Quin C. Seiler
Disputes arise as part of business—let’s make it less painful and get to an optimal outcome.
Contact: P /612.604.6764E /[email protected]
Administrative Contact: Janel Aslakson P /612.604.6537E /[email protected]
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2014
North Dakota State University, B.S., Economics & Criminal Justice, summa cum laude, 2011
Bar Admissions
Minnesota, 2014
My Approach
I grew up playing team sports, primarily soccer, and I strongly believe that litigation is, by definition, a team sport. I join the team of each client and work with them to identify and clarify the problems, determine their goals, and then prepare, strategize, and build their case. While I do everything I can to help my clients head off issues before they become full-blown lawsuits, sometimes litigation is necessary. Regardless of the playing field and the legal issues, the rules are always the same—you can’t cut corners on preparation and you attack the issue from all angles.
My litigation experience encompasses a wide range of industries and disputes including contract disputes, real estate and construction, and working with financial institutions and other commercial enterprises related to business disputes. I regularly represent real estate owners and developers, including general partners/owners of low income housing tax credit properties, with real estate ownership related litigation issues. Unfortunately, litigation in real estate is common and I step in to assist when issues arise. Dispute with a contractor? I can help with that. Issues with neighbors? Regulatory authorities? Or tenant class actions? I can help with all of that.
Another aspect of my practice relates to representing banks and financial service companies. I regularly represent equipment leasing and finance companies when their deals go haywire. I ensure that my clients maximize their recovery and are not spending good money to go after bad.
Outside of work I am always active and on-the-go with my family. While back in the day I was a Division 1 All-American soccer player, I now race triathlons. I also live on a lake and love to water ski, paddle board, wake surf, and bump along with my kids on the tube.
Practice Areas
Practicing Year 15 LIHTC Disputes
Representative Matters
- Representation of Centennial Partners, an affiliate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin based real estate developer Wimmer Communities, in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Year-15 Exit dispute involving a 97-unit affordable senior housing development in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, owned by Centennial, LLC. The dispute centered around Centennial Partners’ effort to exercise and close on its option to purchase the limited members ownership interests in Centennial, LLC. The limited members were ORC Tax Credit Fund 10, LLC and SCDC, LLC, both managed by and affiliated with Wentwood Capital Advisors, LP (“Wentwood”). Through Wentwood, the limited members refused to sell their ownership interests in Centennial, LLC to Centennial Partners for fair market value and sought, instead, to recover a more than $1 million positive capital account balance in the form of a cash payment. In December 2018, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court granted summary judgment to Centennial Partners, confirming that its exercise and pursuit of its purchase option was not a capital transaction, and therefore did now allow for consideration of a positive capital account when determining the fair market value of the limited members’ ownership interests in Centennial. Following this decision, the case went to a jury trial on Centennial Partners’ claims of breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. The jury was also asked to determine the fair market value of the limited member interests in Centennial, as well as Centennial Partners’ claim for damages. On behalf of the limited members, Wentwood sought a more than $1.7 million purchase price for the ownership interests, while Centennial Partners argued that $500,005.00 was the fair market value. After a four-day jury trial and only 40 minutes of deliberations, the jury agreed with Centennial Partners and returned a favorable verdict. The jury found that the limited members had breached the Operating Agreement and violated their duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to Centennial Partners. As a result, the jury awarded Centennial Partners $470,000.00 in damages. The jury also agreed with Centennial Partners that the fair market value of the limited member interests was $500,005.00, resulting in Centennial Partners only needing to pay $30,005.00 for the limited member interests. The more than $1 million positive capital account balance remained with Centennial.
