Author to Receive Wisconsin Lawyer Award for Analysis on Groundwater Legal Developments
Christa Westerberg, U.W. 2002, is the 2015 recipient of the Hon. Charles Dunn Author Award, presented annually by the State Bar Communications Committee.
Westerberg is being honored for her exceptionally timely and informative article, “Groundwater: Diminishing Resource, Increasing Conflict” (July 2015). In selecting the article, the committee said, “this article provides highly timely and nuanced analysis on recent legal developments surrounding one of the most significant public policy issues affecting Wisconsin. Ms. Westerberg guides readers through the legislative, agency, and judicial development of this application of the public trust doctrine. She deftly summarizes the interaction between the string of case decisions and legislative proposals to shape the doctrine in the context of high-capacity well permits. This excellent article enhances every Wisconsin lawyer’s understanding of this complex and fascinating issue.”
Westerberg is a shareholder at McGillivray, Westerberg & Bender LLC, Madison. The firm’s emphasis is in environmental, civil rights, and open government law. She has represented citizens’ groups and other entities in high-capacity well permitting actions.
The Dunn award, named after Wisconsin’s first chief justice, recognizes writing excellence in Wisconsin Lawyer articles.
The Communications Committee also awarded certificates of commendation to the following authors:
Professor Michael M. O’Hear, Yale 1996, for his article “Let the Good Time Roll: Early Release for Good Behavior in Prison” (March 2015), which offers a thoughtful, comprehensive historical context and insightful reasoning to inform the legal community and policymakers in the search for solutions to the increasing fiscal and human costs of mass incarceration in our state and country.
O’Hear is a professor at Marquette University Law School. Before joining the Marquette faculty, he practiced civil and criminal litigation with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Chicago
Justin M. Mertz, Marquette 2008, Kail J. Decker, Marquette 2008, and Benjamin P. Payne, Marquette 2002 for their article “Foreclosures in Limbo: Zombie Properties” (Oct. 2015). This article is informative, extremely timely, and uniquely entertaining. The trio of authors provides a good balance of the perspectives of all stakeholders on a growing legal problem in our state. They effectively impart a depth of understanding and an engaging analysis of foreclosures in limbo.
Mertz practices with Kerkman & Dunn, Milwaukee, focusing on business litigation, real estate, foreclosure defense, and representing debtors in chapter 11 cases and workouts. He provided the homeowner’s perspective in this article.
Decker is a Milwaukee assistant city attorney, focusing on nuisance abatement, municipal law, and litigation. He provided the city’s perspective.
Payne is a partner at Hanson & Payne LLC, Milwaukee, representing financial institutions in collection litigation and serving as bankruptcy counsel for individuals and companies. He provided the lender’s perspective.
The Hon. Michael J. Aprahamian, Yale 1992, and Jesse L. Beringer, Marquette 2013, for their article “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind: Deposition Ethics and Best Practices” (May 2015), which is chock full of substantive and specific pointers to guide both new and experienced lawyers on the current climate and culture of deposition practices. Readers come away with valuable ideas on the best ways to ensure the most effective depositions while avoiding exposure to sanctions. This article is a must-read for anyone litigating in Wisconsin courts.
Aprahamian is a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge and former partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, where he was a commercial litigator and the firm’s partner in charge of ethics training.
Beringer is with Foley & Lardner LLP, Washington, D.C., and practices in the firm’s business litigation and dispute resolution practice group.
To learn how you, too, can contribute to Wisconsin Lawyer. Contact Managing Editor Karlé Lester, klester@wisbar.org, (608) 250-6127; and see the writing guidelines.
New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Keith H. Heidmann, Marquette 2007, and Charles L. Leeck, U.W. 2000, have joined Boyle Fredrickson S.C., Milwaukee. Heidmann’s practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the chemical and biotechnical arts for research institutions and start-ups and includes the counsel, evaluation, and communication of complex intellectual property issues. Leeck’s practice focuses on the biological, pharmaceutical, and chemical arts and includes preparing and prosecuting patent applications and developing patent portfolio strategies, conducting intellectual property evaluations, and due-diligence reviews.
Louis B. Butler Jr., U.W. 1977, has joined DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C. in the Brookfield office. Most recently, he practiced with another law firm and before then, was a public defender, a municipal judge, and a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Butler focuses on litigation, including construction matters, appellate law, and environmental issues.
Jeffrey DeMeuse, Marquette 1986, Adam Fitzpatrick, Minnesota 2014, and Alexander Hall, Marquette 2014, have joined Corneille Law Group L.L.C. DeMeuse, with the Green Bay office, focuses on litigation and trial work, with an emphasis on insurance defense, including personal injury, medical malpractice, coverage litigation, and products liability. Fitzpatrick, with the Madison office, focuses in health care, medical malpractice, and general liability matters. He previously was law clerk for three Dane County circuit court judges. Hall, with the Green Bay office, focuses on civil litigation, including medical malpractice and general liability defense. He previously was a law clerk to Justice Michael J. Gableman on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Sandra L. Hupfer, U.W. 1984, has been promoted to vice president of casualty claims at SECURA Insurance Cos., Appleton. She previously was director of casualty claims.
