Since 1973, Jim Balmer has represented thousands of people in all kinds of litigation, including bodily injury, jury trials, workers' compensation trials and hearings, social security disability hearings, and appeals in those areas. He has handled car crash, slip-and-fall, worksite injuries, defective product claims, dog attack, liquor liability claims and other kinds of bodily injury matters. Jim has lectured at various seminars, primarily in the areas of trial tactics and workers’ compensation issues.

Jim is admitted to practice before all Minnesota and Wisconsin courts, both State and Federal, and has tried cases throughout both states. He has argued cases before the Seventh United States Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago and the Eighth United States Circuit Court of Appeals, headquartered in St. Louis.

Martindale-Hubbell, our nation’s leading legal services directory, has rated Jim’s legal ability/ethical standard at the top "AV" and he is listed in the most-prestigious "Best Lawyers in America" as a personal injury specialist, one of the few to be so honored in this part of Minnesota. Jim has been selected as a "Minnesota Superlawyer" in the area of personal injury every year since 1998 and has been listed as a Leading American Attorney during the same time period. In 2006, he was selected a "Top 40" Minnesota personal injury attorney. In 2010, he was chosen a "Top 40" Minnesota workers’ compensation attorney.

Jim has been certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1986 and by the Minnesota State Bar Association since 1989, the first year it began certifying trial specialists. Wisconsin does not have a system of trial specialist certification. He has been honored as an Advocate by the American Board of Trial Advocacy since 2002.

Sailing, jogging and downhill skiing are Jim’s favorite recreational pursuits. He is also active in his local Roman Catholic parish.

Contact Information

James W. Balmer, Esq.
Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer
1200 Alworth Building
306 West Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802-1800

Phone: (218) 723-1990
Toll Free: 1-800-723-2048
E-mail: jwbalmer@duluthtriallawyers.com
Fax: (218) 723-1931

Current Employment Position(s)
Founding Partner

Areas Of Practice
Personal Injury
Workers' Compensation

Certifications/Specialties
Civil Trial Specialist
National Board of Trial Advocacy
Minnesota State Bar Association
Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates

Bar Admissions
Minnesota, 1973
U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1974
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1985
Wisconsin, 1984
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1985
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2008

Education
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1973 J.D.
J.D. University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, 1970 B.A.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• The Best Lawyers in America, 2005 - Present

• Minnesota Association for Justice (MAJ), 1985 - 1994 Board of Governors

• Duluth Trial Lawyers Association (DTLA), 1988 - 1989 President

• Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)

• 11th District Bar Association

• Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers

• State Bar of Wisconsin

• Douglas County Bar Association

• American Board of Trial Advocates