Sarah Vogel Law Partners » Sarah Vogel
Sarah Vogel
A former two-term Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of North Dakota, Sarah Vogel has been described as “a giant killer in ag law.” See, Grand Forks Herald, “The Long Road To Freedom” January 3, 2001. Among the significant cases in which she was lead counsel are:
- The Farm Foreclosure case. During the depths of the farm crisis, Vogel brought a national class action on behalf of 240,000 farmers which stopped unconstitutional foreclosures by USDA on thousands of farms. This case was selected as among the top three agricultural cases in the 20th Century by the American Agriculture Law Association.
- The CRC Durum Case, in which 8000 North Dakota farmers received $43,000,000 after Vogel sued to prevent the FCIC from reducing the CRC crop insurance coverage for durum wheat by 77 cents a bushel.
- The Agway Sunflower Seed case. After a number of farmers noticed defects with a type of sunflower seed, Vogel sued Agway on behalf of more than 100 farmers. The North Dakota Seed Arbitration Board recommended that Agway pay the farmers over $2,500,000. When the payments were not made, Vogel sued in federal court seeking damages and treble damages under the North Dakota Consumer Fraud law. The Supreme Court held that farmers could use the North Dakota Consumer Fraud law. See, Jorgenson v. Agway. The case was eventually settled for a confidential amount.
- The Wimbledon Grain Elevator Case. After the Public Service Commission refused to allow payment from the Wimbledon Grain Elevator insolvency trust fund, Vogel sued to force the PSC to pay the farmers from the trust fund. After losing at the trial court, Vogel and Baumstark took the case to the North Dakota Supreme Court where they prevailed. See, Public Service Commission v. Wimbledon Grain Company. The litigation resulted in payment of about $500,000 to farmers who had grain stored at the elevator, but for whom elevator personnel had completed forged or unsigned credit sales contracts, and approximately $450,000 to farmers with legitimate credit sales contracts.
In addition to these larger cases, Vogel has represented farmers and ranchers and injured individuals in a variety of cases ranging from car accidents to contract disputes. Vogel also has represented organizations such as the Dakota Resource Council, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, various tribal grazing associations, and International Certification Services.
Honors and Activities:
- 2006 Recipient of American Agricultural Law Association “Lawyer of the Year Award”
- Selected as one of “20 Young Lawyers Whose Work Makes A Difference,” American Bar Association, Barrister Magazine, Fall 1986, “When Sarah Vogel Got Mad … 240,000 American Farmers Went to Court.”
- Helen Hamilton Award, University of North Dakota, 1984.
- Board Member, Northwest Area Foundation
- Board Member, Farmers Legal Action Group
- Former Board Member American Agriculture Law Association
- Former Board Member North Dakota Trial Lawyer Association
- Lecturer on Cooperatives, Drake University School of Law
- Speaker many times at State Bar Association of North Dakota and American Agricultural Law Association
- Author of various law review articles.
Vogel is a graduate of New York University School of Law. Prior to returning to North Dakota in 1981, she practiced on the East Coast at the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs; Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co; Chesebrough Ponds, Inc.; the Federal Trade Commission (where she was head of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act program); and the Department of Treasury, where she was the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Treasury for Consumer Affairs.
Practice
Sarah’s practice focuses on agricultural law, environmental law, American Indian law, and litigation. She is admitted to practice before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, North Dakota state and federal courts, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Tribal Court, and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court.