As a member of Lynn Jackson’s litigation practice group, Cassidy has an active and diverse practice.  Cassidy’s litigation practice spans a wide range of areas including handling personal injury, breach of contract, and construction claims.  Cassidy also works with a number of insurance companies defending personal injury, worker’s compensation, and bad faith claims, and advising on various coverage issues.  Integral to Cassidy’s litigation practice is her love of research and writing, having written numerous motions and briefs, including appellate briefs to the South Dakota Supreme Court, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.  Cassidy believes in meticulous, but efficient, preparation of her cases. Her advocacy for her clients is grounded in values she was raised on – hard work, dedication, and excellence.

Cassidy is a native of Rapid City.  She graduated magna cum laude with a criminal justice major from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota.  At the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion, Cassidy received numerous scholarships and was on the Dean’s list, she volunteered her time as a CASA, and was an active member and president of the law school’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. She graduated in May 2011 with Sterling Honors. After law school, Cassidy had the honor and privilege of clerking for the 2nd Judicial Circuit of South Dakota. In 2019, Cassidy was selected by the Pennington County Bar Association as Outstanding Young Lawyer.

Education

  • The University of South Dakota School of Law, J.D., Sterling Honor; 2008 – 2011
  • University of Mary, Bismarck, North Dakota, B.S., Criminal Justice; 2006 – 2007
  • University of Missouri-Saint Louis, 2003 – 2005

Memberships

  • South Dakota Bar Association
  • Pennington County Bar Association
  • South Dakota Defense Attorneys Association
  • Certified Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Attorney
  • American Bar Association - Torts, Trial & Insurance Practice section
  • DRI
  • South Dakota State Bar Ethics Committee Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)

Honors & Awards

  • Pennington County Outstanding Young Lawyer
  • 2019 Great Plains Super Lawyers® Rising Star

Reported Cases / Representative Clients

  • Van Dusseldorp v. Continential Casualty Company and Long Term Care Group – Obtained summary judgment on plaintiff’s breach of contract and bad faith claims.  
  • Cameron v. Osler and Waste Connections of South Dakota, Inc.  - Successfully obtained a dismissal with prejudice for both defendants due to plaintiff’s failure to serve defendant employee prior to the running of the statute of limitations, thereby preventing any claim of vicarious liability against defendant employer.  
  • Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company v. Dolly – Successfully obtained a preliminary injunction for Farm Bureau preventing a former agent from soliciting prior customers.
  • Nickles v. Nickles – Successfully obtained a remand and reversal on the issue of child support and alimony for husband where trial court had awarded wife $3,800 in child support, based on “pass-through” corporate income, and $1,000 in rehabilitative alimony without proper findings to support such an award.  
  • Warger v. Shauers – Successfully defended a defense jury verdict on appeal to the 8th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court based on claims of jury misconduct.
  • Catholic Social Services – Assists Catholic Social Services clients who have made the brave decision to give their child up for adoption in voluntarily terminating their parental rights.    

Admissions

  • 2012, U.S. District Court for South Dakota