Making informed decisions starts with understanding the options available to you. This includes your options for seeking to have your charges reduced or dismissed. An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to help, and to ensure that you do not lose any of the options you have available, you should discuss your case with an experienced attorney promptly.

5 Options for Seeking to Have Your Criminal Charge Reduced or Dismissed

When you speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney, your attorney will be able to walk you through your options based on the specific charges you are facing and the particular circumstances of your case. With this in mind, the options that are generally available for seeking to have a criminal charge reduced or dismissed in Wisconsin include:

1. Pre-Trial Diversion

Pre-trial diversion is an option for seeking to have criminal charges dismissed in some cases. If you are eligible for pre-trial diversion, your criminal attorney can help you decide whether this is an option you want to pursue. If it is, and if you complete your pre-trial diversion program successfully, your charge will be dismissed, and you won’t have to go to trial.

2. Pre-Trial Dismissal

It may also be possible to have your charge dismissed before trial without going through the pre-trial diversion process. If prosecutors don’t have the evidence they need to convict you (or if the prosecution’s evidence is inadmissible in court), the judge may be willing to dismiss your case before your trial date arrives.

3. Plea Bargain

Negotiating a plea bargain is an option for seeking to mitigate the consequences of your arrest. If it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid consequences entirely, then having your criminal defense lawyer negotiate a plea bargain on your behalf could be your best option. While there are no guarantees, prosecutors will often be willing to negotiate reasonable plea bargains based on the evidence (or lack of evidence) that is available.

4. Acquittal at Trial

Regardless of the available evidence, you have the absolute right to fight for an acquittal at trial. In criminal cases, the prosecution has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If prosecutors can’t prove that you are guilty, then you are entitled to have your charge dismissed.

If going to trial is your best option, your criminal lawyer will help you decide whether to request a jury trial or a bench trial. As your case progresses toward trial, your lawyer will help you make informed decisions about all other aspects of your defense as well. Once your trial begins, your lawyer will fight for an acquittal on your behalf, relying on his or her experience to challenge the prosecution’s case by all means available.   

5. Appeal or Post-Conviction Relief

If you get convicted at trial, this isn’t necessarily the end of your case. The unfortunate reality is that wrongful convictions can—and do—happen. If you get wrongfully convicted, your lawyer will be able to help you carefully weigh your options for filing an appeal or pursuing post-conviction relief.

Again, the specific options you have available depend on the facts of your case. At this point, it is important not to make any assumptions about the potential outcomes of your case or your chances of avoiding a conviction at trial. To ensure that you are making informed decisions, you should speak with an experienced criminal attorney as soon as possible.

FAQs: Seeking to Have Your Criminal Charge Reduced or Dismissed in Wisconsin

What legal strategies do criminal defense lawyers use to reduce charges?

Criminal defense lawyers can use a variety of legal strategies to seek to have their clients’ charges reduced before trial. Broadly speaking, however, these strategies fall into two categories: (i) raising questions about the sufficiency of the prosecution’s evidence; and (ii) raising questions about the admissibility of the prosecution’s evidence. If prosecutors are not confident in their ability to secure a conviction at trial, they are more likely to be willing to negotiate a favorable plea bargain.

Can a criminal defense attorney really get charges reduced or dismissed?

Yes, it really is possible to have criminal charges reduced or dismissed before trial. With that said, there are no guarantees. If you are facing criminal charges in Wisconsin, the options you have available depend on the facts of your case—and you will want to discuss your options with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

What mistakes can a criminal defense attorney help me avoid?

If you are facing criminal charges in Wisconsin, there are several mistakes you need to be careful to avoid. This includes mistakes that could limit your options for seeking to have your charge reduced or dismissed. Your attorney will be able to walk you through the mistakes you need to avoid during your free initial consultation.

Can a criminal attorney help if I’m facing felony charges?

