David E. Copple

David E. Copple’s litigation practice is regional in scope. He has litigated cases in or represented clients from Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Mr. Copple’s comprehensive practice emphasizes sophisticated litigation for plaintiff and defendant in cases involving personal injury, products liability, corporate-commercial, banking, creditor bankruptcy, securities, wrongful death, and real estate investment trusts.

Mr. Copple has successfully tried felony criminal cases, a felony manslaughter case and a first degree murder case.

Mr. Copple’s appellate work has included cases of first impression, including: that a “farmer” is a “merchant” for purposes of the Nebraska Uniform Commercial Code; that a “bank employee” is not a “professional” for purposes of professional malpractice statute of limitations; that a named driver exclusion will not be applied in a manner that will deny an insured party uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage when the subject of the exclusion was not responsible for the injury and is not seeking coverage; that a secured creditor can qualify as a good faith purchaser for value and receive priority under Nebraska Uniform Commercial Code, Article IX over an unpaid seller; and that state common law theories of negligence and strict liability are preempted by The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act involving a “non-applicator” injured by toxic chemical exposure.

• Nebraska, 1983
• U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1983
• U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1991
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2002

• University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • J.D. – 1983
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
  • B.S. – 1980
  • Major: Business Administration
  • Major: Economics

• A.V. Rated by Martindale-Hubbell Rating Services
• Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Foundation

• American Board of Trial Advocates, Past President of the Nebraska Chapter
• American Judicature Society, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• Omaha Bar Association, Member
• Madison County Bar Association, Member
• American Association for Justice, Member
• Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, Member
• Nebraska State Bar Association, Member
• International Council of Shopping Centers, Past Member
• American Bar Association, Business Law Section

• Roth v. Wiese, 271 Neb. 750, 716 N.W.2d 419 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 2006)
• Laravie v. Battle Creek Mut. Ins. Co., Not Reported in N.W.2d (Nebraska State Court and Court of Appeals 2005)
• Ferden v. Sayler, Not Reported in N.W.2d (Nebraska State Court and Court of Appeals 2004)
• Andersen v. A.M.W., Inc., 266 Neb. 238, 665 N.W.2d 1 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 2003)
• Harold D. Eyl v. Ciba-Geigy Corporation, 264 Neb. 582, 650 N. W. 2d 744 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 2002)
• State v. Dupsky, 10 Neb.App. 650, 635 N.W.2d 539 (Nebraska State Court and Court of Appeals 2001)
• Neiman v. Neiman & Neiman Corp., Not Reported in N.W.2d (Nebraska State Court and Court of Appeals 2001)
• Olson v. Olson, Not Reported in N.W. 2d (Nebraska State Court and Court of Appeals 2001)
• Hood v. AAA Motor Club Ins. Ass’n, 259 Neb. 63, 607 N.W.2d 814 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 2000)
• Maryott v. Oconto Cattle Co., 259 Neb. 41, 607 N.W.2d 820 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 2000)
• Jorgensen v. State Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 255 Neb. 241, 583 N.W.2d 331 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 1998)
• Agrex, Inc. v. Schrant, 221 Neb. 604, 379 N.W.2d 751 (Nebraska State Court and Supreme Court 1986)