direct phone: (605) 906-8901

Ed is widely regarded by his peers and clients as one of the leading trial lawyers in the state and surrounding region. He has over thirty years of courtroom experience in virtually all types of civil litigation, representing a broad range of clients in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, medical negligence, professional negligence, product liability, complex commercial litigation, aviation and breach of contract cases. He has tried over 160 jury trials to conclusion, approximately one-half of which have been medical negligence cases, in federal and state courts and has extensive appellate experience. He has successfully handled cases on behalf of individuals, hospitals, physicians, law firms, national and regional accounting firms, and local and state governments. He also represents various professionals before administrative agencies and licensing boards.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates and member of the International Association of Defense Counsel. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for over 25 consecutive years. He is listed in the practice areas of medical malpractice law, personal injury litigation and professional malpractice law. He has also been recognized by Chambers USA as the only star attorney in medical malpractice in South Dakota and listed as a Band 1 lawyer in commercial litigation. He is listed in Great Plains Super Lawyers as one of the top 25 attorneys in the Great Plains and in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Dakota School of Law, teaching trial techniques. He is also the Managing Secretary of the South Dakota Insurance Guaranty Association.

Practice Areas

Professional Liability Defense

Products Liability

Personal Injury

Health Care

Commercial and Complex Litigation

Professional Experience

Evans Haigh & Arndt LLP
Partner 2016 – Present

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP
Partner 1980 – 2015
Associate 1977 – 1979

Law Clerk to Honorable Albert G. Schatz
U.S. District Court, Nebraska

Education

Westminster College
(B.A., 1972)

University of South Dakota
(J.D., with highest honors, 1975)
(Editor-in-Chief, South Dakota Law Review, 1975)

Licensure

Admitted to Practice (State)
South Dakota, 1975
Nebraska, 1976

Admitted to Practice (Federal)
United States District Court, District of South Dakota
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Professional Honors and Memberships

“AV” Peer Review Rating
Martindale-Hubbell (Martindale’s highest rating)

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, International Society of Barristers

Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates

State Bar of South Dakota

Chairman, Practice Rules Revision Committee: 1982 – 1984

Chairman, Continuing Legal Education Committee: 1993 – 1995

Minnehaha County, Nebraska State, and American Bar Associations

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