Jerilyn Jacobs, Cornell 1998, has joined Lindner & Marsack, Milwaukee, as a partner. Her practice focuses on defending employers in discrimination, harassment, tort, and contract lawsuits before federal and state courts and administrative agencies and counseling employers on complex day-to-day issues, compliance with federal, state and local laws, and best practices. Jacobs also defends plan administrators, insurers, and employers in ERISA litigation matters in federal court. She previously was with Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan.
Sherry A. Knutson, Chicago-Kent 1996, has joined the new Chicago office of Tucker Ellis LLP, 233 S. Wacker Drive, and focuses on products liability and toxic tort cases.
Andrew McDonald, Marquette 2011, has been promoted to shareholder at McDonald Law Office S.C., Janesville. He focuses on plaintiffs’ personal injury work and also accepts court appointments to represent parents in CHIPS cases.
Bruce Rosen, U.W. 1971, and Thomas Griesheimer, U.W. 2013, have joined Murphy Desmond S.C. in the Madison office. Rosen, formerly of Rosen Law Offices, is experienced in criminal defense and professional license defense. He spent 19 years with the Office of Lawyer Regulation and represents individuals and companies subject to federal or state criminal investigations. Griesheimer focuses on general and commercial litigation, business law, and start-ups. He recently spearheaded efforts to pass the alpine sports statute in Wisconsin for downhill ski businesses.
John E. Murray, Iowa 1991, has become corporate vice president of human resources for the Marcus Corp., a publicly traded company that owns and operates movie theatres, hotels, and resorts in 12 states.
Christina L. Ruud, Marquette 2006, has been named a partner at Rose & deJong S.C., Milwaukee. She continues to focus on commercial and residential real estate and corporate law.
Blayne Nicole Steinkraus, U.W. 2014, has joined Davczyk & Varline LLC, Wausau, as an associate, focusing on defense of insurance companies and all forms of civil litigation.
Lindsey Streicher, William Mitchell 2015 cum laude, has joined Brownson & Linnihan PLLP, Minneapolis, focusing on insurance coverage, products liability, and asbestos defense.
Charles A. Walgreen, Marquette 2013, has joined Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA, a full-service creditors’ rights law firm, in its Chicago office, focusing on legal collections. His experience includes residential and commercial mortgage foreclosures in default and contested matters, and municipal building court actions, receiverships, evictions, and lender-liability defense matters.
Lindsey M. White, Western Michigan 2011, has joined Probst Law Offices, Milwaukee, as an associate. White practices a full spectrum of family law including divorce, separation, child support, custody, adoptions, and guardianships. Her estate planning work encompasses wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. She previously was with Thorpe & Christian, Delavan, and was municipal prosecutor for the village of Fontana.
David B. Carr, Marquette 2006, and Cynthia G. Fletcher, Marquette 1997, have joined the Milwaukee office of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. Carr, a member of the business and commercial litigation team, is experienced in complex commercial litigation at the state and federal levels, including insurance defense, contract disputes, construction claims, products liability, and medical malpractice defense.
Fletcher, a member of the commercial finance and public finance teams, assists financial institutions and borrowers in structuring, documenting, negotiating, and closing secured and unsecured commercial financing transactions. She has extensive experience with credit facilities of all sizes and types, including single lender and syndicated commercial loans, asset-based financings, letter of credit facilities, mezzanine or subordinated debt financings, construction loans, multistate real estate portfolio loans, and credit enhancements for tax exempt and revenue bonds.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
Michelle F. Achterberg, William Mitchell 2011, has opened Achterberg Welch Law Office LLC, 310 Pinnacle Way, Suite 100, Eau Claire, focusing exclusively on civil litigation matters, including family law, employment law, personal injury, and small business litigation. Achterberg formerly was an associate with Guelzow Law Offices Ltd., with which Achterberg Welch Law Office LLC is affiliated, and the firms continue to co-counsel complex personal injury and products liability cases.
Dana Duncan, Marquette 1989, announces that Duncan Disability Law S.C. has moved from Wisconsin Rapids to 555 Birch St., Nekoosa. The firm continues to concentrate in Social Security disability, worker’s compensation, and elder law matters. Also with the firm is Jonathan Blum, U.W. 2006.
Appointments, Elections
Charles P. Fischbach, U.W. 1967, a former commissioner with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, has been elected to the board of Housing Choice Partners of Illinois, which promotes racial and economic diversity in housing to provide minority and low-income residents access to greater employment opportunities and their children access to better performing schools.
