Darrold is a trial lawyer with 44 years of experience. He practiced with the law firm of Matonich and Persson in Hibbing from 1977 to 2017, at which time he joined the Trenti Law Firm as “Of Counsel“. He has extensive experience in plaintiff’s personal injury litigation and for more than 30 years was a Civil Trial Specialist as certified by both the Minnesota Bar Association and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Over the years he has handled or tried hundreds of personal injury cases including car accidents, premises liability, products liability, defamation and professional malpractice obtaining verdicts and settlements, many of which exceeded one million dollars. He has always represented “the little guy” having never represented an insurance company.
He is a perennial selection to “Best Lawyers in America” in the field of personal injury litigation. He was selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in northern Minnesota for the years 2016, 2018 and 2021. In 2021 he was also honored by Best Lawyers of America as one of only two attorneys in Minnesota selected as Lawyer of the Year in plaintiff’s personal injury litigation for the Midwest States, encompassing the six-state area of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
For over 40 years he has maintained an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell. In 2009 he was awarded the “President’s Award of Excellence for Pro Bono work representing victims of the I-35 bridge disaster.
He possesses a straight forward, compassionate approach to his clients needs and issues, ensuring a comfort level for them at one of their most difficult times.
Areas Of Practice
- Auto Accidents
- Personal Injury
- Insurance Law
- Defamation
- Complex Product Liability
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1977
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1979
Education
- University of North Dakota School of Law, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- J.D. – 1977
- Honors: With Distinction
- Hibbing High School
- University of Minnesota
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Admitted to federal court in 1979
- Regularly serve as an ADR mediator (unsolicited)
- Regularly serve as an AAA arbitrator (no-fault)
- Served as 20th district ethics investigator and committee member
- Appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court as 20th district ethics chair (1999-2005)
- Appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the no-fault standing committee, 2012 – 2019
- Member, Minnesota bar association
- Past president of Range Bar Association
- Past perennial selection to “Super Lawyers” in civil litigation,
- Certified civil trial specialist, national board of trial advocacy, 1988 to 2019
- 40 year AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell
- National Trial Lawyers “Top 100” , 2013-16
- Current and past perennial selection to “Best Lawyers in America”
- Selected as 2016, 2018 and 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in personal injury, northern Minnesota by Best Lawyers of America
- Received the Minnesota bar association’s “President’s Award of Excellence” for I-35 bridge disaster victims service in 2009
- One of two attorneys in MN to be selected by Best Lawyers of America as Lawyer of the Year for plaintiff’s personal injury litigation for the Midwest states, encompassing Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
Past Employment Positions
- Ed Matonich, Clerk, 1975 to 1977
- Matonich and Persson, 1977 to 2016
Pro Bono Activities
- SERVED AS A PRO-BONO ATTORNEY FOR SIX (6) OF THE I-35 BRIDGE DISASTER VICTIMS
- SERVES AS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY FOR “ASK AN ATTORNEY” PROGRAM
