New Hires, Promotions, Partners
Janel E. Bergsbaken, U.W. 2015, has joined Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth S.C., Elkhorn, as an associate, focusing on civil litigation.
Andrew J. Bezouska, Marquette 2004 cum laude, has joined DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, and its affiliate DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., as an associate. He is with the employee benefits, labor & employment, tax, and corporate practice groups.
Michael P. Erhard, Cincinnati 1973, Order of the Coif, has joined Fuhrman & Dodge S.C., Madison, as senior attorney. He litigates complex commercial cases in state and federal courts, including contract claims, shareholder disputes, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, patent infringement, construction, employment, and civil rights cases. Joining the firm as a contract shareholder is Jeanne M. Armstrong, U.W. 1993 cum laude, who continues to practice in commercial litigation. She also is on the executive committee of the James E. Doyle Chapter of the American Inns of Court.
Katherine Metzger, Marquette 2015, has joined Studinski Law LLC, Plover, working with clients statewide in plaintiff’s personal injury cases with special emphasis on cases involving truck and car wrecks, nursing home abuse and neglect, and insurance bad faith.
Carlos R. Pastrana, Puerto Rico 2003, has joined Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP, Milwaukee, as an associate, and is with the labor & employment group.
Andrea E. Reisbord, UCLA 1990, has joined Bassford Remele P.A., Minneapolis, and focuses on insurance and appellate law.
Charles Stone, Marquette Law 2009 cum laude, has become an associate in the Beijing office of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.
Mergers, Relocations, New Offices
John C. Cabaniss, Wayne State 1981, was recently admitted to the State Bar of Arizona and has opened an office at 4808 N. 24th St., Suite 150, Phoenix. He maintains his Milwaukee office and continues to focus on plaintiff’s legal malpractice and personal injury matters in both locations.
Centofanti Law S.C. has moved to 1035 W. Glen Oaks Lane, Suite 101, Mequon, WI 53092.
Jane Clark, U.W. 1995, and Mike Gotzler, U.W. 1997, have opened Clark & Gotzler, Attorneys at Law, with offices at N19 W24400 Riverwood Dr., Suite 350, Waukesha, and 10 E. Doty St., Suite 403, Madison. The firm focuses on employment law and human resources matters.
Jane E. Probst, Marquette 1990, has opened Probst Law Offices, 1011 N. Mayfair Rd., Suite 203, Wauwatosa, concentrating primarily in family law, divorce, custody, placement, child support, grandparents’ rights, paternity, guardianships, termination of parental rights, adoption, and equine law.
Appointments, Elections
Joseph T. Miotke, Marquette 1999, has been elected chair of the statewide leadership team of Project Lead the Way, with the mission to work with middle and high schools to prepare students to succeed in the increasingly high-tech and high-skill global economy. Miotke’s practice at DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C., Madison, focuses on intellectual property, patent litigation, and intellectual property transactions.
Awards, Degrees, Honors
Patrick O. Dunphy, Marquette 1976, cofounder of Cannon & Dunphy S.C., Brookfield, has received the President’s Award from the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ) for his efforts that resulted in a successful verdict in the trial of a Milwaukee gun dealer; a jury returned a $6 million verdict in favor of two Milwaukee police officers seriously injured after being shot by a gun the dealer sold to a straw buyer. This was the first successful verdict in the United States against a gun dealer since the 2005 enactment of the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The President’s Award honors the work of a WAJ member who helps improve the civil justice system or continues to ensure access to the courts for all and the right of trial by jury.
Trisha A. Fillbach, Hamline 2000, has received a 2015 Justice Management Division New Employee Award at the U.S. Department of Justice for outstanding service and significant contributions to the division and department. She is assistant director in the Office of Attorney Recruitment and Management, Washington, D.C.
Robert L. Jaskulski, Marquette 1988, shareholder and managing partner with Habush Habush & Rottier S.C., Milwaukee, received the Wisconsin Association for Justice’s Robert Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. As cochair of the association’s legislative task force, he led the fight to stop plans to eliminate the collateral source rule and he has pushed for substantial changes in the statute of limitation in personal injury and wrongful death actions and in the law with respect to informed-consent claims in medical malpractice cases. The award recognizes a Wisconsin trial lawyer who has made significant contributions to the trial bar by participation in a case leading to significant change in the law, a precedent-setting suit, or a project involving injured consumers.
Wayne Landsverk, U.W. 1972, received the 2015 Management Practitioner Award from the Oregon chapter of the Labor and Employment Research Association. This award recognizes Oregon labor-management relations practitioners whose accomplishments and approach to labor relations are widely admired by labor, management, and neutrals. Landsverk is a partner and leader of the employment law and labor relations team with Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP, Portland, Ore.
Jennifer Mikulina, U.W. 2001, McDermott Will & Emery LLP, Chicago, received the Pro Bono Services Provided by Individuals Award from the International Trademark Association. The award recognizes those who provide exemplary volunteer service to the association and to the public.
Gary M. Ruesch, Marquette 1980, is the 2015 recipient of the George Tipler Award for Distinguished Service in School Law, presented by the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association. The award recognizes outstanding advocacy on behalf of Wisconsin public schools. Ruesch is a shareholder with Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet LLC, Waukesha.
Judith Stern, U.W. 1982, received the 2015 Howard B. Eisenberg Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the 30-plus years she has dedicated to family law, as well as her unique style and determination to empower clients to the best of their ability. Judith is a staff attorney and Special Project Director at Wisconsin Judicare Inc., Wausau.
In Memoriam
Wayne R. Fulleylove-Krause, Marquette 1989, Chilton, March 10, 1953 – Oct. 5, 2015.
Mark Ginder, William Mitchell 1981, Minneapolis, April 26, 1953 – March 10, 2015.
Roy C. LaBudde, Harvard 1948, Milwaukee, July 21, 1921 – Sept. 20, 2015.
Donald R. Schroeder, U.W. 1952, Monona, Jan. 19, 1926 – Nov. 13, 2015.
Thomas J. Wirtz, Hamline 2008, Reedsburg, Feb. 26, 1953 – July 14, 2015.
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.
