Some recent success stories from the criminal defense side of Mays Law Office, LLC.

In the Village of Marshall four teenagers were charged with one count each of disorderly conduct and damage to public property.  The charges arose from an incident in which a public park’s bathrooms and concession stand were vandalized. An onlooker flagged down an officer and reported what she had just seen. Four of the teenagers were identified and subsequently questioned by the officer.  Each one gave conflicting and shifting accounts of what occurred.  The only consistency is that each one denied being involved and suggested that the others were responsible. A little over a week prior to the matters proceeding to trial, Attorney John Orth was retained to represent one of the teens.  After obtaining police reports Attorney Orth made contact with the prosecuting attorney.  Her position was that given the fact that no one was accepting any responsibility, she would not be offering any plea deals or concessions and simply proceed to trial and let the judge decide which, if any, of the teens were being truthful.  When the trial was about to commence, Attorney Orth requested a meeting with all of the parents present. After a rocky start with each of the parents being angry in varying degrees with their own children, the other children, and the police, Attorney Orth set about seeking some common ground, common sense, and a unified plan for how to proceed.  As always, the number one objective is to avoid convictions and sometimes that requires creativity, flexibility, and persuasion.  After some back and forth between the prosecuting attorney and the group of parents, Attorney Orth was able to reach a solution that was beneficial to all involved.  Rather than proceeding to trial and having the judge try to sort out the truth, Attorney Orth was able to convince the prosecuting attorney to agree to hold the charges open for 60 days.  During that time each of the teens would agree to perform eight to ten hours of community service for the Parks Department and all of the families would split the relatively modest restitution for repairing the damage four ways.  Upon fulfilling these obligations, all charges were dismissed.  An event that began with palpable anxiety and angry grumbling ended with a group of families lightheartedly chatting and catching up.

Attorney Stephen Mays was contacted by the distraught mother of a 17-year-old boy, ND, who was being held in the county jail for days pending a bail hearing before a court commissioner. He was being charged with felony reckless endangering of safety for allegedly driving at a speed in excess of 115 MPH in a high-traffic business district with a 35 MPH speed limit.  While ND’s conduct may have been impulsive and perhaps reckless (two things teenagers often are), Attorney Mays was determined not to have a young man be saddled with a felony conviction that could haunt him for the rest of his life.  By focusing on the positive attributes in ND’s life – great grades, being in the process of obtaining a pilot’s license, working multiple jobs – Attorney Mays we able to convince the prosecuting attorney that this is a promising young man with a bright future that would be all but destroyed by a felony conviction and greatly hampered by any conviction.  Attorney Mays got the charge reduced to a misdemeanor charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle and secured a deferred prosecution agreement ultimately resulting in dismissal of the charge.  In the end, ND won’t have so much as even a speeding ticket to show for this incident.

Following a three-month long intensive investigation by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency working in conjunction with local law enforcement, GV was arrested in a sting operation executed by the Wisconsin State Patrol. The investigators obtained warrants to track all of GV’s movements by GPS and ultimately determined that a storage unit was the nexus of his activities and a warrant for its search was obtained.  While the State Patrol was detaining GV in a traffic stop that ultimately led to his arrest for misdemeanor possession of cocaine, the search warrant for the storage unit was executed.  Among other evidence, agents seized an entire pound of cocaine.  Initially charged in state court for simple possession of cocaine while the evidence from the storage unit was being processed, GV was referred by a trusted friend to Attorney Orth for representation.  Given the overwhelming strength of the evidence and the fact that law enforcement methodically followed proper procedures and secured valid warrants every step of the way, the best strategy was to work out the best deal possible.  And to do so for not only the current misdemeanor charge, but to begin negotiations on the upcoming felony possession with intent to deliver while there was still a possibility to wrap that more serious charge into a state court agreement.  Were it to be filed in the Federal District Court, GV would be facing sentencing guidelines that would ensure a lengthy prison sentence given the amount of cocaine seized.  Ultimately, Attorney Orth was able to convince the prosecutor to agree to impose but stay a two-year prison sentence and instead place GV on probation for three years.  One pound of cocaine and not a day in prison – no small feat.

