News & Recent Victories at Hawks Quindel, S.C.
Learn more about how we deliver results for workers and families.Super Lawyers Recognizes Eleven Hawks Quindel Attorneys
Hawks Quindel, S.C. is pleased to announce that Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have achieved a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, has named four of the firm’s attorneys as Super Lawyers and seven as Rising Stars for 2013. Super Lawyers uses a patented process to create a list of exceptional attorneys, which those seeking legal counsel can consult. Super Lawyers has listed the following...
Attorneys Johnson, Maynard, and Murshid Win Overtime Compensation on Behalf of 42 Van Drivers
Earlier this year, a van driver working for Med Group Transportation filed a class action against his employer for unpaid overtime compensation and unpaid pre and post shift travel time. The drivers provided transportation services to primarily handicapped and elderly customers. Med Group Transportation was reimbursed for the transportation with what was ultimately public funds (Department of Aging, Medicare, Medicaid).On December 18th, 2013,...
Attorneys Hawks, Halstead and Sumara Win Victory for Hundreds of Union Employees in City of Racine
On November 20, 2013, a unanimous Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the Racine County Circuit Court’s decision in favor of 500+ City of Racine employees whose collective bargaining agreements the City had repudiated in the summer of 2012. A brief history of the case is as follows: In late 2010 and early 2011, the City negotiated five separate collective bargaining agreements with union employee in its fire, police, public works, parks, water...
Halstead and Saks File Lawsuit on Behalf of AFSCME Workers against City of Rhinelander
On December 4, 2013, City of Rhinelander employees represented by AFSCME, Local 1226, filed a declaratory judgment action in Oneida County Circuit Court, alleging that the City committed a prohibited practice under Wisconsin’s Municipal Employment Relations Act (MERA). The Union’s suit alleges that despite the City entering into a tentative agreement with its employees for a 2013 collective bargaining agreement, but then refused to sign the...
Halstead and Good Win Victory for AFSCME Union and its Members against Dodge County in Wisconsin Court of Appeals
On May 9, 2012, AFSCME, Local 323-A (Dodge County Professional Employees and Heidi Burden, a union member) filed a complaint in Dodge County Circuit Court seeking a declaratory judgment that Dodge County’s grievance procedure violated Wis. Stat. § 66.0509(1m). That statute requires counties and other municipalities to establish grievance systems that provide certain job protections for municipal employees including review of terminations by...
Johnson and Murshid Present at Milwaukee Bar Association on Wage and Hour Issues
On November 21, 2013, Attorneys Larry Johnson and Summer Murshid presented a 2013 Wage and Hour case law update to luncheon participants at the Milwaukee Bar Association. The pair also presented on wage and hour issue spotting techniques. Materials from the presentation can be requested by contacting smurshid@hq-law.com or ljohnson@hq-law.com.
Madison Workers Comp Lawyer Aaron Halstead Wins $55,000 Award for Worker Fired after Work Injury
James Stahl had been a loyal, productive employee of Light Haus glass company of Madison, Wisconsin, for 11 years when he suffered a knee injury at work in the spring of 2012. After undergoing surgery, therapy and a six-week recovery period, Mr. Stahl’s doctors released him to return to work without further physical limitations in July 2012. Four days later, Light Haus fired Mr. Stahl, and offered him two weeks’ pay to release all claims...
Judge Grants Final Approval of Settlement for St. Mary’s Nurses
The $3.5 million settlement for St. Mary’s nurses who allege that they were denied pay for on duty meal periods in now final and settlement payments will be made to the class members on November 8, 2013. Nurses who are employed at St. Mary’s currently have received the portion of the settlement allocated as back pay, which is 50% of the total settlement. A second check will be sent to these nurses on November 8, 2013 for liquidated damages....
Court Grants Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement in Case Against Cleary Building Corp.
On October 11, 2013, the Court preliminarily approved a class action settlement in Berndt. et al. v. Cleary Building Corp., No. 3:11-cv-791 (W.D. Wis.). The settlement resolves the Plaintiffs’ claims that Cleary failed to compensate crew members and foremen for certain work performed at the beginning and end of their shift. Crew members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa who worked for Cleary during the statutory period, as well as...
Halstead Instructs Union Representatives on Worker’s Compensation
Attorney Aaron Halstead taught at the University of Wisconsin’s worker’s compensation workshop in Madison, in October 2013. Mr. Halstead was invited by the University Extension office’s School for Workers to address union leaders from around the state on the importance of careful drafting of compromise and other settlement agreements. The School for Workers’ mission is to educate workers and others about issues of concern in the workplace, and...
Yang Named Director at Large for Society of Family Lawyers and Appointed to State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral & Information Service Committee
Attorney Kashoua Yang was named to the Board of Society of Family Lawyers as Director at Large. The Society of Family Lawyers is a network of family law attorneys that provides continuing legal education. Attorney Yang was also appointed to the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) Committee and will serve a one-year term. The LRIS is a public service to help consumers find resources for dealing with legal...
