Partner
Location: Wayzata, Minnesota
Phone: 612-339-4511
Toll Free: 800-328-4340
Fax: 612-339-5150
Cortney S. LeNeave started his law career in 1984 as a law clerk for the senior partners in the DeParcq Law Firm, one of the country’s first and foremost law firms representing injured Railroad workers under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act. Mr. LeNeave dedicated himself to reading and learning the FELA from the country’s finest lawyers. Early in his career, he was a clerk for the Hennepin County District Court Trial Judges. He then worked several years, at the prestigious trial law firm of Meagher and Geer, P.A., where he felt privileged to work with some of the finest trial lawyers in the State. Mr. LeNeave is now a senior partner in the firm in which he began his legal career and proud to carry forward the hard work and dedication of his predecessors, William DeParcq, Robert Stone and Richard Hunegs.
Since 1995, Mr. LeNeave has dedicated his career to helping individuals and families who have endured serious physical, psychiatric and emotional injuries or suffered the loss of family members due to the neglect of automobile drivers or the railroads. He takes this responsibility and trust seriously because he knows lives depend on his work. He has taken many serious cases to trial and achieved some of the highest verdicts in the state for his clients. His reputation and willingness to try cases result in some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the region.
He is able to recognize and communicate the significant impact that life-changing/ or career-ending injuries have on families and individuals. In a recent case, the jury awarded a young man over 1.0 million dollars for the pain and suffering he would endure from a back injury suffered at work for the railroads. In addition the jury awarded significant loss of earnings for the young man because he was unable to continue to work in the job he was trained for with the railroad.
Recently, Mr. LeNeave helped another jury understand the importance of enforcing the legal obligations of the RR to provide a safe place to work, even in the winter. The jury awarded a 57 year old worker his lost wages and loss of future earnings because they understood the devastating losses suffered by the employee.
Mr. LeNeave is recognized by his clients as dedicated, hard working and committed to making a difference for the people he represents. Cortney is a member of the American Association for Justice, a member of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, (past member of the Board of Directors) a multi-year member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates (reserved for the select group of lawyers who have achieved settlements and verdicts in excess of 2.0 million on behalf of their clients). He is recognized as a TOP 100 TRIAL LAWYERS by The National Trial Lawyers.
Cortney is honored to be appointed by the United Transportation Union and SMART as a Designated Legal Counsel to represent the train and engine service employees who put their lives on the line everyday to move this country’s freight. Mr. LeNeave tirelessly fights for the rights and dignity of those injured on the job or otherwise. He is recognized as having the highest rating possible in Ethics and Legal Ability by Martindale-Hubbell, and is among Who’s Who in the legal community.
Mr. LeNeave is first and foremost a family man. He is married to his wife Kristen for over 25 years and enjoys the privilege of watching Sarah, Sam and Katie growing into young adults.
Cortney S. LeNeave: SAMPLE SUCCESSES
$17 Million – settlement for a injured railroad Conductor – 2020
$16 Million – settlement an injured railroad Conductor injured in a trucking accident. – 2019
$2.6 Million – settlement for conductor injured on defective brake platform – July 2017
Minnesota Supreme Court in a unanimous opinion, rejected the ruling of the trial court against our client. With a $27 million dollar jury award in hand, a new trail date is set.
$12.6 Million – Verdict for injured RR worker with a partial settlement of $7.5 million before the trial – post motions pending on the remaining $4.8 Million judgment – April 2017
$27.6 Million – Verdict for severely injured pilot due to defective airplane fuel pump manufactured and sold by Lycoming
$1.3 Million – settlement for conductor injured getting off equipment in dark unlit yard onto sloped dangerous ballast – December 2016
$1.8 Million – settlement for conductor with traumatic injuries in run-away train – January 2017
$500,000 – settlement for injured RR worker with career ending torn cartilage at age 60
$4.5 Million – verdict involving a young RR worker from Superior who was injured due to defective coupler device on RR car – final payment of verdict in January of 2017
$2.25 Million – settlement for brakeman injured in railyard – September 2015
$1.8 Million – settlement for back injury to RR conductor – February 2016
$1.8 Million – settlement for engineer injured at work with neck and head injury at age 60
$2.6 Million – Verdict for the wrongful death of engineer due to negligent driving of BNSF RR’s hired driver
$996,000 – Verdict for wrongful death of conductor caused by negligence of BNSF
$2.0 Million – settlement for injured RR conductor when he slipped through the stirrup of a railcar due to muddy conditions in the railyard and unsafe foot wear
$1.78 Million – Verdict for North Dakota conductor injured back on defective sticky switch – 2011
$1.6 Million – settlement for worker injured on the job – 2014
$400,000 – Verdict for pain and suffering and wage loss of injured RR worker in Superior railyard due to defective railcar – worker returned to work at RR.
$3.5 Million – settlement for injuries suffered by brakeman hit by train in railyard after five day trial.
$2.7 Million – Verdict – young engineer sustained PTSD when his train derailed when BNSF RR violated federal regulations requiring it to inspect tracks after flash flood rains on its system – 2013
$3.0 Million – settlement for new hire conductor injured while working in the railyard when railcars ran into him -2010
$6.0 Million – settlement for young conductor sustaining serious injury working in railyard- 2013
$3.0 Million – settlement for senior engineer who sustained serious back injury-2009
$3.0 Million – settlement for trainman hit by inbound train due to close clearances in railyard – 2009
$1.25 Million – settlement for conductor with knee and back injury due to RR neglect – 2012
$6.0 Million – settlement for conductor with an inhalation injury to his lungs- 2007
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Minnesota and Hennepin Country Bar Associations
- American Association for Justice
- Minnesota Association for Justice
- TOP 100 Trial Lawyers
- Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates, Member
- Super Lawyer
- International Society Of Barristers