Felony charges carry severe consequences in Wisconsin. Along with fines and prison time (among other penalties), having a felony conviction on your record can negatively impact nearly all aspects of your life. As a result, if you are facing felony charges in Wisconsin, it is especially important to have an experienced criminal attorney on your side. An attorney who has experience handling felony cases will be able to help protect you by all means available.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with a Wisconsin Criminal Lawyer Today

Are you facing a misdemeanor or felony charge in Wisconsin? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Wisconsin criminal lawyer at Mays Law Office as soon as possible, call us at 608-305-4518 or tell us how we can reach you online now.

 

Each year, we publish numerous articles that contain important information for injured workers in Wisconsin. This year was no exception. Our Madison workers’ compensation lawyers published several articles throughout 2025 that discuss everything from when you can file a claim to how to avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your recovery.

So, if you are struggling with a work-related injury, what do you need to know? Here are some key insights from the workers’ compensation lawyers at Mays Law Office:

If You’ve Been Injured on the Job, You Are Not Alone

Numerous people get injured on the job every year. As a result, if you’ve been injured on the job in Wisconsin, you are not alone. All types of injuries are common; and, while some injured workers are able to recover fairly quickly, others face a lifetime of consequences.

Early in the year, we published an article highlighting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ new workers’ compensation dashboard, which provides statistics on workplace injuries in the state. To learn about common injuries and some of the state’s most dangerous occupations, you can read: New Worker’s Compensation Dashboard Highlights Injury and Claim Statistics in Wisconsin.

Understanding the Workers’ Compensation Benefits That Are Available to You

If you are eligible to file for workers’ compensation in Wisconsin, you may be entitled to various types of benefits. The specific benefits you are entitled to receive depend on the severity and nature of your injury, how long you will be unable to work, and various other factors. To learn about the benefits you may be able to recover for your work-related injury, you can read: What Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits Can (and Should) You Receive in Wisconsin?

Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Wisconsin

When you are dealing with a work-related injury, it is critical to quickly determine whether you are eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. If you are, there are additional steps you will need to take to protect your legal rights. In this series of articles, we provide an overview of the process of assessing your workers’ compensation eligibility, documenting your claim, and seeking the benefits you deserve:

• Should You File for Workers’ Compensation After an On-the-Job Injury in Wisconsin?

• Injury Report Checklist for Wisconsin Workers Compensation Claims

• Filing for Workers Compensation: A Guide for Wisconsin Residents

Understanding What to Expect During Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

While promptly filing a workers’ compensation claim is an important step if you are entitled to benefits, it is just the first step in the process. Once you file, you will need to continue being proactive about protecting your legal rights, and you will need to be prepared to deal with issues when they arise. To learn more about what you can (and should) expect once you file your workers’ compensation claim, you can read: 5 Key Facts About Workers’ Compensation Claims in Wisconsin: Deadlines, Notice Requirements, and More.

Do Not Rely on These Misconceptions About Filing for Workers’ Compensation

When you have a workers’ compensation claim, it is critical to ensure that you are making informed decisions. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions out there, and relying on these misconceptions can prevent you from securing the benefits you deserve. To learn some “facts” that aren’t true about filing for workers’ compensation, you can read: Common Misconceptions About Workers Compensation in Wisconsin.

Dealing with Issues During Your Workers’ Compensation Claim

Even if you are clearly entitled to benefits for your work-related injuries, you could still run into a variety of issues when filing for workers’ compensation benefits. With this in mind, it is important to be prepared so that you can respond appropriately if necessary. To learn about some of the issues you might encounter, you can read: Delays, Denials & More: Potential Issues When You File for Workers’ Compensation in Wisconsin.

Dealing with a Workers’ Compensation Denial

If your employer (or its insurance company) denies your claim for workers’ compensation benefits, you should not accept this as the last word on your claim. Unfortunately, wrongful denials are not uncommon, and many injured workers need to fight for the benefits they deserve. If your workers’ compensation claim has been denied, we strongly encourage you to read this article right away: What Can I Do if My Workers’ Compensation Claim Was Denied in Wisconsin?

