direct phone: (605) 906-8902

Mark’s practice is primarily devoted to complex commercial litigation and serious personal injury litigation.  Mark has extensive experience in health care law, including the defense of medical malpractice cases and the representation of medical practitioners before administrative boards and licensing agencies.  He also has litigated and tried cases involving commercial disputes, traumatic brain injury, products liability, catastrophic motor vehicle and trucking accidents, and premises liability.  Mark has tried over 50 jury trials and was named by Best Lawyers in America® as a Sioux Falls Lawyer of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Mark is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as its State Chair in 2017 – 2019.  Mark is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, serving as its State President in 2012 – 2013.  Mark has been listed in Best Lawyers® since 2006, is named as a band one medical malpractice defense attorney in Chambers USA, and is recognized as a Super Lawyer by Great Plains Super Lawyers.

Practice Areas

Professional Liability Defense

Health Care

Products Liability

Commercial and Complex Litigation

Personal Injury

Trucking Litigation

 

Professional Experience


Evans Haigh & Arndt LLP
Partner 2016 – Present

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP
Partner 1997 – 2015
Associate 1993 – 1996

Doherty, Rumble & Butler
Associate 1991 – 1993

Law Clerk to Honorable Donald J. Porter, Chief Judge
U.S. District Court, South Dakota: 1990 – 1991

Education

University of  South Dakota
(B.A., 1986)

University of Minnesota
(J.D., magna cum laude, 1990)

Phi Beta Kappa

 

Licensure

Admitted to Practice (State)
South Dakota, 1993
Minnesota, 1991

Admitted to Practice (Federal)
United States Supreme Court, 2017
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1991
United States District Court, District of South Dakota, 1993
United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 1991

Professional Honors and Memberships

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

State Bar of South Dakota

South Dakota Second Circuit Bar Association

Minnesota State Bar Association

American Bar Association

South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association

Defense Research Institute

American Board of Trial Advocates
(President, South Dakota Chapter: 2012 – 2013)

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
(State Chair, South Dakota: 2017 – 2019)

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission: 2016 – 2024
(Commission Chair: 2020 – 2024)

South Dakota Federal Practice Committee: 2014 – 2021

South Dakota Pattern Jury Instruction Committee: 2005 – 2016

Appointed legal counsel to South Dakota Government Accountability Board: 2022 – 2023

Appointed Recount Referee for Minnehaha County, South Dakota Primary Election: 2022

Completed 30 Hour General Civil Mediation Skills training through the Mediation Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

 

 

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