Brenda M. Sauro

Attorney at Law

“My favorite part of being a lawyer is helping my clients navigate the complexities of the legal process, take a stand, fight for their rights and achieve a favorable outcome. I have over 30 years of experience with proven track record of success which I bring to bear for all of my clients.”

Brenda M. Sauro

Attorney at Law

“My favorite part of being a lawyer is helping my clients navigate the complexities of the legal process, take a stand, fight for their rights and achieve a favorable outcome. I have over 30 years of experience with proven track record of success which I bring to bear for all of my clients.”

Brenda M. Sauro

Brenda Sauro is a knowledgeable advocate with more than 30 years of experience and a proven track record of success representing clients in both Minnesota and Wisconsin in their complex litigation matters where she has achieved notable verdicts, judgments, appraisal awards and settlements. Brenda centers her practice on assisting associations and commercial and residential property owners with construction defect and insurance disputes ranging from fire, to storm to collapse. She also handles cases involving partnership disputes, elder financial abuse, contract claims and real estate non-disclosure.

EXPERIENCE

  • $26,000,000 appraisal award in favor of a dairy operation from an industrial fire- a $9,000,000 increase from the pre appraisal payment;
  • $2.2 million dollar appraisal award in favor of client on a tornado loss – a $654,000 loss payment increase;
  • Appraisal award overturned due to lack of due process and improper conduct of panel;
  • $550,000 judgment in favor of a partner whose partner stole corporate assets including $100,000 for civil theft penalty damages;
  • Multi-million-dollar appraisal awards in favor of Associations against their insurers;
  • Judgment in favor of owners in excess of $300,000 including consequential damages and apportioned attorney fees for slanderous lien claim;
  • $640,000 jury verdict in favor of resort for wind damage claim.
  • Recission award in favor of defrauded purchaser and order to repurchase the home for $495,000 plus $76,000 in damages;
  • Verdict of $650,000 in favor of an Association for their denied storm damage claim and attorney fee award for overturning an invalid appraisal;
  • Arbitration award of $325,000 in favor of client in nondisclosure/fraud case.
  • Arbitration award of $217,000 in favor of purchasers due to seller’s non disclosures.

Affiliations:

  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • NCDS arbitrator for real estate fraud causes

Honors & Awards:

  • Minnesota Super Lawyers® – 2009-2010, 2014-2024
  • Top 50: Women Minnesota Super Lawyers® – 2022-2023
  • Attorney of the Month, Attorney at Law Magazine, August 2023
  • Attorney of the Year, Construction Defect & Dispute Conference, 2016
  • Law Firm of the Month, Attorney at Law Magazine, May 2014

Community:

  • Pro bono legal assistance to elder faced with financial abuse from a family member resulting in the termination of the abuser’s POA, restoration of over $1,000,000 in assets and relocation of the elder from a substandard living situation.
  • Pro bono legal assistance to a disabled individual in his fight with his insurer for disability benefits.
  • Pro bono legal assistance to an abused individual involved in a multi-state custody battle.
  • Pro bono legal assistance to owners protesting the formation of a lake association.

Publications:

  • “EUO’s: What you Need to Know.” The Brief: Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Vol. 47, No. 1 (2017)
  • “Timely/untimely Insurance Payments” The Brief: Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, (2018)
  • Cedar Bluffs and an Appraisal Panel’s Authority” Attorney at Law,  (2016)

Speaking Engagements:

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution strategies, Solo/Small Firm Summit 2022
  • Raspberry Ridge and the Recovery of interest, 12th Annual Condo & Townhome Summit 2023
  • Legal Issues: Avoiding Board Member Liability, panel, 10th Annual Condo & Townhome Summit 2021
  • Defending an Arson Charge,  Speaker First Party Claims Conference, Providence, RI, 2018
  • Connecting the Dots,  A Management Company’s Fiduciary Duty, Community Association Institute of Minnesota, 2017
  • Collapse Coverage, First Party Claims Conference, Rhode Island, 2017.
  • Picking a Jury in a Construction Defect Lawsuit, MSBA Construction Law Section 2016
  • Resale Disclosure Certificates, CAI-MN Law Seminar 2016
  • Examinations Under Oath, American Bar Association TIPS Conference speaker, 2015
  • Cedar Bluffs and Match issues in First Party Insurance Claims, First Party Claims Conference, Providence, RI., 2015
  • The Appraisal Process, MSBA ADR Section, 2015
  • Acing the Examination Under Oath– Speaker, NAPIA 2014
  • Jury Trials and Strategy, National Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, mid-year meeting 2013
  • New Homeowner Warranty Law, Ramsey County Bar Association 2011

EDUCATION

  • William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1991

  • University of Wyoming, B.A., 1988

ADMISSIONS

  • Minnesota State Courts

  • Wisconsin State Courts

  • United States District Court for the District of Minnesota

  • United States District Court for the District of Wisconsin

CONTACT INFORMATION

Direct: 952-460-9287

PRACTICE AREAS

ASSISTANT