Cory A. Genelin - Mankato, MN

A professional problem solver, Cory Genelin combines knowledge of the law with common sense and leadership experience. Cory’s practice includes civil litigation, employment law, banking law, and business law.

PRACTICE

Employment Counsel
Cory serves as employment counsel for many large and small businesses in southern Minnesota. While no stranger to litigation, Cory excels at producing policies, handbooks, and checklists designed to keep problems from ever starting. More importantly, Cory provides his clients with the training they need to implement these policies. He is also available and responsive when employment decisions need to be made on short notice.

When counseling employers and HR managers, Cory draws on his years of leadership experience in the United States Air Force. As a decorated commander with combat experience, he understands that mission accomplishment requires consistent, fair, and thoughtful discipline. Now serving as a Judge Advocate with the Air National Guard, Cory acts as in-house counsel to a flying Wing with over a thousand employees, many of which are unionized. He advises clients, not as an outsider, but as a team member and leader.

Employment Litigation
Cory’s employment law counseling is built on his courtroom experience. He has successfully litigated over a hundred wage and hour, retaliation, harassment, unemployment, non compete, and workers’ compensation cases. Having represented both employers and employees, he is able to see a problem from all angles and anticipate the other side’s moves.

Banking
Cory represents several lenders in southern Minnesota and the metro area. Drawing in Gislason & Hunter’s vast resources and experience in banking law, he provides competent and efficient representation on foreclosures, debt collection, and work out agreements.

Civil Litigation
Cory represents several major insurers regarding traffic accidents, construction defects, and underinsurance matters. Cory has represented individuals and business in property and tax disputes, contract litigation, UCC sales and liens, and agricultural matters.

Trucking Law
Cory is an active member of the Minnesota Trucking Association and the Transportation Lawyers Association. He represents several trucking companies in southern Minnesota regarding employment law, contracting, and general business. Cory has also assisted out of state trucking companies with problems in Minnesota.

Representative Cases
In 2011, Cory represented an employer who hired a competitor’s former employee and was then sued under a non compete agreement. He defeated the allegations at summary judgment. See Blue Earth Co. 07-CV-10-1015.

In 2011, Cory represented an employee who reported her boss for sexual harassment and was terminated. Even though she suffered no wage loss, he obtained a settlement in excess of her salary. See Watonwan Co.83-CV-10-155.

In 2011, Cory defended an employer accused of wrongfully withholding wages and vacation pay. He won at trial and obtained a judgment against the employee. See Nicollet Co. 52-CV-10-395

In 2009, Cory represented an employee who reported maltreatment of vulnerable adults and was retaliated against. He got his client four times her annual salary; then ensured that she kept that amount by forcing the employer to pay her fees. The presiding judge considered this "an excellent result" and noted: "Without an attorney aggressively representing her, [Cory's client] would likely not have had a positive result." See McLeod Co. 43-CV-09-936.

In 2009 Cory represented a major insurer in an underinsurance matter. Cory's thorough fact investigation and expert procedural maneuvering resulted in not a mere favorable settlement, but in the Plaintiff withdrawing her Complaint for zero dollars.

In 2009, Cory represented a regional farming partnership regarding a contract dispute with a major canner. Within one month of representation, Cory collected over $100,000 in disputed payments.

In 2008, Cory was retained by a farmer near Albert Lea who had a judgment docketed against him in excess of $26,000.00 plus interest and collection costs. When Cory was retained, collections and garnishment had already begun. Within a week, Cory stopped the garnishment. A month later, Cory had the judgment vacated. Eight months later Cory moved for summary judgment and the case against the farmer was dismissed entirely.

In 2008, Cory represented a farming corporation in defense of claims made under a farm lease. Cory not only successfully defended against these claims, he also brought a successful counterclaim.

In 2008, Cory represented a group of homeowners, each subject to special assessments averaging around $10,000.00. Cory appealed the assessments, took the case all the way to trial, and had the assessments set to zero dollars.

In 2007, Cory represented a meat processor in New Richland who had purchased a defective piece of equipment. After brief negotiations, Cory filed suit. The seller claimed that it was immune to suit in Minnesota, and not liable for any defects, because of the fine print of the seller’s invoice. Cory successfully challenged these claims. A few months later, the parties reached a settlement whereby Cory’s client got all of its money back, plus attorney fees, and was even allowed to keep the equipment.

OTHER LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Cory is a Major in the Air National Guard. In his role as a Judge Advocate for the 119th Wing in Fargo, North Dakota, Cory acts as in-house counsel advising and representing the Wing Commander on a wide range of issues including employment and labor law, contracting, environmental law, criminal law, international law, and the Law of Armed Conflict.

Cory served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Kurt D. Johnson, Fifth Judicial District, Mankato, Minnesota, 2005-2007