Current Employment Position(s)

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Lawyer Overview

Jim Olson's experience is extensive as a litigator.  He became a Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Attorneys in 1987.  He has achieved great success handling products liability and personal injury cases.  His accomplishments include obtaining the first personal injury jury verdict in excess of $1 million in Dane County, the first personal injury verdict in excess of $1 million in Juneau County and the largest verdict, about $5.5 million, in the history of Dodge County.  In addition, he was lead counsel on a case that recovered $6.7 million for Tri-State homeowners - a case that involved six appeals and two reported opinions.

In addition to obtaining numerous substantial jury verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs, Jim Olson has been a tireless advocate on behalf of consumers who have been injured or whose rights have been otherwise violated.  He recognized a need and, in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin Madison, helped found the Consumer Law Clinic/Center for Public Representation.  The Clinic handles cases that would not otherwise be brought to court because either the plaintiffs have limited financial resources or the potential financial recovery for the attorneys and plaintiffs is small.  He served on the Advisory Board from 1996 to 1999.

Jim Olson served two terms on the Board for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers and served on the Public Intervenor Board of Directors for approximately ten years.

Jim Olson was a finalist in 2000 for the Wisconsin Trial Lawyer of the Year and was rated by Madison Magazine as one of Madison's Top Lawyers in Products Liability and Environmental Law in January 1994.

Areas of Practice

• Toxic Torts
• Products Liability Law
• Class Actions
• Insurance Coverage
• Consumer Law
• Personal Injury Litigation

Representative Cases

• Yao v. Chapman, 705 N.W.2d 272 (Wis.App. 2005)
• State v. Chvala, 693 N.W.2d 747 (Wis.App. 2005)
• State v. Jensen, 681 N.W.2d 230 (Wis.App. 2004)
• State v. Chvala, 678 N.W.2d 880 (Wis.App. 2004)
• State v. Chvala, 673 N.W.2d 401 (Wis.App. 2003)
• Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy, Inc. v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., 2003 WL 23221149 (W.D.Wis. 2003)
• Yao v. Board of Regents of UW System, 256 Wis.2d 941 (Wis.App. 2002)
• Insolia v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 128 F.Supp.2d 1220 (W.D. Wis. 2000)
• Insolia v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 53 F.Supp.2d 1032 (W.D. Wis. 1999)
• Insolia v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 186 F.R.D. 547 (W.D. Wis. 1999)
• Insolia v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 186 F.R.D. 535 (W.D. Wis. 1998)
• Insolia v. Phillip Morris, Inc., 31 F.Supp.2d 660 (W.D. Wis. 1998)
• Rozema v. Marshfield Clinic, 174 F.R.D. 425 (W.D. Wis. 1997)
• Tingley v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 1996 WL 413138 (W.D.Wash. 1996)
• Markweise v. Peck Foods Corp, 205 Wis.2d 208 (Wis.App. 1996)
• Anderson v. Regents of University of California, 203 Wis.2d 469 (Wis.App. 1996)
• Florin v. Nationsbank of Georgia, NA, 60 F.3d 1245 (C.A.7 (Wis.) 1995)
• Leverance v. PFS Corp., 193 Wis.2d 317 (Wis. 1995)
• Florin v. Nationsbank of Georgia, NA, 34 F.3d 560 (C.A. 7 (Wis.) 1994)
• City of Edgerton v. General Cas. Co. of Wisconsin, 184 Wis.2d 750 (Wis. 1994)
• Sauk County v. Grede Foundries, Inc., 145 F.R.D. 88 (E.D.Wis. 1992)
• City of Edgerton v. General Cas. Co. of Wisconsin, 172 Wis.2d 518 (Wis.App. 1992)
• Sauk County v. Grede Foundries, Inc., 145 F.R.D. 88 (E.D. Wis. 1992)
• Schneider v. U.S., 936 F.2d 956 (7th Cir.(Wis.) 1991)
• Leverence v. U.S. Fidelity & Guar., 158 Wis.2d 64 (Wis. App. 1990)
• Sisters of St. Mary v. AAER Sprayed Insulation, 151 Wis.2d 708 (Wis.App. 1989)
• Kottka v. PPG Industries, Inc., 130 Wis.2d 499 (Wis. 1986)
• Coplien v. Dept of Health and Social Services, 119 Wis.2d 52 (Wis.App. 1984)
• Qasem v. Kozarek, 716 F.2d 1172 (C.A. 7 (Wis.) 1983)
• Fields Foundation, Ltd. v. Christensen, 103 Wis.2d 465 (Wis.App. 1981)
• Christiansen v. Wisconsin Medical Bd., 551 F.Supp. 565 (W.D. Wis. 1982)
• George v. Tonjes, 414 F.Supp. 1199 (W.D. Wis. 1976)
• Lindberger v. General Motors Corp., 55 F.R.D. 433 (W.D. Wis. 1972)

West Practice Categories

Consumer Protection, Insurance Law, Natural Resources Law, Personal Injury -- Defense, Products Liability Law, Toxic Torts, Class Actions

Bar Admissions

• Wisconsin, 1966
• U.S. Federal Court, 1966

Certification/Specialties

• Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1978 - Present (Member)
• Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1976 - Present (Member)
• National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1982 - Present
• Wisconsin Citizens Advisory Board to the Public Intervenor, 1976 - 1982
• Capital Community Citizens, 1980 - 1981 (Chairman)
• State Bar of Wisconsin (Chairman, Environmental Law Committee)
• State Bar of Wisconsin (Member)
• Dane County Bar Association (Member)

Honors and Awards

• AV Rating - Martindale-Hubbell
• Certified Civil Trial Advocate, 1987 - Present
• Finalist, Wisconsin Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2000 - Present
• Rated by Madison Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Products Liability and Environmental Law, 1994 - Present
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum Member
• Super Lawyer 2005, 2006, 2007; Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine

Classes and Seminars

• Lecturer, Environmental Litigation, University of Wisconsin
• Lecturer, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Lecturer, Trial Tactics, Discovery, Products Liability, Environmental Litigation, Consumer Law and Insurance Coverage, NBTI and University of Wisconsin School of Engineering

Education

• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1966
  J.D.
  
  Law Review: Wisconsin Law Review, Member, Board of Editors, 1964 - 1966
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1961
  B.S.

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• Progress and Problems in Wisconsin's Scenic & Conservation Easement Program Wisconsin Law Review, No. 2, 1965
• Wilcox v. Wilcox: The Beginning of a New Approach to Conflict of Laws in Tort Cases Wisconsin Law Review, No. 3, 1966

Address

Ten East Doty Street
Suite 400
P.O. BOX 2965
Madison, WI 53703

Phones

(608) 282-6200

Faxes

(608) 282-6252

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.lawtoncates.com