Michael E. Molenda - Apple Valley, MN
Attorney at Dougherty, Molenda, Solfest, Hills & Bauer P.A.
Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyers in Apple Valley, MN
14985 Glazier Avenue Suite 525 Apple Valley, MN 55124
Apple Valley Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Criminal/Traffic
- Personal Injury
Litigation: 100%
Attorney Information
Overview
Mike was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1950. He grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield where he attended high school and participated in swimming, golf, and drama. After high school, Mike attended the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse where he continued to swim and where he met his wife Linda.
Upon graduating from UW-La Crosse, he accepted a position as a physical education teacher at Rosemount Middle School; he also served as head swimming coach for Rosemount High School. He served in both of these roles until 1978 when he left coaching and pursued a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. Mike graduated from law school, cum laude, in 1982.
Before his retirement in 2017, Mike practiced in the areas of family law, criminal law, and personal injury. He also served as a mediator, parenting time expeditor, parenting consultant and Early Neutral Evaluator in the family law area.
When he is not at work, Mike enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife of Linda. They have a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons. Mike is very active in the International Association of Lions Clubs, serving as club president, District Governor for the Lions Clubs in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington Counties in 2010-2011 and as Counsel Chairperson for the Lions Clubs in Minnesota, Manitoba and Northwest Ontario in 2011-2012.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Super Lawyer in Family Law, 2004 - 2017
Education
-
Legal Education
-
William Mitchell College of Law,
St. Paul,
Minnesota, 1982
J.D.
Honors: cum laude
-
William Mitchell College of Law,
St. Paul,
Minnesota, 1982
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse,
La Crosse,
Wisconsin, 1972
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Physical Education -
University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis,
Minnesota, 1975
M.Ed.
-
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse,
La Crosse,
Wisconsin, 1972
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Retired
Pro Bono Activities
- Legal Aid of Dakota County, 1983 - Present
- Legal Advisor to the Minnesota Lions Vision and Hearing Foundations, 2006 - Present
Representative Clients
Chief City Prosecutor for the City of Apple Valley, Minnesota since 1983
City Attorney for Coates, Minnesota since 1993
Appointed as guardian ad litem by Dakota County District Court judges in approximately 100 cases before State-wide guardian ad litem program went into effect
Airlake Aero Flying Club, Inc
Representative Cases
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State v. Powell
- Citation: 357 N.W.2d 146
- Court: Minn. Ct. App.
- Year: 1984
-
Wood v. Schlagel
- Citation: 375 N.W.2d 561
- Court: Minn. Ct. App.
- Year: 1985
-
Kelm v. Kelm
- Citation: 1988 Minn. App. LEXIS 145
- Court: Minn. Ct. App.
- Year: 1988
-
McDonnell v. Comm. of Public Safety
- Citation: 460 N.W.2d 363
- Court: Minn. Ct. App.
- Year: 1990
-
Radke v. Radke
- Citation: 1990 Minn. Ct. App. LEXIS 540
- Court: Minn. App.
- Year: 1990
-
Knutson v. City of Coates
- Citation: 519 N.W.2d 166
- Court: Minn. Supp. Ct.
- Year: 1994
-
V.G. v. Bates
- Citation: 1997 Minn. App. LEXIS 430
- Court: Minn. App.
- Year: 1997
-
Lisser v. Lisser
- Citation: 2006 Minn. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1389
- Court: Minn. App.
- Year: 2006
Ancillary Businesses
Swimming and Diving Officiating
Other Affiliations
- Minnesota Association for Justice, 1983 - Present (Member)
- Minnesota State Bar Association (Member)
- Minnesota State Bar Association, 2003 - 2009 (Past Governor)
- Dakota County Bar Association (Member)
- First Judicial District Bar Association (Member)
- American Bar Association (Member)
- Rosemount Lions Club
- Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, Inc., Past Chairman of and current Legal Advisor to the Board of Directors. The Minnesota Lions Eye Bank, Inc., encourages cornea donations following death and processes the donated corneas to exacting federal standards. The corneas are used to return the gift of sight to individuals in need of corneal transplants
- Hastings Chamber of Commerce (Member)
- Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce (Three-year Member of Board of Directors)
- Airplane Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) (Member)
Fraternities and Sororities
- Phi Sigma Epsilon
Photo
Contact
14985 Glazier Avenue
Suite 525
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: 952-432-3136
Fax: 952-432-3780
Email: Send a message
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