- Divorce
- Child SupportSteve, a Rapid City native, has been with the firm for twenty years. Steve specializes in the area of family law (including divorce, custody disputes, adoptions, child support proceedings, and much more) and real estate. Steve has extensive trial experience with child custody, property and business valuation disputes, child and spousal support, and resolution of high-conflict divorce cases.
- Child Custody and VisitationWe assist our clients with family law matters, including divorce, child custody & parenting time, child support, pre-marital agreements, adoptions, paternity actions, post-divorce issues, guardianships, and conservatorships.
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Guardianship
- Spousal Support
- Criminal DefenseOur criminal defense lawyers are equipped to handle your case from the initial pre-file investigation through trial and appeal.
- Sex CrimesIn 2016, Karla was mobilized for an in-country tour with the National Guard Bureau, where she served as Special Victim’s Counsel, representing service members in both the Air and Army National Guards who were victims of sexual assault. Karla has also held assignments as a Judge Advocate of Government Counsel, Special Victims Child’s Counsel, and Legal Assistance Counsel. Karla’s foray into to the practice of law was preceded by a judicial clerkship with the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Rapid City.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsWhen the government brings its resources against one of its citizens, good representation is essential. The criminal lawyers at Bangs McCullen Law Firm have the legal knowledge and experience to help you with felony and misdemeanor charges in state or federal court, including charges involving alcohol and drugs, embezzlement, violence, theft, white-collar, and more.
- Embezzlement
- Assault
- Corporate LawJohn holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is also listed in the Super Lawyers Business Edition Section, Great Plains Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Chambers, USA. John has been named by his peers as the Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for business organizations, corporate law, real estate law, and estate planning.
- Business DisputesHiring/Firing. Buying/Selling. Starting Up/Winding Down. Almost everything that a business does entails some risk of disputes. Good legal planning can help minimize your exposure to lawsuits, but if a lawsuit cannot be avoided, the lawyers at Bangs McCullen Law Firm provide intelligent and effective representation in all types of business disputes.
- Business TransactionsJohn’s practice focuses on federal, state, and local tax planning (and controversies), business transactions, strategic business planning and advice, and estate and trust matters, including perpetuities (dynasty) trust formation and planning. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has practiced as a tax specialist with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (presently Deloitte & Touche), both domestically and in Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining Bangs McCullen, John practiced law with national and regional firms, including San Francisco- based Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe. He also has been a state law author of chapters in State Limited Partnership Laws and State Limited Liability Company Statutes published by Aspen. He has been a presenter to the State Bar of South Dakota and the State Bar of Montana.
- Workers CompensationMike is a Great Plains Super Lawyer and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Administrative Law, Labor and Employment Law and Workers Compensation. He is also listed in Chambers, U.S.A. and carries an A rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Since joining the firm in 1977, Mike concentrates his practice on trials, employment law, administrative law, water law, and mineral and natural resources law.
- Employment LitigationFor over 25 years, Jeff has been representing health care professionals and businesses in civil courts, administrative agencies, mediations, and arbitrations. He is a partner in the Litigation Department in our Rapid City office, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of business litigation, health care law, and litigation. Jeff has extensive experience in complex cases involving business and employment disputes, disputes between shareholders and partners, breach of contract, and fraud. Jeff also has a broad range of experience defending malpractice claims against physicians, nurses, nursing homes, and hospitals. He represents some of the region’s largest businesses, as well as small start-up businesses. Along with his considerable trial experience, Jeff has also arbitrated, mediated, and negotiated numerous disputes to resolution. He regularly represents clients before the South Dakota Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals.
- Sexual Harassment
- Real Estate LitigationErin’s practice at Bangs McCullen focuses on healthcare law and professional malpractice defense, general civil litigation, business litigation, landlord rights & remedies, and real estate law.
- Construction LitigationRod has practiced in our Rapid City office since he joined the firm in 1990. Rod’s practice focuses on banking and finance law, corporate law and business transactions, real estate law and litigation, construction litigation, and creditor’s rights in bankruptcy. Rod is a member of the
- Real Estate TransactionsThe Black Hills of South Dakota create unique real property issues. Bangs McCullen attorneys can navigate questions regarding access, title/boundary disputes, mining claims, zoning/land use, restrictive covenants, and topology that can complicate real estate transactions. We also provide transactional assistance on real estate matters, including the drafting, negotiation, and review of purchase agreements, contracts for deed, easements, and licenses.
- Easement
- Land Use and ZoningSeveral of our attorneys represent individuals, communities, and businesses in administrative proceedings before municipal, county, state, and federal regulatory bodies. Our work in this regard is extremely diverse, ranging from appearances before local planning and zoning boards to contested cases before the South Dakota Department of Labor, to hearings before the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesOur attorneys are here to help landlords navigate the ever-evolving legal landscape surrounding the landlord-tenant relationship. We have significant experience in drafting residential and commercial leases, pursuing evictions, handling challenging tenants, and ensuring compliance with fair housing laws.
- Property DamageLawyers who practice in the area of general civil litigation will represent plaintiffs or defendants to resolve such disputes by agreement or trial. This includes cases involving personal injury, property damage, insurance coverage, breach of contract, civil rights violations, protection orders, product liability litigation, and alienation of affection.
- Personal InjuryTerry Hofer is a senior partner in our Rapid City office. He engages general civil litigation and trial practice. During his 35 years at Bangs McCullen, Terry has handled most all subject matter areas of the law. He continues work on civil litigation, with a focus on construction, personal injury, and myriad contract issues. Before joining Bangs in 1984, Terry worked for two years as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Andrew W. Bogue.
- Medical MalpracticeBangs McCullen is widely recognized for our defense of medical malpractice claims for hospitals, nursing homes, and health professionals. We defend medical practitioners of all kinds – physicians, nurses, dentists, and more – in licensing and administrative proceedings. Our very own Kathryn Hoskins is a registered nurse herself, believed to be the only “nurse-attorney” or “nurse-JD” in the state of South Dakota. Kathryn’s education and experience render her an excellent advocate for nurses with licensing challenges.
- Estate PlanningOur legal team takes pride in our track record of providing the highest-quality legal services to our clients. Whether our clients need assistance with criminal defense, estate planning, civil litigation, or another legal matter, the lawyers and staff of Bangs McCullen Law Firm are ready to help.
- WillsThis experience includes drafting perpetuity trusts as well as assisting clients in other related planning areas, including corporate planning and succession, documenting deferred and installment sales to intentionally defective grantor perpetuities trusts, split-dollar insurance arrangements, the formation of state-chartered private trust companies, and trust change of situs issues. Our attorneys also handle the probate of estates (formal and informal) and will contests.
- Power of AttorneyBangs McCullen Law Firm handles a number of estate planning matters, ranging from simple wills and powers of attorney to dynastic and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
- Probate
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureThe attorneys at Bangs McCullen Law Group provide construction and litigation expertise in the areas of contract review and drafting, administrative or regulatory matters, mediation, arbitration, litigation, and mechanic’s lien filings and foreclosures.
- Tax LawBangs McCullen Law Firm has a tradition of excellence in representing individual and business clients in tax matters, including issues and disputes over income tax, sales tax, use tax, and excise tax.