Tom Fitzpatrick
Tom Fitzpatrick represented Lori K. Schmitz in a medical malpractice case against Jeffrey Menn and Vernon Memorial Hospital. Lori K. Schmitz sustained significant, diffuse brain damage as a result of medications, primarily Methadone and Morphine, prescribed by Dr. Jeffrey Menn of Vernon County, Wisconsin. When she was having an adverse reaction to the medications prescribed by Dr. Menn, she was hospitalized at Vernon Memorial Hospital, sustained several seizures, and went into a coma.Upon emerging from the coma, she had sustained substantial brain damage. The insurers for Jeffrey Menn and Vernon Memorial Hospital each paid $1,000,000.00 to settle the claims against them, and the Wisconsin Patient's Compensation Fund paid and additional $9,650,000.00 for a total settlement of $11,950,000.00, reportedly the largest settlement in the state of Wisconsin in the year 2001 and second largest medical malpractice settlement in Wisconsin history.
Tom Fitzpatrick has also successfully prosecuted other medical malpractice claims, products liability cases and personal injury cases. In 2004, he obtained a verdict in a personal injury case which included $35,000.00 for future chiropractic care, thought to be one of the largest verdicts in western Wisconsin for future chiropractic care.
Areas of Practice
- Litigation
- Insurance Law
- Worker's Compensation
- Personal Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Products Liability
- Medical Malpractice
- Mediation
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Certified Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1985
- Texas, 1998
- Wisconsin, 1975
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1985
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1978
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1978
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1979
- U.S. Tax Court, 1983
Education
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- J.D. - 1974
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.S. - 1967
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- B.S. - 1966
Representative Cases
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Member
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
- Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member of Board of Directors
- La Crosse County Bar Association, Member
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Member
Past Employment Positions
- National College of Advocacy, Advocate


