Jeff Eckland

Jeff Eckland focuses his practice on government contracts and general commercial litigation. He has litigated cases in state and federal courts across the country, including the state courts of California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, and Texas; the federal district courts of Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee; the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC); the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA); the National Appeals Division (NAD) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA); the Courts of Appeals for the States of Minnesota and Texas; and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit, and the Federal Circuit. Jeff successfully argued before the United States Supreme Court in Franconia Associates v. United States, 536 U.S. 129 (2002), establishing that when the Government transacts business with its citizens it must do so by the same rules as everyone else and that therefore an Act of Congress can constitute a breach of contract. The Franconia Associates line of cases has resulted in aggregate settlements of well over $500 Million on behalf of his government contractor clients.

Jeff has tried a variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including bid protests, performance disputes, compliance proceedings, terminations for default (T/D) and convenience (T/C), defective pricing, qui tam, and False Claims Act litigation. In addition, he has (i) negotiated at the Pentagon stays of suspension and debarment proceedings; (ii) represented government contractors in civil and criminal environmental proceedings; and (iii) recovered increased costs for the construction of a Naval Brig at Miramar Naval Air Station (Top Gun). Jeff also counsels government contractors and their subcontractors on many transactional and compliance issues, including all phases of contract negotiation and administration, termination settlement proposals (TSPs), cost allowance, intellectual property, and technical data rights. Jeff also pursues claims against the state and federal governments, and their various agencies, for redress of grievances relating to Government abuse of power and discretion under the U.S. and State Constitutions, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

Jeff represents businesses and individuals in many other kinds of commercial disputes. On behalf of various plaintiff clients, he has obtained six individual judgments in excess of $1 million and aggregate judgment amounts in excess of $34 million. Jeff also has obtained several judgments of $0 on behalf of defendants where the plaintiffs sought in excess of $3 Million. His practice includes jury and court trials, appeals, prejudgment injunctions and other remedies, arbitrations and mediations, and administrative hearings. He has tried patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, Lanham Act, antitrust, securities, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference with contractual relations, RICO, employment discrimination, dealer termination, covenants not to compete, breach of contract, takings, environmental, and other types of cases.

In addition to trying cases, Jeff enjoys obtaining quick court action on behalf of clients to protect their interests. He has successfully obtained emergency injunctive relief requested by his clients in over twenty civil actions. Prior to litigation, Jeff also counsels clients about the procedural, tactical, and strategic issues involved in commencing and defending civil actions. He counsels clients on ways to avoid litigation as well as to prevent or reduce liability should litigation occur, and advises clients about the risks, benefits, and costs of litigation.

Jeff graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1979, suma cum laude, and the University of Chicago Law School in 1982. He is a member of the Public Contract Law and Science and Technology Sections of the American Bar Association (ABA). Jeff serves as a member of the State Law Database Committee, where he chairs the drafting of procurement law outlines for the States of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. He is also a Fellow of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA), serves on the NCMA's Board of Advisors, and served as President of the NCMA Twin Cities Chapter from 1995-1996. He is a long-standing member of the Planning Committee for the Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts sponsored by the University of Minnesota. Jeff writes and lectures on a variety of government contract topics.

Areas Of Practice

• Government Contract Law and Litigation
• General Commercial Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1982
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1982
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1990
• U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1993
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1993
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1993
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1993

Education

• University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois
  • J.D. - 1982
• University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • B.A. - 1979
  • Honors: summa cum laude
  • Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  • Major: History

Publications

• Jeff H. Eckland, The Franconia Associates Line of “That Was The Deal” Cases: A Roadmap for Suing Uncle Sam For Breach of Contract While Successfully Navigating The Rocky Shoals of Sovereignty, Unmistakability, and Other Unmentionables, in INSIDE THE MINDS: LITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS 39-62 (Thomson Reuters / Aspatore Books, 2014)
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims Issues Ruling on Franconia Prepayment Case, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Washington, D.C., CARH News, 2004
• Demonstrative "Evidence": Oxymoron or Winning Strategy?, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), Winning With Demonstrative Evidence, 1998
• Congress Concedes It Violated the Prepayment Option: The Section 515 Program Debates, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Washington, D.C., CARH News, 1997
• Effective Claim Submittals, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, Chapter Newsletter, 1996
• Phase II of Procurement Reform, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, Chapter Newsletter, 1996
• Environmental Issues Affecting Government Contractors, Contracting with the Federal Government, ABA Public Contract Law Section, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 1993
• Terminations, Contracting With The Federal Government, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) & Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 1992

