Duty at Arm’s Length: Counseling Clients on Independent Contractor Risk Post-Alonzo

Originally presented:  June 26, 2025     |     Course length:  1.0 hour

In Alonzo v. Menholt Farms (2024) the Minnesota Supreme Court broke new ground, expressly recognizing negligent selection of an independent contractor as a standalone tort. One year later, two published opinions have already applied Alonzo, and practitioners are wrestling with its reach, its limits, and its fit within the Restatement and national trends.

Join Tom Boyd and Kyle Kroll for an up to the minute look at how the Court evaluates – and ultimately adopts – new causes of action, using Alonzo as a blueprint. They will:

• Trace the doctrinal path the Court followed in recognizing the tort;
• Compare Minnesota’s approach with other jurisdictions and the Restatement (Second) of Torts §411;
• Unpack the first two Minnesota cases to apply Alonzo; and
• Offer practical counseling guidelines – drafting contracts, coordinating insurance coverage, vetting contractors, and mitigating exposure – to help clients anticipate where the law is heading and avoid costly liability.

Perfect for litigators, transactional lawyers, risk managers, and in house counsel looking to stay ahead of the curve.

– Kyle R. Kroll; Winthrop & Weinstine PA
– Thomas H. Boyd; Winthrop & Weinstine PA
– Haley N. Mercer; Winthrop & Weinstine PA