LR was charged with felony stalking of underage victims.  The alleged victims in this case were his step-grandchildren – the children of LR’s second wife’s son and his wife.  During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the children’s parents had concerns about their grandmother’s and LR’s level of safety precautions and drastically reduced the amount of exposure LR and his wife were allowed to have with the children.  This conflict ultimately led to a souring of relations between the two families and LR and his wife were told to have no contact with them.  However, given that all parties live in the same small town, incidental contact would be practically inevitable.  In instances in which that would happen, LR found it to feel awkward and downright mean spirited to ignore the children.  Instead, he would simply wave or say hello.  These seemingly innocuous gestures incensed the children’s parents.  And as often unfortunately happens, what might have been a minor and easily correctable dispute turns into a potentially life altering event when law enforcement is brought into the picture.  Given the serious charge LR was now facing, he turned to Mays Law Office for assistance. Over the course of nearly three years of persistent advocacy, investigation and negotiation, Attorney Mays was successful in convincing the prosecuting attorney that the allegations reported by the parents were, in fact, simply trumped up, concocted out of sheer anger and lacking any real merit.  Throughout that time, Attorney Mays made it perfectly clear that he would absolutely not settle for anything less than outright dismissal.  And in the end, that’s exactly what he secured for LR.

Mays Law Office is proud of the results that they continually get for their clients. This kind of strong advocacy comes in many forms that can only be mastered with experience and a strong reputation. Attorneys Mays and Orth have more than 45 years of combined experience defending their clients in criminal matters with superb results.  Contact them today for a free consultation.

In Wisconsin, when a worker is injured and claims compensation for workers compensation benefits, the workers compensation insurance carrier has the right to send the injured worker to see their “Independent Medical Examiner” under Wis. Stat. Sec. 102.13(1). This type of medical examination can only take place with a physician, chiropractor, psychologist, dentists, podiatrist, physician assistant, or an advanced nurse practitioner. To be clear, these medical appointments are better described as an adverse medical examination because medical treatment is not being rendered. What is being rendered by this doctor is a written medical report that will offer medical opinions as to the cause, extent of the injury, medical diagnosis and prognosis, and reasonableness of medical treatment. Often, the medical report is created solely for the workers compensation carrier with a desired outcome to deny workers compensation benefits. Ultimately, the insurance carrier is hoping for a medical opinion from their Examiner that gives a medical opinion that will allow them to deny the injured worker benefits.

How Should the Injured Worker Behave at The Examination?

In Wisconsin, these appointments are selected and scheduled by the workers compensation carrier, not the injured worker.  Again, medical treatment is not going to be rendered to the injured worker at these appointments.  This appointment will generally not last longer than 20 minutes.  The injured worker should be aware that they are being watched carefully from the moment that they enter the parking lot.  It has been said that some doctors will even wait in their vehicle so that they can see the injured worker arrive, park, exit their vehicle, and walk across the parking lot and into the building hoping to see any inconsistencies in pain symptoms and physical restrictions.  Creepy and bizarre?!  Absolutely yes!  In turn, Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays suggests that the injured worker be a good observer too.  Take pictures of anything that seems unprofessional, like a dirty examination room.  Also, the injured worker is permitted by law to bring a witness into the examination.  The injured worker should never be chatty with the Examiner.  Be polite but cautious, be respectful but not friendly, be cooperative but not overly talkative because the more you say, the more what you say can and will used against you.

What Will the Adverse Examiner Do at The Appointment?

The biggest thing that the Examiner wants is to get you talking.  They will ask specific questions of you, like:

• What is the date of the injury?
• How did the injury occur?
• Do you have pain symptoms and describe the pain?
• Describe/recite your medical treatment;
• Describe prior injuries and similar symptoms before the work injury occurred;
• What alleviates the pain?
• What aggravates the pain?

These are fair and appropriate questions so be prepared with accurate, complete answers. Remember, you are the best historian of your injury so if you do not know simple things, like your pain symptoms or how the injury occurred in detail, then you will not appear credible to the Examiner and he/she will use this against you in their report that will ultimately be reviewed by the Judge at a potential hearing.

Will the Adverse Examiner Touch Me?

It is very likely that the Adverse Medical Examiner will perform a physical examination of your body so be prepared by wearing appropriate clothing. Wear loose clothing, do not wear tight-fitting clothes, like jeans. Do wear tank tops and shorts under your main clothing because if you are asked to remove your shorts or pants you have a full undergarment on. Never agree to disrobe completely and wear a paper gown. This is an intimidation tactic and completely unnecessary for this type of an examination. Again, keep your witness in the examination room with you so that you do not feel vulnerable and alone with the Examiner who is a stranger to you.