Cases

• Appeals of AEY, Inc., ASBCA No. 56470, et al., 18-1 BCA 37076.
• Chancellor Manor v. United States, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (Lettow), No. 94-1C, et. al., Washington, D.C., 2005
• Franconia Associates v. United States, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (Allegre), Nos. 97-381C & 97-38111C through 97-38130C, Washington, D.C., 2004
• Allegre Villa v. United States, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (Miller), Washington, D.C., 2004
• Chancellor Manor v. United States, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington, D.C., 2003
• Franconia Associates v. United States, United States Supreme Court, 536 U.S. 129, 2002
• Grass Valley Terrace v. United States, United States Court of Federal Claims (Damich), Washington, D.C., 2002
• United Power Association v. FEMA, U.S. District Court (Webb), Case No. A2-99-180, Fargo, North Dakota, 2001
• Technical Ordnance, Inc. v. Moore, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, St. Paul, Minnesota, 2001
• Red Wing Shoe Co. v. HHI, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, Washington, D.C., 1998
• Adams v. United States, U.S. Court of Federal Claims (Horn), Washington, D.C., 1998
• Allstate Financial Corporation v. United States, U.S. District Court (Renner), Civil Action No. 4-93-959, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1995
• Gronholz v. Sears, Roebuck and Co., U.S. District Court (Davis), Civil Action No. 3-94-1239, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1996
• Jurgens v. CBK, Ltd., U.S. District Court (Todd), Civ. No. 89-1140, Jackson, Tennessee, 1994
• Allstate Financial Corp. v. United States Postal Service, U.S. District Court (Doty), Civ. No. 4-93-1219, Minneapolis, MN, 1994
• UFE Inc. v. Methode Electronics, Inc., U.S. District Court (Doty), Civ. No. 4-90-103, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1992
• In re Intercomp Company, B-283354, August 27, 1999
• In re Intercomp Company, B-265638.2, B-265639.2, February 22, 1996
• In re Control Corporation, B-253410.3, July 5, 1995
• In re Multi-Bloc, Inc., B-259182.2, April 20, 1995
• In re Baxter-Travenol
• In re Marconi Dynamics, Inc., B-252318, June 21, 1993
• In re Control Corporation; Control Data Systems, Inc., B-251224.2, B-251224.3, B-251224.4, May 3, 1993
• In re Technical Ordnance, Inc., B-236873, January 19, 1990
• Little v. Colorbrite, Inc., No. C2-90-1135, 1990 Minn. App. LEXIS 1061, Oct. 24, 1990
• Little v. Colorbrite, Inc., No. C0-91-2293, 1992 Minn. App. LEXIS 586, June 1, 1992
• Munsingwear, Inc. v. Compar SRL, File No. 197167 (4th Judicial District, Minn. October 2), 1985
• DowBrands, L.P. v. Helene Curtis, Inc., U.S. District Court (Kyle), Civ. No. 3-93-440, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1994