- Representation of Downtown Action to Save Housing (D.A.S.H.), a Seattle-based non-profit affordable housing developer in a Year-15 Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) dispute with Investor Limited Partners involving three affordable housing communities, and three separate but nearly identical partnership agreements, each of which contained a detailed buyout option that would allow D.A.S.H. to purchase the entire ownership interests of three limited partners at the end of the 15-year Compliance Period. When D.A.S.H. attempted to exercise its buyout options, the Investor Limited Partners (“Investment Partnerships”) refused, despite D.A.S.H. having met all of the requirements of the buyout options, including relying on the assessment of fair market value by an appraiser all parties had agreed upon. According to the Investment Partnerships, they refused D.A.S.H.’s buyouts because they did not agree with the fair market valuation of their ownership interests in the three Partnerships. The Federal Court ruled in D.A.S.H.’s favor after discovery on summary judgment, determining that the Investment Partnerships had breached the partnership agreements by failing to sell their ownership interests to D.A.S.H. According to the Court, “[n]either the partnership agreements nor the buyout options entitled the Investment Partnerships to subjectively disagree with the appraised [fair market value] of their interests and then hold out for what they believed to be a more accurate price.” The Court further ordered the Investment Partnerships to transfer their limited partner and special limited partner interests in each of the three Partnerships to D.A.S.H. for a collective $70,000. A trial to resolve the damages caused to D.A.S.H. by the Investment Partnerships’ breaches of the partnership agreements is still pending.
- Representation of LIHTC developer in several year-15 lawsuits, in multiple states, involving four different LIHTC developments, which all involved the same limited partner investor. Our client sought to exercise its call right contained in some of the partnership agreements and its right of first refusal contained in other partnership agreements. As the cases neared trial, we were able to negotiate a successful settlement where our client acquired the limited partners’ interests for over $1 million dollars less than what was originally demanded by the limited partners.
- Represented LIHTC developer in litigation in Buffalo, New York. Helped client secure a summary judgment decision which provides that the exercise of a general partner’s option to acquire a limited partner’s interests in a LIHTC partnership does not trigger a liquidation or dissolution of the partnership and thus does not require consideration of positive capital account balances in the hypothetical sale used to determine the option price.
Practicing Business & Commercial Litigation
Representative Matters
- Representation of a financial institution sued in a class action for, among other things, charging overdraft fees on debit card transactions (referred to by the plaintiff’s class action bar as “APPSN” transactions). We brought an early motion to dismiss the APPSN related claims, which was granted by the Court.
- Representation of a locally famous restaurant in a lease dispute, in which our client attempted to exercise its contractually agreed-upon lease extension for space owned by the landlord, but the landlord refused and instead began publicly announcing its plans to develop new retail and a 5-story apartment complex at the site. We prevailed on summary judgment for our client, with the court finding the landlord in breach of contract. The court granted our motion for partial summary judgment and ordered that our client’s lease be extended.
- Representation of Pioneer-Endicott, LLC, and others, in what began as a mechanic’s lien action filed against Pioneer-Endicott by a construction contractor and ended with a favorable settlement for Winthrop’s client. The contractor made a cash payment and was required to provide mandatory repairs and remediation work related to several design defect and warranty-based claims.
- Representation of St. Paul Leased Housing Associates VI, LLLP, a local partnership and affiliate of a large, national affordable housing developer, in a dispute with a local citizens community group regarding the City of Saint Paul’s granting of a conditional use permit to St. Paul Leased Housing Associates for its affordable senior housing project. On summary judgment, the Court dismissed all claims against St. Paul Leased Housing Associates and held that the City properly granted the conditional use permit.
- Representation of Commerce City Leased Housing Associates I, LLLP, a local partnership and affiliate of a large, national affordable housing developer, in a dispute with a metropolitan district regarding the parties’ obligations to sell/purchase water rights as provided in a recorded declaration. After five years, two summary judgment wins, and two decisions from the Colorado Court of Appeals we secured a very favorable settlement with a negligible cost burden on the client.
- Representation of an independent contracting company regarding commissions owed to Winthrop’s client pursuant to the terms of the parties’ contract. Obtained a favorable settlement which resulted in a lump sum payment which was three times greater than the amount offered to the client at the time of termination.