During the physical examination, the Examiner will ask that you sit on an exam table and request to inspect the part of your body that is injured. The Examiner will lightly palpitate, which means examine you with light touching/pressing on the injured area. Verbalize to the Examiner if any touching hurts you. The Examiner will then ask you to perform some movement exercises to test your range of motion. Again, describe truthfully any pain that you experience with such movement. You may be asked to lay on the table on your back, side, and then on your belly for more palpation or range of motion testing. You will be continuously asked if any of the touching/palpation or movements hurts. Be honest and do not exaggerate any pain as the Examiner is looking for such inconsistency or exaggeration of pain to attack your credibility.

When the examination is over, remember that you are being watched as to how you get off the examination table, move, and leave the examiner’s parking. Again, the Examiner and his staff are hoping to see and document anything that puts the truthfulness of the work injury in question. So, if you are restricted from climbing stairs due to a knee injury, then use the elevator, and not the stairs when exiting.

Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays is Proud to Have Been Involved in Changing Wisconsin Law in Favor of Protecting Wisconsin Injured Workers During Adverse Examinations.

In the past, Wisconsin law allowed the Examiner to meet with the injured worker, male or female, alone and without any observation from a witness, such as a spouse, parent, other family member, or even a friend. This policy was obviously problematic, especially where it was a male doctor examining female injured workers. Often, these adverse medical examinations require a certain level of disrobing and a hands-on physical exam of the injured worker. Such a situation is intimidating, and downright creepy, where a trusted doctor-patient has NOT been selected or even established.

Attorney Pierobon Mays initiated awareness with the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council pushing for a change to be made in the workers compensation legislation. The Council on December 13, 2021 approved such a change and the agreed upon bill, passed by the Wisconsin Legislature, now allows observers to be present, chosen by the employee, during such examination.

Lastly, the best course of action for the Wisconsin injured worker who is asked to submit to an “Independent Medical Examination” coordinated by the workers compensation insurance carrier is to call Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays at (608)291-9402 so that she can remind you of these Do’s and Don’t’s and get you properly prepared. Initial consultations are always free.

When you get arrested for drunk driving in Wisconsin, you need to be very careful to protect yourself. A conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) or driving with a prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC) can lead to steep penalties. It can negatively impact your life in other ways as well; and, between fines, court costs, and increased insurance premiums, it can prove incredibly expensive.

How can you protect yourself after a drunk driving arrest? At this stage, there are both steps you need to take and mistakes you need to avoid. Here are 10 “Dos” and “Don’ts” for individuals facing OWI/PAC charges in Wisconsin:

DO: Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent

When you are facing a drunk driving charge in Wisconsin, you should exercise your right to remain silent. It’s true what they say on TV: Anything you say can and will be used against you.

This applies not only when it comes to talking to police and prosecutors (which you shouldn’t do without your lawyer present), but also when it comes to discussing your case with others or on social media. When you are facing an OWI or PAC charge, you should only discuss your case with your defense lawyer.

DON’T: Assume You Can Talk Your Way Out of a Conviction

Many people assume that they will be able to walk into court and talk their way out of a conviction. But, this is not the case, and it reflects a fundamental understanding of the nature of drunk driving prosecutions. Judges in Wisconsin take OWI and PAC charges very seriously; and, even if you don’t deserve to be found guilty, saying the wrong thing could still lead to a conviction.  

DO: Make Sure You Know Your Court Date

After a drunk driving arrest, your initial court appearance will take place relatively quickly. You need to make sure you know your court date, and you need to make plans to be there on time (unless your defense lawyer says otherwise).

When you appear in court, you need to dress and act professionally, and you need to do exactly what your defense lawyer says. Appearing before a judge with your future on the line is not a time to take chances.

DON’T: Miss Your Court Date

Missing your court date after a drunk driving arrest can be a very costly mistake. If you miss your court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant for your arrest, and you can face consequences regardless of whether you deserve to be convicted of OWI or PAC.

