Teresa Fariss McClain

Teresa Fariss McClain has devoted her career to advocating for individuals, first as a registered nurse in the areas of labor and delivery and high-risk obstetrics, later as a critical care nurse and now as an attorney, obtaining justice for those who have been harmed by medical errors or medical negligence.

As a result of her commitment to excellence in the practice of law, Teresa has been admitted to the following invitation-only organizations:  American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); the International Society of Barristers; the American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow; and the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court, Master.

Teresa is a leader in the legal community, and is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Chapter of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), is a member of the Board of Governors for the Minnesota Association for Justice, and is a member of the Advisory Board for Minnesota Women Lawyers. She has served as President of Minnesota Women Lawyers, and Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation. 

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., cum laude (2001)
• Metropolitan State University, B.S. in Nursing

Representative Matters

In addition to the results listed below, Teresa has secured multiple seven-figure settlements that are confidential and cannot be reported.

$9.0 million settlement of a wrongful conception claim with a Twin Cities Health Care Provider. The claim involved pre-conception negligence and the subsequent birth of a child with a genetic disease.

$6.0 million settlement in medication error case.

$2.6 million settlement on behalf of a 72 year old married male, involving a delay in diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer by a Twin Cities Clinic, resulting in decreased life expectancy and quality of life.

$2.0 million settlement in the medical malpractice wrongful death of a pediatric patient following an adverse reaction to IV ceftriaxone medication. 

$350,000 settlement in a South Dakota medical negligence claim for wrongful death. 

$875,000 settlement in a South Dakota medical negligence wrongful death claim.

$1.1 million settlement in a medical malpractice wrongful death case of a 77-year-old male related to a misdiagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by a Twin Cities health provider.

$1.4 million jury verdict in Hennepin County in an underinsured motorist claim where our client, a 28-year-old-high school science teacher, developed chronic debilitating headaches after being hit by an inattentive driver. The jury found significant damages including more than $900,000 for past and future medical expenses based on the testimony of the medical experts we worked with and the jury rejected the defense attempts to minimize the extent and severity of the injuries. The verdict will help our client obtain the medical care necessary to treat her debilitating headaches she will likely need to live with her entire life.

$1,100,000 jury verdict in Dakota County wrongful death case involving medical negligence by a family-practice physician employed by a large healthcare organization. Our client brought this claim on behalf of his family due to the wrongful death of his wife, a 44 year old woman who died after suffering a cardiac arrest several hours after being evaluated and released from a local hospital for her complaints of chest pain.  The evidence at trial established that the emergency medicine physician failed to complete a thorough evaluation to rule out an acute coronary event prior to discharge. The jury found that the defendant was negligent in the care provided to our client’s wife, and that the physician’s negligence was a direct cause of her death

$3,000,000 settlement for cauda equina syndrome injury after spinal fusion at Minneapolis VA Medical Center on behalf of a former Marine and ironworker. Settlement will allow him to pay for modifications to his home and for his future care needs.

$1,150,000 settlement on behalf of an infant who suffered a brain bleed and permanent right sided blindness and hydrocephalus as a result of a medication error in which he was given the wrong medication at an excessive rate while he was a patient in a hospital intensive care unit. The settlement will provide needed resources for the child to obtain medical care, therapy, and adaptions to manage his disability throughout his life. 

$475,000 settlement in a medical malpractice wrongful death case involving the death of a 34-year-old woman from undiagnosed infectious endocarditis, which led to aortic valve damage and heart failure, causing death.

$1,100,000 settlement involving negligent upstaging of endometrial uterine cancer in a 46-year-old patient, from contained and curable endometrial cancer to metastatic and incurable peritoneal cancer, caused by the failure of the gynecologist to perform endometrial biopsy prior to performing a minimally invasive hysterectomy using a power morcellator. The use of the morcellator negligently spread the cancer throughout the peritoneum. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient died from widespread peritoneal cancer approximately 18 months later.

Confidential settlement of $1,500,000 in birth injury case in which child suffered hypoxic ischemic injury, resulting in cerebral palsy.

$1,725,000 settlement in a Hennepin County medical malpractice case involving a medication error by a health provider that led to significant injury.

Wrongful death medical malpractice settlement related to a delay in diagnosis of cancer. $450,000.

