CHARLES M. THOMPSON was born in Childress, Texas, on October 13, 1942, and was raised on a ranch in the Pierre-Fort Pierre area. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1965 with a Bachelor's Degree (with honors) in Animal Nutrition and continued his education at the School of Law, University of South Dakota, culminating in a Juris Doctor Degree, Cum Laude, in 1969. While in law school he was a member of the Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity and was a member of the Board of Editors, South Dakota Law Review, 1968 to 1969. He is admitted to practice before the federal courts at all levels, including the U.S. Court of Claims and the U.S. Supreme Court. Throughout his career, Mr. Thompson has pursued Bar improvement activities through active membership in the ABA. He is also a private pilot. In 1995 Mr. Thompson received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree at the University of South Dakota.

Mr. Thompson is a member of the State Bar of South Dakota, having served as President of the Young Lawyers section 1974-1975 and as President of the State Bar 1986-1987. He is a member and Past Chancellor (1981-9182) of the Jackrabbit Bar Association. He has been active in the American Bar Association serving from 1978 to 2002 as a Member of the House of Delegates and was a member of the Board of Governors from 1983-1986. He is also a member of the South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association (President 1981-1982), the American Judicature Society (Board of Directors 1981-1985), the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management, and served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer (1982-1990) of the National Judicial College. He served a period of eight years on the Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and as its President in 1992. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bar Endowment and served as its President for two years (2000-2002). He was chairman of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (1991-1992) and served two terms on its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of BankWest, Inc., in Pierre, South Dakota, the Board of Directors of the Wakpa Sica Historical Society, and the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Community Foundation.

PROFESSIONAL EMPHASIS AND EXPERIENCE

Mr. Thompson concentrates on civil trial practice (both defense and plaintiff) and in representing businesses. The areas of litigation with which he is familiar include products liability (roofs, defective seed and livestock feed, chemicals, farm and construction equipment, and electronics), motor vehicle litigation, professional malpractice (Physician, dentist, nurse, judge, lawyer, and architect), animal liability, will contests, breach of contract civil rights litigation, and construction litigation. Mr. Thompson represents several major corporations in asset purchase and business matters, and several school districts in the State.

MAJOR CASES AND CLIENT REPRESENTATION

• Cummings vs. Mickelson - appointment of judges

• Dickerson vs. Graham Tire - large personal injury

• BankWest - purchase of banks

• Delta Trust - formed bank and obtained charter

• Pitman-Moore - asset purchase

• Bristol Meyers Squibb - antitrust litigation

• Heileman Brewing Company - use of Crazy Horse logo and name

• Contel - RICO litigation
  
  

Charles M. Thompson