Julia J. Nierengarten
Partner
Minneapolis
33 S. Sixth Street
Suite 4300
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Julia is an attorney in the firm’s appellate practice, where she focuses on legal research, writing, and strategy in complex litigation matters. She works closely with attorneys across the firm to draft dispositive motions, handle appeals, and provide strategic guidance on challenging legal issues.
She collaborates with multiple practice areas and brings a detail-oriented, analytical approach to matters spanning a wide range of subject areas.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Appellate briefing and oral argument support
- Drafting dispositive motions and complex legal filings
- Strategic research and analysis on litigation issues
- Cross-practice collaboration on high-stakes matters
Prior to joining the firm, Julia clerked for the Honorable Terri J. Stoneburner at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, where she gained significant experience in appellate decision-making and judicial analysis.
Julia is also admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, in addition to her other licenses.
She serves on the board of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society.
Outside of her legal practice, Julia enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and supporting her children’s activities through volunteer and advocacy work. She also enjoys traveling, especially driving to Colorado, and picking up (and occasionally abandoning) new artistic hobbies. At home, she can often be found being outmatched in Star Trek trivia by a third-grader.
Education
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., Dean's List, 2011
- Grinnell College, B.A., 2005
Clerkships
- Honorable Terri Stoneburner, Minnesota Court of Appeals
Professional Affiliations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association
Significant Cases
- Doran MGC I, LLC v. Vein Clinics of America, Inc., et al, 2026 WL 1064809 (Minn. App. Apr. 20, 2026) (real estate/contract claim summary judgment reversed and remanded)
- Lund v. Calhoun Orange et al, 20 N.W.3d 871 (Minn. 2025) (personal injury summary judgment based on indemnification language affirmed)
- Trueblood v. MMIC Insurance, 2025 (insurance coverage denial affirmed by Iowa Court of Appeals)
- Hagfors v. Fairview Health Services et al, 2025 WL 2389042 (Minn. App. Aug. 18, 2025) (medical malpractice wrongful death trustee must recommence suit after appointment and before limitations period expires affirmed), review granted (Oct. 29, 2025)
- Maurice v. Granite Falls Municipal Hospital et al, 2025 WL 1098245 (Minn. App. Apr. 14, 2025) (medical malpractice verdict upheld), review denied (July 15, 2025)
- Gonzalez v. Mercy Medical Center et al, 2024 (medical malpractice plaintiff’s petition for writ of certiorari denied by United States Supreme Court (District of North Dakota, Eighth Circuit))
- Nordgren v. Hennepin County et al, 96 F.4th 1072 (8th Cir. 2024) (civil rights and state-law medical malpractice claims dismissed; appeal dismissed for lack of jurisdiction)
- Fearing v. University of Minnesota Medical Center et al, 2023 WL 6543277 (Minn. App. Oct. 9, 2023) (intentional tort medical claims dismissed for expired limitations period affirmed)
- City Bella Commercial, L.L.C., et al v. City Bella on Lyndale, 994 N.W.2d 27 (Minn. 2023) (Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act dismissal reversed and remanded)
- Miller et al v. Baytown Township, 2023 WL 1770141 (Minn. App. Feb. 6, 2023) (municipal zoning conditional use permit affirmed)
- Prisk v. Travelers Indemnity Company of America, 81 F.4th 782 (8th Cir. 2023) (insurance coverage declaratory judgment finding coverage reversed)
- In re Municipal Stormwater Pond Coordinated Litigation, 73 F.4th 975 (8th Cir. 2023) (environmental pollution dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction (District of Minnesota); appeal dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction)
- Olmstead Medical Center v. Continental Casualty Co., 65 F.4th 1005 (8th Cir. 2023) (insurance coverage dismissed for failure to state claim where policy did not provide coverage for Covid-19 related losses affirmed)
- Torgerson Properties, Inc. v. Continental Casualty Co., 38 F.4th 4 (8th Cir. 2022) (insurance coverage no coverage for loss business income due to Covid-19 affirmed)
- Kurian v. Hennepin Healthcare et al, 2022 WL 4075614 (Minn. App. Sept. 6, 2022) (medical malpractice wrongful death action not commenced as trustee, no qualified expert affirmed)
- Simmons v. Cudd Pressure Control, Inc. et al, 2022 ND 20, 969 N.W.2d 442 (personal injury defense and indemnity summary judgment reversed)
- Musta v. Mendota Heights Dental Center compensation, 965 N.W.2d 312 (Minn. 2021) (workers’ compensation insurer cannot be ordered to reimburse for medical cannabis)
- In re Revocable Trust Agreement of Avis V. Cordes, 2020 WL 5107287 (Minn. App. Aug. 31, 2020) (removal of trustees for serious breaches and commencement date of interest payments affirmed)
- Xu v. Sterling, 2019 WL 3293469 (Minn. App. July 22, 2019) (riparian rights property dispute affirmed by Minnesota Court of Appeals)
- Oil & Gas Transfer L.L.C. v. John Karr, 928 F.3d 1120 (8th Cir. 2019) (quiet title action against former employee summary judgment affirmed)
- Great American Alliance Insurance Company v. Windermere Baptist Conference Center, Inc., 931 F.3d 771 (8th Cir. 2019) (finding of additional insured coverage for personal injury reversed)
- Paisley Park Enterprises v. Boxill et al, 361 F. Supp. 3d 869 (D. Minn. 2019) (legal malpractice dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction)
- Turner v. Bounce Back LLC d/b/a US Airbag, LLC et al, 2019 (personal injury jury verdict for defense affirmed by Wisconsin Court of Appeals)
- Rarick v. Federated Service Insurance Company et al, 852 F.3d 223 (3d Cir. 2017) (insurance coverage removal to federal court independent claims test vacated and remanded)
- Walsh v. Walsh, 2016 WL 7439087 (Minn. App. Dec. 27, 2016) (legal malpractice dismissal for lack of expert testimony affirmed)
Accolades
- Selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the areas of Appellate Practice and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2024, 2025
- Selected for inclusion in the Minnesota Rising Stars list in the area of Appellate, Thomson Reuters, (Only 2.5 percent of the Minnesota attorneys are given this honor), 2019-2023
Speaking Engagements and Publications
- Co-author Redefining hospital malpractice: Expanded liability for independent contractors Minnesota Physician (September 2020)
- Co-author Products Liability Consumer Class Action Claims: When Are They Covered by Insurance? in the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal (Spring 2016)
- Co-author Chapter 4, “One-Car Accidents” Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Deskbook published by Minnesota CLE
News & Events
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May
21,
2025
Meagher + Geer partner Julia Nierengarten prevails at Minnesota Supreme CourtMore...
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Aug
15,
2024
Meagher + Geer congratulates its 25 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers®More...
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Aug
17,
2023
Meagher + Geer congratulates its 26 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers® More...