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John Arthur Klassen

John A. Klassen, P.A.
  • Civil Rights, Employment Law
  • Minnesota
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Biography

John is the founder of the Minneapolis employment and civil rights litigation firm of John A. Klassen, P.A. He received law degrees from the University of British Columbia (1992) and Seattle University (1993).

Since 1994, John has practiced exclusively in the areas of employment and civil rights law. He has represented employees and victims of civil rights violations throughout the United States, in the areas of harassment and discrimination law, False Claims Act/Qui Tam claims, whistleblower law, wage and hour disputes, class action claims, employment contract disputes, and sexual abuse. Employees consult with him on a regular basis in regard to their severance agreements and non-competition agreements.

John’s cases have received international press coverage, including recent stories by the New York Times, the Washington Post and the International Herald Tribune. His cases have been featured on CNN and Minnesota Public Radio. In 2006 and 2007, John successfully litigated cases against the Minneapolis Fire Department and its fire chief for alleged sexual harassment and retaliation. This series of three related cases included this country’s first known reverse sexual orientation discrimination case against the head of a large public agency. Past victories on behalf of victims of workplace discrimination and harassment include million dollar-range results for his clients. John recently served as counsel in a series of multi-plaintiff race discrimination and retaliation cases against the Minneapolis Police Department on behalf of five veteran officers. Those cases settled for a combined $825,000.

John lives and works in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is married and has two children and the obligatory Labrador Retriever.

Practice Areas
Civil Rights
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Discrimination, Employment, Fair Housing, Police Misconduct, Privacy Law
Employment Law
Employee Benefits, Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, ERISA, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Minnesota
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8th Circuit
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Professional Experience
Managing Partner
John A. Klassen, P.A.
- Current
Education
Seattle University School of Law
J.D. | Law
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University of British Columbia Faculty of Law
LL.B. | Law
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Awards
Super Lawyer 2003-2009
Minnesota Law and Politics
Who's Who in Employment Law in Minnesota 2002, 2005-2009
Minnesota Law and Politics
Professional Associations
Minnesota State Bar Association
Board Member of the Labor and Employment Section Governing Council
- Current
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National Employment Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
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Minnesota State Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
10 South Fifth Street
Suite 700
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Telephone: (612) 204-4533