John Harper III

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 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 2026Minnesota 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

• Attorney

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

• 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

• University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentor

• 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

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