Matthew J. Barber, Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben

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Matthew J. Barber has been anointed an “Appellate Whiz Kid,” for, among other things, the number and quality of amicus curiae appellate briefs he contributes on behalf of members of the Minnesota Association for Justice, whose members are plaintiff personal injury lawyers. He was given that title by attorney and MAJ member Scott Wilson who said that Barber writes briefs “hand over fist,” and “not everyone can do that.” Barber accepts the nickname in its spirit. He works on motions and appeals at Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, in Minneapolis and says he has the best job in the world.

His feelings about the Schwebel firm are illustrated by his history there. He started his education at the University of North Dakota, where his roommate worked at Schwebel. He got a job in the mailroom and would return to the firm from North Dakota during school breaks. He went on to graduate from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

Now he provides support to some of the busiest trial lawyers in the state and to MAJ lawyers, also busy, to understate it.

Barber’s practice includes all aspects of personal injury litigation including car and truck collisions, motorcycle crashes and general liability cases. He’s currently working on cases ranging from dog bites to exploring a new tort of negligent selection of an independent contractor.

In 2023 the Minnesota Court of Appeals held that the state had waived sovereign immunity for dog bites. The case, Berrier v. Minnesota State Patrol is pending at the Minnesota Supreme Court. Also pending at the high court is Alonzo v. Menholt, a vehicle accident alleging negligence in the independent contractor selection, where the Court of Appeals affirmed a summary judgment for the defense.