Randy Hopper has been a partner at Zimmerman Reed P.L.L.P. since 1991, after being Of Counsel for a short time. Mr. Hopper’s practice focuses on Complex Civil Litigation including Class Actions and Government Relations, with an emphasis on the public policy, legislative and substantive legal issues that lie at the nexus of these two disciplines. Prior to joining Zimmerman Reed, Mr. Hopper practiced with Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren in that firm’s Government Relations and Litigation Departments (1988 - 1990). He also has held numerous positions in the public and private sectors including: work on a White House - sponsored urban education program, “Cities in Schools”, working in inner city Atlanta and in both Harlem and the South Bronx, New York City (1976 - 1979); Manager of Public Affairs for the Cummins Engine Company and as Program Officer in its corporate foundation (1979 - 1981); as Director of State Development Planning for the State of Minnesota; and, as an Advisor serving Minnesota Governor Al Quie on a special Economic Development program (1981 - 1982). From 1982 to the present, Mr. Hopper has served as President of Robert R. Hopper & Associates, a private consulting firm. Mr. Hopper also served in 1990 as a Finance Director for the successful Ramstad for Congress Campaign; and, held a similar position for the successful Coleman for Senate Campaign in 2002.

Mr. Hopper graduated with honors in 1976 from the University of Tennessee, where he majored in Psychology and Pre-Med. He also studied Political Philosophy with a concentration on business ethics at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and social ethics at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.

Mr. Hopper is a 1987 graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. Upon graduation, Mr. Hopper was awarded the “Excellence in Trial Advocacy” Award, having been distinguished earlier that year by the ATLA - Association of Trial Lawyers of America - through a National Trial Competition as one of the top ten student trial advocates in the United States.

Mr. Hopper is admitted to practice in all courts in Minnesota and several Federal Courts including the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota; the United States District Court for the District of Arizona; the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; and, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Hopper is a member in good standing of the American Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association. Mr. Hopper is also a member of the Minnesota Governmental Relations Council; The International Churchill Society and a founding member of the Winston S. Churchill Center for Policy Studies, Washington, D.C. Mr. Hopper has also been a member of the adjunct faculty at William Mitchell College of Law teaching “Corporate Ethics and Advising Corporate Clients.”

Mr. Hopper has been involved with the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and/or participated in the prosecution of several major complex litigations and class actions over the course of his career, including cases involving consumer fraud, products liability, toxic tort, antitrust and mass tort litigation. Most recently, Mr. Hopper was appointed as a member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Not-For-Profit Hospital Litigation, another national complex case.

A few of these cases include:

• In Re: Baycol Products Litigation, MDL No. 1431, (D. Minnesota)

• In Re: Castano Tobacco Litigation, (E. D. Louisiana)

• Scott v. American Tobacco Co., Inc., et al., Court File No.: 96-8461, (Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana)

• In re Tobacco Cases II; JCCP No. 4042; Willard R. Brown v. The American Tobacco Company, Inc.; et al.; Case No. 711400; (California Superior Court, San Diego County)

• In re Merida Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1481 (N.D. Ohio)

• In re Serzone Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1477 (S.D. West Virginia)

• In Re Breast Implant Litigation, Master Docket No. C-1-92-057, MDL 926, (N.D. Alabama)

• In Re Diet Drugs Products Liability Litigation (Phentermine/fenfluramine/dexfenfluramine); MDL Docket No. 1203 (E.D. Pennsylvania)

• In Re: Mortgage Escrow Deposit Litigation, (N.D. Illinois), now MDL 899

• In Re Telectronics Pacing Systems, Inc. Accufix Atrial "J" Lead Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1057 (S.D. Ohio)

• In re Brand Name Prescription Drugs Antitrust Litigation; Master Docket No. 94 CV 897; MDL No. 997 (N.D. Illinois)

• In Re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation, Misc. No. 99-197 (TFH); MDL No. 1285 (D.D.C)

• In re Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Antitrust Litigation; Master File No. 1:00-MD-1383 (DGT/SMG); (E.D. New York)

• In Re Microsoft Corp. Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1332 (D. Maryland)

• Not-For-Profit Hospital Litigation

Over the years, Mr. Hopper has chaired the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar “Dealing with the Media in a High Profile Case;” has been on the faculty of the CLE “Complex Litigation;” and, has spoken at numerous legal and non-legal seminars relating to his practice. Mr. Hopper has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, CNN, CNBC, Larry King Live, The Dan Abrams Show, On The Record with Gretta Van Sustern, NPR and numerous local media in the twin cities.

In addition to his practice at Zimmerman Reed, Mr. Hopper has served on the firm’s Management Committee and is the Partner overseeing the firm’s Political Action and Government Relations programs.

Mr. Hopper is a member of the Minneapolis Club, Pheasants Forever, Inc., Trout Unlimited, Inc., the Ruffed Grouse Society, Inc. and Wild Wings Hunt Club. He is also an avid sailor and a member of Sailors’ World Yacht Club. Mr. Hopper is co-owner of a family business, “Creekside Farm, L.L.C.” which buys, sells and breeds Thoroughbreds and Quarter horses. Mr Hopper has enjoyed fly-fishing for over 30 years, as well as upland bird hunting, the latter for which he raises English, Irish and Gordon Setters. He is married to Paula J. Prahl an Executive with Best Buy Corporation. They make their home at Creekside Farm in Medina, Minnesota.