ABOUT ME
Pattie's background creates an impassioned, compassionate, tenacious and determined approach to her practice.
A unique and special blend of skills...
After graduating law school, Ms. Garger began working for a roofing contractor handling storm damage claims, then she moved into handling property damage claims involving fire, water, smoke, mold and vandalism first for a preferred provider for insurance carriers then for one of Minnesota’s largest restoration companies. Ms. Garger was also responsible for account management; managing and coordinating services with property management companies. This background creates a specialized understanding of how to navigate issues facing restoration contractors, subcontractors and property managers.
Ms. Garger served on the board of a property insurance adjuster association for over four years. In that position, she was the representative voice for over 400 vendors who support the property damage and insurance claim handling fields. For more than three years, Ms. Garger was a Continuing Education presenter for insurance professionals, teaching classes related to property damage claim handling, including ethics courses. She also created and served as Coordinator of a continuing education program specifically designed for property insurance issues.
Ms. Garger is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association and the Hennepin County Bar Association. She volunteered in the Street Law program through the Minnesota Justice Foundation and currently a part of the Legal Corp volunteers, providing limited pro bono services to small businesses. She is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society.
“Those who say it can’t be done shouldn’t interrupt the person doing it.”
- a Chinese proverb
Ms Garger's remarkable reliance and tenacity developed through an atypical, unprecedented upbringing which would otherwise lead many other people to fear obstacles and make different choices.
Ms. Garger is a third generation American, born of migrant farmers, raised by a grandmother for whom English was a second language. It became her responsibility to educate and protect her grandmother. She was born in Colorado and partly raised in Oklahoma.
For part of her life, Ms. Garger was raised in a foster home, experienced adoption, and has been a champion for child advocacy and others who cannot speak for themselves. She is the oldest of nine siblings and is the very first person in her family to graduate from high school. While unheard of in her family, no one was surprised when she graduated college. They were, however, surprised when she was accepted into law school and moved from Colorado to Minnesota all alone with her three young boys and graduated despite many challenges along the way.