- Representation of Chase Real Estate, Inc. (“Chase”) in a real estate development dispute with an adjoining landowner concerning Chase’s proposed development of a high end, 172-unit, luxury apartment complex, with 8,000 square feet of retail space, on an undeveloped lot in Burnsville’s Heart of the City. The undeveloped lot had originally been approved for development by the City of Burnsville in 2004 but had remained a vacant eyesore until Chase, with the approval of the City of Burnsville, sought to purchase and develop the empty lot. The disgruntled adjoining landowner sued Chase, along with the City of Burnsville and the owner of the undeveloped lot, in order to prevent Chase’s proposed development, and asserted a variety of claims, including claims for declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and violations of the City of Burnsville’s zoning requirements. After extensive discovery, Chase, along with the City of Burnsville and owner of the undeveloped lot, prevailed on summary judgment with the Court dismissing all of the claims. Nicollet Plaza, LLC v. Chase Real Estate, Inc. et al., 19HA-CV-17-1764 (Dakota County). The landowner appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, who affirmed the summary judgment decision on July 29, 2019. The landowner then petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court. That petition was denied on October 15, 2019. As a result, the development is back on track and Chase may proceed with the purchase and development of the vacant land with a high-end, luxury, four-story mixed-use apartment development. This will finally complete the original vision for this key section of Burnsville’s Heart of the City. Nicollet Plaza, LLC, vs. Chase Real Estate, Inc. et al., Minnesota Court of Appeals A18-1864.
- Representation of a local business owner in a shareholder dispute concerning the ownership and operation of a Shopping Mall. Our client, along with other shareholders of the Mall, leased space in the Mall and operated individual businesses. Our client was the President of the Mall’s Board for more than a decade but was then suddenly removed from his position and sued for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, among other things, in an effort to strip him and his wife of their 28% ownership interests in the Mall. After extensive discovery, we obtained summary judgment for our client on all, but one claim and our client’s counterclaims and third-party claims survived summary judgment. On the eve of trial, our client’s adversaries finally folded, and we obtained a victory for our client, which included a substantial cash payment.
- Representation of a well-established, small Minnesota business who manufactures and sells patented devices and dominates the market with their novel products. When a large, national competitor attempted to enter our client’s market with what was believed to be an inferior, non-infringing product they did so in conjunction with litigation initiatives and asserted, among other things, claims for false advertising under the Lanham Act. In response, our client asserted a number of counterclaims, including their own assertions of false advertising under the Lanham Act. After substantial discovery, which included depositions throughout the country, various market studies, product testing, and multiple expert reports and depositions on each side, the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment and a variety of subsequent pre-trial motions, and other filings, in anticipation of a two-week jury trial. The week before trial, as the federal court began announcing its decisions on the various motions pending at the time during oral argument sessions, it became apparent that our client would, for all intents and purposes, be the plaintiff at trial rather than the defendant. Accordingly, the case was resolved on the eve of trial, and our client was extremely pleased with the outcome.
- Represented a shoe company in a dispute with its foreign contract manufacturer regarding the parties’ respective contractual obligations due to the breakdown of the parties’ relationship. After extensive negotiations, the parties were able to reach a pre-suit settlement that was very favorable to our client.
Practicing Construction & Real Estate Litigation
Representative Matters
- Representation of a locally famous restaurant in a lease dispute, in which our client attempted to exercise its contractually agreed-upon lease extension for space owned by the landlord, but the landlord refused and instead began publicly announcing its plans to develop new retail and a 5-story apartment complex at the site. We prevailed on summary judgment for our client, with the court finding the landlord in breach of contract. The court granted our motion for partial summary judgment and ordered that our client’s lease be extended.
- Representation of Pioneer-Endicott, LLC, and others, in what began as a mechanic’s lien action filed against Pioneer-Endicott by a construction contractor and ended with a favorable settlement for Winthrop’s client. The contractor made a cash payment and was required to provide mandatory repairs and remediation work related to several design defect and warranty-based claims.
