Writing on Wisconsin Legal Rights
An educational legal blog focused on highlighting important legal issues for Wisconsin workers, families, and individuals. Contact UsAttorney Marisol González Castillo nominated for State Bar President-Elect
Marisol González Castillo, an Associate Attorney at Hawks Quindel, has been nominated for Wisconsin State Bar President-Elect. She currently works with the Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, and Consumer Law teams. Attorneys and Staff describe her as tenacious,...
SSDI vs. SSI Benefits – Understanding the Difference
A Guide to Understanding SSDI vs SSI Benefits Hawks Quindel disability attorneys know the Social Security Disability process is confusing and frustrating. We know this because time after time, our clients express exasperation regarding the difficulty of navigating the...
Fired for Getting Hurt? How to Handle Employer Retaliation
Fighting Retaliation After a Work Injury When you suffer an injury in the workplace, you want to focus on getting the treatment you need to heal and return to work. Unfortunately, additional issues can arise if your employer fails to accommodate your work restrictions...
How to Prepare for LTDI Field Interview Questions
Preparing for Your Long-Term Disability Interview: Questions to Anticipate, Mistakes to Avoid, and Tips to Remember! It’s not unusual for your long-term disability (LTD) insurance carrier to request an interview with you to learn more about your claim. These...
When and How to Report a Wisconsin Work Injury
What to Do When You Are Injured at Work If you get hurt at work in Wisconsin, you might be wondering how to explain your injury to your doctor. You might wonder how much information you need to give them, or whether you really need to explain facts that could end up...
Is Your Non-compete Agreement Legal? Check These 5 Legal Tests
Non-Compete Agreements: Just Because It’s in a Contract Doesn’t Mean It’s Legal Employers are increasingly requiring their employees to sign contracts that include provisions restricting the employees’ rights after leaving the job. The most common such agreements are...
Federal Judge Rules “Correlated Conduct” Not Protected Under Federal Employment Law
Update: Texas Federal Judge Rejects EEOC Guidance on Transgender Use of Bathrooms In my blog post, Top Ten Tips for Transgender Employees, I cite guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) instructing employers to allow employees to use...
Hawks Quindel, S.C. Wins Social Security Disability Claim for Rare Vestibular Disorder
Hawks Quindel, S.C. recently prevailed in getting Social Security disability benefits approved for a young claimant who has been unable to work since 2018 due primarily to Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (“PPPD”). PPPD is a vestibular disorder that causes...
Do Wisconsin Families Get Money for Injury or Death of Loved Ones?
Family Members Can Recover for Injuries to their Loved Ones One of the privileges I have as a lawyer is working with people and their families to make amends after an unfortunate event. Sometimes my clients have been in a minor fender-bender. Car crashes can be...
FMLA Protects Employees’ Rights to Meaningful Work
Federal Court of Appeals Affirms Workers’ Right to Meaningful Work Under FMLA In August 2022, the attorneys at Hawks Quindel, S.C. celebrated a big win for one of our clients, Sarah. Although Sarah had won her case under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in...
Law Shifts Against WI Job Applicants with Domestic Violence Record
Court Decision May Result in Fewer Available Jobs for WI Domestic Violence Offenders Prohibition on Arrest and Conviction Record Discrimination in Employment Generally speaking, Wisconsin employers are prohibited from discriminating against job applicants and...
Wisconsin Teacher Wins Appeal on Interference with Medical Leave
Our Employment Attorneys Can Fight for Your FMLA Rights Please view this Bloomberg Article regarding this recent victory. Attorneys Halstead, Bibb and Behm, who represent Ms. Simon, stated, “Before filing this lawsuit, Sarah Simon implored the school district...
Hawks Quindel Attorneys Named “Best Lawyers” – 2023
Hawks Quindel is proud to announce that 4 of our attorneys have been named to the "Best Lawyers in America" list by Best Lawyers publication. Each year, Best Lawyers awards "Best Lawyers in America" to individual attorneys with the highest peer reviews within...
Freedom of Information Act Case
Attorney Lili C. Behm's recent federal lawsuit, a Freedom of Information Act case, involves both open records and anti-discrimination law. Our client is an Air National Guard colonel who served as commander of Wisconsin's Volk Field. View this link to read more:...
Proposed Law Would Ban ERISA Discretionary Clauses Nationwide
New Bill Proposes Banning Discretionary Clauses in All ERISA-Covered Disability Policies On May 12, 2022, Mark DeSaulnier, a democrat from the California House of Representatives, proposed new legislation that would ban discretionary clauses in ERISA-governed...
Can Grandparents Visit Grandchildren When Parents Object?
Grandparent Visitation in Wisconsin When we think of a full, in-tact, family relationship, we typically think of not only parents and children, but also grandparents. In the context of parents separating, usually the parents share joint legal custody and physical...
Good Named To Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Executive Committee
Attorney Colin Good was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees. The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is an independent organization that exhibits, collects, and preserves modern and contemporary art to...
How Rent Assistance Lowers SSI Benefits for Disabled Individuals
CAN I RECEIVE SSI BENEFITS IF SOMEONE HELPS ME PAY FOR RENT? Disabled individuals who do not have enough work credits to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may still be eligible for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) if they can prove they:...
10 Workplace Rights Tips for Transgender Workers
Working While Trans: Ten Tips for Transgender Employees Whether you transitioned years ago or you’re just starting the process, the American workplace can be very complicated for transgender employees. Being “out” at work is a huge step in living as your authentic...
Worker’s Comp Benefits for Part-Time Work Injuries in Wisconsin
How to Calculate Worker's Comp Benefits for Part-Time Workers in Wisconsin If you get hurt at work in Wisconsin and receive worker’s compensation benefits, the benefit amount is related both to the severity of your injury and your wages at the time you got hurt. If...
How the No Surprises Act Reduces Patient Medical Expenses
Understanding Patient Rights Under the No Surprises Act The No Surprises Act (NSA) went into effect on January 1, 2022 and is expected to provide widespread protections to patients from surprise medical bills, which can otherwise be financially devastating. ...
Wrongful Termination in Wisconsin: When Firing an Employee Violates Public Policy
At-Will Employment in Wisconsin: The General Rule Wisconsin employers fire employees for questionable reasons all the time. Sometimes they fire an employee over a personal disagreement that has nothing to do with the employee’s job. Sometimes they fire an employee for...
Attorney Danielle M. Schroder Named Chair of Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ) Women’s Caucus
Danielle M. Schroder, a partner at Hawks Quindel, S.C., has been elected to serve as chair of the Wisconsin Association for Justice’s Women’s Caucus. She will head the caucus for one year, serving alongside Michelle Hockers, Vice Chair. The Women's Caucus exists to...
Guía de Seis Pasos para Reclamos de Compensación Laboral en Wisconsin
Un Reclamo de Compensación Laboral de Inicio a Final Ser lastimado en el trabajo puede ser una experiencia traumática para cualquier trabajador de Wisconsin. Un trabajador puede experimentar mucha ansiedad no solamente porque se han lastimado, pero...
6 Step Guide to Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Claims
A Worker’s Compensation Claim from Start to Finish Being hurt at work can be a traumatic experience for any Wisconsin worker. A worker can experience a lot of anxiety not only due to the fact that you have been injured, but especially when you are not able to...