Your Northern Minnesota Personal Injury Attorneys
Biography
Gary graduated from Bemidji High School in 1976, after moving to the area in 1972. He graduated from Bemidji State University in 1982, and the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1985. Gary practiced in Minot, North Dakota, primarily in the area of insurance defense, until mid-1986 when he returned to Bemidji. Mr. Hazelton was a partner with Durnaske & Hazelton Law Offices from 1987 until October 1993, and from November of 1993 to August of 1999, Mr. Hazelton was a partner with Cann, Haskell, D'Albani, Schueppert, Hazelton & Rodgers. Since 1990 Mr. Hazelton has concentrated his practice in the areas of personal injury and workers' compensation. On September 1, 1999, Mr. Hazelton and Mr. Rodgers established Hazelton & Rodgers, P.C. and they continue to emphasize personal injury and workers' compensation law.
Gary has a particular interest in traumatic brain injury and its consequences and has studied and attended many continuing legal education courses on the topic.
Gary's wife, Diane, teaches school in the area of Learning Disabilities in Bemidji Public Schools. Gary and Diane have four children. Diane is an aerobics instructor in her spare time, and Gary coaches with Bemidji Youth Hockey. Gary also coaches the Cass Lake High School Mock Trial team each winter. The family enjoys golfing, fishing, camping and hockey.
Gary believes thorough fact investigation, case preparation, and study of the medical aspects of each case are the keys to effective presentation of the claims of injured persons.
Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
Bar Admission
- Minnesota, 1985
- North Dakota, 1985
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1985
- U.S. District Court District of North Dakota, 1986
- Red Lake Nation Tribal Court
- Court of the White Earth Band of Chippewa
Education
- University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- J.D. - 1985
- Bemidji State University, Bemidji, North Dakota
- B.S. Industrial Education - 1980
- Major: Construction
- Bemidji High School
- 1976
Certified Legal Specialties
- MSBA Board Certified Civil Trial Specialist
Honors
- Minnesota SuperLawyer, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013
Professional Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Minnesota Association for Justice
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Board of Governors
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Executive Committee
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Treasurer, 2012 to 2013
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Secretary, 2013 to 2014
- Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, F-Warriors Board Member
- Halpern Group – Litigation Advisory Board
- American Association for Justice
- Anishinabe Legal Services, Past Board of Directors & Chair
- The Minnesota Association of Justice, Past President
Published Works
- Three part series on jury selection for The Warrior – Publication of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, 2002 – 2003
- The Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Book – Straight Answers for the Injured and their Families – Word Association Publishers, 2010
- The Minnesota Liquor Liability Book – Legal Remedies when Bars Overserve Drunk Drivers – Word Association Publishers, 2010
- Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – What your Insurance Company Doesn’t Want you to Know and Won’t Tell you Until it is too Late – Celebrity Press Publishing, 2010
Classes & Seminars
- An Independent Examination of the Independent Examiner MTLA Mid-winter Convention, 1999
- Snowmobile Liability MTLA spring, 1999
- Check it out: Does the Medical Literature Really say what the Adverse Examiner says it says? MTLA Annual Convention, 2000
- Medical Records Documentation Numerous, Minnesota Chiropractic Association, 2001
- Medical Records Documentation Minnesota Chiropractic Association Spring Convention, 2001
- Voir Dire Laboratory – Jury Selection Demonstration Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association February, 2003
- Damages Workshop – Course Chair Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association March, 2003
- Voir Dire Laboratory – Jury Selection Demonstration 2004 Minnesota Trial Lawyers Assoc. Annual Convention
- Anatomy of a Personal Injury Trial - "Direct Examination of Lay Witnesses" Minnesota Trial Lawyers Assoc. February 2005
- Dram Shop & Liquor Liability – Course Chair – Lectures: “Claims for Furnishing Alcohol to Minors” & “Undermining the Defense Toxicologist and Bartender/Staff on CrossExamination – Minnesota Trial Lawyers Assoc. April 2005
- Getting Your Evidence and Expert Testimony Admitted Into Court in North Dakota, June 2005
- Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Seminar – MLTA - Multiple
Past Positions
- Cann, Haskell, D'Albani, Schueppert, Hazelton & Rodgers, 1993 to 1999
- Durnaske & Hazelton Law Offices, Partner, 1987 to 1993
Current Employment Position
- Founder