David J. Taylor | Yost & Baill

Dave Taylor manages Yost & Baill’s national subrogation practice, including CSST-related losses and farm equipment losses. Dave is well-known for his expertise in handling claims against large farm machinery manufacturers involving defective combines, tractors and other farm equipment. These claims often involve multi-million dollar losses in industrial farming operations.

Dave is an experienced trial lawyer whose national practice focuses on property damage claims involving product failures, fires and explosions. The subject matter and scope of Dave’s practice often requires him to litigate cases in various jurisdictions throughout the country, navigating big city government centers as well as the nuances of small town courthouses. Although fully capable of trying a case anywhere in the United States, Dave is particularly aware of the value of settling cases for his clients’ bottom line. Over the past 15 years, Dave has developed a recognized expertise in negotiating and securing settlements for his clients both prior to and during the litigation process.

Dave is a cum laude graduate of William Mitchell College of Law where he was a member of the William Mitchell Law Review as well as a National Qualifier for the ATLA Trial Competition. Prior to joining Yost & Baill, LLP, Dave was a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington, and served as a Captain with United States Army, JAG Corp. Dave uses the skills and temperament learned as federal prosecutor when approaching each subrogation loss he handles. Dave’s training as a federal prosecutor has been particularly valuable in handling plaintiff-type subrogation cases, as both roles require a persistent search for evidence to support your case at trial. Dave served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School from 2008-2020, teaching third year law students critical trial skills in a hands-on clinic type environment.

Dave is actively involved in the National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP). He is a frequent presenter at NASP conferences and seminars locally and nationally on all manner of product liability, especially farm equipment failures.

Outside of his practice with Yost & Baill, Dave devotes a significant amount of time providing pro bono legal services to children in the Minnesota state foster care system, through the Minnesota Children’s Law Center. When not working, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids. Dave is a big fan of the outdoors and takes every opportunity to go camping, hiking and paddling with his family. When winter comes, you can find Dave either hunkering down to watch the Vikings or outside tubing or snowshoeing through the woods with one of his family’s four dogs.

Education

J.D. (cum laude), William Mitchell College of Law
B.A. (cum laude), University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Admission to Practice

Minnesota State and Federal Courts
Wisconsin State Courts and United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin
Iowa State Courts and United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa

Honors & Awards

Named Rising Star, Minnesota Law & Politics, 2008
Rosalie Wahl Moot Court, Regional Winner and National Qualifier, ATLA Trial Advocacy Competition

Leadership

2012 NASP Iowa Chapter Chair
2011 NASP Track Leader, Property Track

Professional Associations & Memberships

Member, National Fire Protection Association
Minnesota State and Federal Bar Associations
Hennepin County Bar Association
Ramsey County Bar Association
Wisconsin State Bar Association
Iowa State Bar Association

Presentations

- 2022
  -NASP Subrogation Litigation: Skills and Management Conference – Tucson, AZ. “Leading Through Mass Tort Subrogation Litigation,” co-presenter with Jim Somers, Travelers
- 2020

-NASP Annual Conference, “The Top 10 Expectations of Forensic Engineers,” co-presenter with Todd Metzger, P.E. of Shaefer Engineering Inc. and Sarah Wells of Nationwide
-NASP Annual Conference, “The Twists and Turns of Catastrophic Property Losses: An EGGcellent Example,” co-presenting with Teirney Christenson and Jim Chamberlain of Nationwide
-“Smart Sessions: Topics and Trends That Matter – It Takes a Village” co-presenter with Steve Hamilton, P.E., IAAI-FIT, CFEI, Crane Engineering, Part of ESI
-Webinar, “Investigating Claims During COVID-19,” co-presenter with Andrew Paris, Principal Electrical Engineer, Jensen Hughes

2018
-NASP Subrogation Litigation: Skills and Management Conference – New Orleans, LA. “Subrogation of Agricultural Property Claims”
2014
-NASP Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. “Farm Losses: Building and Equipment,” co-presenter with Timothy Poeschl
-Minnesota NASP Chapter Meeting, Eden Prairie, MN. “Farm Losses: Building and Equipment,” co-presenter with Timothy Poeschl
-Iowa Symposium – West Des Moines, IA. “Iowa Damage Issues,” “Subrogating Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing Losses,” and “Farm Losses: Building and Equipment”
2013
NASP Annual Conference, San Diego, CA. “Construction Equipment Liability: Misused and Defective Products,” co-presenter with Tyler Schwein
2012
-NASP Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV. “Hot and Cold Large Losses: Boiler, Chiller and Commercial Dryer Failures,” co-presenter with Charles Keith from Crane Engineering
-6th ASCE Congress on Forensic Engineering, San Francisco, CA. “Common Legal Doctrines & Insurance Issues Affecting the Forensic Structural Engineer”, co-presenter with Douglas L. Fell, P.E., MASCE and Vladimir Scheglowski, P.E., MASCE of Clark Engineering
-Presentation at QBE – Sun Prairie, WI. “Large Farm Machinery Losses”
-NASP Webinar with Randy Watson, C.F.I., C.F.E.I., C.V.F.I. of SEA Limited, “The Continuing Evolution of NFPA 921 and the Legal Consequences”
-Montana Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (MAMIC) Annual Meeting – Great Falls, MT. “Current Issues in Fire Claims, Investigation and Subrogation,” co-presenter with Chris Rallis
-PLRB/LFRB Claims Conference and Insurance Services Expo, Orlando, FL. “Subrogation On The Farm”
-Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Claims Seminar – Bloomington, IL. “Large Farm Machinery Losses”
2011
NASP Annual Conference – Orlando, FL. “Plumbing Fitting Failures…Got Bad Brass?”NASP Annual Conference – Orlando, FL. “Large Farm Machinery Losses”
2010
-NASP Annual Conference – Dallas, TX. Panelist, “PIP Contentions and Arbitration: In It To Win It!”
-NASP Webinar – “CSST Gas Line Failures”
2009 NASP Annual Conference – Colorado Springs, CO. “Subrogation on the Farm: Combine Fires & Heavy Machinery Fires”

Publications

“The CSST Dream Team: Litigating Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing Failures and the Ideal Expert Witness Roster,” co-authored with Kelly Micheletti, Fall 2017, Subrogator