Allen M. Ratkowski

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ALLEN M. RATKOWSKI

In between 5 years of challenging and enriching Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judicial Clerkships for the well-renowned Presiding Judge Paul Gartzke and, more recently, for the esteemed Chief Judge Lisa Neubauer, I litigated for 20 years most stripes of civil actions for Piper & Schmidt, entailing investigations, client meetings, document reviews, legal and coverage opinions, strategy, pleadings, written discovery, court conferences and hearings, expert retention, depositions, briefs, and appeals. • Managed high-exposure, complicated, varied suits, e.g, product liability, workplace safety, design and construction defects, vehicular accidents, coverage, administrative and statutory compliance, subrogation, misrepresentation, breach of contract, bad faith, and all types of damages. • Developed special skills in difficult coverage issues, complex legal analysis and strategy, liability and damage evaluation, legal writing, client communications, and interacting with experts. • Administered firm programs, e.g, hiring associates/staff and implementing health, property, and malpractice insurance plans.* Sampling of appellate cases: Bethke v. Auto-Owners Ins, 2013 WI 16, 345 Wis. 2d 533; Melby v. Metropolitan Prop, No. 2013AP12, slip op.(WI App Feb. 12, 2015); Ritter v. Penske Trucking, 2013 WI App 13, 345 Wis. 2d 846; Kainz v. Ingles, 2007 WI App 118, 300 Wis. 2d 670; Continental West. Ins. v. Paul Reid, LLP, 2006 WI App 89, 292 Wis. 2d 674 (won upstate 12-person jury trial); Lemon v. Economy Prem, 2004 WI App 220, 277 Wis. 2d 590 (unpublished opinion); Society Ins. v. Capitol Indem. Corp, 2003 WI App 61, 260 Wis. 2d 549; and McAdams, Inc. v. Transportation Ins, 212 Wis. 2d 243, 568 N.W.2d 785 (Ct. App. 1997).* Sampling of circuit co).urt cases: Kellner v. Advance Cast Stone, Milwaukee Cty. Case No. 2011CV1007 concrete slab fell, killing a teenager and injuring others at O’Donnell Park Parking facility; we defended the construction manager); Martinez v. Calimlim, 739 F. Supp.2d 1142 (E.D. Wis. 2010)(husband-and-wife doctors enslaved the plaintiff for 19 years; we represented the doctors’ 18-year homeowners and umbrella insurers); Brooks v. General Cas, 619 F. Supp. 2d 599 (E.D. Wis. 2008)(explosion killed husband-and-wife attorneys and seriously injured their children at the Cedar Grove Resort, our client; our summary judgment motion dismissed the statutory strict liability claim); and Reynolds v. LeMay Buick, Inc, 2007 WL (E.D. Wis. 2007)(our summary judgment motion dismissed a potential FCRA suit).