Justin Short

Practice Areas

Construction Law

Construction Litigation, Arbitration & Mediation

Professional Memberships

Association of General Contractors - Minnesota (AGCMN)

Minnesota Subcontractors Association (MSA)

Minnesota Asphalt and Paving Association (MAPA)

American Bar Association (ABA)

Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)

Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA)

Education

Expert in these Jurisdictions

State of Minnesota

State of North Dakota

State of Colorado

State of Iowa

U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

Experience

Justin P. Short is a partner in Best & Flanagan's Construction, Real Estate and Litigation practice groups where he represents prime contractors, subcontractors and commercial landowners. Justin specializes in construction claims relating to highway and bridge projects, Department of Transportation claims, federal MATOC agreements, mechanic’s liens, surety and bond claims, bid protests, indemnity obligations, construction contract disputes and commercial and multi-family residential construction defects. He has represented contractors on these construction matters throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Arizona, Texas and Colorado.

Justin is a national lecturer on construction and real estate industry topics through the Minnesota State Bar Association, Thompson-West Corporation, HalfMoon Education Inc., and gives private seminars to contractors and commercial landowners throughout the United States. He has been selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers list since 2020.

Experience:

>Litigated in excess of $100,000,000 of commercial and multi-family residential construction defect claims throughout Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, and Texas (2006 – present).

>Litigated in excess of $10,000,000 on Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Department of Transportation claims (2006 – present).

>Litigated in excess of $10,000,000 on surety, bond and mechanic’s lien claims throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa (2006 – present).

>Recovered in excess of $15,000,000 on construction claims for contractors and commercial landowners (2006 – present).

>Obtained complete dismissal of claims and recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs for concrete subcontractor on a multi-family residential construction defect litigation case (Dakota County, Minnesota, 2013).

>Successfully litigated and resolved construction delay and liquidated damages claims involving University of Minnesota project (Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2013).

>Litigated third ever (first in 8th Circuit) United States case involving pre-payment of Section 236 mortgages with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2013).

>Obtained favorable jury verdict for industrial manufacturer on breach of contract claim regarding commission dispute (Seattle, Washington, 2013).

>Obtained defense verdict for client sued on breach of construction contract claim (Washington County, Minnesota, 2013).

>Obtained 100% recovery for excavation contractor on changed conditions claim involving undisclosed soil conditions (Owatonna, Minnesota 2012).

>Obtained complete dismissal of $1,200,000 claim against commercial landowner on breach of contract claim involving 200 unit apartment development (Minneapolis, Minnesota 2011).

>Obtained complete dismissal of claims against excavation subcontractor for alleged negligent training and supervision causing railroad accident (Dakota County, Minnesota, 2011).

>Obtained 100% recovery plus attorneys’ fees and costs for electrician subcontractor on mechanic’s lien claim (St. Paul, Minnesota, 2011).

>Obtained $1,500,000 judgment for Minnesota bank on commercial real estate transaction (Washington County, Minnesota, 2009).

>Negotiated/reviewed multiple professional sports stadium design and construction subcontract agreements, including Minnesota Vikings’ Stadium and Houston Astros’ Stadium projects.

>Negotiated/reviewed various federal Multiple Award Task Oriented Contracts (MATOC) with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including Missouri River levee and damn projects in South Dakota and Iowa.

>Negotiated/reviewed in excess of $10,000,000 of road, highway and bridge contracts on Department of Transportation projects throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

>Negotiated/reviewed in excess of $100,000,000 of design and construction contracts on commercial construction projects, including hotels, retail/office space, industrial, and apartment projects throughout Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.

>Negotiated/reviewed in excess of $10,000,000 on design and construction contracts for multi-family residential projects throughout Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado.

>Negotiated United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Regulatory Agreements on 220 unit limited equity housing cooperative located in Minnesota.

>Drafted 50 states’ Master Services Agreement for national cell phone tower erection contractor.

>Drafted numerous contractor safety programs and critical loss programs for contractors and subcontractors.