# Judge Kevin S. Burke *Judge who presided over the chemical-disposal suit against 3M that settled on February 20, 2018, and who is named in paragraph 25 of the settlement agreement.* Kevin S. Burke is the judge *Minnesota Lawyer* identified as presiding over a chemical-disposal suit against 3M in [[Minnesota]]. According to that report, jury selection began on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, and the case settled the same day.[^1] Paragraph 25 of the settlement agreement, as posted by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, designates Burke as "Consensual Special Magistrate" upon his retirement. In that role he is to resolve disputes over project selection and implementation.[^2] The judge who presided over the case is therefore written into the agreement's post-settlement dispute mechanism.[^3] The record does not document the date of his retirement, the terms of his service as magistrate, or any decision he has made in that role.[^2] ## Who *Minnesota Lawyer* reported that Judge Kevin S. Burke presided over the suit.[^1] The settlement agreement names him, upon his retirement, as the "Consensual Special Magistrate" for disputes over project selection and implementation.[^2] ## What The suit was a chemical-disposal action against 3M.[^1] *Minnesota Lawyer* quoted 3M's John Banovetz as saying, "While we have never believed there is a PFC-related health problem." The company settled on the day jury selection began.[^4] ## When *Minnesota Lawyer* reported the following sequence: punitive damages were added to the suit in November 2017, jury selection began on February 20, 2018, and the case settled that same day.[^4] ## How much *Minnesota Lawyer* reported that $5 billion was sought in the suit.[^5] The report's web address describes 3M as paying $850 million to settle. No primary source in this record states the settlement amount.[^5] ## In the at-issue record The project's at-issue record pairs two facts. The judge who presided over the case became its post-settlement arbiter, and paragraph 25 of the agreement designates him "Consensual Special Magistrate" upon his retirement.[^3] The item is anchored to the settlement agreement and draws on one legal trade-press source.[^1] The record does not document any party's position on the designation or any objection to it.[^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Judge Kevin S. Burke presided over the chemical-disposal suit against 3M, which settled on February 20, 2018.[^1] - Paragraph 25 of the settlement agreement designates him "Consensual Special Magistrate" upon his retirement.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Lawyer, *Report on the 3M chemical-disposal suit* (Feb. 20, 2018) — identifies Judge Kevin S. Burke as presiding and reports that jury selection began and the case settled on February 20, 2018. https://minnlawyer.com/2018/02/20/3m-to-pay-850m-to-settle-chemical-disposal-suit/ [^2]: Minnesota Attorney General's Office, *Settlement Agreement* (Agreement.pdf; date not given in this record) — paragraph 25 designates Judge Kevin S. Burke as "Consensual Special Magistrate" upon his retirement, to resolve disputes over project selection and implementation. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Cases/3M/docs/Agreement.pdf [^3]: Minnesota Attorney General's Office, *Settlement Agreement* (Agreement.pdf) — paragraph 25, the primary anchor for the at-issue pairing of the presiding judge with the post-settlement magistrate role. https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Office/Cases/3M/docs/Agreement.pdf [^4]: Minnesota Lawyer, *Report on the 3M chemical-disposal suit* (Feb. 20, 2018) — reports that punitive damages were added in November 2017 and that jury selection and settlement both occurred on February 20, 2018, and quotes 3M's John Banovetz. https://minnlawyer.com/2018/02/20/3m-to-pay-850m-to-settle-chemical-disposal-suit/ [^5]: Minnesota Lawyer, *Report on the 3M chemical-disposal suit* (Feb. 20, 2018) — reports that $5 billion was sought; the report's address gives $850 million. https://minnlawyer.com/2018/02/20/3m-to-pay-850m-to-settle-chemical-disposal-suit/