Our trial lawyers are experienced and effective in civil trials and appeals, with a strong focus on the defense of general liability, medical malpractice, professional liability and municipal and employment claims and on business litigation. Our lawyers are admitted to practice at every level of state and federal courts, up to and including the United States Supreme Court; and many of our lawyers are recognized as being among the "Best Lawyers in America," or a "Super Lawyer" or have received other professional recognition and awards.
While lawyers in many firms talk about being "litigators," our trial lawyers actually try cases, and with great success. Our trial experience, and our reputation for success in state and federal courts throughout Wisconsin, provides clients with leverage when settlement negotiations are appropriate and with confidence that they will have an experienced, effective and vigorous advocate when a trial is necessary.
We bring a no-nonsense, cost-effective and outcome-focused approach to cases, using a small-team approach, with usually just one lawyer and one paralegal working on a case. For more complex cases, or when extra work is needed, we can involve as many skilled trial lawyers and support personnel as any case requires. We use computer programs as tools to help efficiently organize case facts and, when it is cost-effective, as part of the trial presentation.
We provide full-service representation in civil trial work, from advising on how to avoid litigation, through trials and appeals, with attention to whether alternative dispute resolution should be utilized. We have very good experience in effectively settling cases through mediation and arbitration and we have a number of lawyers who are often chosen as mediators or arbitrators by others to help them resolve their disputes.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is proud to announce that their firm has been recognized as a Tier 1 Madison Metropolitan Law Firm and Attorneys Ann Emmerich, David McFarlane and John Moore have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2023 Best Lawyers in America®
Patricia Epstein Putney talks about the unique issues which can arise surrounding service of process and how careful analysis should be undertaken regarding who received the "summons and complaint" to ensure strict compliance. Read more on this topic.
Wisconsin Super Lawyers and Rising Stars have been announced for 2021. Bell, Moore & Richter is pleased to introduce their attorneys receiving this recognition for 2021: Ann Emmerich, Patricia Putney, David McFarlane, John Moore, Ward Richter, Sheila Sullivan and David Ress.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. has been recognized by U.S. New & Best Lawyers® as a Madison Metropolitan "Best Law Firm." "Firms are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers."
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is proud to announce that the following attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America®
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is pleased to announce that Sheila M. Sullivan has been named the 2021 Advocate of the Year by the Wisconsin Defense Counsel (WDC).
"Camping is a long-standing Wisconsin tradition and a relatively new statute now immunizes private campground owners for certain injuries which occur on their premises." (Read More - Spring Edition of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel Journal) Article by Storm Larson.
"Associational disability discrimination happens when a covered employer discriminates against a nondisabled person for having a relationship with a person who has a disability." (Read More - Article by Storm Larson - December 2020 - State Bar of Wisconsin)
"The employers and clerks of the 2020 State Bar of Wisconsin Diversity Clerkship Program overcame challenges of the pandemic to connect with each other at a distance and give the clerks valuable experience with the practice of law." (Article by Shannon Green - State Bar of Wisconsin)
Best Lawyers in America announces Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. attorneys who have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2021 Best Lawyers in America®.
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. receives recognition from U.S. News & Best Lawyers® in the 2020 "Best Law Firms" Tier Rankings
Eileen Dorfman was recently interviewed by the State Bar of Wisconsin on how the G. Lane Ware Leadership Academy helped her to develop her leadership skills. Read more from the State Bar of Wisconsin "Inside Track," September 4, 2019 attached.
Best Lawyers in America announces Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. attorneys who have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2020 Best Lawyers in America®.
Melita Mullen (book review), Wisconsin Lawyers (December 2014). Read more about this book review by clicking on the link.
Ann C. Emmerich admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers (See Press Release attached.)
Bell, Moore & Richter is very pleased to announce that on March 2, 2019, Ann C. Emmerich was sworn in as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Attorneys at its 2019 Spring Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California. (See attached.)
Patricia Putney wrote an article that appeared in the State Bar of Wisconsin - Law Student Associate News and Opportunities, March 2019 edition. Read what Patti had to say on networking for law students.
Restoring the voluntary intoxication defense in Wisconsin would help promote due process without making it likely that defendants would evade responsibility for committing crimes for which intent is an element. (Read more - Article by Storm B. Larson)
Bell, Moore & Richter is proud to announce it has once again been recognized by the U.S. News - Best Lawyers® as a 2019 "Best Law Firm" in the Madison Metropolitan area.
Female attorneys still face sexism in the legal profession. (Authored by Patricia Epstein Putney - Wisconsin Law Journal Article 2011)
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. is pleased to announce that David G. Ress became a Shareholder at the firm on January 1, 2018.
"Patricia Epstein Putney recently conducted an informal survey of her peers . . . and found some interesting answers." Read more from the State Bar of Wisconsin "Litigation Blog" written by Patricia Epstein Putney.
The Rudolph A. Janata Award was presented at the DRI Annual Meeting in Chicago on October 5, 2017. (Read more)
Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C. a proud sponsor of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel's (WDC) 2017 Spring Conference held in Kohler, Wisconsin and were a supporter of the WDC's Women in the Law Committee Spring Clothing Drive. (Read More)
Bell, Moore & Richter is very pleased to announce that on September 16, 2016, David McFarlane was sworn in as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Attorneys at its annual meeting in Philadelphia.
David G. Ress has been recognized by the Wisconsin Law Journal as a 2016 "Up and Coming" Lawyer (Read more).
BMR is pleased to announce that Ann Emmerich was elected into membership in the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. (Read more)
In deciding a significant duty to defend case June 30, 2016, the Wisconsin Supreme Court cited BMR’s Sheila Sullivan four separate times (on her work supplementing the "Wisconsin Insurance Law") as authority for its decision.