Jason Schmickle

Jason L. Schmickle is a shareholder in the firm of Aafedt, Forde, Gray, Monson & Hager, P.A. He received his Juris Doctorate degree cum laude from Hamline University School of Law in 1996. He received his Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Minnesota in 1993.

Jason was admitted to practice law the State of Minnesota in 1996 and was admitted to practice law in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota in 1998. While in law school, he served as the primary editor of the Hamline Journal of Public Law and Policy (1994-1995). Jason is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Ramsey County Bar Association.

Outspoken, enthusiastic, and respectfully aggressive. These are just a few of the qualities that earned Jason the honor of being named to the Minnesota Rising Stars list in a poll of lawyers taken by Minnesota Super Lawyers. Jason has over 20 years of experience defending civil litigation matters and has more than a dozen jury trials under his belt. His practice focuses primarily on defense of civil cases. He has diverse experience in all areas of insurance defense litigation, including personal injury, construction defects, subrogation, and workers’ compensation.

Education

• Hamline University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1996
• University of Minnesota, B.A., 1993

Admissions

• Minnesota
• U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

Born

Golden Valley, Minnesota

Awards and Recognitions

• Best Lawyers in America® for Workers' Compensation Law - Employers, Best Lawyers® (2021 - current)
• Minnesota Rising Stars® list, Thomson Reuters Legal (2005 - 2010)

Speaking Engagements

• "Who Wants to be a Workers' Comp Millionaire?" AFGMH 2023 WorkComp WorkShop, September 29, 2023
• "SMILE! Balancing the Risks & Rewards of Surveillance," AFGMH Virtual Coffee Talk, August 10, 2023
• "Workers' Comp Jeopardy!," AFGMH 2022 WorkComp WorkShop, September 30, 2022
• "Pick Your Tough Claim Topic: Panel Discussions," AFGMH Virtual WorkComp WorkShop, October 15, 2021
• "Ethics and Good Faith Claims Handling," AFGMH Webinar, June 10, 2021
• "Derailing the Runaway Rehab Train," AFGMH Webinar, May 5, 2021
• "COVID-19 and Workers' Compensation," AFGMH Virtual WorkComp WorkShop, October 9, 2020
• “The Playbook for Medical Cannabis,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 4, 2019
• “Traumatic Brain Injuries – Avoiding a Litigation Headache,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 5, 2018
• “Urine Drug Testing: As Related to Opioids and Workers’ Compensation,” CEU Institute, October 2, 2018
• “How to Spot a Fish Tale in the Land of 10,000 Lakes: Fraud and Surveillance,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 6, 2017
• “Arising Out Of and In the Course of Employment,” CEU Institute, November 1, 2016
• “Benefit Recovery: Analyzing Subrogation,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 7, 2016
• “Benefit Recovery: Analyzing Subrogation,” CEU Institute, August 2, 2016
• “Confidentiality in Minnesota Workers’ Compensation,” CEU Institute, February 2, 2016
• “Good and Bad Denials: Civil Penalties and Other Ethical Considerations When Handling Insurance Claims,” CEU Institute, February 2, 2016
•  “PTD Claims: Identifying Defenses and Minimizing Risk,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 2, 2015
• “Permanent Partial Disability and the AMA's Guide to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment,” CEU Institute, February 24, 2015
• “Attorney Fee Jeopardy,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, September 12, 2014
• “Subrogation in the MN Workers’ Compensation System,” CEU Institute, July 8, 2014
• “Chronic Pain,” CEU Institute, June 3, 2014
• “Undocumented Workers: An Employment and Work Comp Perspective,” CEU Institute, April 17, 2014
• “Make or Break a Case with an IME,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, September 27, 2013
• “Mediation Preparation and Strategy,” CEU Institute, September 24, 2013
• “Case Management Challenges: Handling Complicated Surgical Matters and Related Return to Work Issue,” CEU Institute, July 9, 2013
• “Developing a Litigation Strategy: PTD Benefits and New Work Comp Changes,” CEU Institute, June 28, 2013
• “Mediations,” CEU Institute, June 19, 2013
• “Exposure Analysis of PTD Claims,” CEU Institute, March 5, 2013
• “Fraud and Surveillance: Tips for Identifying and Defending Dubious Claims,” CEU Institute, March 5, 2013
• “Vocational Rehabilitation,” CEU Institute, March 5, 2013
• “Negotiations for the Claims Adjuster/Settlement Negotiations,” CEU Institute, February 27, 2013
• “Ethically Handling Minnesota Claims,” CEU Institute, February 5, 2013
• “Effective Recorded Statements,” CEU Institute, January 23, 2013
• “Fighting Insurance Fraud & Abuse,” CEU Institute, January 16, 2013
• “Medicare: Strategies for Medical Close-Outs,” AFGMH WorkComp WorkShop, October 5, 2012

Involvement

• Minnesota Employers Workers Compensation Alliance
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Ramsey County Bar Association
• Twin Cities Claims Association