractual royalties. Whirlpool Corp. v. Equity Management, Inc., 2021 WL 5133177 (6th Cir. Nov. 4, 2021)
  • Reversed Court of Appeals dismissal on jurisdictional grounds on behalf of plaintiffs suing the State of Minnesota for failure to provide an adequate education in Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools, as required by the Minnesota State Constitution. Cruz-Guzman v. State, 916 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 2018).
  • Reversed Court of Appeals decision invalidating public procurement contract for municipal bus services. Rochester City Lines, Co. v. City of Rochester, 913 N.W.2d 443 (Minn. 2018).
  • Obtained affirmance by the Minnesota Supreme Court of a ruling that client was not responsible for organizational conflicts of interest regarding a publicly bid governmental contract. Rochester City Lines, Co. v. City of Rochester, 868 N.W.2d 655 (Minn. 2016).
  • Obtained affirmance of judgment on the pleadings in patent dispute by invalidating asserted patents as directed to ineligible subject matter and defend the ruling in the Federal Circuit. Concaten, Inc. v. AmeriTrack Fleet Solutions, LLC, 669 Fed. Appx. 571 (Fed. Cir. 2016).
  • Represented corporate owner of ethanol facility in appeal regarding former minority owners’ claims related to a squeeze out merger.
  • Represented decedent’s family members who successfully challenged estate documents as the product of undue influence.
  • Represented neighborhood association in Eighth Circuit appeal challenging environmental review of public transportation project.
  • Represented office products vendor in Seventh Circuit appeal of dismissed False Claims Act complaint.
  • Represented agricultural farm at the Minnesota Supreme Court in challenge to assessment of unemployment insurance tax based on wages paid to temporary foreign visa workers.
  • Represented Defendant challenging jurisdiction of state court to review fraudulent transfer claim outside of bankruptcy court.
  • Obtained affirmance of franchisor’s dismissal from putative class action regarding overpayment of sales tax.
  • Represented sons against estate of their father for breach of fiduciary duty managing a trust.

Client Alerts and Blog Posts

Professional Affiliations

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Antitrust Section Counsel
  • American Bar Association, ABA Forum on Franchising
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Law clerk for the Honorable Michael J. Melloy, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Community Involvement

  • Gray Plant Mooty Pro Bono Committee
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, volunteer

Honors

  • "Up & Coming Attorney,” Minnesota Lawyer, 2019
  • Minnesota Lawyer, "Attorneys of the Year," Group award for Cruz-Guzman v. State of Minnesota, 2018
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, "North Star Lawyers," 2014, 2016-2018, 2023
Photo of Richard C. Landon
  • Minneapolis

    80 South Eighth Street
    3100 IDS Center
    Minneapolis, MN 55402
F: 612.632.4429

Assistant

Kristina Procai
612.632.3301
Email

Court Memberships

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit

Education

University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., with high distinction, 2011

  • Iowa Law Review, articles editor
  • Order of the Coif

University of Iowa, M.A., 2007, American Studies

Macalester College, B.A., magna cum laude, 2003, Religious Studies