Making Your Message Heard
James D. Sherrets
Biography
Jim Sherrets, founder of the firm, actively represented clients for more than 35 years focusing on business and property disputes. Mr. Sherrets has been admitted to practice in Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. Mr. Sherrets litigated more than 100 cases in which landowners were having property condemned by a governmental entity. Mr. Sherrets has acted as a member of numerous Boards of Appraisal assigned to assess fair market value for properties which were being condemned.
Mr. Sherrets also established an extensive practice litigating legal malpractice actions, disputes between business owners, and claims involving shareholders' rights. Mr. Sherrets has represented purchasers, sellers, and lenders in the purchase, sale, development, and/or zoning of multi-million dollar properties. Mr. Sherrets also represented major businesses and developers in litigation involving real estate purchase or lease agreements and suits involving construction defects.
Significant results achieved by Jim Sherrets include obtaining an order of specific performance directing a purchaser to close on a multi-million dollar property; litigating a personal injury resulting from a construction defect to a verdict in excess of $3.6 million; and successfully terminating a long-term commercial lease valued at more than $25 million. Mr. Sherrets obtained an award in excess of $250,000 against a Colorado loan broker who had misrepresented the terms of a loan and a judgment exceeding $2 million in a business tort action. Other notable judgments obtained by Mr. Sherrets include a Nebraska Supreme Court decision finding restrictive covenants precluding development run with the land and remained enforceable even though the property had been sold out of bankruptcy to a purchaser who intended to develop the property. Mr. Sherrets recently obtained a judgment in federal bankruptcy court in the amount of $1.8 million against an attorney who gave incorrect advice about the best way to apply assets to pay down a debt. Mr. Sherrets' real estate cases included a jury verdict requiring a developer to pay an additional $600,000 for purchase of a piece of commercial property despite the developer's argument that the condition in the contract requiring the additional payment had not been met.
Mr. Sherrets has also defended claims in excess of $20 million. Mr. Sherrets has litigated in over 20 states and now serves the firm in an advisory capacity.
Practice Areas
- Business Litigation 60%
- Legal Malpractice 20%
- Real Estate 20%
Languages
- English
Current Employment Positions
- Part Time Associate
Past Positions
- Sherrets Bruno & Vogt LLC, Managing Member, 2009 to 2011
- Sherrets & Boecker LLC, Managing Member, 2000 to 2009
- Sherrets & Associates, Managing Partner, 1998 to 2000
- Sherrets Smith Gardner P.C., Managing Partner, 1988 to 1992
- Abrahams, Kaslow & Cassman, Partner, 1985 to 1988
- McGrath, North Law Firm, Associate, 1983 to 1985
- Kutak Rock, Associate, 1981 to 1982
- Law Offices of John Delehant, Associate, 1978 to 1981
Bar Admissions
- Nebraska, 1978
- Colorado, 1994
- Arizona, 1999
- U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1978
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 1994
- U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1999
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1998
- U.S. Tax Court, 1988
Professional Associations
- Nebraska Bar Association, Member, 1978 to 2011
- Colorado Bar Association, Member, 1994 to 2011
- Arizona Bar Association, Member, 1999 to Present
Education
- University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska
- J.D.
- Honors: Finalist, National Trial Competition
- University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska
- B.A. - 1975
- Honors: Dean's List
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: Economics and Speech
Honors
- Subject of Feature Article UNO Alumni Magazine
Classes / Seminars
- Advanced Title Insurance Issues, National Business Institute, 2011 to 2011
- Title Law in Nebraska, National Business Institute, 2009 to 2009
- Nebraska Real Estate Update, Nebraska Bar Association, 2008 to 2008
Representative Cases
- Skyline Woods Homeowners v. Broekemeier, 276 Neb. 792, 758 N.W.2d 376, 2008, Nebraska Supreme Court
- Estate of Schwartz v. Schwartz, 183 P.2d 552, 2008, Colorado Supreme Court
- Greenhall Invest. LLC v. Wiese Dev. Corp, 14 Neb. App. 155, 706 N.W.2d 552, 2005, Nebraska Court of Appeals
- Cybertek, Inc. v. Bently Systems, Inc. , 182 F. Supp. 2d 864, 2002, U.S. District Court Nebraska
- Laubscher v. Laubscher, 8 Neb. App. 648, 599 N.W.2d 853, 1999, Nebraska Court of Appeals
- Twin Towers Dev. v. Butternut Apts. LP, 257 Neb. 511, 599 N.W.2d 839, 1999, Nebraska S. Ct.