Teresa Fariss McClain
Top rated Medical Malpractice attorney in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Robins Kaplan LLP
Practice areas: Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 2001
Education: William Mitchell College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011 Call today:
888-388-7261
Robins Kaplan LLP
800 LaSalle AvenueSuite 2800
Minneapolis, MN 55402 Visit website
Details
Teresa Fariss McClain, a partner at Robins Kaplan LLP, is a dedicated champion for justice, leveraging her extensive nursing background and legal expertise to support individuals harmed by medical negligence. Before becoming a lawyer, Teresa worked as a registered nurse in the areas of labor and delivery and high-risk obstetrics and later as a critical care nurse. As an attorney, Teresa focuses on obtaining justice for those who have been harmed by medical errors or medical negligence.
Teresa has obtained multiple seven-figure settlements and jury awards on behalf of her plaintiff clients, including a $9 million settlement of a wrongful conception claim involving pre-conception negligence and the subsequent birth of a child with a genetic disease, a $6 million settlement in a medication error case, and a $1.5 million settlement in birth injury case where a child suffered a brain injury resulting in cerebral palsy.
Her steadfast commitment to advocating for her clients has led to recognition from many legal publications, including being named one of the “Top Women in Law” by Minnesota Lawyer (2024), a “Minnesota Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers for the past decade, listed on the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” guide by Lawdragon (2023-2024) and being recognized on the POWER 30 list by Minnesota Lawyer for the last three consecutive years.
Her unwavering pursuit of legal excellence has garnered Teresa membership in several prestigious, invitation-only organizations. She is a Senior Life Fellow of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), where she currently serves as President of the Minnesota Chapter. She is also a member of the International Society of Barristers, a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and an Emeritus member of the Warren E. Burger Inn of Court. She serves on the Board of Governors member for the Minnesota Association for Justice and as an Advisory Board member for Minnesota Women Lawyers. She previously served as President of the Minnesota Women Lawyers where she led the creation of the Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation and is Past President of the MWL Foundation.
Admitted to practice before all Minnesota state courts, Teresa is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Before attending law school, she received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Metropolitan State University. She graduated with honors from William Mitchell College of Law in 2001 and served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Donald P. Lay of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: PlaintiffFocus areas
Birth Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Informed Consent, Medical Malpractice
- 100% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2001, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://www.robinskaplan.com/lawyers/teresa-mcclain
Bar/Professional Activity:
- American Association for Justice, Member, 2004–Present
- American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 2015
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Minnesota Chapter, Executive Committee, Membership Chair, 2018
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Minnesota Chapter, President, 2024
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Minnesota Chapter, Treasurer, 2022
- American Bar Association, Member, 1997 – Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates Minnesota Chapter, Secretary, 2021
- Appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to Exoneration Claim Panel That Presided Over a Claim for Damages by Wrongfully Convicted Individual Pursuant to Minn. Stat Sec. 611.362, 2021
- Community Action Committee, Co-Chair, 2005-2008
- International Society of Barristers, Inducted in 2019
- Robins Kaplan Trial Academy (FKA Exceptional Advocates Trial Training Program), Director and First Chair, 2024
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 2022
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Member, 1997– Present
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Women's Section, Co-Chair, 2007-2009
- Minnesota Association for Justice, New Lawyers Section, Co-Chair, 2005-2006
- Minnesota Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, 2001–Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member, 1997–Present
- Minnesota Supreme Court, 2001
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Advisory Board, 2024
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, President, 2014
- Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation, President, 2019
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, President-Elect, 2013
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Secretary, 2011
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Treasurer, 2012
- National Civil Justice Institute (FKA Pound Institute), Trustee, 2024
- Minnesota Association for Justice, Board of Governors, 2020
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Strategic Planning Committee, 2009
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, Advisory Board, 2022
- Pound Civil Justice Institute, Ex-Officio Trustee, 2022
- Ramsey County Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2007-2009