DO: Get Counseling or Treatment if You Need It

Many people struggle with alcohol dependence. If you need counseling or treatment, you should seek help promptly. While it can be difficult to admit that you have a problem, getting the counseling or treatment you need is the right choice, and you will be glad you did it.

Going to counseling or seeking treatment will also show the judge that you are taking your situation seriously. This can help with your defense—and, if you aren’t sure where to go, your lawyer can give you some options.

DON’T: Get Caught Driving Drunk Again

While you have an OWI or PAC charge pending, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is driving drunk again. If you get another OWI or PAC charge, the risks you are facing will increase significantly. Repeat offenders face enhanced penalties in Wisconsin, including the possibility of up to six months in jail.

DO: Start Thinking About the Defenses You May Have Available

Regardless of the facts of your case, you have defenses available. At the very least, your defense lawyer can argue that the prosecution’s evidence doesn’t prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

But, there are numerous ways to beat an OWI or PAC charge in Wisconsin, and now is a good time to start thinking about the defenses you may have available. If you think a defense may apply, make a note to discuss it with your defense lawyer.

DON’T: Make Assumptions or Rely on “Defenses” That Don’t Work

While there are several ways to fight a drunk driving charge, there are also many “defenses” that don’t actually work. When you are facing an OWI or PAC charge, you need to make informed decisions about your defense, and you need to avoid making any assumptions that could lead to a conviction.

DO: Talk to a Wisconsin Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer

Given the penalties you are facing and all of the various mistakes that can lead to unnecessary consequences, you need an experienced Wisconsin drunk driving defense lawyer on your side. You should hire a lawyer as soon as possible, and your first step is to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

While some people worry about the cost of hiring a defense lawyer, hiring an experienced lawyer can actually save you money in the long run. If your lawyer is able to get your charge reduced or help you avoid a conviction entirely, this could save you thousands of dollars in penalties, surcharges, and increased insurance premiums.

DON’T: Try to Handle Your OWI/PAC Case on Your Own

Regardless of whether you believe you are innocent or guilty, you should not try to handle your OWI/PAC case on your own. It simply isn’t worth it. You have too much at stake, and there is too much an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer can do to help you.

Contact Us for a Free OWI/PAC Defense Consultation in Middleton, WI

If you need more information about what to do (or what not to do) after a drunk driving arrest in Wisconsin, we invite you to get in touch. We will arrange for you to speak with one of our lawyers in confidence as soon as possible. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a lawyer at our Middleton, WI law offices, call 608-305-4518 or tell us how we can reach you online now.

Generally, in Wisconsin, when it comes to workers compensation injury claims, the concept of fault is not relevant, meaning if an employee clumsily trips over a box on the floor and blows out their knee, workers compensation benefits cannot be denied because they were negligent. Yet, there is a category of claims in workers compensation where the concept of “fault” is punishable and that is with Penalty Claims against employers and insurance carriers under Chapter 102.

Client R.S. hired Mays Law Office to represent him in the recovery of workers compensation benefits due to a work injury to his shoulder that occurred in January 2022 while working for a home food delivery service. Attorney Pierobon Mays litigated the claim and it successfully settled. With this, the parties entered into a written Compromise Agreement under Wisconsin Chapter 102 which governs workers compensation claims and benefits in Wisconsin. The assigned judge approved the Agreement and issued an Order dated June 15, 2023. Under Wisconsin law, the workers compensation insurance carrier has 21 days to issue payment to the injured worker. Meaning, the check must be dropped in the mail by Day 21, which in this case was July 5, 2023. Payment of the monies set forth in the June 15, 2023 Order was not received by R.S. within the 21 days prescribed in the Order. Always advocating for her clients, Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays filed two penalty claims on behalf of Client R.S. The first was Delay in Payment which under Wisconsin Statute 102.22 reads:

If any sum that the department or the division (Office of Worker’s Compensation Hearings) orders to be paid is NOT PAID WHEN DUE, that sum shall bear interest at the rate of 10%

In addition, Attorney Pierobon Mays also filed for Bad Faith which under Wisconsin Statute sec. 102.18 reads in relevant part:

If the division determines that the insurance carrier failed to make payments as a result of malice or bad faith. The division may include a penalty in an award to an employee for each event or occurrence of malice or bad faith. The division may award an amount that the division considers just, not to exceed the lesser of 200 percent of total compensation due or $30,000 for each event or occurrence of malice or bad faith.

Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays alleged both Bad Faith and Delay In Payment due to the workers compensation carrier’s failure to timely pay the monies per the Order of June 15, 2023.  Remember, payment was due to be issued no later than July 5, 2023 but the insurance carrier did not issue payment until July 14, 2023 – 10 days past the 21-day deadline, which only occurred because Attorney Pierobon Mays hounded the insurance carrier for payment.  What angered Attorney Pierobon Mays was the fact that the Attorney for the workers compensation carrier received the issued Order in plenty of time for payment to be made.  Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays even sent a courtesy reminder e-mail prior to the deadline reminding him of such Order and encouraged communication of the deadline by him to his client!  Yet, to Attorney Pierobon Mays’ dismay, the check was still not issued timely, and more time passed despite Attorney Pierobon Mays inquiring as to the late issuance of them.  To date, the only explanation that has ever been provided by opposing counsel was that R.S’s file was transferred from one office to another office, which might have caused the delay but such is unknown.  

Ultimately, the workers compensation carrier knew they were in a no-win situation by being hit with both penalty claims and needed to save face with the Division for their bad behavior, so they conceded (waved the white flag) and accepted responsibility for the Delay in Payment Penalty of 10% for the amounts owed under the Order to R.S.

While this was good for R.S, Attorney Pierobon Mays was not going to take her foot off the insurance company’s neck. She demanded more for R.S. under the second penalty claim, Bad Faith. In Wisconsin, Bad Faith will be found when the insurance carrier lacks a reasonable basis for the suspension/delay of benefits. Meaning administrative mistakes can be made and forgiven without penalty, but there must be some credible evidence in favor of giving an insurance company the benefit of the doubt in their error. Attorney Pierobon Mays needed to demonstrate that the insurance carrier acted with an absence of honest, intelligent action or consideration based upon a knowledge of the facts and circumstances. So bad faith cannot be unintentional.

In this case, considering the facts and circumstances, the worker’s compensation carrier was represented by competent legal counsel who had timely written notice of the dated Order. In addition, Attorney Pierobon Mays even communicated the on-coming deadline with their legal counsel. Claiming an absence of an honest intelligent error on the part of the insurance carrier was not likely where they had an attorney advising them.

Ultimately, the worker’s compensation carrier decided to settle the Bad Faith Penalty claim rather than pay on-going legal fees to its legal counsel to fight a losing claim that could cost them as much as $30,000. Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays encouraged Client R.S. to accept the settlement, who was pleased considering he was only delayed his original monies by 10 days. Moreover, he did not incur any financial hardship over the 10-day delay. The expression “a bird in the hand is better than one in the bush” rings true as litigation can take months to resolve, and it can never be predicted what a Judge might do at a hearing with an insurance company claiming all sorts of reasons for an honest error.

Mays Law Office never stops advocating for their clients. Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays is involved from the first to the last phone call. She knows the law and holds the workers compensation insurance carrier to it. She has no fear when it comes to holding insurance companies accountable to her client’s. Perhaps this is another reason why Mays Law Office has a 5-Star rating with their clients for satisfaction of representation. If you feel that you have been unfairly treated in the timeliness and recovery of benefits, then call Mays Law Office. Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays will speak directly to you and is happy to offer a free consultation to answer all of your questions and review your workers compensation injury claim.

You face severe consequences if arrested for driving under the influence in Wisconsin. Wisconsin law establishes two separate drunk driving offenses—operating while intoxicated (OWI) and working with a prohibited alcohol concentration (PAC)—both carry steep penalties.

As a result, if you are facing charges after a drunk driving arrest, you need to defend yourself by all means available. Depending on the circumstances of your case, this may involve asserting various constitutional rights.

Using Your Constitutional Protections When Charged with OWI or PAC

Your constitutional rights protect you during all phases of your drunk driving case—from the moment the police pull you over through the end of your trial. If the police, prosecutors, or the court violate your constitutional rights, this may entitle you to a dismissal, retrial, or other remedies. Since an OWI or PAC conviction can negatively impact all aspects of your life, it is essential to make sure that you assert your constitutional rights to the fullest extent possible.

