Dennis O'Brien 
Of Counsel 

Email: Dennis@mantylaw.com
Phone: 612.465.0348
Fax: 612.746.0310

Dennis is a retired bankruptcy judge, having served on the bankruptcy bench for the District of Minnesota for nearly thirty years from February 24, 1984 to July 1, 2013. He has extensive experience in presiding over all types of bankruptcies, business and personal, reorganizations and liquidations, simple and complex.  As a bankruptcy judge, Dennis also has extensive experience in mediating bankruptcy disputes between parties.

Dennis served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Minnesota from 1993 to 2000 and spearheaded the transition of the court's records from paper to electronic, along with Internet filing and remote access to case files.  He served as a pro tem member of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit from its inception in 1996 to June 30, 2013.  He also served on the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, a judicial professional and policy organization of bankruptcy judges nationwide, from 1994 through 1997.

Since joining Manty & Associates, P.A., Dennis has continued mediating disputes both as a mediator as well as representing parties in mediations.  He represents clients in bankruptcy matters and commercial disputes.  Dennis has also been retained and served as an expert witness in matters concerning alter ego, malpractice and a dispute concerning attorneys’ fees.

Education:

B.A., University of Minnesota Duluth
J.D., William Mitchell Law School

Bar Admissions:

Minnesota
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ Division

Speaking:

Dennis has been a regular speaker and author of bankruptcy materials for Minnesota Continuing Legal Education from 1985 through 2012, including participating, authoring and teaching in the following presentations:

Basics of Bankruptcy Practice – Fundamentals of Practice Before the Court,  September 26, 2002 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien and Peter B. Stein.

Effective Advocacy in Bankruptcy Court, September 22, 2003 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien and Monica L. Clark.

Ethical and Local Rule Requirements on Representation, March 9, 2004 William I. Kampf and Judge Dennis D. O’Brien.

Chapter 13 Roundtable, September 23, 2004 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien, Margaret H. Culp and Gregory J. Wald.

Overview of the Most Important Areas of Change With the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, June 20, 2005 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien.

Chapter 13 Hot Topics: Tips and Strategies for Changing Times, September 12, 2005 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Ian T. Ball, Margaret H. Culp, Thomas E. Johnson and Michael J. Stepan.

Through the Looking Glass Again: Chapter 13 in the post-BAPCPA Era September 21, 2006 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien, Thomas E. Johnson, Patti J. Sullivan and Margaret H. Culp.

E-Discovery and Computer Forensics in Bankruptcy Cases,”\ September 20, 2007 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien and Mark Lanterman.

Hidden Traps of Small Business Chapter 11s, October 6, 2008 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Kenneth Corey-Edstrom and Sarah J. Wencil.

Bankruptcy 101: Adversary Proceedings, October 5, 2009 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien & Cynthia L. Hegarty.

Courtroom Exhibits in the Electronic Era: The Bankruptcy Court’s E-Transition Moves On! October 4, 2010 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien and Aaron Lahn.

2011 Case Law Update and Bankruptcy Trends,” September 12, 2011 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Craig W. Andresen, Katherine A. Constantine and William J. Fisher. 

Case Law Update and Bankruptcy Trends, October 2, 2012 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Craig W. Andresen and Katherine A. Constantine.

Curriculum vitae:

Currently Panel Trustee 11 U.S.C, Subchapter v.

Currently Of Counsel to Manty & Associates, P.A., from June 30, 2013.

United States Bankruptcy Judge, District of Minnesota, February 24, 1984 to July 1, 2013.

Chief Bankruptcy Judge, District of Minnesota, 1993 to 2000.

Served as pro tem member of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit from its inception in 1996 to June 30, 2013.

Served as the representative of Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Judges on the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, 1994 to 1997.

Has been a regular speaker and author of bankruptcy materials for Minnesota Continuing Legal Education Bankruptcy Institutes from 1985 through 2012, including participant authoring and teaching these presentations:

“Basics of Bankruptcy Practice – Fundamentals of Practice Before the Court,” September 26, 2002 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien & Peter B. Stein.

“Effective Advocacy in Bankruptcy Court,” September 22, 2003 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien & Monica L. Clark.

“Ethical and Local Rule Requirements on Representation,” March 9, 2004 William I. Kampf & Judge Dennis D. O’Brien.

“Chapter 13 Roundtable,” September 23, 2004 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien, Margaret H. Culp & Gregory J. Wald.

“Overview of the Most Important Areas of Change With the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005,” June 20, 2005 Honorable Dennis D. O’Brien.

“Chapter 13 Hot Topics: Tips and Strategies for Changing Times,” September 12, 2005 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Ian T. Ball, Margaret H. Culp, Thomas E. Johnson & Michael J. Stepan.

“Through the Looking Glass Again: Chapter 13 in the post-BAPCPA Era” September 21, 2006 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien, Thomas E. Johnson, Patti J. Sullivan & Margaret H. Culp.

“E-Discovery and Computer Forensics in Bankruptcy Cases,” September 20, 2007 Judge Dennis D. O'Brien & Mark Lanterman.

“Hidden Traps of Small Business Chapter 11s,” October 6, 2008 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Kenneth Corey-Edstrom & Sarah J. Wencil.

