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negotiated contracts between cities and contractors pertaining to services provided to the municipality, such as, the collection of refuse and the cutting and removal of diseased trees. We have also participated in the negotiation and drafting of collective bargaining agreements between cities and representatives of the Teamsters' and Operating Engineers' Unions. We are representing and have represented cities in the state trial courts, the Minnesota Court of Appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court, the United States District Court, and the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on many issues that concern municipalities on a daily basis, such as: injunction actions relating to building and zoning code violations; appeals from condemnation awards; appeals from the levy of special assessments for public improvements; negligence actions where the insurer has denied coverage and refused to defend the municipality; trespass actions; granting of special use and conditional use permits; denials of conditional use and special use permits and denials of rezonings; collection of connection charges and use charges for 'the connection to and availability of sewer and water improvements; actions relative to approval and disapproval of plats; actions relative to discharge of public employees and compensation of same; actions involving the contesting of elections; litigation by cities against sureties and contractors, and by sureties and contractors against cities; annexation proceedings initiated by cities; a defamation action against a city, litigation relating to the issuance of a bingo hall license, litigation involving alleged violations of the State and Federal Constitutions, including First Amendment cases and Section 1983 actions; and actions relating to State and Federal Labor Laws. Our firm has substantial experience in the area of public sector labor law and employee disputes. We have negotiated, arbitrated, and litigated such disputes, and litigated a federal court action challenging the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act to a city employee. Changes in public sector labor law and the continued growth of litigation in this area has generated numerous opinions and reports to our clients relating to labor law. We also have extensive experience in the area of real estate law relating to municipal work. This experience has included the examination of plats and requirements for the protection of the city's easement interests, quiet title actions on behalf of cities, title registration proceedings, and general litigation involving interests in real property. Our firm's experience in drainage law includes representing municipalities from the construction to the assessment stage of storm drainage projects, both underground and open ditches, pursuant to Minn. Stat. Chapter 429. Our office participated as co- counsel in several related cases dealing with storm drainage issues in Anoka County Ditch 53 -62. These cases involved several different property owners vs. the Rice Creek Watershed District, Anoka County, MN DOT, the City of Circle Pines and the City of Blaine. These cases were ultimately resolved favorably on behalf of the City of Blaine. We have extensive experience in the representation of municipalities in environmental litigation and disputes. Specifically, we have represented cities in actions under the Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act (MERLA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). 3