A colleague of mine, friend and great attorney in Wisconsin, Jonathan Groth, noted the signs of an attorney who listens and cares on his blog here when he said: I just finished a jury trial in Milwaukee County. During the trial preparation my client and I were talking about how long we’ve known each other. I was the attorney that answered the phone when he called in the very first time soon after the collision. He Read More
Insurance Company? Witnesses? Should You Talk to them?
After an auto or other accident (auto, malpractice, slip and fall--or any incident such as a breach of contract, sexual harassment incident, assault and battery, nursing home negligence and abuse or any incident you can possibly imagine), insurance companies will most likely be the first to contact you. Next, will be other individuals or entities--all trying to investigate and obtain information to build a defense Read More
PASSION – INTEGRITY – TRUST – RESULTS
PASSION - INTEGRITY - TRUST - RESULTS Taking a personal injury matter where a man, a woman or a child has been injured (slightly or significantly) requires, first and foremost, passion and empathy. If a lawyer cannot truly understand the suffering (again, small or significant) that another human being is enduring, the lawyer cannot demonstrate or exhibit to every person, insurance company and, ultimately, the jury Read More
Whistleblower? Do You Have a Case to Combat Governmental Fraud?
If you suspect false billings or fraud against the U.S. or State Government, you may have a "whistleblower" case or "qui tam" lawsuit in which you may be able to share in the recovery of any award private attorneys or the U.S. Department of Justice recover. Take the quiz and contact us for a free, confidential consultation: Do you know whether the knowledge you have involves cheating of the Federal or State Read More
Billions Stolen by Medicare Fraud Every Year…Blow the Whistle!
According to the United States Department of Justice, billions are stolen from taxpayers each year due to health care fraud. In fact: Medicare fraud schemes have grown bolder and more elaborate, resulting in billions of dollars in false billings and fraud schemes which are robbing Medicare and Medicaid blind and leaving our most vulnerable citizens at risk. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Read More
$2.3 Billion False Claims Act Settlement-Largest in U.S. History
Pfizer and a subsidiary recently settled a case with the U.S. Government to pay over $2.3 Billion to settle False Claims Act cases against them--the largest settlement in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice. Six "whistleblowers" or "relators" will be paid more than $102 Million of the recovery for reporting and uncovering the frauds. Contact us if you learn of a false/fraudulent scheme. You may be able to Read More
Winning a Jury Trial: Keep it Simple…
In a well-written article by the New Jersey Lawyer, the old saying rings true: If you want to win over the jury, keep it simple. Jurors don't want to hear long dissertations on the law with "high-brow" words and fancy legal terms; jurors want to hear plain, everyday language--and in short statements or arguments. One attorney in the article summed it up perfectly: Talk to the least-educated, dumbest juror you have. Read More
Interference with a relationship or contract?
If someone or another business attempts to interfere with a relationship that you are entering into with another business or customer, or in fact diverts that relationship, you or your business may have a claim against that individual or business for intentional interference with a business expectancy--or interference with "prospective economic advantage." In general, 4 elements must exist to prove this tort: (1) a Read More
Sales Rep? Commission Due?
There is a little known law in Illinois called the "Illinois Sales Representative Act" which states that a "principal" who fails to timely make commission payments to a "sales represenative" is liable in a civil action for "exemplary damages" not exceeding 3 times the amount of the commissions owed to the sales representative and states that the principal "shall pay the sales representative's reasonable attorney's Read More
Attorneys’ Fees & Costs Under the IL Sales Rep Act
At least one Illinois Court has interpreted the mandatory award of attorneys' fees and costs in the event a principal fails to timely pay commissions due a sales rep. That Court found that the award of attorneys' fees and costs was not punitive in nature but was "compensatory." See Maher and Assoc., Inc. v. Quality Cabinets, 267 Ill.App.3d 69, 640 N.E.2d 1000 (2nd Dist. 1994). Therefore, principals beware--not only Read More
