Deborah Causey Eckland

Partner

Deborah is a litigation attorney with broad courtroom experience. She has successfully defended cases involving construction, products liability, in-home daycares, defamation, employment law, premises liability and automobile accidents. She also provides coverage advice to insurers. Deborah was born and raised in Mississippi and has that certain Southern charm and persuasiveness that helps her obtain either favorable settlements or jury verdicts.

Deborah and her husband, Jeff, live in Edina. Their three grown kids take them from Boston to Boulder to West Point and everywhere in between. When home, Deborah is involved in her church, Meetinghouse Church, and loves Boot Camp at Altman Fitness.

Legal Assistant: Melony Siedow

Practice Areas:

My Philosophy

My philosophy is to obtain the best result possible for my client. And that starts with listening to my clients, understanding how they see things. I try to be honest with my clients and instill in them an appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of the case. I set reasonable expectations about victory and defeat, settlement, and jury verdicts. If the case must go to trial, no one will work harder or be more prepared than me.

I hold myself to the highest of ethical standards. Doing the right thing is always the answer.

  • Super Lawyer badge for Deborah Eckland
  • Peer Review badge for Deborah Eckland
  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2009 to 2022
  • Award Winner, Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2000, 2003, 2005 - 2022
  • President, Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court, 2006-2007

Notable Cases

Our work

  • Wendland v. Cutting Edge Property Maintenance v. Schweiger and Springis-Doss
    2021
    Jury Verdict in Favor of Cutting Edge
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • DHS v. Restorff
    August 7, 2019
    Minnesota Supreme Court reverses lower courts and rules Maltreatment of Minors Act is not a strict liability statute
    READ MORE
    Appellate Advocacy
  • Cusick v. Mozey’s
    February 2019
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Fjord Village v. Les Grumdal Windows
    Janbuary 2019
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Construction
  • DHS v. Restorff
    December 2018
    Deborah Eckland, Elizabeth Taylor and Chelsea Gauger briefed Minnesota Supreme Court
    READ MORE
    Appellate Advocacy
  • Woman Dies from Alleged Drug Interaction
    September 2018
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Nur v. Jimmy John’s Sandwiches
    July 2018
    Summary Judgment in Jimmy John’s Favor
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Members of Alleged Cult Sued for Sexual Abuse
    June 2017
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Insurer has No Duty to Defend
    2017
    No Coverage Where No Property Damage
    READ MORE
    Insurance Coverage and Advice
  • Trip and Fall Case
    2017
    Case Dismissed
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • 15 Month-Old Toddler Falls from High-Rise Apartment
    March 28, 2017
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Elderly Woman Burned In Bathtub
    January 20, 2017
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Unnamed Catholic Parishes
    January, 2017
    Settlement in Bankruptcy Action
    READ MORE
    Insurance Coverage and Adice
  • (Jacpa v.) IAC International
    Oct 10, 2016
    Confidential Settlement
    READ MORE
    Insurance Defense
  • Buscher v. Montag
    August 4, 2009
    Summary Judgment in Favor of Client Demars
    READ MORE
    Construction
  • Boegeman v. Juergens
    May 22, 2007
    Jury Verdict in Favor of Client Juergens Construction
    READ MORE
    Construction
  • Hyland Courts v. BEI
    July 3, 2006
    Jury Verdict in Favor of Client BEI Exterior Maintenance
    READ MORE
    Construction

Professional and Civic Activities

  • Graduate, University of Southern Mississippi, 1985
  • Graduate, Paul M. Hebert Law School, Louisiana State University, 1988
  • Graduate, Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Education, Women and Power, 2013
  • Graduate and Certified Litigation Management Professional, Litigation Management Institute, CLM at Columbia Law School, 2013.
  • Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, 2013
  • Attorney, Law Offices of Richard Britson, New Orleans, LA, 1988-1989
  • Partner, Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP, Minneapolis, 1989-2001
  • Certified Women's Business Enterprise, 2012-2015
  • AV Preeminent Rated Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Award Winner, "Rising Star," Minnesota Law & Politics, 1998
  • Award Winner, "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Law & Politics, 2000, 2003, 2005 - 2021
  • Member, Minnesota and Louisiana State Bar Associations
  • Member, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
  • Member, Defense Research Institute
  • Member, American Arbitration Association Panel of Arbitrators
  • Member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International
  • Co-Chair, Hennepin County Bar Association Committee on Professional Conduct, 1994-1995
  • President, Douglas K. Amdahl Inn of Court, 2006-2007
  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2009 to present
  • Member, Council on Litigation Management, 2011 to present
  • Member, Juris Divas
  • Author, "Conflict of Interest in the Handling of Waste Disposal Cases," For the Defense (Jan. 1993), Vol. 35, No. 1, Hennepin Lawyer (Jan.-Feb. 1993), Chemical Waste Litigation Reporter (March 1993).
  • Author, "How to Write an Effective IME Letter," Minnesota Physician (April 1996), Vol. X, No. 1.
  • Author, "Rule 4.2: The Prohibition Against Communication with Person Represented by Counsel—A Tempest in a Teapot?" Hennepin Lawyer (Sept. 1996), Vol. 66, No. 1.
  • Author, MDLA Release Deskbook, Fifth Edition, 2006, "Avoidance of Releases."
  • Author, Minnesota State District Court, Civil Practice Deskbook, First Edition, 2009, Second Edition 2018, "Rule 68 Offers."
  • Author, Minnesota CLE, Pressure on the Privilege, 2011, "When Are Communications with Experts Exempt from Discovery?"
  • Author, Minnesota CLE, Winning Litigation DoubleHeader, 2011, "Drafting Settlement Agreements, including Mediation Agreements."
  • Member, Meetinghouse Church (formerly Colonial Church of Edina)
    • Director, Children's Choir, 1995-1998, 2004-2006
    • Member, Children's Ministries Board, 1998-2001
    • Chair, Children's Ministries Board, 2000-2001
    • Member, Risk Management Team, 2002
    • Member, Land Use Task Force, 2008
    • Chair, Nominating Committee, 2011
    • Board of Directors, Colonial Foundation, 2018-2021
    • Church Council, 2021-2022, Vice Moderator, 2022-2023
  • Corporate Secretary, Minnesota Prayer Breakfast Committee, 2001-2006
  • Member, Edina Girls Fastpitch Association Board, 2005-2007
  • Coach, Edina Girls Softball, Edina Basketball Association, Girls and Boys
  • Coach, Academic Triathlon
  • Impact Lives Mission Trip to Dominican Republic, 2013
  • Volunteer, Edina Baseball Association, Minnesota
  • American Legion State Baseball Tournament, Fundraising, 2013
  • Board Member and Volunteer, Glorybound Ministries, 2014-2020.
  • West Point Parents Club of Minnesota, Co-President, 2020-2021