What You Should Know About Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer to Represent You

Due to the complexity of the workers’ compensation process (and the importance of making sure you receive the benefits you deserve), it is critical to have an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer on your side. When you are dealing with a work-related injury, there are many ways an experienced lawyer will be able to help you—and hiring a lawyer costs you nothing out-of-pocket in this scenario. To learn what you need to know about hiring a lawyer for your workers’ compensation claim, you can read:

• What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Wisconsin?

• What Can (and Should) You Expect from Your Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

• Is It Okay to Try to Handle My Workers’ Compensation Claim on My Own?

Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Work-Related Injury

While filing for workers’ compensation is important, workers’ compensation benefits do not cover all of the costs associated with work-related injuries. To seek full compensation for your lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit. While injured workers won’t have grounds to sue in all cases, if you have grounds to file a lawsuit, it will be important to get started on your case right away. This article provides an overview of what you need to know about filing a personal injury lawsuit for a work-related injury: When Can You Sue for an On-the-Job Injury in Wisconsin?

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Madison Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

Do you have questions about your legal rights after suffering a work-related injury in Wisconsin? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. Call 608-305-4518 or get in touch online to schedule a free consultation with a Madison workers’ compensation lawyer today.

Attorney Stephen E. Mays of Mays Law Office has been named a 2025 Wisconsin Super Lawyer for Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, recognizing his exceptional advocacy, skill, and dedication to protecting clients’ rights.

Being named a 2025 Wisconsin Super Lawyer in Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI is a significant professional honor for Attorney Stephen E. Mays. This recognition is reserved for only the top 5% of attorneys in the state and reflects a rigorous selection process that evaluates professional achievement, peer recognition, ethical standards, and outstanding results.

It signals to clients, colleagues, and the legal community that Attorney Mays is highly respected for his legal abilities, trial experience, and commitment to defending individuals facing serious DUI/DWI charges. The designation enhances credibility, strengthens trust, and affirms that his work meets the highest standards of Wisconsin’s legal profession.

You were injured on the job. You are facing unexpected medical bills, and you are going to fall behind on your other bills while you are unable to work. You are facing serious financial consequences, and you need to make sure you protect yourself and your family as best you can.

What should you do?

While you are facing a difficult situation, it is important to understand that employees and other workers in Wisconsin have clear legal rights. Depending on your individual circumstances (including how you got injured), you may have various options for seeking to recover your medical bills and other losses.

Understanding Your Legal Options After an On-the-Job Injury in Wisconsin

When you are facing the financial consequences of an on-the-job injury in Wisconsin, your legal rights depend on two primary factors: (i) your employment status; and, (ii) how you got injured.

Your employment status is important for determining your eligibility to file for workers’ compensation benefits. As a general rule, employees are eligible to file for workers’ compensation in Wisconsin, while independent contractors are not. If you receive a regular paycheck and a W-2 at the end of the year, you are an employee. If you aren’t sure whether you are an employee, a lawyer at our firm can provide a comprehensive assessment of your legal rights.

How you got injured is important for determining your legal rights outside of workers’ compensation. While employees generally can’t sue their employers when they provide workers’ compensation coverage, employees (and independent contractors) can sue other parties that are responsible for their on-the-job injuries. Regardless of whether you are eligible for workers’ compensation, if a third party is responsible for your on-the-job injury, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit.

With this in mind, the following are the primary options for seeking coverage for the financial costs of an on-the-job injury in Wisconsin:

1. Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim

If you are an eligible employee, you can (and should) file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a “no fault” system in Wisconsin, which means that your employer does not need to be at-fault for your injury in order to be liable for your injury-related costs.

With that said, there are still challenges involved in filing a successful workers’ compensation claim, and this makes it important to have an experienced lawyer on your side. While there are no guarantees, an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer will be able to help ensure that you are seeking the full benefits you deserve, and your lawyer can help protect your ability to challenge a wrongful denial or premature termination of benefits if necessary.

