Cory A. Genelin

Practice Areas

Experience

• Keeping Small Things Small

  While court victories are interesting, most clients prefer solutions that don’t involve court. Cory Genelin’s practice includes serving as corporate counsel for many businesses in Southern Minnesota. Cory aims to keep small problems small. Most of Cory’s employment files are small matters that Cory keeps small—a business owner or manager has a tough decision to make; Cory is brought in; the issue is dealt with; and business carries on. These include wrongful termination allegations, sexual harassment allegations, claims under the Minnesota Veterans Preference Act, non-compete enforcement and avoiding non-compete violations, unemployment claims, Worker’s Compensation fraud and wage and hour claims.

• Employment Handbooks and Policies

  Cory Genelin draws on his experience as a combat leader to draw up plans and policies designed to help an organization operate effectively and accomplish the mission while staying within the bounds of the law. Cory Genelin has drafted custom employment handbooks and employment policies for employers of all sizes including nursing home chains, group homes, hospitals, manufacturers, publishers, and agricultural producers.

• Lending Litigation

  In 2017 Cory Genelin concluded multiyear litigation on behalf of a farm lender over a $3.125M agricultural loan assigned from another bank. The debtors defaulted and then denied any liability to the lender. (One of the debtors even denied the lender existed!) Prior to litigation, the debtors had liquidated collateral, and mingled assets with another operation. A farm visit to inspect collateral turned violent and law enforcement was called.

  The debtors alleged the entire panoply of spurious counterclaims including FDCPA violations, Minnesota Farm Lender Act violations, fraud and theft.

  After discovery, depositions and motion practice Cory got the debtors to reverse course, admit liability, and give up on their counter claims. They executed a confession of judgement and eventually paid off the debt in full including interest, penalties, and attorney fees.

  See Sherburne County File No. 71-CV-16-1448

• Permitting

  In 2023 Cory Genelin represented homeowners accused of many permit violations related to the construction of their home.  The city brought suit and sought an injunction that would have required destructive inspections of completed work and compelled Cory’s clients to vacate the home, along with multiple fines.  The city also unlawfully filed a Notice of Lis Pendens against the property.  Cory defeated the city’s motion for an injunction, removed the Lis Pendens and negotiated a settlement dismissing the city’s claims with no fines, no inspections, and which required the city to issue a Certificate of Occupancy.  

   

  In 2016 Cory Genelin defended a building permit for a hog confinement facility on behalf of a local producer. The township issuing the permit had made some procedural mistakes and issued insufficient findings. A neighboring property owner hired an attorney who specializes in fighting feedlot permits. The neighbor argued that an abandoned house was a residence in violation of the setback requirements. After litigation and three motions an improved permit was issued and the facility was built.

   

  See Freeborn County File No. 24-CV-15-849

• Tort Litigation

  In 2018 Cory obtained a favorable jury verdict on behalf of an in-home care business accused of negligence in securing a wheelchair occupant.  Cory Genelin defeated claims for pain and suffering, wage loss, loss of consortium and medical bills in excess of $150,000.

  See Olmstead County File No. 55-CV-16-8667

   

   

  In 2017 Cory Genelin obtained summary judgment on behalf of a large fitness center and social organization. A patron accused the organization of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring, and negligent retention after one of the organization's employee's allegedly threatened the patron. Mr. Genelin conducted depositions of witnesses and discovery of medical records and had the entire case dismissed.

  See Blue Earth County File No. 07-CV-16-516

• Corporate Litigation

  In 2018 Cory Genelin represented a shareholder in a $40M manufacturing company.  A fellow shareholder attempted to lock Cory’s client out of management and force redemption of his shares.  In one week Cory brought suit and successfully enjoined the action and secured full control of the corporation for Cory’s client.  Six months of intense litigation followed including successful defense of the injunction, thousands of pages of discovery, and nine depositions spanning several states and two countries.  After a week-long trial, Cory’s client’s rights were vindicated.

