Author: Dana Van Beek Palmer

Lynn Jackson attorney, Cassidy Stalley, represented James Bruggeman in an action against Jennifer Ramos, James’s caretaker, alleging James was subject to vulnerable adult abuse. The circuit court granted the requested protection order against Ramos, who was found to have neglected James and financially exploited him. Ramos appealed the circuit court’s decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court, which affirmed in Bruggeman v. Ramos, 2022 S.D. 16, a decision dated March 23, 2022. The South Dakota Supreme Court agreed with Stalley’s argument that James was a vulnerable adult and was the victim of Ramos’s financial exploitation, and affirmed the circuit court. Lynn Jackson is proud of Cassidy for taking on the representation of a vulnerable adult and her success in doing so.

In another opinion from the South Dakota Supreme Court – Ehlebracht, et.al v. Crowned Ridge Wind II, et.al, 2022 S.D. 19 – Lynn Jackson attorneys, Miles Schumacher and Dana Van Beek Palmer, successfully represented their client Crowned Ridge Wind II in an appeal from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission’s (“PUC”) issuance of a permit for Crowned Ridge to construct a wind energy system in Codington, Grant and Deuel Counties in northern South Dakota. The Court agreed with Schumacher and Palmer that the PUC legally conducted the hearing and legally granted the permit. The Court also found the challengers’ constitutional arguments had no merit. Congratulations to Miles and Dana on their success.

Barbara Melber Vargo joined Lynn Jackson’s Rapid City office in August 2021. Barbara was a judicial clerk for the Seventh Circuit in South Dakota, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. As part of the firm’s Trusts, Estate and Probate group, Barbara assists clients with estate planning, wealth transfer planning, and estate and trust administration. She also assists fiduciaries with the administration of estates and trusts.

Madison Young is also an attorney in the Firm’s Rapid City office, having just completed a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Roberto Lange, United States District Court for the District of South Dakota.  Madison’s practice is all-encompassing, as she assists and advises clients in both litigation and business-related matters, as well as in estate planning and trust administrations.  

Attorney Mike Nadolski joined Lynn Jackson’s Sioux Falls office in August 2019.  Mike comes to us with significant experience representing elected and appointed county officials in a number of practice areas.  Mike is part of our litigation practice group and represents clients in a variety of practice areas, including commercial and construction litigation, personal injury, trust and probate litigation, and litigation involving planning and development. 

Jason Thomas is an attorney in our Spearfish office.  Jason previously clerked for two judges, gaining invaluable knowledge and experience in both state and federal courts.  Jason is also part of the Firm’s litigation practice group, assisting in commercial and construction litigation and personal injury cases.  Jason also represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody and support, adoption, and premarital agreements. 

Our newest member of the Firm is Cesar Juarez, who previously clerked for the Second Circuit in Sioux Falls.  Cesar spent the last seven years in private practice, where he provided advice and representation to clients in both litigation and business.  Cesar is one of the few Spanish-speaking attorneys in Sioux Falls and assists our clients in all aspects of litigation, including commercial and construction litigation, personal injury, and trust and probate litigation.