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Harper, John III

John Harper III - Minneapolis, MN

Attorney at Messerli | Kramer

Business Litigation Lawyers in Minneapolis, MN

50 S. 6th St. Suite 2300 Minneapolis, MN 55402

  • Free Consultation
  • 1 Super Lawyers®
  • 49 Years 
    Experience

Minneapolis Business Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

  • Business Litigation
  • Commercial Disputes
  • Employment Litigation
  • Fiduciary Duty & Shareholder Claims

Attorney Information

Overview

Jack is a Shareholder, Director, and the head of the Messerli & Kramer P.A. Business Litigation Department. He has been practicing law since 1977. Prior to joining Messerli & Kramer P.A., Jack was a shareholder at Krass Monroe, P.A., head of its business litigation department, and its President/CEO. Jack specializes in complex business litigation, including shareholder, contract, director and officer liability, fraud, and life, health and disability cases. Jack is regularly retained to represent clients in cases around the country, has earned a reputation as a zealous advocate, and is annually selected as a "Super Lawyer" by his peers. Recently, Jack was recognized as a 2011 "Attorney of the Year" by Minnesota Lawyer (Read More). He has obtained defense verdicts and decisions in numerous multi-million dollar cases and has obtained million dollar awards and settlements for his clients, including a recent $1,919,000 arbitration award in Illinois on behalf of a boat warranty company in a breach of contract and unjust enrichment action in March, 2011.

Jack has represented life, health, and disability carriers since 1982 and a significant portion of his practice involves defending officers and directors in breach of fiduciary duty and fraud litigation and representing business owners in shareholder/member/partner disputes.

Jack is licensed in the state, federal, and appellate courts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, the federal courts of North Dakota and Nebraska, and the United States Supreme Court. He has represented clients in cases in more than 25 states.


Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

SuperLawyers

John Harper III included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

  • Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2004-2022
  • Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2011
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent for the Highest Level of Professional Excellence

Other Sources of Feedback About John Harper III

Included on the 2026 Minnesota Super Lawyers list


Past Lists

  • 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2024 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2023 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2022 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2021 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2020 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2019 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2018 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2017 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2016 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2015 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2014 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2013 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2012 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2011 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2010 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2009 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2008 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2007 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2006 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2005 Minnesota Super Lawyers list
  • 2004 Minnesota Super Lawyers list

Education

  • Legal Education

    • William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
      J.D.
  • Non Legal Education

    • College of St. Thomas
      B.A.

Current Employment Position(s)

  • Attorney

Classes and Seminars

  • “Business Litigation Q&A with Jack Harper”– ReelLawyers.com, 2014

Pro Bono Activities

  • University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentor

Representative Cases

  • Oak Knoll Business Park III v. Associated Bank, N. A.
  • Robison v. PDSI, Inc et al. Venued in Hennepin County District Court
  • State of Minnesota v. Your Magazine Services, Inc. et al. Venued in Scott County District Court
  • Push, Pedal and Pull, Inc v. 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, Inc. et al. Venued in South Dakota State Court
  • Minnesota Leased Housing Associates, LLC v. Lumber One Cold Spring, Inc. Venued in Hennepin Country District Court
  • Ulrich v. Goldstar Estate Buyers, Inc et al. Venued in Hennepin County District Court
  • Keenan et al. v. State of Minnesota et al. Venued in Hennepin Country District Court
  • Amex, Inc. v. Code 42, Inc. Venued in Hennepin County District Court
  • Amex, Inc. v. Compellent Technologies, Inc., et. al. Venued in Minnesota State District Court, Hennepin County
  • Boyt, et al. v. Owens, et al. Venued in Hennepin County District Court
  • Delivery Solutions, Inc. v. 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment, Inc. Venued in Wisconsin Federal District Court, Eastern Division
  • Habberstad, et al. v. Country Bankers, Inc., et al. Venued in Minnesota State District Court, Steele County
  • Hall v Barry, et. al. Venued in Ramsey County District
  • Martin Calibration, Inc v Woelkner. Venued in Cook County, Illinois
  • Lancelot Investors Fund, LP, et al. v Atradius Trade Credit Ins., Inc., et al. Venued in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • Liberty Capital Lending, LLC v Crown Bank, et al. Venued in Minnesota State District Court, Hennepin County
  • Marine Innovations v. Virginia Surety Company, Inc.
  • McDonald, et al. v. Entrust Midwest, Inc., et al. Venued in Minnesota State Court, Hennepin County
  • Palm Beach Finance Partners, L.P., et al. v. Atradius Trade Credit Ins., Inc., et al. Venued in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
  • Palm Beach Finance Partners, L.P., et al. v. BMO Harris Bank, N.A., et al. Venued in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida
  • Phillips, et al. v. Oxford Global Advisors, et al. Venued in Minnesota Federal District Court
  • Steinmetz and ThinLight Technologies Corp. v. Lindblad, et al. Venued in Minnesota State District Court, Dakota County
  • The National Bank v. First Premier Capital, LLC
  • Waste Management of Minnesota, Inc. et al v. SKB Environmental, Inc. et al
  • Barr v. Boise Cascade Corp., et al. Venued in Minnesota State Court, Koochiching County

Published Works

Articles

  • “Former business associates gain favorable settlement from private-equity manager Scott Honour” – Star Tribune, August 2018
  • “John Harper III: Attorney of the Month” –Attorney at Law Magazine, November 2012
  • “Bringing Down Trevor Cook: How John Harper III did it” –Super Lawyers, August 2012

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court District of North Dakota
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin

Other Affiliations

  • American Arbitration Association (Member)
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (Member)
  • Defense Research Institute (Member)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association (Member)

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Minneapolis, MN

50 S. 6th St.
Suite 2300
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Directions

Phone: 612-473-1240

Fax: (612) 672-3777

Email: Send a message

Website: https://messerlikramer.com/professional/john-harper-iii

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