  See Le Sueur County File No. 40-CV-18-19

  In 2017 Cory Genelin obtained summary judgement in favor of a local corporation which had made a Subchapter S conversion. Two shareholders dissented from the conversation offered. Mr. Genelin brought suit, investigated the claims, and established as a matter of law that the corporation valuation was correct.

  See Nicollet County File No. 52-CV-16-225

• Construction Arbitration

  In 2016 Cory Genelin represented a commercial construction contractor in arbitration. Mr. Genelin's client had terminated an excavation subcontractor due to delays. The subcontractor brought suit in arbitration, claiming over $550,000 in lost profits. Mr. Genelin prepared for arbitration, showing the severity of the subcontractor's nonperformance, and forced the subcontractor to settle for nothing more than what was owed on the work already completed.

• Probate & Trust Litigation

  In 2018 Cory Genelin obtained an exceptional settlement on behalf of heirs of a $1.5M estate. The decedent had executed a will in favor of two strangers.  The heirs contested the will on the basis of undue influence and lack of capacity.  Cory and his team conducted an in-depth fact investigation raising serious doubts about the will and forcing the will proponents to concede.

  See Chippewa County File No. 12-PR-17-591

   

  In 2016 Cory Genelin defended the administration of two farm trusts valued at $5.2M. This followed previous litigation in 2014. In that litigation, Mr. Genelin had the court appoint a new trustee favorable to his client, the lifetime beneficiary of the trusts. After two years of favorable administration, a death beneficiary of the trust (who was also one of the trustees who lost power in the 2014 litigation) brought suit to remove the trustee and undo over $320,000 in payments to Mr. Genelin's client. After full litigation, the court upheld the actions of the new trustee including the payments to Mr. Genelin's client.

  See Nobles County File No. 53-CV-14-223

• Agricultural Litigation

  “This case presents an unusual legal challenge of the highest order of complexity.”  That’s how both the trial court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals described a historic case Cory Genelinwon on behalf of a farm family in 2023.  

   

  In previous litigation, the other side had established that they entered into an 8-year farm partnership with Cory’s clients.  In this litigation, the other side tried to claim one half of the farm’s profits and one half of all land, facilities, and equipment purchased by Cory’s clients over those 8 years.  Such an outcome would actually have been fairly standard under Minnesota partnership law.

   

  Cory was able to convince the court that the partnership established by the other side was unique and that his clients owned all of the land, facilities and equipment and were entitled to all profits above $72,000 per year paid to the other side.  This unique solution was upheld by the Court of Appeals and the Minnesota Supreme Court denied review.  

   

  See Dakota County Court File No. 19HA-CV-17-3360

  See Minnesota Court of Appeals A22-1393 (March 13, 2023)

  See Minnesota Supreme Court A22-1393 (June 28, 2023)

   

  In 2022 Cory collected a $2.1M recovery for a Martin County veterinarian after one-week jury trial.

   

  Cory represented a veterinarian who had agreed to house and care for 72 horses that had been seized by a county sheriff’s department and a humane society.  After months of care, the humane society refused to pay the bill.  Eventually, the humane society tried to unilaterally declare that the horses were the veterinarian’s property and the veterinarian’s problem.  The human society refused pay a single penny and the veterinarian was left to care for the horses at her own expense.

   

  The veterinarian started litigation with another firm but hired Cory after things weren’t moving as fast as she wished.  By the time of trial, the veterinarian had cared for the horses for over two years while claiming he customary rate of $25 per animal per day.  

   

  After a week long trial, the jury verdict awarded damages in the maximum amount allowed by the verdict form.  

   

  See Martin County Court File No. 46-CV-19-1224

Honors & Awards

• Rising Star2014 - 2016
• Meterious Service Medal2017

Associations

• Southern Minnesota Human Resources Association - Legislative Chair2010 - 2023