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Policyholders nationwide are frustrated with the insurance industry in general. The recent murder of one of the nation’s largest healthcare insurers by a disgruntled policyholder is just one glaring example.[1] Or consider the 26.4% premium increase homeowners across the country experienced over the past three years on average.[2] Here in Wisconsin, homeowners saw their premiums jump 21.4% on average since 2018. While policyholder dissatisfaction is certainly expected in the wake of national headlines and skyrocketing premiums, it…
Continue Reading Climate Change: Are Insurers Really ‘Covering Less’?

Brian M. Cooley is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s transactional practice group. Brian advises clients in the areas of business organization, business and corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate.
Where are you from?

I was born in California and raised in North Carolina and Texas before settling in Wisconsin in 1999. I currently live in Menomonee Falls.
What was your first job?

I did IT Support and light graphics work for a small television production company.
Do …
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Brian M. Cooley

Oftentimes, when an insured sues their insurance company for not providing benefits the insured believes they are entitled to under their policy, the insured alleges that the insurance company breached the applicable contract and did so in bad faith. Wisconsin law makes clear that breach of contract and bad faith are distinctly separate claims, with different elements that the insured must establish.

Wisconsin first recognized the tort of bad faith in the state Supreme Court’s seminal decision in the…
Continue Reading Standards for Insurance Bad Faith Under Wisconsin Law

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Hailey M. Anick is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. She represents insurers and their insureds in various matters, including general liability and insurance coverage issues.
Where are you from?
Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
What was your first job?
Barista.
Do you have any hobbies?
I’m an avid political podcast listener. Some of my favorites are “The 538 Politics Podcast” and “The Run-Up.”
What is something on your bucket list?
Travel to Prague!
Why did you become an attorney?
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Hailey M. Anick

Mark D. Malloy is a trial lawyer who represents businesses in all types of commercial litigation, primarily advising companies in the areas of insurance coverage, extra-contractual liability, and professional liability.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Milwaukee.
What was your first job?
In high school and college, I worked as on the grounds crew at a local country club. It was a great experience, taught me great discipline working at 5:30 a.m. every morning, and…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Mark D. Malloy

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David W. McCormack is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. He represents businesses and insurers in a variety of matters ranging from basic contract disputes and collections to complex insurance coverage litigation.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Brookfield, Wisconsin and attended Marquette University High School.
What was your first job?
I worked at the local pool as a lifeguard. There are many, many songs I can’t hear without picturing a hot summer day at…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – David W. McCormack

Pamela J. Tillman

Pamela J. Tillman, a Shareholder Attorney at Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C., has built a remarkable career in the legal field, particularly in representing businesses in complex litigation matters. With a focus on insurance coverage issues, commercial litigation, employment disputes, and professional liability, Pam has developed a reputation for her deep understanding of the intricacies of litigation.

Reflecting on her journey, Pam offers a wealth of advice to younger colleagues, sharing the lessons she wishes she had…
Continue Reading What I Wish I’d Known – Thought Leadership with Pam J. Tillman

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Jacob A. Sosnay is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. His practice focuses on representing insurers and their insureds in civil matters and civil rights litigation in federal court.
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What was your first job?
Custodian (we said janitor back then) at an auto mechanic shop summer before 8th grade.
Do you have any hobbies?
Many. Soccer, Hurling, Curling, avid consumer of live music (concerts big and small),…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Jacob A. Sosnay

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Internal Revenue Code § 83 governs the taxation of property (e.g., stock, restricted stock units, or stock options) transferred in connection with the performance of services. Generally, the property is included in the recipient’s gross income (valued at fair market value minus any amounts paid for the property) when it is transferable or no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture.” In the case of stock subject to vesting requirements, the stock will be included in gross income…
Continue Reading Navigating the 83(b) Election: Risks and Rewards of Early Taxation

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Randal J. Brotherhood is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s transactional group. He devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing businesses and their owners, as well as tax-exempt organizations, foundations and trade associations, on a wide range of matters, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, various types of commercial transactions, and intellectual property matters.
Where are you from?
I was born in Tampa, Florida on the McDill Air Force Base, where my Dad was serving as an Air Force…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Randal J. Brotherhood

Typesetting Blocks

“Typography matters because it helps conserve the most valuable resource you have as a writer—reader attention.” Matthew Butterick — Typography for Lawyers.

Lawyers, especially appellate lawyers, spend a lot of time on content and organization. But often when it comes to font and other typographical issues, it is easy to settle for the default—like Times New Roman, bold a few headings, and call it a day. Lawyers often perceive this as the “safe” choice.

Typography is more than what…
Continue Reading Not Just a Matter of Looking Pretty—Why Typography Matters in Legal Writing

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Alyssa N. Chojnacki is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. She represents insurers and their insureds in various matters, including general liability and insurance coverage issues.
Where are you from?
Lake Orion, MI
What was your first job?
Summer Camp Counselor
What are your hobbies?
Running, hiking, and anything else that gets me outside. I also enjoy reading, watching reality tv, and spending as much time as possible with other people’s dogs as possible until I can…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Alyssa N. Chojnacki

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Adam J. Tutaj is a shareholder of the firm and concentrates his practice in the areas of business, tax and health law.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised outside of Baltimore, Maryland, before moving to Buffalo, NY for a couple of years, and then Coventry, Rhode Island for several years after that. I came to Milwaukee for college in 1992 and have been here ever since.
What was your first job?
My first job was as…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Adam J. Tutaj

On May 6, 2024, attorneys Michael J. Cohen, David W. McCormack, and Caleb R. Gerbitz secured a victory for their clients in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
In Denis Navratil, et al. v. City of Racine, et al., plaintiffs sued the City of Racine and its Mayor after the City denied a city-funded COVID-19 small business emergency grant application submitted by Dimple’s LLC, a store in Racine. The grant application was denied on the basis that…
Continue Reading Shareholder Michael J. Cohen Affirmed by Seventh Circuit

In the business world, there is always the risk of litigation–even for small businesses. Unfortunately, as a business continues its operations, the possibility of litigation turns from an “if” to a “when.” Litigation can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. Here are some basic considerations that can help mitigate the risk of litigation for a small business.

1. Put it in writing in definite terms.

As stated in Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come. . .”…
Continue Reading Mitigating Litigation Risk for Small Businesses

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Alexander C. Lemke is an attorney in Meissner Tierney’s litigation practice group. He focuses on assisting clients in complex commercial, intellectual property, regulatory, insurance, and employment litigation.
Where are you from?
I was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. But, due to my Dad’s career we moved around the country quite a bit when I was younger so I lived in Columbus, Ohio, Richmond, Virginia, and New Hampshire, before we moved back to Wisconsin when I was ten years old.
What…
Continue Reading Attorney Spotlight – Alexander C. Lemke