• Aveda Corp. v. Aura, Inc., U.S. District Court (Alsop), No. 3-90 Civ. 504, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1991
• Defenders of Wildlife v. Administrator, EPA, U.S. District Court, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1988
• Donnaud’s v. Red Wing Shoe Co. (E.D. La.), 1988
• Schwebel v. T-S Development Corporation-I, U.S. District Court (McNulty), Civ. No. 5-87-124, Duluth, Minnesota, 1988
• Green Tree Acceptance, Inc. v. Wheeler, F.Supp., D. Minn., rev’d, 832 F.2d 116 (8th Cir.), 1987
• David L. Cook Shoes, Inc. v. Red Wing Shoe Co., No. CIV-86-702-TUC-WDB (D. Ariz. Dec. 24), 1986
• Toro Co. v. R&R Products Co., 600 F.Supp. 400 (D. Minn. 1984), aff’d, 787 F.2d 1208 (8thSpecial jury verdict award of $0 in copyright infringement action where plaintiff sought $4.4 Million in damages Cir. 1986)
• Rush’s Inc. v. Koala Blue, Inc., Olivia Newton-John, et al., Civil No. 91-973 (4th Judicial District, Minn.), 1991
• Tiegen v. Pennsylvania House, Inc., Civil No. 4-89-802 (4th Judicial District, Minn.), 1991
• State v. Red Wing Shoe Co., No. 242646 (Superior Court, California, County of Stanislaus, Oct. 10), 1989
• Red Wing Shoe Co. v. Shearer’s, Inc., 769 S.W.2d 339 (Tex. Ct. App.), 1989
• Webb Publishing Co. v. Fosshage, N.W.2d (Minn. Ct. App.), 1988
• Edin v. Jostens, Inc., 343 N.W.2d 691 (Minn. Ct. App.), 1984
• In re: the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Litigation, (D. Alaska), 1994
• Jurgens v. McCasy, 927 F.2d 1552 (Fed. Cir.), 1991
• In re: the Glacier Bay, 741 F.Supp. 800 (D. Alaska 1989), and 746 F.Supp. 1379 (D. Alaska 1990)
• Defenders of Wildlife v. Administrator, EPA, U.S. District Court, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1988
• West Pub. Co. v. Mead Data Central, Inc., 616 F.Supp. 1571 (D. Minn.), 1985
• Friends of Animals and Their Environment v. Commissioner of Natural Resources, (2d Judicial District, Minn.)
• Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife v. Clark, 755 F.2d 608 (8th Cir.), 1985
• In re: Exterior Siding and Aluminum Coil Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court (Weiner), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (198)
• Solutronix Corp. v. Eagan Technical Services, Inc., 1991
• Flum v. Armstrong World Industries, Inc., 1986
• Christensen v. Armstrong World Industries, Inc., 1985
• Munsingwear, Inc. v. Drake Fabrics, Inc., 1985
• Piper, Jaffray & Hopwood Incorporated v. Mackie, 1984
• Guiment v. Burnet Realty, Inc., 1983
• House v. Northwestern National Bank, 1983
• Hall v. Aly, 1983
• Foley v. McDonald’s Corp., 1982
• Kaphingst v. McDonald’s Corp., 1982
• Airport Road Associates, Ltd. v. United States, 866 F.3d 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2017), 866 F.3d , 2017, Fed. Cir. 2017