Halstead and Charlton to Present and Chair Annual Employment Law Update Seminar
Attorneys Aaron Halstead and Katherine Charlton will be serving as Program Chairs and presenting at the 2013 Employment Law Update seminar sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin on October 17, 2013 in Milwaukee and on October 18, 2013 in Madison. The seminar provides an annual update of employment law in Wisconsin to attorneys. Halstead has been practicing in the area of worker's compensation since 1990, and was recognized in 2013 as the...
Parsons to Speak at 37th Annual Worker’s Compensation Update
Attorney William Parsons is scheduled to speak at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 37th Annual Worker’s Compensation law update. The presentation will take place on Friday September 20, 2013 in Madison. Mr. Parsons will be discussing how technology can be used to more effectively represent clients with workers compensation claims in Wisconsin. The presentation will focus on the use of practice management and document management software. More...
Attorneys Timothy Hawks and Aaron Halstead Named Lawyers of the Year
Hawks Quindel is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers, a peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Timothy Hawks as 2014 Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law – Individuals, Milwaukee and Aaron Halstead as 2014 Lawyer of the Year for Labor Law – Union, Madison. Best Lawyers honors only a single lawyer in each specialty with this distinction. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned...
Hawks Quindel Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
Hawks Quindel, S.C. is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been named to the 2014 Edition of Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. “Best Lawyers is the most effective tool in identifying critical legal expertise,” said President and Co-Founder Steven Naifeh. “Inclusion on this list shows that an attorney is respected by his or her peers for professional success.” For 2014,...
Court Grants Conditional Class Certification for TSM Protection Officers
On August 19, 2013, Judge William Conley certified at nationwide class of TSM Protection officers. The Plaintiffs in the case allege that TSM failed to provide them compensation for their attendance at TSM training sessions. Class members will have until November 13, 2013 to return a signed consent form if they desire to join the action. A copy of the Notice sent to class members and the consent form can be found here.
Charlton to Speak About Employee Rights
Katherine Charlton will present "Basic Workplace Rights" to the Greater Milwaukee Association of Legal Professionals (GMALP) on September 17, 2013. GMALP is an organization founded in 1958 whose primary purpose is to provide education to those who work as legal assistants in law-related entities. Charlton speaks frequently to a wide variety of organizations concerning employee rights.
Fairweather Named To Community Justice Board Of Directors
Attorney Nicholas Fairweather was named to the Board of Directors of Community Justice, Inc., a Madison law firm dedicated to ensuring access to legal representation for low-income and under-represented individuals. More information can be found on the organization’s website: www.communityjusticeinc.org.
Halstead To Present At Workers Compensation Conference
Attorney Aaron Halstead will be presenting at 11th annual Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum on October 3, 2013, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Attorney Halstead will join a panel that includes Administrative Law Judge Donald Doody to discuss Wisconsin case law concerning course and scope of employment, as applied to specific fact scenarios. Attorney Halstead has been practicing in the area of worker’s compensation since 1990, and was recognized in...
Halstead Prevails in Worker’s Compensation Claim for Walgreens Employee Who Injured Knee at Work
Timothy Remer was a long term Assistant Manager for Walgreens in Waupaca, Wisconsin, when he was suffered a knee injury in April 2012. Remer was closing the metal door of a safe at one of the company’s stores as he rose from a kneeling position. When he did so, the edge of the safe’s door struck him on the inside of his knee, causing immediate excruciating pain. Remer had to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus and several weeks of...
Murshid Interviewed by M Magazine on Social Media Issues in Employment
M Magazine’s interview of Attorney Summer Murshid will be available in the June issue. In the interview, Murshid discusses the prevalence of social media in the workplace, the implications for employees and employers as well as what protections, if any, employees might have against termination or discipline for social media activity.
Charlton Is Invited To Author An Employment Law Chapter In A New State Bar Book
Katherine Charlton is in the process of preparing a chapter on employment law in a new book the State Bar of Wisconsin expects to publish in late 2014 or early 2015 concerning advising LGBT clients. The new treatise will assist Wisconsin lawyers in advising LGBT clients on a variety of matters. Charlton’s chapter is one devoted to an overview of state and federal employment laws as those laws uniquely relate to LGBT clients. Charlton was...
Johnson to Speak at Health, Labor and Employment Law Institute
Attorney Larry Johnson to speak at Health, Labor and Employment Law Institute on August 22nd and 23rd. Johnson will speak on a panel discussing Wisconsin wage and hour laws and how Wisconsin’s protections differ from the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Hawks to Discuss Organizing in Cyberspace
Attorney Timothy Hawks will be part of a panel discussion on the topic of labor organizing in the digital age. Mr. Hawks will join Nicole Aro, Director of Digital Strategies for the AFL-CIO, Michelle Miller, co-founder of Coworker.org, and Christian Norton, Communications Director from Working America. The panel will be held on Tuesday, June 4th at the Omni Hotel in Pittsburgh.
Court Grants Union’s Motion to Confirm Arbitrator’s Award Extending its Contract with Marinette County
On October 26, 2012, AFSCME, Local 1752-A (Marinette County Professional Employees Union) filed a motion in Marinette County Circuit Court requesting that the Court confirm an Arbitration Award that extended Union’s collective bargaining agreement with Marinette County through 2012. In that Award, the Arbitrator determined that the 2009-2011 collective bargaining agreement between Marinette County and the Union automatically renewed for...