Agricultural litigation
& bankruptcy.

We handle agricultural disputes involving financing, contracts, ownership and control, farm assets and the proceeds of agricultural sales. We welcome inquiries from farmers, farm owners, agribusinesses, lenders and other parties whose rights or operations are affected by a dispute.

The right strategy starts with how the operation works: who owns the land and equipment, how products reach the buyer, where the money goes, and which agreements govern the relationship. That practical understanding shapes investigation, negotiation and litigation.

Matthew was counsel for American Federal Bank in Lighthouse Management Inc. v. Oberg Family Farms, a published Minnesota Court of Appeals decision that established a fact-specific test for whether a grain bin is a real-estate fixture or personal property. The appeal addressed competing claims to proceeds from the sale of farm assets.

Matthew and James Magnuson also represented Star Bank in Star Bank v. Anderson. The court affirmed enforcement of the bank’s security interest in corn sold through a grain-fronting arrangement. That July 2024 opinion is nonprecedential; it illustrates the firm’s experience developing the evidence needed to enforce agricultural collateral rights.

Matthew’s current litigation practice includes a dispute involving an agricultural trust. Agricultural trust disputes can turn on the source and scope of the trust, the ownership and tracing of assets, the parties’ obligations and the available remedies. We assess the particular dispute before identifying the claims and remedies that fit.

Karl Johnson is one of only three attorneys in Minnesota certified as a Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification. He handles agricultural bankruptcies, including Chapter 12 matters, and represents debtors, creditors and trustees.

A farm restructuring may involve seasonal income, equipment, land, crop or livestock collateral, and obligations to several creditors. Karl evaluates bankruptcy options and contested issues alongside the farm’s operating needs. Chapter 12 is designed for eligible family farmers and family fishermen; eligibility and the appropriate route depend on the circumstances. Read the U.S. Courts overview of Chapter 12.

Karl has taught Chapter 12 and agricultural workout subjects to banking and legal audiences, including Independent Community Bankers of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Bar Association and the State Bar Association of North Dakota.

Karl JohnsonBankruptcy and restructuring

Matthew is scheduled to present at the American Bankers Association’s national Agricultural Bankers Conference, November 4–6, 2026, in Minneapolis. His educational work also includes agricultural lending and workout programs for Minnesota Bankers Association and other banking audiences.

His litigation and teaching draw on the same core issues: agricultural cash flow, collateral, contractual dependencies, distressed credits and recovery. Explore the speaking record.

For agricultural litigation or a trust dispute, contact Matthew Bialick. For farm bankruptcy or Chapter 12 questions, contact Karl Johnson. Identify the parties, the nature of the operation and any approaching deadline when you first contact us.

Agricultural finance and workoutsCommercial litigationLighthouse appealStar Bank appeal