“Bankruptcy 101: Adversary Proceedings,” October 5, 2009 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien & Cynthia L. Hegarty.

“Courtroom Exhibits in the Electronic Era: The Bankruptcy Court’s E-Transition Moves On!” October 4, 2010 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien & Aaron Lahn.

“2011 Case Law Update and Bankruptcy Trends,” September 12, 2011 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Craig W. Andresen, Katherine A. Constantine & William J. Fisher.

“Case Law Update and Bankruptcy Trends,” October 2, 2012 Judge Dennis D. O’Brien, Craig W. Andresen & Katherine A. Constantine.

“Techniques and Strategies for Successful Mediations in Bankruptcy Cases,” October 8, 2015 Judge Dennis O’Brien (Retired), Judge Arthur J. Boylan (Retired) Judge James M. Rosenbaum (Retired).

“Chapter 12 – Family Farmer With Regular Income,” Kyle L. Garson, Michael J. Gieseke, Judge Dennis O’Brien (Retired) October 23, 2017.

Has furnished expert opinions and agreed to serve as expert witness in:

CSM Equities v. Woodland Village Investments, et al, Hennepin County District Court, Case No. 27-CS-12-1346, (2014); (Alter Ego)

Zudhi Karagjozi Vs.David Bruck, Esq. And Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith, Ravin, Davis &Himmell, Llp Now Known As Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith      &Davis,Llp, Superior Court Of New Jersey Law Division Essex County, Docket No: Esx-L-000366-12; (2015); (Malpractice);

Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc., V. Certain Underwriters At Lloyds ,         Et.Al , 27-Cv-13-19098 District Court Fourth Judicial District, Minn. (2015)      (Attorney fees);

Estate of Jeanne Marie Armstrong, Case No: 11-51076, (bankr. MN 2015)        (Malpractice).

Leach V. Makenscourt, File NO.  27-CV-16-12331, Fraudulent Transfer, September 19, 2017

Served as mediator in numerous matters assigned to other judges while on the bench.  Since retirement, served as mediator in:

Fenton Sub Parcel A, LLC; BKY No. 12-42768; Bowles Sub Parcel A, LLC; BKY No. 12-42765; Fenton Sub Parcel B, LLC; BKY No. 12-42770; Bowles Sub Parcel B, LLC BKY No. 12-42769; Fenton Sub Parcel C, LLC BKY No. 12-42774; Bowles Sub Parcel C, LLC BKY No. 12-42772, October 10, 2013;

CorTrust Bank N.A. v. Audio Video Planners, Inc., et al., citation unavailable, September 17, 2014;

James D. Olchefski v. Cary Kissner, d/b/a Kiss’s Auto Body and Frame Shop, citation unavailable, September 26, 2014;

Johnson v. USL Products and  Clam Corporation, 27-CV-10-907 (Minn. Distr. Ct. 2014), November 19, 2014;

Jonathan Montessori v. Community Bank Corp. et al., 10-CV-14-741 (Minn. Distr. Ct. 2014), April 7, 2015;

Sylva Corporation, Inc., Vs. Central Fleet Service & Parts, Inc., Court File No.: 71-CV-16-1076, (Minn. Dstr. Ct), February 17, 2017;

Magnetation Llc, et al., Debtor, 15-50307 (WJF); Mag Lands, LLC, 15-50308(WJF); Mag Finance Corp., 15-50309(WJF); Mag Mining, LLC, 15-50310(WJF); Mag Pellet LLC, 15-50311(WJF):  Magnetation Llc, et al v. Fissel Electric Service, Inc., Adv. No. 17-05043, November 30, 2017;

Midwest Asphalt Corporation, Debtor, Bky No. 17-40075-WJF Chapter 7; MAR Farms, LLC, Bky. No. 17-41371-WJF; Delta Milling, LLC, Bky. No. 17-41372-WJF:  Stoebner v. Dehn Oil Company, Adv. No. 19-04032, July 9, 2019;

Midwest Asphalt Corporation, Debtor, Bky No. 17-40075-WJF; MAR Farms, LLC, Bky. No. 17-41371-WJF; Delta Milling, LLC, Bky. No. 17-41372-WJF: Stoebner v. Kusske Construction Co., LLC, Adv. No. 19-04084, August 1, 2019;

Rivard Companies, Inc., Debtor, BKY No.:  18-43603: Rivard Companies, Inc., v. LG Funding, LLC, ADV No.:  19-04024, August 21, 2019. (settled by parties prior to mediation date).

First National Community Bank v. Subak LLC, et. al, Court File No: 62-CV-19-1040, (Minn. Distr. Ct. 2019)  October 2, 2019. 

Practiced law from 1978 to 1984 as partner in the Duluth Minnesota law firm of Edgerton, Theobald, Abelsen and O’Brien.

Practiced law from 1976 to 1978 as a solo practitioner.

Served the St. Louis County Juvenile Court as a Guardian ad litem for children. 1976 to 1978.

Practiced law as an associate of the Duluth law firm of Harper, Eaton, Gustafson and Wilson from 1974 to 1976.

Obtained a JD from William Mitchell Law School in June 1974.

Obtained a BA degree from University of Minnesota, Duluth, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Economics in June 1970.