- Representation of St. Paul Leased Housing Associates VI, LLLP, a local partnership and affiliate of a large, national affordable housing developer, in a dispute with a local citizens community group regarding the City of Saint Paul’s granting of a conditional use permit to St. Paul Leased Housing Associates for its affordable senior housing project. On summary judgment, the Court dismissed all claims against St. Paul Leased Housing Associates and held that the City properly granted the conditional use permit.
- Representation of Commerce City Leased Housing Associates I, LLLP, a local partnership and affiliate of a large, national affordable housing developer, in a dispute with a metropolitan district regarding the parties’ obligations to sell/purchase water rights as provided in a recorded declaration. After five years, two summary judgment wins, and two decisions from the Colorado Court of Appeals we secured a very favorable settlement with a negligible cost burden on the client.
- Representation of Chase Real Estate, Inc. (“Chase”) in a real estate development dispute with an adjoining landowner concerning Chase’s proposed development of a high end, 172-unit, luxury apartment complex, with 8,000 square feet of retail space, on an undeveloped lot in Burnsville’s Heart of the City. The undeveloped lot had originally been approved for development by the City of Burnsville in 2004 but had remained a vacant eyesore until Chase, with the approval of the City of Burnsville, sought to purchase and develop the empty lot. The disgruntled adjoining landowner sued Chase, along with the City of Burnsville and the owner of the undeveloped lot, in order to prevent Chase’s proposed development, and asserted a variety of claims, including claims for declaratory judgment, breach of contract, and violations of the City of Burnsville’s zoning requirements. After extensive discovery, Chase, along with the City of Burnsville and owner of the undeveloped lot, prevailed on summary judgment with the Court dismissing all of the claims. Nicollet Plaza, LLC v. Chase Real Estate, Inc. et al., 19HA-CV-17-1764 (Dakota County). The landowner appealed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, who affirmed the summary judgment decision on July 29, 2019. The landowner then petitioned the Minnesota Supreme Court. That petition was denied on October 15, 2019. As a result, the development is back on track and Chase may proceed with the purchase and development of the vacant land with a high-end, luxury, four-story mixed-use apartment development. This will finally complete the original vision for this key section of Burnsville’s Heart of the City. Nicollet Plaza, LLC, vs. Chase Real Estate, Inc. et al., Minnesota Court of Appeals A18-1864.
- Representation of Centennial Partners, an affiliate of Milwaukee, Wisconsin based real estate developer Wimmer Communities, in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Year-15 Exit dispute involving a 97-unit affordable senior housing development in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, owned by Centennial, LLC. The dispute centered around Centennial Partners’ effort to exercise and close on its option to purchase the limited members ownership interests in Centennial, LLC. The limited members were ORC Tax Credit Fund 10, LLC and SCDC, LLC, both managed by and affiliated with Wentwood Capital Advisors, LP (“Wentwood”). Through Wentwood, the limited members refused to sell their ownership interests in Centennial, LLC to Centennial Partners for fair market value and sought, instead, to recover a more than $1 million positive capital account balance in the form of a cash payment. In December 2018, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court granted summary judgment to Centennial Partners, confirming that its exercise and pursuit of its purchase option was not a capital transaction, and therefore did now allow for consideration of a positive capital account when determining the fair market value of the limited members’ ownership interests in Centennial. Following this decision, the case went to a jury trial on Centennial Partners’ claims of breach of contract and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. The jury was also asked to determine the fair market value of the limited member interests in Centennial, as well as Centennial Partners’ claim for damages. On behalf of the limited members, Wentwood sought a more than $1.7 million purchase price for the ownership interests, while Centennial Partners argued that $500,005 was the fair market value. After a four-day jury trial and only 40 minutes of deliberations, the jury agreed with Centennial Partners and returned a favorable verdict. The jury found that the limited members had breached the Operating Agreement and violated their duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to Centennial Partners. As a result, the jury awarded Centennial Partners $470,000 in damages. The jury also agreed with Centennial Partners that the fair market value of the limited member interests was $500,005, resulting in Centennial Partners only needing to pay $30,005.00 for the limited member interests. More than $1 million positive capital account balance remained with Centennial.
