Our Attorneys
Jeffrey A. Abrahamson
Mr. Abrahamson practices in the areas of employment law, regulatory law, collections and personal injury defense. Currently, he is representing our railroad and corporate clients in these areas including the defense of FELA matters.
Mr. Abrahamson is admitted to practice in the federal and state courts of Minnesota.
Kerry O. Atkinson
Ms. Atkinson's civil litigation experience involves the defense of personal injury, property damage, construction defect, premises liability, product liability and insurance coverage claims. She has extensive trial experience. Her current practice is dedicated to defending our railroad clients against personal injury claims, and claims arising under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Ms. Atkinson is admitted to practice law in the state courts of Minnesota. Ms. Atkinson was sworn in to Federal Court on Friday, August 03, 2012.
Alfonse J. Cocchiarella
Mr. Cocchiarella is experienced in civil litigation, including railroad and insurance defense, toxic torts, asbestos law, construction defect, and real estate law. He currently defends railroad, insurance and toxic tort cases.
Mr. Cocchiarella is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.
Emily Curtner-Atkinson
Prior to joining Ricke & Sweeney, Ms. Curtner-Atkinson practiced as an insurance defense litigator in no-fault and personal injury settings. Her current practice is dedicated to defending our railroad clients in FELA, personal injury, and toxic tort cases.
Admitted to practice in Federal and State Courts in Minnesota.
Diane P. Gerth
Ms. Gerth has practiced in all aspects of railroad law, including administrative proceedings before federal and state tribunals, employment disputes, labor arbitration, freight claims, and FELA litigation. She has also handled rail abandonments and line sales, complex trackage rights agreements, asset acquisitions, and government contract drafting involving class I, II and III carriers.
Ms. Gerth is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts of Minnesota and Wisconsin and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She has also practiced before the Surface Transportation Board and the Department of Defense Carrier Review Board.
Eric E. Holman
Mr. Holman’s railroad law experience is in the areas of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, Locomotive Inspection Act, Safety Appliance Act, and the Federal Rail Safety Act. Mr. Holman also has a wide array of experience in other civil litigation matters, including class-action employment discrimination, securities fraud, ammonia refrigeration and liquid propane gas explosions, products liability and personal injury, copyright defense, construction defect, architectural and engineering negligence, dram shop, employment, and wrongful death matters.
Mr. Holman is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts of Minnesota and the state courts of Wisconsin.
Rodney A. Honkanen
Mr. Honkanen is experienced in a broad range of civil litigation, currently focusing on employment litigation, business litigation and railroad litigation. Mr. Honkanen also counsels and represents clients in business and lending transactions, as well as bankruptcy matters.
Mr. Honkanen is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Timothy K. Masterson
Mr. Masterson is experienced in a wide range of civil litigation matters including railroad law, toxic torts, personal injury defense, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation. His current focus is FELA defense, asbestos and toxic torts, and personal injury defense including premise liability claims.
Mr. Masterson is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Michael L. Oja
Mr. Oja has over 25 years of civil litigation experience, in a variety of areas of substantive law including personal injury, property damage, construction defect, premises liability, and product liability claims. Mr. Oja’s current practice entails defending the firm's railroad clients against personal injury claims arising under the Federal Employers Liability Act and under other laws applicable to the railroad industry. He is admitted to practice law in Minnesota state and federal courts.
Scott H. Rauser
Mr. Rauser has substantial experience defending railway and insurance companies in a wide range of personal injury, death, and contract cases. His litigation predominantly consists of FELA defense and insurance coverage matters. He also handles employment law and construction defect cases.
Mr. Rauser is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Larry B. Ricke
Mr. Ricke practices primarily in the areas of commercial and business litigation, with emphasis on creditor’s rights, bankruptcy and insolvency issues. He brings more than 25 years of experience in representing creditors, creditor committees, trustees and debtors to bear in working with clients to develop creative, practical and financially viable solutions to complex issues.
Mr. Ricke has served as a memeber of the Panel of Chapter 7 Trustees in the District of Minnesota, as an operating Chapter 11 Trustee, as well as having represented Chapter 7 and 11 trustees and court-appointed receivers.
Mr. Ricke is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts in Minnesota and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Megan K. Ricke
Ms. Ricke has extensive litigation experience in personal injury and property damage defense. Currently, Ms. Ricke’s practice focuses on the defense of claims arising under the Federal Employers Liability Act, grade-crossing accidents and trespasser injuries.
Ms. Ricke is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts in Minnesota and Wisconsin and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.
Brian D. Stofferahn
Mr. Stofferahn has over 25 years of experience in personal injury matters. He has extensive trial experience. He has been a CLE speaker and an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. He currently practices in the defense of FELA claims. Mr. Stofferahn is admitted in the state and federal courts of Minnesota.
Patrick J. Sweeney
Mr. Sweeney's experience is in the areas of civil litigation, railroad and insurance defense law, with a focus in musculoskeletal and alleged cumulative trauma cases. He is also involved in the defense of construction defect claims and currently handles litigation for various major railroads and multi-line insurance companies.
Mr. Sweeney is admitted to practice law in the federal and state courts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California* and Colorado*.
* inactive status in good standing
R. John Wells
Mr. Wells has experience in a variety of litigation and business law matters. His current practice emphasizes defense of railroad litigation, asbestos and toxic torts.
Mr. Wells is admitted to practice in the courts of Minnesota, Colorado*, and Wyoming*.
* inactive status in good standing