$1,000,000 confidential settlement was reached in an auto case where the plaintiff suffered a whiplash injury when she was rear-ended at low speed, resulting in disabling chronic subjective dizziness.

$175,000 settlement on behalf of client who suffered a vertebral compression fracture during a car crash. Subsequent treatment by neurosurgeon included kyphoplasty procedure, which worsened pain. Subsequent treating orthopedic surgeon was critical of kyphoplasty procedure, and was expected to testify that kyphoplasty procedure was contraindicated under the circumstances, and resulted in need for subsequent lumbar fusion to stabilize spine at  L2-4.

$600,000 settlement on behalf of minor child who suffered a brachial plexus injury when shoulder dystocia was encountered during birth. Plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of defendant obstetricians for failing to obtain an obstetrical ultrasound to check fetal size prior to delivery, and negligence in the delivery of the child. Settlement was structured with expected lifetime benefits of $1,275,000.

• Listed in "Top Women in Law," Minnesota Lawyer (2024)
• Named a "Minnesota ICON," Finance & Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer (2021)
• Listed in "500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers" List, Lawdragon (2023-2024)
• Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly (2024)
• Named to the "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers," Minnesota Super Lawyers (2024)
• Named to the "Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers," Super Lawyers (2024)
• Named to POWER 30 List, Minnesota Lawyer (2021-2024)
• Named a "Woman Worth Watching," Profiles in Diversity Journal (2020)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2020-2022, 2024-2025 editions)
• Named as one of the "Elite Women of the Plaintiff's Bar," National Law Journal (2019)
• Named a "North Star Lawyer" by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2016, 2022)
• Named a "Minnesota Super Lawyer" in Plaintiff's Medical Malpractice, Super Lawyers (2014-2024)
• Named a "2014 Attorney of the Year" Minnesota Lawyer
• Named a "Minnesota Rising Star," Super Lawyers (2011)
• Received the "Service to Minnesota Women Award," Minnesota Women Lawyers (2008)

Civic

Professional

Speeches

• Future-Proof: Exploring Tomorrow’s Trends and Teachable Moments
  ​Panelist, Robins Kaplan LLP Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 30, 2024)
• Speaking to Your Jury – Perspectives from the Bench
  Robins Kaplan LLP 2023 Trial Advocacy Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 16, 2023)
• Empathy as a Critical Trait for Trial Lawyers
  Minnesota Association for Justice, Duluth, Minnesota (February 23, 2018)
• Liabiliy No Fault Medicare Set Asides Seminar
  Minnesota Association for Justice, Minneapolis, Minnesota (December 12, 2017)
• What to do About Medicare Set Asides
  Women Trial Lawyers Conference, Minnesota Association for Justice, Nisswa, Minnesota (November 3, 2017)
• What to do About Medicare Set Asides
  Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota (April 20, 2017)
• Benicar Litigation
  Panel, Minnesota Association for Justice, Minneapolis, Minnesota (May 15, 2015)
• Goose V Gander
  Medical Malpractice Conference, Minnesota Association for Justice/Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association (March 6, 2014)
• Medical Legal Implications for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
  University of Minnesota (March 29, 2010)
• Medical Legal Implications for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
  University of Minnesota (March 29, 2008)
• Handling Medical Negligence Claims
  National Business Institute (December 7, 2007)
• Nursing Law in Minnesota
  National Business Institute (January 28, 2005)
• No Harm No Foul No Accrual
  Co-Sponsored by: Minnesota Trial Lawyers, Minnesota Defense Lawyers, and Hennepin County Bar Association (January 16, 2004)
• The Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death
  Medical Malpractice Conference, Minnesota Institute for Legal Education (January 5, 2002)

Media Mentions

• “Top Women in Law: Teresa Fariss McClain,” Minnesota Lawyer (October 25, 2024)
• "The Power 30: Teresa Fariss McClain and Elizabeth M. Fors, Robins Kaplan LLP," Minnesota Lawyer (July 22, 2024)
• "Minneapolis nurse turned lawyer fights on behalf of children injured at birth," Star Tribune (February 24, 2023)
• "3 Key Insurance Rulings You May Have Missed This Summer," Law360 (September 28, 2020)
• "Fairview Southdale to pay over $3 million to patient who lost an eye during surgery," KSTP (June 13, 2019)