- Ramsey County Bar Association, 1997–Present
- Robins Kaplan Gender Diversity Work Group, Chair, 2019
- Warren E. Burger Inn of Court, Master, 2020
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- $9 million pre-suit settlement with a Twin Cities health care provider involving claimed pre-conception negligence and subsequent birth of a child with a genetic disorder, 2021
- $6 million settlement on behalf of a family in a claimed birth injury case, 2022
- $3.175 million verdict finding that a hospital was negligent in the care provided to a patient during eye surgery performed in 2011, and that as a result of its negligence, the woman suffered a severe post-operative infection in her eye, resulting in loss of sight in her left eye, and eventually loss of the left eye, 2018
- $3 million settlement on behalf of a veteran Marine and ironworker who underwent spinal surgery. The surgeon left a hemostatic product at the site of spine surgery at the completion of surgery. The hemostatic dressing absorbed fluids and became a compressive mass against the spine, causing permanent injury. The case was administratively reviewed and when settlement negotiations failed the case was filed in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 2018
- $2.6 million pre-suit settlement reached with a Twin Cities health provider related to a delay in diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer resulting in a reduction in life expectancy and decreased quality of life, 2021
- $2 million settlement in a Minnesota wrongful death medical malpractice case concerning a pediatric patient who died as a result of an adverse reaction to medication, 2020
- $1.725 million medical malpractice settlement in a case which the plaintiff alleged that a medication error by a health provider led to significant injury, 2012
- $1.4 million verdict returned for a client who brought a claim against her auto insurance company for underinsured benefits. The 30-year-old woman was side-swiped by an underinsured at-fault driver, resulting in a whiplash injury and chronic daily headaches, 2016
- $1.15 million settlement on behalf of an infant who suffered bleeding in the brain and permanent right-sided blindness and hydrocephalus as a result of a medication error, in which he was given the wrong medication at an excessive rate while he was a patient in a hospital's intensive care unit. The settlement will provide resources for the child to obtain medical care, therapy, and adaptions to manage his disability throughout his life. , 2019
- $1.1 million settlement reached with a Twin Cities Health Care provider following the wrongful death of a 77-year-old male related to a misdiagnosis of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, 2019
- $1.1 million verdict in a wrongful death case involving medical negligence by a family practice physician employed by a large healthcare organization. Teresa Fariss McClain, representing the surviving husband and heirs of a woman who died after suffering a cardiac arrest hours after being released from a hospital, presented testimony at trial establishing that by failing to complete a thorough evaluation to rule out an acute coronary event through monitoring and diagnostic testing prior to discharging the woman, a family practice physician failed to follow accepted standards of practice for physicians in similar circumstances. The jury found that the defendant, operating through its employee family-practice physician, was negligent in the care provided to the deceased woman, and that the physician’s negligence was a direct cause of her death, 2006
- $1.1 million settlement involving negligent upstaging of endometrial uterine cancer in a 46-year-old patient, from contained and curable endometrial cancer, to metastatic and incurable peritoneal cancer, caused by the failure of the gynecologist to perform endometrial biopsy prior to performing a minimally invasive hysterectomy using a power morcellator. The use of the morcellator negligently spread the cancer throughout the peritoneum. Despite aggressive treatment, the patient died from widespread peritoneal cancer approximately 18 months later, 2014
- $875,000 settlement involving a wrongful death medical malpractice case in South Dakota, 2020
- $600,000 settlement on behalf of minor child who suffered a brachial plexus injury when shoulder dystocia was encountered during birth. Plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of defendant obstetricians for failing to obtain an obstetrical ultrasound to check fetal size prior to delivery, and negligence in the delivery of the child. Settlement was structured with expected lifetime benefits of $1,275,000., 2009
- $475,000 settlement in a medical malpractice wrongful death case involving the death of a 34-year-old woman from undiagnosed infectious endocarditis, which led to aortic valve damage and heart failure, resulting in death, 2014
- $450,000 settlement reached in wrongful death medical malpractice case related to a delay in diagnosis of cancer, 2011
- $350,000 settlement was reached in a South Dakota medical negligence claim for wrongful death, 2021
- $175,000 settlement on behalf of client who suffered a vertebral compression fracture during a car crash. Subsequent treatment by neurosurgeon included kyphoplasty procedure, which worsened pain. Subsequent treating orthopedic surgeon was critical of kyphoplasty procedure, and was expected to testify that kyphoplasty procedure was contraindicated under the circumstances, and resulted in need for subsequent lumbar fusion to stabilize spine, 2009
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Registered Nurse- Minnesota.
