Eckland and Blando LLP

Jeff H. Eckland focuses his practice on government contract and general commercial litigation. As a government contracts attorney, he has litigated cases in state and federal trial courts across the country, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, and numerous state and federal appellate courts.

In a case argued before the United States Supreme Court, attorney Jeff Eckland successfully argued that when the government enters into business deals with the private sector, it must play by the same rules that apply to its citizens. Franconia Associates v. United States, 536 U.S. 129 (2002). At the ensuing trial, the government was ordered to pay the plaintiffs over $13 million in damages. See id., 61 Fed. Cl. 718 (2004).

Government contracts attorney Jeff Eckland has litigated a wide variety of traditional government contract cases at the federal and state level, including bid protests, performance disputes, compliance proceedings, terminations for default and convenience, defective pricing, qui tam, and False Claims Act litigation. Among his achievements in this area, he has negotiated at the Pentagon stays of suspension and debarment proceedings, represented government contractors in civil and criminal environmental proceedings, and recovered increased costs for the construction of a Naval Brig at Miramar Naval Air Station (Top Gun). Jeff also counsels government contractors and their subcontractors on many transactional and compliance issues, including all phases of contract negotiation and administration, cost allowance, intellectual property, and technical data rights. Jeff also pursues claims against the state and federal governments, and their various agencies, for redress of grievances relating to government abuse of power and discretion under the U.S. and State Constitutions, the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).

Jeff represents businesses and individuals in many other kinds of commercial disputes. On behalf of various plaintiff clients, he has obtained as lead trial lawyer six individual judgments in excess of $1 Million and aggregate judgment amounts in excess of $34 Million. Jeff has also obtained several judgments of $0 on behalf of defendants where the plaintiffs sought in excess of $3 Million. His practice includes jury and court trials, appeals, pre-judgment injunctions and other remedies, arbitrations and mediations, and administrative hearings. He has tried patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, Lanham Act, antitrust, securities, fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, employment discrimination, dealer termination, covenants not to compete, contract, takings, environmental, and other types of cases.

In addition to trying cases, government contracts attorney Jeff Eckland enjoys obtaining quick court action on behalf of clients to protect their interests. He has an unbroken record of successfully obtaining emergency injunctive relief requested by his clients in over twenty civil actions. Prior to litigation, Jeff also counsels clients about the procedural, tactical, and strategic issues involved in commencing and defending civil actions. He counsels clients on ways to avoid litigation as well as to reduce liability should litigation occur, and advises clients about the risks, benefits, and costs of litigation.

Education

• B.A., History, summa cum laude, University of Minnesota (1979)
• J.D., University of Chicago Law School (1982)

Employment History

• Eckland & Blando LLP, Minneapolis, MN, 2004-present
• Faegre & Benson LLP, Minneapolis, MN, 1982-2004
• Howrey & Simon, Washington, D.C., 1981

Affiliations

• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Board of Advisors
  • Member, 2003-Present
• National Contract Management Association (NCMA), Twin Cities Chapter
  • Chapter President, 1995-1996
  • National Director, 1996-1998
  • Board of Directors Member, 1994-2000
  • Member, 1991-Present
• American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law
  • State Law Database Committee
• American Bar Association, Section of Science and Technology
• Court of Federal Claims Bar Association
• Federal Circuit Bar Association
• Planning Committee Member, Annual National Seminars on Government Contracts, University of Minnesota

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota (1982)
• U.S. District Court of Minnesota (1982)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1987)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1990)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (1993)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1993)
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims (1993)
• U.S. Supreme Court (1993) - Attorney admitted to argue before the Supreme Court

Professional Associations

• The Fund for the Legal Aid Society, Director
• University of Minnesota Alumni Association
• University of Minnesota Alumni Society, Director
• Volunteer Lawyers Network (VLN), Director

Recognition

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law and Politics (1998-2000)
• Fellow, National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
• AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell