Wisconsin Litigation Skills for Legal Staff

In Brookfield, Wisconsin, on June 15, 2007, I will be moderating and speaking at Lorman's Litigation Skills for Legal Staff. The seminar is targeted to junior associates, paralegals and legal assistants who perform critical functions related to the maintenance and organization of the case, especially relating to discovery issues.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney

CNN exposes on insurance companies

Days ago I wrote how an insurer sued an 81-year-old for failing to shovel and showed other examples of what insurance companies want:
~ Premiums not claims
~ To deter valid lawsuits
~ People to hate lawyers so they never get one
~ You to feel guilt for making legitimate claims
~ You to think you're "not the kind of person who files a lawsuit"
~ Juries to think a person who files a suit is dishonest
~ Jurors minds made up before evidence is heard
~ Your rights minimized or removed
~ Their rights maximized and preserved
~ People to feel juries give away money
~ Verdicts for damages to be less then what is fair
~ Caps on damages to minimize your justice
~ Judges who will avoid holding them accountable

Anderson Cooper's 360 Blog for 2/7/07 is "Insurance companies fight paying billions in claims." CNN investigated "how Allstate handled the claim of one woman, Roxanne Martinez. Her car was hit in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her medical bills and lost wages added up to $25,000. Allstate offered $15,000 to settle." No surprise. Allstate's one of the worst! See my Personal Injury Attorney in Wisconsin FAQs and you'll see Allstate's Claims Manual has shown personal injury attorneys settle claims for 2.5-3.5 times more than those who do not have lawyers.

The Blog goes on: "Martinez's case represents what 10 of the top 12 auto insurance companies are doing to save money. And if you are in a minor impact crash and get hurt, former insurance industry insiders say, insurance companies will most likely try doing the same thing to you: delay handling your claim, deny you were hurt and defend their decision in drawn-out court battles. It's the three Ds: delay, deny and defend." (emphasis added)

"Roxanne Martinez didn't take it. She sued (with a lawyer I presume) and a jury awarded her $167,000 dollars." "Allstate is betting you won't wait, you won't sue and you'll take what you get and walk-away." Don't you take it, just get a good personal injury lawyer.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer

Insurer Sues 81-year-old Woman for Failing to Shovel

Insurance companies never cease to amaze. Today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports on how Wisconsin insurance company Sentry Insurance is suing an 81-year-old Brookfield woman because Sentry Insurance had to pay worker's compensation to a delivery person injured after falling on ice on the elderly woman's driveway.

I've explained about insurance companies paying doctors to dispute claims, denying Katrina victims claims, bullying people, and lying about a litigation explosion in Wisconsin, but Wisconsin-based Sentry Insurance, which in 2005 made $245,484,000.00, filed the case of Sentry Insurance vs. Anne Keipper, Waukesha County Case Number 2007CV000257, before the Honorable Judge Mark Gempeler, all because it had to pay a worker's compensation claim.

Sentry Insurance is just another reminder of what insurance companies want. Insurers want to use the system for their benefit, but don't want you too get justice. Insurers hire their lawyers, but don't want you too lawyers.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney

Bucher, Gatzke & Ruppelt Solicitations

Paul Bucher shops his letter of the law is in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discussing Attorney Bucher's "ambulance chasing" letters to those running for public office that essentially hold him out as an expert in Wisconsin election law, which I wouldn't doubt. I've commented before on how many Wisconsin personal injury lawyers send letters to car accident victims and on how a ban on such personal injury lawyers accident letters is proposed in New Jersey.

This attorney advertising seems more tasteful than those soliciting the injured but I wonder what's next. Bucher's firm, like many other law firms, Gatzke & Ruppelt, practices in many areas of the law. What's next probate lawyers reading obituaries and sending solicitations to families of the deceased? I wonder too if WTMJ 620's blogger turned radio talk show host, Bucher's wife, Jessica McBride, will say anything about the article written by her fellow Journal Communication's co-employee. She recently wrote an article touting her husband's work as Waukesha County's main criminal prosecutor, Bucher never shied away from doing what he thought was right.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer

Milwaukee Magazine Super Lawyers honor

Milwaukee Magazine Super Lawyers honored me in this month's issue. It's great to get this Rising Star designation, which means Wisconsin lawyers voted me into the top 2.5% of Wisconsin attorneys under age 40. However, I can honestly say my greatest "award" to date is CNI Newspapers readers naming me "Best Attorney." Why? Well, it's great if lawyers know your very good at your job, but I'd rather my clients feel that way.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney

Falls leading cause of death for over 65

Falls causing injury or death to senior citizens are far too common according to this article from the Washington Times: Accidental falls a leading cause of death over 65. Having handled numerous slip, trip & fall cases involving senior citizens, I was unfortunately well aware of the risk. Many of these cases involved hip fractures that resulted in hospitalization and temporary or permanent nursing home stays as well as permanent disability. Others, sadly involved wrongful death.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer

How to hire a personal injury lawyer

Ran into a Milwaukee criminal lawyer today. His firm handles drunk driving, misdemeanors and felonies in Milwaukee. The lawyer told me his law firm may "start advertising for Milwaukee personal injury cases." Thus, the lawyers there may dabble in Milwaukee personal injury cases even though they have never handled or tried a personal injury case in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin or elsewhere.

My strong recommendation is that you be cautious about relying on advertising as a way to find your personal injury lawyer. I strongly advise you to make sure your personal injury attorney is active in the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. I recommend that your lawyer is recongnized by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV® rated attorney and that your attorney speak on issues specifically addressing personal injury law. If you find a lawyer meeting these qualifications, then you are well on your way to finding a qualified Wisconsin personal injury lawyer.

Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney