CHRIS J TREBATOSKI

ATTORNEY AT LAW

B.A. Broadcast Journalism, with Honors, 1981

J.D., Cum Laude, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984

Certificate in Mediation Skills, Northwestern University

Bar Admissions:

State of Wisconsin

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeal for the 6th and 7th Circuits

United States District Courts for Colorado, Nevada, and Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin

ADR Memberships:

Association for Conflict Resolution, Chicago Chapter

Background:

Chris’s entire career has been focused on dispute resolution, primarily through trials. He has first chaired more than seventy jury trials. He has served clients in mediations and arbitration and in appellate courts. While he has spent his entire career as a member of the Wisconsin Bar, Chris has represented clients in various parts of the trial process, including trials themselves in more than forty states and in Canada and Italy.

Chris believes that a combination of seasoned trial experience across a broad variety of legal issues and in a broad variety of forums with research and presentation technology transforms litigation into trials. Making your case about facts and presentation, not about the number of lawyers thrown at the case.

Representative Experience:

Trials:

Reep v. City of Milwaukee. Obtained a verdict on behalf of 225 homeowners in the Lincoln Creek, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods for Milwaukee for negligent maintenance of sewer flap gates allowing sewage to back up into basements. The trial followed a settlement with two other parties.

Eppstein Uhen Architects, Inc. v. Indian Community School of Milwaukee, Inc. Obtained a verdict on behalf of an architectural firm in a dispute over the interpretation of a design contract. The case was settled after the trial.

Milwaukee County v. Mercer, Inc. Represented the Milwaukee County Pension Board in an actuarial malpractice case against one of the largest actuarial firms in the country. The case settled during trial for $45 million.

Datatrac, Inc. v. Fiserv, Inc. Obtained a defense verdict in a case where a web-based developer claimed $10 million in damages for breach of an alleged merger agreement.

Appeals:

Fontana Builders, Inc. v. Assurance Company of America, 2016 WI 52, 369 Wis.2d 495, after a ten year battle with an insurance company, Fontana Builders, represented by Chris, successfully obtained this Wisconsin Supreme Court decision and the case was ultimately settled for nearly five million dollars.

State v. Bryzek, 246 WI App. 48, Chris represented a child of an elderly parent who was convicted of embezzlement under the Wisconsin power of attorney statute in an appeal. Chris obtained a reversal of the felony conviction and ultimately obtained a complete dismissal of the action.