Attorneys


Howard P. Olsen Jr. 
1502 2nd Avenue
Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69361-3174
 

Communication Center 
Phone: (308) 632-3811
E-mail: Email Me
Fax: (308) 635-0907
Web site: http://www.simmonsolsen.com


PositionAreas of PracticeEducation
HonorsAffiliationsRepresentative Cases


Howard's practice centers around civil litigation. It has involved both plaintiff and defense in Federal and State Court and in Nebraska and Wyoming. Lender liability, covenants not to compete, all forms of discrimination and contract law are some examples. Howard also does Insurance Defense Litigation for many of the major insurance companies that conduct business in the region. He has been the City Attorney for the City of Scottsbluff since 1989 and has been involved in all types of Municipal issues and litigation. He has been called upon by other political subdivisions for representation in cases where their regular attorneys have conflicts or to give advice to existing counsel. He has taught courses for NCLE and the Municipal Clerks Association. Some of his representative cases are set forth below.

Howard was admitted to the Nebraska Bar in 1968 and the Wyoming Bar in 1989. Federal Court admissions include the U.S. Districts for Nebraska and Wyoming, and the Eighth and Tenth Circuits.

Howard has been active in the Nebraska State Bar Association holding positions in its Foundation, Disciplinary Review Board, House of Delegates where he was Chairman in 1994 and then President of the NSBA in 1997. He received the George H. Turner Award for Dedication to the Profession in 1993. Howard was honored as a Visionary by the Nebraska State Bar Association in 2005.  He is on the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska Federal Practice Committee. He is also active in various community organizations, including serving on the Boards of Directors of Teammates and the Scottsbluff-Gering Chamber of Commerce.  Howard is currently President of the Western Community College Foundation; Trustee and member of the St. Agnes Parish Council; member of the State of Nebraska Behavioral Health Oversight Commission; and a member of the Creighton University Law School Advisory Council.

Howard was born in Monroe, Wisconsin on December 11, 1943. He is a Loras College graduate and received a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in 1968. He is married and has four children. He and his family moved to Scottsbluff in 1970 after serving his country in the United States Army from 1968-1970. Howard has been active in his church and the community since arriving.  Howard is a past President of the Scottsbluff/Gering Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, on the Board of Directors of TeamMates, a Trustee and member of the St. Agnes Parish Council, a member of the State of Nebraska Behavioral Health Oversight Commission and a member of the Creighton University Law School Advisory Council. He was President of the Scottsbluff-Gering United Way in 1974, President of the Scottsbluff-Gering Lions Club in 1976, President of the Scottsbluff Family YMCA in 1983 and President of the Western Nebraska Community College Foundation since 1989.

Cases:

Armstrong v. Hartford Life Insurance Company, 219 Neb. 128, 361 N.W. 511 (Neb. 1985)

Cockreham v. Wyoming Products Credit Ass'n, 743 P.2d 869 (Wyo. 1987)

Lawrence v. Farm Credit System Capital Corp., 761 P2.d 640 (Wyo. 1988)

Carroll v. Wyo., 755 P.2d 869 (Wyo 1988)

Giove v. Stanko, 882 F.2d 1316 (C.A.8 Neb. 1989)

Nelson v. Production Credit Ass'n of The Midlands, 729 F.Supp 677 (D.Neb. 1989)

Mauler v. Pathfinder Irr. District, 244 Neb. 217, 505 N.W. 2d 691 (Neb. 1993)

Bluffs Vision Clinic, P.C. v. Krzwzanowski, Neb. 116; 555 N.W.2d 556 (1996)

Burlington Northern v. Santa Fe Ry. V. Chaulk, 262 Neb. 235; 631 N.W.2d 131

Current Employment Position(s):
President/Managing Shareholder
Areas of Practice:
35% Business & Commercial
35% Employment & Civil Rights
30% Municipal
Litigation Percentage:
70% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Nebraska, 1968
U.S. District Court District of Nebraska, 1968
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1992
Wyoming, 1989
U.S. District Court District of Wyoming, 1989
Education:
Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, 1968
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence


Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, 1965
B.A., Bachelor in Arts
Major:  History


Representative Cases:
Giove v. Stanko, 882 F.2d 1316 (C.A.8 Neb. 1989)
Nelson v. Production Credit Ass'n of The Midlands, 729 F.Supp 677 (D.Neb. 1989)
Lawrence v. Farm Credit System Capital Corp., 761 P2.d 640 (Wyo. 1988)
Carroll v. Wyo., 755 P.2d 869 (Wyo 1988)
Armstrong v. Hartford Life Insurance Company, 219 Neb. 128, 361 N.W. 511 (Neb. 1985)
Mauler v. Pathfinder Irr. District, 244 Neb. 244 Neb. 217 505 N.W. 2d 691 (Neb. 1993)
Cockreham v. Wyoming Products Credit Ass'n, 743 P.2d 869 (Wyo. 1987)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Municipal Clerks Legal Update, Nebraska Municipal Clerks Association, 1995 - Present


Municipal Liability of Mosquito Control, League of Nebraska Municipalities, 1999


Lender Liability, Nebraska Bank Attorneys, 1989


Solo & Small Firm Practice, Nebraska CLE, 1998


Honors and Awards:
Geroge H. Turner Award for Dedication to the Legal Profession, 1993 - Present


YMCA Volunteer of the Year


Melvin Jones Fellow - Lions International


Professional Associations and Memberships:
West Nebraska Bar Association
Member


Wyoming State Bar Association
Member


American Bar Association
Member


Scotts Bluff County Bar Association
Member


Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys
Member


Nebraska State Bar
(President 1996 - 1997)


Nebraska State Bar
(Chair, House of Delegates 1988 - 1989)


Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Alpha Delta