Classes & Seminars

• Government Contract Law: Terminations, A Primer on T for C's, T for D's, and Breach of Contract, 41st Annual Spring Seminar on Government Contracting, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 2007
• Prepayment Litigation: A Progress Report, 2007 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Miami, Florida, January 2007
• Update on USDA Prepayment Litigation and Final Settlement, Fall Conference, California Council for Affordable Housing, Palm Springs, California, November 2006
• Status Update, Prepayment Litigation, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Hinckley, Minnesota, September 2006
• Prepayment Litigation Update, Florida Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Ocala, Florida, March 2006
• Status of Prepayment Litigation Cases, 2006 Mid-Year Meeting, Owners Committee Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), San Francisco, California, January 2006
• Prepayment Litigation Update, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Bloomington, Minnesota, September 2005
• Status Update, Prepayment Litigation, California Council for Affordable Housing, Reno, Nevada, June 2005
• Prepayment – The Law Suits, 2005 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), New Orleans, Louisiana, January 2005
• Status Update, Prepayment Litigation, 2004 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Scottsdale, Arizona, January 2004
• Prepayment Litigation Update, Rural Rental Housing Association, Springfield, Illinois, May 2003 - May 2004
• Review of Prepayment Litigation, 2003 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), New Orleans, Louisiana, January 2003
• United States Supreme Court Victory, Wisconsin Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Madison, Wisconsin, November 2002
• How to Win a United States Supreme Court Case, 41st Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 2002
• Prepayment – Where Are We And Where Do We Go From Here?, 2002 Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference, 2002 Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Arlington, Virginia, June 2002
• Prepayment Rights, 2002 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), January 2002
• Prepayment Litigation Update, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Hinckley, Minnesota, September 2001 - September 2004
• Update on Prepayment Litigation, 2001 Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference, Owners Committee Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Arlington, Virginia, June 2001, Present
• Status Update, Prepayment Litigation, 2001 Mid-Year Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Naples, Florida, January 2001
• Prepayment Litigation Update, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), September 2000
• Damages Lawsuit Update, 2000 Mid-Year Meeting, Owners Committee Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), January 2000
• Demonstrative Evidence: Magic That Brings Words To Life, Course Chair and Overview, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), (Minneapolis, MN, December 1999
• Bid Protest Trends, 38th Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 1999
• Litigation Update Regarding Winstar Claims, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Hinckley, Minnesota, September 1999
• Acquisition Reform: Evolutions in Government Contracting, 33rd Annual Spring Seminar on Government Contracting, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 1999
• Update on Prepayment Litigation, 1999 Mid-Year Meeting, Owners Committee Meeting, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 1999
• Prepayment Litigation, Wisconsin Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Madison, Wisconsin, November 1998
• Breach of Contract by the Government, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Hinckley, Minnesota, September 1998
• The "Rosetta Stone" Approach to Winning Cases: Embody the Theme of Your Case in Demonstrative Evidence, Course Chair, Winning With Demonstrative Evidence, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education (MILE), Minneapolis, MN, April 1998
• Congressional Debates Over Lost Prepayment Rights, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Red Wing, Minnesota, September 1997
• Prepayment Rights Update, 1997 Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Arlington, Virginia, June 1997
• Lost Prepayment Rights, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Key West, Florida, January 1997
• International Trade in Government Contracting, 35th Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 1996
• Issue Update on Winstar and Breaches of Contract by the Government, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Chicago, Illinois, September 1996
• Issue Update on Winstar and Breaches of Contract by the Government, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), October 1996
• Winstar Breach of Contract Claims, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Owatonna, Minnesota, September 1996
• Government Contract Law, National Education Seminar, Tulsa Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 1996
• Winning Government Contract and High Technology Disputes, Rockford Area Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Rockford, Illinois, March 1996
• Litigating Against the Government, Minnesota Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (MN CARH), Bloomington, Minnesota, September 1995
• Effective Practice Before The Government, 29th Annual Spring Seminar on Government Contracting, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), and The University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 1995
• Winning Contract Disputes Act Appeals, St. Louis Gateway Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), St. Louis, Missouri, April 1995
• Government Contracts, National Education Seminar, Northeast Indiana Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Fort Wayne, Indiana, March 1995
• Contract Costs, National Education Seminar, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 1995
• Winning Bid Protests, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), St. Paul, Minnesota, January 1995
• Acquisition Reform Under The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 1994
• Topical Environmental Issues Affecting the Government Contractor, 33rd Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts, The University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 1994
• Winning Bid Protests, Tulsa Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 1994
• Environmental Issues in Government Contracting, National Education Seminar, Greater Iowa Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 1994
• Environmental Issues Affecting Government Contractors, Tulsa Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Tulsa, Oklahoma, December 1993
• Environmental Issues Affecting Government Contractors, ABA Public Contract Law Section, Contracting with the Federal Government, Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1993
• Government Contract Law, Government Contracts Program, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 1993
• Contract Disputes, Terminations, and Stop Work Orders, Twin Cities Chapter, National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, May 1992
• Terminations, Contracting with the Federal Government (CLE), Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 1992

Honors & Awards

• Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law and Politics
• Fellow, National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
• AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Associations & Memberships

• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Board of Advisors, Member, 2003 to Present
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, Chapter President, 1995 to 1996
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, National Director, 1996 to 1998
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, Board of Directors, Member, 1994 to 2000
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter, Member, 1991 to Present
• American Bar Association, Science and Technology
• Court of Federal Claims Bar Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association
• University of Minnesota, Annual National Seminar on Government Contracts, Planning Committee Member
• American Bar Association, Public Contract Law, State Law Database Committee, Member
• National Contract Management Association, Fellow
• National Contract Management Association, Board of Advisors
• National Contract Management Association, Twin Cities, President

Past Employment

• Faegre & Benson LLP, Minneapolis, MN, 1982 - 2004
• Howrey & Simon, Washington, D.C., 1981

Pro Bono Activities

• The Fund for Legal Aid, Director
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association
• University of Minnesota Alumni Society, Director
• Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN), Director