Professional Liability Defense Litigation
Professionals have a legal responsibility to provide care or service that meets the standard of practice for their profession. When an individual or company fails to provide the requisite standard of practice, liability for damages may arise.
At Meissner Tierney our attorneys have experience defending a broad range of professionals, including accountants, engineers, architects, insurance professionals, investment advisors, lawyers, physicians and realtors against professional liability claims initiated by their clients.
As providers of professional services, we understand the time and money you have invested as well as the responsibility and pride you feel in your professional career. Accordingly, we recognize the importance of working closely with the professional whose reputation and livelihood is at stake when a claim of negligence in providing a professional service is asserted. We recognize that our role includes not only obtaining a favorable outcome, but also protecting your reputation in the process.
Representative Matters
- Seymour, et al. v. First Wisconsin Bank of Elkhorn, et al., Walworth County Circuit Court, Wisconsin (1990)
(Claims of breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy; obtained settlement for client prior to trial)
- Powers Holdings, Inc. v. Sharp Refractories, et al., Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin (1991)
(Claims of non-compete, trade secrets, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy; obtained denial of preliminary injunction, obtained summary judgment on certain claims including non-compete violations and prevailed at trial on remaining claims)
- Bentley World-Packaging, Ltd. v. One Source Packaging, Logistics & Distributions, LLC., Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Wisconsin (2000)
(Claims of breach of fiduciary duties, trade secrets, tortious interference, and conspiracy to injure business; obtained settlement prior to trial for former employer)
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Our attorneys have broad experience with standards of care, loyalty, and good faith that are owed by officers, directors, managers, and agents to the corporation or other entity or individual they serve. We regularly handle claims involving breach of the duty of care, breach of the duty of loyalty, minority shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, and insurance coverage disputes. We also understand the legal doctrines that immunize those who owe fiduciary duties, such as the business judgment rule.
Medical Malpractice Defense
Our attorneys have decades of combined experience representing hospitals, physicians, dentists, nurses, nursing homes and other healthcare institutions and providers in state and federal courts and before various professional boards. We provide well-reasoned case analyses to assist our clients with pretrial litigation decisions and with their assessments for each case. To that end, we play significant roles in investigating potential claims before a suit is filed and, when appropriate, using arbitration, mediation and other means of dispute resolution to resolve lawsuits short of an actual trial. We are absolutely committed to serving the needs of our medical care providers and their insurers.
Professional Negligence
Our attorneys regularly handle malpractice liability and negligence claims against professionals, such as accountants, architects, consultants, directors and officers, engineers, investment advisors, lawyers, and real estate brokers and agents. We have also handled the professional licensing agency hearings that often accompany these matters as well as disciplinary proceedings. We are especially sensitive to the issues of confidentiality and the impact of the case on the professional’s ongoing practice. From the outset of our representation, therefore, we work closely with clients to develop a cost-effective approach to achieve the desired outcome.