The constitutional protections that apply in Wisconsin OWI/PAC cases include:

1. Your Constitutional Rights While Driving

When driving, the police cannot stop you for any reason. Under the Fourth Amendment, to conduct a traffic stop, the police must have “reasonable suspicion” that you have committed (or are in the process of achieving) a traffic offense or crime. If the police stopped you without reasonable suspicion, all the evidence they obtained due to your traffic stop may be inadmissible in court. Without admissible evidence, prosecutors won’t be able to secure a conviction.

Racial profiling is an example of a reason for a traffic stop that lacks reasonable suspicion. If the police pulled you over because of your skin color, you do not deserve to face any consequences due to your unconstitutional traffic stop.

2. The Protection Against Warrantless Searches and Seizures

The Fourth Amendment also prohibits the police from conducting warrantless searches and seizures in many cases. While there are some exceptions, the general rule is that the police need a warrant to search your vehicle. The exceptions include:

• Plain View – If the police can see into your vehicle through the glass or an open window, they can observe anything in plain view.
• Exigent Circumstances – If the police believe you may flee the scene with evidence in your vehicle, these “exigent circumstances” may justify a warrantless search.
• Consent – Finally, if you consent to a search (whether you realize you agree), the police can search your vehicle without a warrant.

If the police search for a violation of your Fourth Amendment rights, this can also render any evidence inadmissible in court. Once again, if prosecutors don’t have proof they can use to prove that you were driving while intoxicated or with a prohibited alcohol concentration, you may be entitled to walk free.

3. The Privilege Against Self-Incrimination

The privilege against self-incrimination exists under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. You do not have to say anything prosecutors can use against you—even if asked directly by the police during an OWI/PAC stop.

Once the police place you in custody, they must read your Miranda rights. This well-known speech from movies and TV shows includes, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.” If the police fail to read your Miranda rights before interrogating you in custody, you may be entitled to keep anything you said out of your criminal trial.

4. The Constitutional Requirement for Probable Cause to Make an Arrest

Going back to the Fourth Amendment, the police must have “probable cause” to make an arrest. This is a higher standard than “reasonable suspicion.” While a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC), failure of the field sobriety tests (FSTs), stumbling, slurred speech, and impaired driving may all establish probable cause, if the police lacked probable cause, this can serve as a defense in your OWI or PAC case as well.

5. Your Constitutional Right to a Fair Trial

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution entitles you to a fair trial. This means you are entitled to know the evidence prosecutors intend to use against you in court. It also means that prosecutors must generally disclose any exculpatory evidence that they have in their possession. If prosecutors withhold evidence before your OWI or PAC trial, this violation of your Sixth Amendment rights may provide grounds to seek a dismissal.

6. Your Constitutional Right to a Trial By an Impartial Jury

In Wisconsin, you have the right to a trial by jury when facing an OWI or PAC charge. Under the Sixth Amendment, if you request a jury trial, the jurors who decide your fate must be impartial. If the court allows for a biased or discriminatory jury and you get convicted, this may provide grounds to challenge your conviction.

7. Your Constitutional Right to an Attorney

Finally, and most importantly, in many respects, you also have the constitutional right to an attorney. You can (and should) hire an attorney to represent you at all stages of your OWI or PAC case, from your initial appearance through your trial. Your attorney will be able to determine if police, prosecutors, or the court have violated your constitutional rights. If so, your attorney can take appropriate legal action on your behalf. Of course, this is in addition to asserting any other defenses you may have available.

Discuss Your Drunk Driving Case with an Experience Defense Lawyer in Madison, WI

Are you facing an OWI or PAC charge in Wisconsin? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. To discuss your case with an experienced defense lawyer in Madison, WI, as soon as possible, call 608-302-6614 or request a free consultation online today.

Denied benefits after suffering a work injury?  If so, never assume that a denial of Wisconsin workers compensation benefits is appropriate.  Here is an example of an injured Wisconsin worker who had his workers compensation benefits wrongfully denied.  After hiring Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays of Mays Law Office, she got him his benefits within just one week. 

J. L. hired Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays of Mays Law Office on July 18, 2023 after his workers compensation claim for lost time benefits was denied by the workers compensation insurance carrier who claimed that accommodating work would have been available for Mr. Langsted had he not voluntarily terminated his position after being injured at his employer’s place of business.

