LARGEST SETTLEMENT IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IN 2001.

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‚ Compensation Fund paid an 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 as of that time.

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.

RECOGNITIONS:
Tom was selected to be a 2005 Wisconsin Super Lawyer. Click here for full article. The selection process includes peer nominations chosen from over 12,000 ballots, a blue ribbon panel review process, and independent research on the candidates. Only five percent of Wisconsin attorneys receive this honor each year.
Has highest individual rating (AV) from Martindale Hubbell's peer rating system.

COURT ADMISSIONS:
Wisconsin - 1975
United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin - 1975
United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin - 1978
United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit - 1978
United States Supreme Court - 1979
United States Tax Court - 1983
Minnesota - 1985
United States District Court, District of Minnesota - 1985
Texas - 1998

EDUCATION:
Juris Doctor: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1974
Master of Science: University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1967
Bachelor of Science: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1966

MEMBER:
American Bar Association
State Bar of Wisconsin
Minnesota State Bar Association
The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member of Board of Directors
La Crosse County Bar Association
Advocate, National College of Advocacy;
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum

PRACTICE AREAS:
Litigation, Insurance Law, Worker's Compensation, Personal Injury,
Wrongful Death, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice, Mediation.

Tom Fitzpatrick has participated in the following appellate cases:
In the Matter of Disciplinary Proceedings Against Wolf, 165 Wis. 2d 1, 476 N. W. 2d 878 (1991), as attorney for the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility; Utica Mutual Insurance Co. v. Klein & Son, Inc., 157, Wis. 2d 552, 460 N. W. 2d 763 (Wis.App. 1990), attorney for Klein & Son, Inc.;
Riley v. Town of Hamilton, 153 Wis. 2d 582, 451 N. W. 2d 454 (Wis.App. 1989), attorney for plaintiff-appellant Riley; Black v. Gunderson Clinic, Ltd., 152 Wis. 2d 210, 448 N. W. 2d 247 (Wis.App. 1989), attorney for plaintiff-appellant Black;
Klingman v. Kruschke, 115 Wis 2d 124, 399 N.W. 2d 603 (Wis.App. 1983), attorney for defendant-appellant Kruschke.