What to Do if You Are Facing Federal Charges for Healthcare Fraud
 Posted on April 20, 2025 in White Collar CrimesFacing federal charges for healthcare fraud is a serious situation that can result in long-term consequences, including prison time, fines, loss of licensure, and exclusion from federal healthcare programs. Federal prosecutors take these allegations seriously and dedicate extensive resources to investigating and pursuing cases. If you have learned you are under investigation or have already been charged,
Continue Reading What to Do if You Are Facing Federal Charges for Healthcare Fraud

The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act prohibits discrimination based on an employee or prospective employee’s arrest and conviction record. However, an arrest or conviction record can still create a significant employment barrier for individuals. Wisconsin law allows some individuals to seek relief from the collateral consequences of certain arrests and convictions through pardons, expungement, and arrest record removal. 
 
Pardons 
Article V, section 6 of the Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the exclusive authority to grant pardons, except in
Continue Reading Overcoming Employment Barriers: Pardons, Expungement, and Arrest Record Removal in Wisconsin

If you’re getting Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits, you might wonder: can I work part-time when I’m on Long-Term Disability?  
The answer is usually yes! Long-Term Disability policies are all different and so it’s important to consult the terms of your specific policy (also called the “plan documents.”) If you don’t have a copy of the policy terms, you should be able to obtain them from either the Long-Term Disability insurance company or your employer. The plan documents are
Continue Reading The Hidden Dangers of Working Part-Time While on Long-Term Disability

March was another slow month, but brought a couple of cases potentially relevant to our practice with respect to a delayed search of a cell phone, the use of suggestive lineups, the constitutionality of laws governing short-barreled rifles, and an argument that the Sixth Amendment applies to criminal restitution orders:
United States of America v. Jaron Jay JacksonNo. 23-3205: This is an interesting Fourth Amendment case involving the search of a cell phone. Jackson was arrested and
Continue Reading Seventh Circuit Cases for March

When my father passed away a few years ago, my family and I gathered at his home to start the difficult process of sorting through his belongings. Between the photo albums, old love letters to my mom, and vintage Cubs memorabilia, we found something no one expected — a shoebox filled with cash.
At first, we laughed. Then we looked at each other and asked, Wait… what do we do with this?
If you’ve ever been in this situation
Continue Reading I Found Cash In My Dad’s Closet- Here’s What You Should Know

On July 17, 2024, the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruled on a case challenging whether it was legal to prevent recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) from also receiving Wisconsin unemployment compensation benefits. The court held that the state law that automatically prevented SSDI recipients from receiving unemployment compensation benefits violated federal law that protects disabled people. As a result, the SSDI eligibility ban has been found to discriminate against disabled
Continue Reading SSDI eligibility ban in Wisconsin is illegal

Winnebago County v. J.D.M., 2024AP1601, 4/16/25, District II (1-judge decision, ineligible for publication); case activity
COA affirms the circuit court’s orders recommitting J.D.M. (referred to as “Josh”) for twelve months and authorizing involuntarily administering medication. A jury found Josh mentally ill, a proper subject for treatment, and dangerous to himself or others. Josh argues on appeal that the county did not present sufficient evidence at trial to prove that he was dangerous under § 51.20(1)(a)2.c., d., or e,
Continue Reading COA affirms third standard (2.c.) ch. 51 appeal due to abnormal neck movements and previous food restriction

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By Attorney Gregg HermanApril 17, 2025


With a lump or two in my throat, I’m going to address one of the most difficult issues in the area of law — the complicated situation of those suffering with mental health conditions who are involved in our legal system. I am certainly not going to solve any problems or, unusual for me, even propose a solution. This article is simply my
Continue Reading Mental health and the law

Oconomowoc School District v. Cota., 2025 WI 11, 4/10/25
In a case tangentially related to defense practice, SCOW clarifies that a Wisconsin statute prohibiting employment discrimination based on arrest records applies to non-criminal offenses, such as an allegation of theft prosecuted in municipal court.

“Subject to limited exceptions, an employer may not terminate an employee because of the employee’s arrest record.” (¶12). § 111.32(1) defines an arrest record as including:
information indicating that an individual has
Continue Reading SCOW clarifies that law protecting employees from discrimination based on arrest records applies to non-criminal offenses

This spring, labor and employment attorneys and law students have been busy teaching employee rights and obligations to students in Madison.

Naomi R. Swain, U.W. 2021, is an associate attorney at
Hawks Quindel’s, Madison office. Her practice covers worker’s compensation, disability benefits, and family law. Under attorney supervision, U.W. Law School students in the Labor and Employment Student Association (LESA) spoke with high school students about basic employee rights. Similarly, labor and employment attorneys present to Certified
Continue Reading Attorneys and Law Students Present on Employment Rights

Many of us have boxes of old photos, home videos on VHS tapes, or cassette recordings tucked away in closets or basements. Wouldn’t it be nice to digitally preserve them and make them more accessible for friends and family?  Thankfully, Madison Public Library has you covered.
The Personal Archiving Lab at Madison’s Central Library provides equipment for digitizing various types of analog materials. This free service allows community members to convert their personal collections into digital formats that can
Continue Reading Digitize Those Old Photos and Videos at Madison Public Library’s Personal Archiving Lab

The State Bar’s Board of Governors invited Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn to give opening remarks at the Board’s meeting on April 11, 2025. He discussed the high cost of entering the legal profession coupled with the problem of legal deserts, and ideas to consider. He also discussed the politicization of the bar and other institutions, and threats to the constitutional order. Photos: Shannon Green.​

April 14, 2025 – Jill Creston Rothstein will become the State Bar of
Continue Reading State Bar Board Selects Next Executive Director, Approves FY 2026 Budget, Takes Other Action

The Delaware legislature has been moving quickly to ensure that Delaware remains the preeminent home of choice for many corporations by amending the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL). The comprehensive changes, known as SB 21, became law on March 25, 2025, when the Delaware House of Representatives passed the bill, and Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed it into law. A copy of SB 21 as finally adopted is available on the Delaware Legislature website. Delaware’s legislature and governor
Continue Reading Delaware Enacts Significant Changes to its General Corporation Law

On his first day in office, Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that was a shot across the bow to American wind energy production.

The executive order includes the following directives:

  • withdrawal from disposition all areas within the Offshore Continental Shelf (OCS) for wind energy leasing;
  • a halt in consideration of any area in the OCS for new or renewed wind energy leasing;
  • a temporary halt and immediate review of federal wind leasing and permitting practices;


Continue Reading Wisconsin’s Wind Energy Future Uncertain After Executive Order

We are taking a break from our regular briefing this week to focus on a list of trends we are seeing in the market. Take a look at our list—if we didn’t cover a trend you are seeing in the market, send us a note. We always enjoy hearing from our readers. As always, if we can be of service to your organization, please do not hesitate to reach out.

  • Alternative Financing Solutions – Hospital systems are increasingly focused

  • Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: Top 10 Real Estate Market Trends We’re Tracking

    Too many high-earning professionals and business owners think of estate planning as something to do “someday”—after retirement, after the kids are grown, after things slow down. But life doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment. Whether you’re running a practice, growing a business, or building generational wealth, the decisions you make today will shape what happens if life takes an unexpected turn. Estate planning isn’t about preparing for the end—it’s about protecting what you’ve built while you’re still here
    Continue Reading Why Estate Planning Isn’t Just for Retirement – It’s for Right Now