Sheila S. Woodward

Sheila is a native of Hurley, South Dakota. She earned her undergraduate degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, graduating summa cum laude in 1992 with majors in economics and government. Sheila attended law school at the University of Iowa where she wrote for the Iowa Law Review and worked as a research assistant. Sheila graduated With Highest Distinction from Iowa in 1995 and was named to the Order of the Coif. After law school, Sheila clerked for two years for U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Shanahan in Omaha, Nebraska. Following her clerkship, Sheila joined the firm as an associate. She became a partner in 2002.

Sheila practices in several areas, including business and real estate transactions, commercial litigation, estate planning, probate, and appeals. She enjoys working with small businesses as well as individuals who need assistance with commercial transactions and personal and business succession planning. Sheila also handles most of the firm's appellate work. Sheila is licensed in South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts in South Dakota and Nebraska, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Sheila is a member of the American Bar Association.

Sheila and her husband, Christopher Sonne, live in Yankton where they are both actively involved in the community. Sheila has served on the board of directors of Big Friend Little Friend, Inc., Yankton Women's and Children's Center, Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton Area Arts Association, Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, and Lutheran Social Services Foundation. Sheila also volunteers as a "big friend" and coaches basketball for the Yankton Area Special Olympics.

Reported Decisions

• Fjellestad v. Pizza Hut of America, Inc., 188 F.3d 944 (8th Cir. 1999)
• Dillon v. Yankton Sioux Tribe Housing Authority, 144 F.3d 581 (8th Cir. 1998)
• Jones v. Siouxland Surgery Center, 2006 SD 97, 724 N.W.2d 430
• Behrens v. Wedmore, 2005 SD 79, 698 N.W.2d 555
• St. Onge Livestock Co. v. Curtis, 2002 SD 102, 650 N.W.2d 537
• O'Toole v. Board of Trustees, 2002 SD 77, 648 N.W.2d 342
• Joseph v. Kerkvliet, 2002 SD 39, 642 N.W.2d 533
• Tri County Landfill Ass'n v. Brule County, 2002 SD 32, 641 N.W.2d 147
• St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Engelmann, 2002 SD 8, 639 N.W.2d 192
• Mattis v. Weaver Electric, 2000 SD 150, 619 N.W.2d 526
• Tri County Landfill Ass'n. v. Brule County, 2000 SD 148, 619 N.W.2d 663
• Martinmaas v. Englemann, 2000 SD 85, 612 N.W.2d 600
• Kaiser v. North River Ins. Co., 2000 SD 15, 605 N.W.2d 193
• E.P. v. Riley, 1999 SD 163, 604 N.W.2d 7
• Wissink v. Van De Stroet, 1999 SD 92, 598 N.W.2d 213

Publications

• Adverse Domination & the Statute of Limitations Defense in Bank Director Liability Cases: Greater Protection for Directors in FDIC v. Dawson - 80 Iowa Law Review 177 (1994).
• The Wrongful Death of Common Sense - 45 South Dakota Law Review 283 (2000).
• The Heart of the Matter: Substantive Due Process in the South Dakota Courts - 47 South Dakota Law Review 185 (2002).