- Represented a Minnesota-based low-income housing tax credit developer and owner in a nearly six-year long class action litigation where the plaintiff class sought $66 million in damages. The plaintiff class alleged that defendants failed to exclude parking garage costs from eligible basis and, as a result, the defendants were not allowed to charge tenants for parking separate from rent. We were able to negotiate a very favorable settlement for our clients which resulted in the plaintiff class receiving less than $16.5 million in refunds and our clients are able to continue charging tenants for parking, generating substantial revenue for our clients during the life of the properties.
- Represented multi-family apartment owner in action brought by the Minnesota Attorney General’s office related to tenant utility-billing practices. We were able to negotiate a resolution with the Minnesota Attorney General that was substantially less than amounts paid by tenants and sought by the Attorney General.
- Represented the largest privately-owned childcare provider regarding its eligibility for Minnesota property tax exemption as “a seminary of learning.” As a result of our dogged dedication and attention to detail, all of our client’s properties were deemed tax exempt—resulting in well-over $1 million in savings per year.
Practicing Shareholder Disputes
Representative Matters
- Representation of a local business owner in a shareholder dispute concerning the ownership and operation of a Shopping Mall. Our client, along with other shareholders of the Mall, leased space in the Mall and operated individual businesses. Our client was the President of the Mall’s Board for more than a decade, but was then suddenly removed from his position and sued for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, among other things, in an effort to strip him and his wife of their 28% ownership interests in the Mall. After extensive discovery, we obtained summary judgment for our client on all but one claim and our client’s counterclaims and third-party claims survived summary judgment. On the eve of trial, our client’s adversaries finally folded and we obtained a victory for our client, which included a substantial cash payment.
Practicing Financial Services Litigation
My Experience
Within my Financial Services Litigation practice, I focus primarily on creditors’ remedies. I assist my clients with respect to their defaulted commercial transactions. In addition, as part of my Financial Services Litigation practice, I assist clients with:
- Contract enforcement issues
- Bankruptcy proceedings, adversary proceedings
- Enforcement and collection of judgments, pre-judgment remedies
- Fraudulent transfers, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent retention
Securing the best possible economic resolution helps my clients return to what matters most to them, working to maintain and prosper in their businesses.
Representative Matters
- Representation of a financial institution sued in a class action for, among other things, charging overdraft fees on debit card transactions (referred to by the plaintiff’s class action bar as “APPSN” transactions). We brought an early motion to dismiss the APPSN related claims, which was granted by the Court.
- Won a decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirming an over $4 million summary judgment ruling for a national leasing company client. The lessee had sued to recover millions in lease payments it had made, sought to avoid paying millions more, and sought to recharacterize the lease agreement into a secured transaction. We counterclaimed for breach of contract. The summary judgment ruling was affirmed, and our client was awarded over half a million dollars in fees.
- Act as on going outside litigation counsel for successful equipment leasing company. In total, we have acted as litigation counsel for over 40 different litigation matters and we assist with enforcement and collection efforts nationwide.
- Represented an equipment leasing company in a dispute regarding the lessee’s return of leased scooters. The lessee attempted to return scooters that our client asserted were not those originally leased to lessee (and were of lesser quality/condition than those originally leased). Our client rejected the returned scooters and pursued litigation against the lessee to recover its property and damages. As a result of difficult discovery in the matter, we were able to successfully prove that the lessee fraudulently attempted to return the wrong equipment, and the parties reached a settlement which was very favorable to our client.
- Represented a local, community bank in two class-action matters alleging that our client assessed certain overdraft fees on debit card transactions, and charged overdraft fees more than once on the same item, in violation of its own checking account contracts and the Minnesota Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and counter to regulatory commentary provided by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the FDIC. Following preliminary discovery in the matter, the parties were able to swiftly reach resolutions which were very favorable to our client, and the cases were subsequently settled and dismissed.
Honors & Awards
40 & Under
Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2022, 2024-2025
Rising Stars
Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2023-2024
Associations & Memberships
Minnesota Chapter of Women’s Affordable Housing Network
President and Founding Member