A respected trial attorney, Ben is often called upon by his clients to represent them in difficult cases with high exposure. He has achieved favorable verdicts in cases involving medical practice, wrongful death, agricultural and probate litigation, business litigation and personal injury. He counts among his clients individuals and businesses from many different backgrounds, including bankers, engineers, doctors and healthcare providers, accountants, agricultural producers, cooperatives, injured individuals, families losing a loved one, probate fiduciaries, building contractors, insurance companies, municipalities and telecommunications and television corporations. Because of his experience, Ben has also been asked by other attorneys to serve as a mediator or arbitrator to assist in resolving their cases.

Ben is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association as a MSBA Board Certified Civil Trial Law Specialist after completing a rigorous approval process. As of 2022, there are approximately 25,460 active attorneys in Minnesota but only 181 are MSBA Certified Civil Trial Specialists like Ben. Ben received the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell™ in its peer review ratings.  This rating is given to attorneys who are ranked anonymously by their peers “at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills and ethical standards.” A link to this rating is found here. Ben has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer™ annually since 2014. Ben is also regularly asked to speak to other lawyers about presentation of evidence and trial strategy.

Ben Mcaninch

Practice Areas

Ag

Agricultural Law ›

Litigation

Appeals ›

Business Commercial Financial

Business, Commercial & Financial ›

Estate Planning

Construction Litigation ›

 

Estate Planning

Estate and Trust Litigation ›

Litigation

Insurance ›

Litigation

Litigation ›

Medical

Medical & Professional Malpractice ›

Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Personal Injury & Wrongful Death ›

Education

  •  University of Alabama School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2002)
    • Order of the Barristers
    • Alabama Law Review
  • Bemidji State University (B.A. in English, magna cum laude, 1999)
    • Varsity Football, Captain
    • Burger King National Scholar Athlete Award
    • All-American Scholar

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota State Bar Association (2010)
  • Alabama State Bar (2002)

Professional Associations

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist
  • American Bar Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Wildlife Forever, Chair of Board of Directors
  • Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Past President
  • Bemidji State University Alumni and Foundation, Past President
  • Habitat for Humanity of South Central MN, Past President

Personal Interests

In his free time Ben is active in his community and regularly serves on local boards and as a coach for youth sports.

Awards and Honors

MSBA Certified Civil Trial Specialist
Certified, 2022

Named “Super Lawyer”
by Minnesota Law & Politics
2014-2023

Av2021

 

Recipient of the prestigious
AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell™
in its peer review ratings 2021

Obtained a favorable opinion from the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit while representing two landowners against Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company in an insurance coverage dispute.  Grinnell declined to provide coverage pursuant to its farm liability policy when an ATV injury occurred on their property.  The Federal District Court Judge and Eighth Circuit agreed with our interpretation of the relevant policy language and ordered Grinnell to provide coverage.

Defended insured driver and owner of vehicle to jury verdict in Brown County, Minnesota.  The jury awarded damages near our previous offer but significantly lower than plaintiff’s demand.

Defended insured driver to jury verdict in Martin County, Minnesota.  The jury assessed damages against our client in an amount less than our previous offer.

Defended underinsured motorist claim on behalf of a national insurance company before a jury in Olmsted County.  The jury returned a verdict which reflected that there was no claim for underinsured motorist benefits.

Successful representation of a sanitary district in a three-day contested case hearing which resulted in the Administrative Law Judge and MPCA finding in favor of the district.

Successful representation of farming heirs in a trial involving a probate dispute/will contest which resulted in nearly all claims being denied.  The Court returned a verdict far below our clients’ previous offer of settlement.

Defended a bus company and its driver from injury claims following an accident in McLeod County. The jury returned a verdict below the offer of settlement made by the defense.

Ben McAninch secured a defense verdict for his client in a Waseca County matter involving a bicycle v. automobile crash after which the Plaintiff claimed he suffered a traumatic brain injury. The jury returned a verdict placing all of the fault on the opposing party.

On behalf of a local Co-op, Ben McAninch successfully sued a trucking company and its driver to recover more than $225,000, the cost to repair a Terragator involved in a collision with a semi. Following the third day of trial, a Sibley County jury returned a verdict finding that the semi driver was at fault for the collision and awarding the full cost of repair of the Terragator.

Contact Ben Today

Mankato Office