In Wisconsin, workers’ compensation covers:

• Medical costs from the day you suffer an on-the-job injury; and,
• Up to two-thirds of your lost income if you miss four or more days from work.

Eligible employees can obtain vocational rehabilitation and retraining benefits in some cases as well. Again, an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer can help you understand the benefits you are entitled to receive and help ensure that you do not settle for less than you deserve.

2. Suing to Secure Workers’ Compensation Benefits if Necessary

If your employer (or its insurance company) denies your workers’ compensation claim, this is not the end of the process. If you are entitled to benefits, you can (and should) keep fighting.

There are several steps in the process of appealing a wrongful workers’ compensation denial. Initially, workers who need to fight for benefits must go through the Division of Workforce Development’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process. If this does not result in a favorable outcome, workers can then file an appeal with the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). Finally, if workers cannot secure benefits through the LIRC, they can then sue for their benefits in court.

While navigating this process can be challenging, if you are entitled to benefits, it is important that you fight for the full benefits you deserve. In this scenario, you can hire an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to represent you at no out-of-pocket cost. If your lawyer helps you secure benefits through ADR, the LIRC, or in court, your legal fees will be calculated as a percentage of the benefits your lawyer helps you recover. If you do not receive the benefits you deserve, you will owe nothing.

3. Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit Outside of Workers’ Comp

Employees and independent contractors can both file personal injury lawsuits for on-the-job injuries in some cases. While employees generally can’t sue their employers (although there are exceptions), all workers can sue third parties that are to blame for their injuries. Some examples of potential grounds to sue for an on-the-job injury in Wisconsin include:

• Property hazards (i.e., slip-and-fall risks and other dangerous property conditions)
• Dangerous and defective products (i.e., defective tools, equipment, and machinery components)
• Negligent driving (i.e., driving while distracted, speeding, or running a stop sign)

While filing a personal injury claim for an on-the-job injury occasionally means going to court, most of these claims are resolved through the insurance process—just like workers’ compensation. If you have a personal injury claim, you can hire a lawyer at no out-of-pocket cost in this scenario as well, and you can rely on your lawyer to help ensure that you are seeking the maximum compensation available.

Understanding your legal rights after an on-the-job injury is not easy. But, it is extremely important—especially if you were seriously injured and are facing extended time off from work. Our lawyers can explain everything you need to know about seeking compensation, and we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation today.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Madison On-the-Job Injury Lawyer Today

Do you need to know more about your legal rights after suffering an on-the-job injury in Wisconsin? If so, we’re here to help. To speak with an experienced Madison on-the-job injury lawyer in confidence as soon as possible, call us at 608-305-4518 or tell us how we can help online now.

When Compassion Costs You: A Young Manager’s Injury, Walmart’s Silence, and the System That Failed Her

In the American workplace, we’re taught to be team players — to show up, follow the rules, look out for our coworkers, and do what’s right, even when it’s inconvenient. We’re taught that if we work hard, stay loyal, and lead with integrity, we’ll be protected and valued in return.

But what happens when that promise is broken?

Let me tell you a story.

She’s just 26 years old. A young woman working in Wisconsin and a proud employee of Walmart, one of the largest employers in the country. Since 2020, the year of Covid, she has poured herself into her job and rising through the ranks to become an assistant manager. She worked long hours, helped customers, coached employees, met the metrics, and followed the handbook down to the letter.

She didn’t just clock in and out. She cared. She believed in her work. She believed in leadership by example. She always went the extra mile for Walmart.

And in early October 2025, when a fellow Walmart employee, an 18-year-old male, suffered a serious injury on the job, she did what any responsible leader would do: she followed policy and helped him.

The young man had a severe cut to his thumb. Walmart policy clearly states that managers are to escort injured workers to the emergency room. She didn’t hesitate. She put him in her personal vehicle and drove him to the hospital, trying to reach his parents along the way. They couldn’t be contacted. Without her, he would be all alone.

