Stacey P. Slaughter is a partner in the Firm's business litigation department. She is a member of the complex business litigation, antitrust and trade regulation, and securities and financial litigation practices. Before joining, Ms. Slaughter clerked in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota for Judge Michael J. Davis and Judge Paul A. Magnuson.
Ms. Slaughter represents individuals, shareholders, pension funds, businesses and organizations that face significant commercial disputes, complex business problems, and novel legal issues. She has represented clients in a wide range of industries including banking, commodities, consumer goods and products, food, logistics, securities, technology, and travel.
Ms. Slaughter is also dedicated to the Firm's commitment to pro bono work. She was the lead attorney representing a pro bono client who was granted asylum as the result of political persecution the client suffered in Cameroon. Ms. Slaughter was also a member of the Firm's pro bono team that received the "2008 Volunteer Award" for work on a state-wide needs assessment and evaluation of trafficking in Minnesota.
Ms. Slaughter is active in civic associations as well. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Downtown Minneapolis YMCA. Ms. Slaughter is also involved in supporting the Jeremiah Program, which supports single mothers and their children.
In 2012, Ms. Slaughter co-authored a book chapter entitled, Funding Litigation, in Private Enforcement of Antitrust Law in the United States, which is edited by Albert A. Foer and Jonathan W. Cuneo in association with the American Antitrust Institute. Antitrust scholars Professor Herbert Hovenkamp and Professor Eleanor Fox have issued favorable reviews, stating that the publication is an "incredibly valuable undertaking" that "promises to make an enormous contribution to antitrust law and policy around the world."
Ms. Slaughter received her B.A. degree magna cum laude with honors from Florida State University in 1994. She received a Master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996, where she wrote a thesis paper on how the future of the Internet will affect copyright law. In 1999, Ms. Slaughter received her J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she served as a Note & Comment editor of the Minnesota Law Review. Ms. Slaughter is admitted to practice in Minnesota and New York.
During her career, Ms. Slaughter has handled a number of cases solely and as part of a team at trial, litigation, and arbitration, including the following:*
- In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Litigation, 05-MD-1720 (JG)(JO): Reached a $7.25 billion proposed antitrust settlement on behalf of a class of approximately seven million U.S. merchants who accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards and debit cards for the purchase of goods and services. The defendants included Visa and MasterCard, and major card-issuing banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Capital One. The settlement, which resolves the lawsuit, is believed to be the largest settlement of a private antitrust case in the 120-year history of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §1 et seq.) and also includes important reforms of the payment card industry.
- Digital Sun v. The Toro Company: Obtained summary dismissal of complaint asserted against The Toro Company, alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws (Sherman and Clayton Acts), as well as California unfair business practices and common law fraud. The complaint involved smart sprinkler technology, and arose out of Toro's consideration of a potential business relationship with the named plaintiff regarding that technology, including the licensing of certain intellectual property related to that technology. The issues presented in the motion to dismiss included the plausibility of the allegations under the standard set forth in the Supreme Court's decision in Twombly, as well as the intersection between the antitrust and patent laws. The dismissal briefing focused on key points in the related documentation and dealings which confirmed the business reality existing between the parties, thereby overcoming an otherwise complex set of allegations presented in the complaint. The matter settled shortly after the summary dismissal.
- Represented Rind International Trading Company in Nicollet Cattle Company d/b/a Horizon International v. Rind International (Minnesota, Dakota County) in a commercial dispute over contracts for imported beef.
- Represented MoneyGram in Western Union v. MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. (W.D. Tex.), a patent infringement suit over a method and system for transferring money. The Federal Circuit granted a full reversal and entry of judgment that Western Union's patent claims asserted against MoneyGram were obvious and thus invalid, basing its decision on the evidence and proof offered at trial and finding that no reasonable jury could have concluded otherwise.
- Represented Carlson Holdings, Inc. in Nelson v. Carlson Companies, Inc. et al. (Minnesota, Hennepin County), a dispute over who would succeed as CEO of Carlson Companies.
- Represented Best Buy in Hall, et al. v. Best Buy (D. Minn.) a class action pattern and practice lawsuit.
- Represented Chubb Insurance in Advanced Duplication Services, LLC v. Federal Insurance Company, a division of Chubb Insurance (D. Minn.) in a dispute over damage to DVD mastering equipment.
- Represented Sygate Technologies, Inc. in Zone Labs, Inc. v. Sygate Technologies, Inc. (N.D. Cal.), a dispute over patent licenses.
- Represented General Mills in Charter Oak v. General Mills, (D. Mont.) a dispute by shareholders over grain supply contracts.
- Represented General Mills in Pasta Montana v. General Mills, (D. Mont.) a dispute over an agreement to supply wheat.
- Represented General Mills' Häagen-Dazs International Division in Häagen-Dazs International Shoppe Company, Inc. v. Corporacion Todosabor C.A. (AAA International Centre for Dispute Resolution), a contract dispute over the Häagen-Dazs franchise for Venezuela.
- Represented C.H. Robinson Worldwide in Carlson, et al. v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (D. Minn.) in a class action lawsuit alleging pay disparity, sex harassment, and gender discrimination.
Ms. Slaughter has also advised clients in a number of matters:
- Represent TENA Companies in a variety of business matters.
- Advised the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota on investigation of a complaint concerning the unauthorized practice of law by Howard O. Kieffer, who was representing a defendant in Minnesota federal court.
- Counseled AmeriPath (Quest Diagnostics) in connection with equipment leases.
- Counseled Cramer Building Services in connection with internal practices.