Tracey Klein, Marquette 1984 cum laude, was unanimously confirmed to a seat on the U.W. System Board of Regents by the Wisconsin State Senate. She is a partner with Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c., Milwaukee, and focuses on providing legal counsel to health care providers and organizations.
Daniel Finerty, Marquette 1998,
Chelsie Springstead, Marquette 2008, and Melissa Stone, Marquette 2007, all partners, have joined the leadership team at Lindner & Marsack S.C., a management, labor, and employment law firm. Thomas Mackenzie, Marquette 1980,has become the firm’s president.
Finerty focuses on defense of discrimination, retaliation, and harassment claims and health-care retaliation claims under Wisconsin’s Health Care Worker Protection Act and other employment litigation matters. Springstead focuses on worker’s compensation defense, employment defense, subrogation, and Medicare-
related issues. Stone practices exclusively in worker’s compensation defense and Wis. Stat. section 102.29 subrogation claims. Mackenzie counsels unionized and nonunion clients in various aspects of labor and employment law.
Kevin McCrindle, Loyola-Chicago 1975, has been elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) board of regents and reelected to the board of the College’s Foundation. ACTEC is the leading trust and estate organization contributing to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching, and bar leadership activities. McCrindle practices in family wealth transfers, succession planning, and probate and trust administration in Waterloo, Iowa.
Timothy Trecek,Marquette 1993, has joined the board of the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. He is a shareholder, member of the firm’s executive committee, and managing partner of the Milwaukee and West Bend offices at Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.
Authors, Speakers
Thomas Domer, U.W. 1983, presented “Worker’s Compensation Case/Claim Evaluation” at the ABA Labor & Employment, Tort Trial & Insurance Section seminar in New Orleans in March. He represents insured workers at Domer Law, Milwaukee
Awards, Degrees, Honors
An article by Bonnie Shucha, U.W. 2014,“Engaging the Third Sovereign: The Nature, Reach, and Sources of Tribal Law,” which appeared in the Wisconsin Lawyer in May 2015, received the inaugural Professional Publication Award from the American Association of Law Libraries Government Law Libraries Special Interest Section. Shucha is associate director for public services at the U.W. Law Library, Madison.
Chuttie Senn, U.W. 1980, received a 2015 Outstanding Survivor Service Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in recognition of his work on the team that created and implemented the first permanent housing mission FEMA has done in the continental United States. The team assembled the data, justification, and factual and legal arguments to support FEMA’s decision to provide new homes for members of the Oglala Sioux Nation whose homes were uninhabitable and could not feasibly be made habitable as a result of storms in 2015. The number of homes to be provided is also the largest permanent housing project ever undertaken by FEMA and the largest ever done on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Pro Bono, Public Service
Habush Habush & Rottier has teamed up for the 2016 Brewers season to support Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. With each extra base hit by a Milwaukee Brewer player at Miller Park during the 2016 regular season, the firm will make a $100 gift to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin.
In Memoriam
John Kingsbury Bartosz, New York Univ. 1996, Delafield, Dec. 26, 1968 – March 29, 2016.
Megan E. Correll, Denver 2003, Madison, Jan. 8, 1976 – Aug. 23, 2015.
Frank A. Dvorak, Minnesota 1967, Buckeye, Ariz., Nov. 4, 1942 – Feb. 28, 2016.
James R. Eilman, Marquette 1968, Temecula, Calif., July 28, 1943 – March 3, 2016.
Everett B. Hale, U.W. 1963, Medford, Sept. 24, 1932 – Aug. 19, 2015.
James A. Kemmeter, U.W. 1968, Madison, Feb. 7, 1938 – March 12, 2016.
Kenneth R. Loebel, U.W. 1958, Summerfield, Fla., July 9, 1931 – Feb. 25, 2016.
Lawrence V. Salutz, U.W. 1954, Manitowoc, Jan. 1, 1926 – March 6, 2016.
Michael T. Sheedy, Marquette 1979, Milwaukee, Feb. 15, 1954 – March 27, 2016.
Christopher S. Spencer, U.W. 1972, Madison, April 29, 1946 – Dec. 19, 2015.
David Lee Tilden, Miami 2007, Duluth, Sept. 9, 1979 – March 7, 2016.
How to Place your Announcement
If you have moved, become a partner or an associate, or received a promotion or an award, let us know. Talks, speeches (unless they are of national stature), honors from other publications, and political announcements are not accepted. Notices about State Bar members in good standing are printed as space is available, and at no cost, must be submitted in writing, and may be edited. Questions: (608) 250-6139.
Photo placement: Submit a professional-quality photo. If the photo is used, the State Bar will issue an invoice ($30 each). Group photos are not accepted. High-resolution electronic photos are preferred.
Deadline: The first of the month preceding publication. For example, to place an announcement in the May issue, it must be received before April 1. Email to: MembersOnly@wisbar.org. Include your State Bar membership number.