He was scared. He was just a teenager. And she stayed by his side because that’s what leaders and decent people do.

Once in the ER, the situation became more serious. His wound required stitches. The pain was intense. A long, intimidating 4-inch needle was prepared to numb his hand for treatment. The sight of it was overwhelming, even for adults. She gently told him to look away so he wouldn’t panic. She did the same, trying to be strong for him.

And then…. everything went black.

She woke up on the floor. Disoriented. Bleeding. In intense pain.

She had fainted, likely due to a vasovagal response – a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by the emotional and physical stress of the moment. Her face had struck the hard hospital floor. Her chin was bleeding. Her tooth was cracked. And her jaw?

It was fractured.

Let’s stop here for a moment.

She was injured on the job, while following company policy, while caring for another employee. And yet, the system that should have protected her didn’t.

Despite a doctor’s explanation that her reaction was physiological and directly tied to the events in the ER, her worker’s compensation claim was denied.

Why?

Because Walmart’s self-insured workers’ compensation carrier, Claims Management Inc. claimed her injury was idiopathic — meaning “personal,” “unrelated,” and “unexplained.” As if the injury occurred in a vacuum. As if she wasn’t there because of Walmart’s own policy. As if her broken jaw magically happened while she was just casually strolling by.

Let’s be very clear: she didn’t faint at home. She didn’t collapse in a grocery store on her day off. She passed out on the hospital floor in the act of performing her work duties, protecting a minor employee, and demonstrating extraordinary compassion.

But now, she’s the one who’s alone. No compensation. No paid time off. No help with her growing medical bills. No acknowledgment of her sacrifice.

Walmart can’t point the finger at CMI and claim that it did not know because CMI is Walmart’s third-party administrator (TPA). Claims Management, Inc (CMI) deals with all personal injury and workers comp claims filed against Walmart. Claims Management IS Walmart’s own insurance adjuster. CMI does everything that is necessary to monitor and manage all claims against Walmart. Though CMI is a separate entity, dealing with it is basically dealing with Walmart itself.

Back to our 26-year-old injured Walmart manager…. She spent the next eight weeks recovering, unable to eat properly or speak without pain. The swelling in her face was intense. And she may now require surgery to realign her jaw. She has mounting medical costs subject to co-pays and deductible and emotional trauma from a fall she never could have predicted. All from doing exactly what she was supposed to do.

And to make matters worse, she’s now been forced to hire a lawyer. Not because she’s chasing a payday but because she’s fighting for basic human dignity.

This is not just about one employee. This is about every worker in America who’s told to “be a team player” but then is thrown under the bus when things go wrong. It’s about a system that expects total loyalty but offers none in return. It’s about companies that ask you to bleed for them, literally, and then turn their backs the moment you need them to care.

Walmart is one of the richest companies in the world. It can afford executive bonuses, PR campaigns about community values, and polished ads about “family.” But when a real-life example of bravery, leadership, and compassion unfolds in one of its own stores, it buries the story under red tape and legal jargon.

Where is the humanity?

Where is the accountability?

Where is the justice for a young woman who didn’t ask for anything. She just did the right thing, and paid a painful price for it?

If this story makes you angry, it should.

Because this is what happens when our systems value policy over people, profit over protection, and technicalities over truth.

So what can we do?

• Speak up. Share this story. Don’t let it get lost in the noise.
• Hold companies accountable. Demand that worker’s compensation serve its true purpose: protecting those who are injured in service of their job.
• Support legislation that stops companies from self-insuring without oversight or recourse.
• Remember this story the next time you hear a company claim “our employees are our greatest asset.”

Because a real asset isn’t discarded when it becomes inconvenient.

To the young manager in Wisconsin: You are not alone. Your story matters. Your courage matters. And what happened to you is not okay and Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays and Mays Law Office are here to protect you.

To Walmart: Do better.

And to everyone reading this — don’t wait until it happens to someone you love. Demand a world where loyalty is respected, workers are protected, and compassion isn’t punished.