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Chrysalis Tubman Alliance, Volunteer Attorney for Pro Bono Safety Project (2007-2016)
- Hennepin County Bar Foundation, Director (2002-2004)
- KSTP LawLine, MSBA New Lawyers, Volunteer (2004-2006)
- Minnesota Women Lawyers, President (2013-2014)
- Minnesota Women Lawyers Foundation, President (2017-2019)
- Mounds View Basketball Association, Board of Directors, Secretary (2018-2021)
- St. Odilia Endowment Committee (2017-2021)
- St. Odilia School Council (2011-2017)
- Voter Protection Project (2004, 2008, 2012)
- William Mitchell College of Law, Hatchey Ambassadors Mentor (2014)
Honors/Awards:
- Listed in Top Women in Law, Minnesota Lawyer, 2024
- Named a Minnesota Super Lawyer in Plaintiff's Medical Malpractice for the last decade, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Named a North Star Lawyer for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2022
- Named a Woman Worth Watching, Profiles in Diversity Journal, 2020
- Named to the POWER 30: Personal Injury Law list for the past three years, Minnesota Lawyer, 2024
- Named to the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2024
- Listed in 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers List, Lawdragon, 2024
- Named to the Top Lawyers List, Minnesota Monthly, 2024
- Named to the Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Named a Minnesota ICON, Finance & Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer, 2021
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2020-2022, 2024-2025 Editions), Best Lawyers
- Named as one of the Elite Women of the Plaintiff's Bar, National Law Journal, 2019
- Named Attorney of the Year, Minnesota Lawyer, 2014
- Named a Minnesota Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2011
- Received the Service to Minnesota Women Award, Minnesota Women Lawyers, 2008
Educational Background:
- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Metropolitan State University St. Paul, Minnesota, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Panelist, Future-Proof: Exploring Tomorrow’s Trends and Teachable Moments, Robins Kaplan LLP Trial Advocacy Seminar, Legal Industry, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Civil Rights, 2024
- Overview of the interpretation of neonatal cord blood gases, used to assess acidosis at birth, Author, Cord Blood Gases-Evaluation of Fetal Acid Base Balance, American Association for Justice Birth Trauma Litigation Group Newsletter, July 2023, Legal, 2023
- Spoke at the American Association for Justice Trial Lawyer Caucus Leadership Summit, Panelist, The Power of Relationship Currency: Navigating AAJ [and Other Organizations] to Build Your Brand and Business, Legal, 2020
- Focused on presentation skills for trial lawyers, Moderator, Jurors Live: Pulling the Curtain Back, Robins Kaplan 2018 Trial Advocacy Seminar, Legal Industry, 2018
- CLE directed toward trial lawyers, Course Chair and Speaker, Trial Lawyer Medical School Boot Camp, Minnesota Association for Justice, Legal, 2018
- Speaker at the Minnesota Association for Justice in Duluth, MN, Empathy as a Critical Trait for Trial Lawyers, Minnesota Association for Justice, 2018
- Panel Discussion at the Minnesota Association for Justice's Women Trial Lawyers Conference, Women Trial Lawyers Camp: Ask Me Anything Panel, 2017
- Speaker at the Minnesota Association for Justice and Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association Seminar, What to do About Medicare Set-Asides, 2017
- Seminar Speaker, Liability and No-Fault Medicare Set-Asides, Minnesota Association for Justice, 2017
- Adjunct Professor, Writing and Representation, William Mitchell College of Law, 2017
- Panelist for the Minnesota Association for Justice, Medical Malpractice, 2015
- Speaker at a Medical Malpractice Conference, Goose v. Gander: Defense Duty to Disclose Defendant's Testimony, Minnesota Association for Justice and Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, 2014
- Speaker, Medical/Legal Implications for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, University of Minnesota, 2010
- Author, Duty of Informed Consent: What Standard Applies, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, 2010
- Speaker, Medical/Legal Implications for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, University of Minnesota, 2008
- Handling Medical Negligence Claims, National Business Institute, December 6, 2007, Speaker, Handling Medical Negligence Claims, NBI, 2007
- Speaker, Nursing Law in Minnesota, National Business Institute, 2005
- Co-Author, Molloy v. Meier Extends Genetic Counseling Duty of Care to Biological Parents and Establishes That Legal Damages Must Occur Before a Wrongful Conception Action Accrues for Statute of Limitations Purposes, William Mitchell Law Review, 2005
- Author, No Harm, No Foul, No Accrual, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, 2005
- Speaker, Handling Medical Negligence Claims, National Business Institute, 2007
- Speaker, Nursing Law in Minnesota, National Business Institute, 2005
- Medical Malpractice Conference Speaker, No Harm, No Foul, No Accrual?, Minnesota Association for Justice and Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, 2004
- Co-Author, The Expert Affidavit Statute, Unsheathed, Minnesota Trial Lawyer, 2002
- Medical Malpractice Conference Speaker, The Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death: Four Years or Two?, Minnesota Institute for Legal Education, Medical Malpractice Attorneys, 2002
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Recognized on the "Top Women in Law" list (Minnesota Lawyer, 2024) and named a "Minnesota ICON" (Finance & Commerce and Minnesota Lawyer, 2021). Teresa has made significant strides in plaintiff advocacy. Her inclusion in the "500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers" list (Lawdragon, 2023-2024) further underscores her influence and leadership within the profession.
- Teresa’s dedication to pro bono work has earned her the title of "North Star Lawyer" (Minnesota State Bar Association, 2016, 2022) for providing vital legal services to those in need. Other honors, including the "Service to Minnesota Women Award" (Minnesota Women Lawyers, 2008) and "Attorney of the Year" (Minnesota Lawyer, 2014), illustrate her commitment to advancing the rights of women and her positive impact on the legal community.
- Her consistent recognition in top-tier lists, such as the "Top 50 Women Super Lawyers" and "Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers" (Super Lawyers, 2024), highlights her exceptional skill and dedication. Teresa has also been included in "The Best Lawyers in America" for multiple years and the POWER 30 List (2021-2024), emphasizing her sustained impact and leadership in the legal community.
Office location for Teresa Fariss McClain
800 LaSalle Avenue
Suite 2800
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: 888-388-7261
Selections
12 Years Super Lawyers
1 Year Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2011