As background, in Wisconsin, an injured worker is entitled to temporary total disability, or lost time benefits, for actual wages lost while healing due to a work injury.  The healing period is when the injured worker is undergoing medical treatment, therapy, and rest yet still suffering from the injury.  In J.L.’s case, he was restricted from any and all level of work, and therefore suffering complete wage loss. In this case, Wisconsin law requires that he receive 2/3 of his average weekly wage tax free.  Such lost time benefits continue until the treating medical doctor believes that he has reached a healing plateau, or maximum medical improvement.       

Before hiring Mays Law Office, J. L. made multiple attempts on his own to get the Insurance Adjusters to respond to his communications of complete wage loss, but he could not get them to return his messages and inquiries.

Immediately after being hired by J.L. on July 18, 2023, Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays sent an email to the involved Adjuster and her Supervisor providing the history of documented physical restrictions and informing them of the above Wisconsin law on lost time benefits when injured on the job.  Mays Law Office received no response so Attorney Pierobon Mays left detailed voice messages with both Adjusters on Friday July 21 and 25, 2023 verbally warning that a penalty claim for Bad Faith would be filed with the Wisconsin Office of Workers Compensation Hearings, on behalf of J.L, by Mays Law Office if the Wisconsin law was not followed.  In the process, Mays Law Office also procured a supportive report from J.L.’s medical doctor clarifying, in writing, the doctor’s opinion on cause and physical restrictions. 

For background, a penalty claim for Bad Faith in Wisconsin can trigger an additional award of either 200% of the total benefit amount due the injured worker or $30,000 if the insurance company’s failure to pay benefits is due to malice, reckless disregard, or bad faith.  Wisconsin case law has defined reckless disregard as an “absence of honest, intelligent action or consideration based upon the knowledge of the facts and circumstances.”  So, a workers compensation adjuster who knowingly does not follow Wisconsin’s law after being instructed on it, as done by Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays in this case, walks a fine line that crosses over into bad faith for intentional bad behavior if they stubbornly choose to continue to not pay an injured worker his entitled workers compensation benefits.

Within one week, on July 25, 2023, after considering Attorney Lisa Pierobon’s Mays communications and intended involvement, the Adjuster was forced to accept J.L.’s claim for lost time benefits going back to July 20, 2023 and into the future.

If it had not been for Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays with her 27 years of experience in knowing the intricacies of Wisconsin workers compensation law and acting quickly and aggressively, J. L. would still be without his lost time benefits.  The Adjusters continued to assert their denial of benefits based on an alleged claim that J.L. voluntarily terminated his job with the employer claiming that such employer would have had accommodating work available for him had he not quit and therefore he waived any lost-time benefits.  However, Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays informed the Adjusters that such an argument was irrelevant because the restrictions of No Work for J.L. by his medical doctor immediately triggered the payment of lost time benefits regardless of whether J.L. quit or did not quit.  In essence, the Adjusters needed to be educated on the Wisconsin law and instructed on what the repercussions would be if they did not follow it.

Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays takes great pride in regularly catching workers compensation insurance carriers in their wrong doings.  Some Wisconsin worker’s compensation attorneys will not take on claims unless there is serious permanent disability suffered by the injured worker and then they wait to pursue the injured workers claim for months only to settle it before a hearing.  If Attorney Pierobon Mays spots a missed benefit that an injured worker is entitled to, such as medical treatment and mileage reimbursement, she will instruct the worker how to pursue it with the adjuster.  If complicated, like in J.L.’s case, she will take on the fight and go after the worker’s compensation insurance carrier immediately.  Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays has built a strong reputation on being aggressive and swift in such claims.  Fellow attorneys, insurance adjusters and carriers know her reputation for being a strong advocate for her client’s and her client’s have spoken out too.  Check out the Google reviews for Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays and Mays Law Office.  They have achieved a 5 Star rating from Google based on positive comments and reviews from their past client’s.

Do not hesitate to call Mays Law Office and request a free consultation with Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays.  She is always happy to speak with injured Wisconsin workers who have questions about their work injury and benefits.  She will patiently review the facts and circumstances of your injury, medical treatment, and explain all workers compensation benefits available to you under Wisconsin law.  Lisa will give her thoughts and suggestions and take notes to save in the event future discussions are necessary.  When applicable, Attorney Lisa Pierobon Mays will schedule an in-office meeting with you if formal legal representation is warranted.