Firm News
January 16,2012
Attorney Catherine C. Orton recently drafted a "see-through" trust which permits an individual to protect his/her IRA or other employment benefit plan so their beneficiaries do not have the option of receiving it in a lump sum, which could be squandered. Instead, with the trust, following the death of the owner, the benefits are paid out to the beneficiary over the beneficiary's lifetime, while still enjoying tax-free compounding.
January 5, 2012
Attorney Eric S. Johnson guided a Wisconsin Dells business through the process of selling its assets to a new owner and protecting his client in the event of a default by the new owner. Attorney Johnson prepared an installment contract, security agreement, and UCC financing statement.
December 26, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson represented his client in a divorce trial dealing with property division and maintenance. Attorney Johnson presented evidence and legal authority to overcome the presumption that property should be divided 50/50. Attorney Johnson's client was awarded substantially more property than half the estate. His client was able to keep a cherished lakefront cabin. Attorney Johnson also successfully argued that the other spouse should be denied maintenance.
December 23, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson advised a Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton business in a complex series of transactions. He helped his client purchase land by drafting an offer to purchase, deed, business note, and mortgage. He assisted with negotiations with his client's lender. He negotiated and prepared a long-term lease for a new Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton attraction.
December 20, 2011
Attorneys Catherine C. Orton and Eric S. Johnson recently completed a Family LLC to manage and to transfer, over time, the ownership of a family lake home to the next generation. This planning technique permits the senior generation to retain control, while still passing part ownership to the next generation, thereby reducing the potential estate tax liability for the senior generation.
December 19, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson prepared a WisPACT Trust. A WisPACT trust is a pooled trust that allows certain individuals entitled to government benefits to receive assets (from gifts, inheritances, etc.) without being disqualified from government benefits for having too much income or property.
December 9, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson assisted a Wisconsin Dells restaurant in converting from a sole proprietorship to a Limited Liability Company (LLC) form of ownership. The conversion involved the preparation of Articles of Organization, an Operating Agreement, example minutes and resolutions, Certificates of Ownership, and beneficiary designations.
October 27, 2011
Attorney Catherine C. Orton recently completed a GRAT (Grantor Retained Annuity Trust) to take advantage of the low interest rate and convey interests in a large family business to the next generation. The GRAT is an estate planning technique which reduces estate tax liability for the owner of the business.
October 25, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson successfully guided his clients through the sale of their Sauk County mobile home park. He assisted them with negotiating with the buyers, working with the title company, and closing at the buyers' bank.
July 22, 2011
In a complicated child support case, Attorney Andrea Von Hoff successfully argued a motion in front of Juneau County Judge John Roemer to compel discovery to obtain financial information about the recipient of child support that our client was paying. This financial information, once collected, will be presented to the Court to explain why the child support paid by our client should be reduced.
July 14, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff settled a paternity action out-of-court, obtaining primary placement for her client.
July 6, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff successfully defended a motion to change placement, resulting in a Juneau County father retaining equal placement rights.
July 1, 2011
Attorney John Orton has completed his term on the Board of Directors of the Administrative and Local Government Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Orton served two full 3-year terms (the maximum allowed), plus an additional year as the Past President.
June 28, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson successfully guided a client through the process of selling the client's home, from initial negotiations through closing.
June 25, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff became a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia County Humane Society.
June 22, 2011
Attorney Eric S. Johnson won a trial to the Court where he defended a local charity against a wrongful termination claim filed by one of its employees.
June 15, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff was successful in removing delinquent tenants from a Baraboo property owned by a Maryland bank before the necessity of a formal eviction process.
June 5, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff successfully argued a motion to change venue in a Child Support action from Milwaukee County to Juneau County.
June 1, 2011
Attorney William T. Curran began service in June, 2011 in his second two-year term on the State Bar of Wisconsin's Board of Governors (BOG), representing the 7th district, which covers nine counties: Adams, Columbia, Juneau, Marquette, Portage, Sauk, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood. During his first term on the BOG, he was elected to the Executive Committee and also served on the Strategic Planning Committee, Policy Committee and Legislative Oversight Committee.
May 29, 2011
Attorney John Orton successfully concluded a personal injury case in which his client, a 10-year-old girl, suffered facial cuts and scars caused by a dog bite. The case was settled for a confidential amount before the commencement of litigation.
May 20, 2011
Attorney Eric Johnson successfully argued a motion to vacate a Satisfaction of Judgment. Not knowing the legal subtleties of "Satisfactions" and relying upon the misrepresentations of one of the debtors regarding its legal effect, the clients inadvertently filed the Satisfaction, which obliterated their Judgment against the debtors. The Court held that, given the filing was a mistake and the Judgment was not actually paid, the clients were entitled to have the Judgment reinstated.
May 10, 2011
Attorney Eric Johnson successfully argued a motion to exclude evidence in a Sauk County divorce matter. The issue was whether the Court should consider the client's potential interest in a Trust when dividing marital property. Judge Reynolds held that the client's potential interest in a Trust could not be counted against him when dividing the parties' marital property.
April 26, 2011
Attorney John Orton successfully settled the case of Passer v. Progressive Insurance Company on behalf of the Plaintiff, who was injured while crossing the street, during her morning walk, when she was struck by a vehicle making a left turn. The case settled during Mediation for a substantial confidential amount.
March 31, 2011
Attorney John Orton completed the first portion of the new Code of Ordinances for the Village of Camp Douglas. The Village adopted the new Code, which includes all new ordinances except for the Zoning Ordinance. The Village now plans to work with Attorney Orton to draft a new Zoning Ordinance which will be added to the new Code in the near future.
March 14, 2011
Attorney John Orton successfully settled a claim on behalf of business owners against the Village of Friendship arising out of special assessments levied by the Village for new sewer and water utilities. The business claimed that the assessments were unfair and unreasonable because the Village installed a water and sewer main in an alley to service the business, instead of installing a lateral pipe at a much lower cost. The case was settled after the filing of a formal Notice of Claim against the Village, but before the commencement of litigation. The settlement required the Village to reduce the assessment by 25% and to pay most of the business' attorney's fees.
February 14, 2011
Attorney Andrea Von Hoff became a member of the Board of Directors of the Hope House of South Central Wisconsin, Inc.
February 10, 2011
Attorney John Orton completed work on the first Code of Ordinances for the Town of Lyndon. This new Code, which included a new Zoning Ordinance and a new Land Use Plan Ordinance (i.e. "Smart Growth" Plan), was adopted by the Town on February 10, after two (2) years of work.
February 10, 2011
Attorney Eric Johnson created a limited liability company to provide a framework for several co-owners to hold, manage and maintain a vacation home, as well as to provide accountability for shared expenses relating to the home.
January 24, 2011
Attorney Eric Johnson prepared documents to found a charter school.
December 10, 2010
Before the commencement of a lawsuit, Attorney John Orton successfully completed the settlement of a wrongful death claim in which the defendant's insurance company paid its policy limits of $150,000.
November 29, 2010
Attorney John Orton successfully completed a claim against Wal-Mart arising out of a trip-and-fall accident in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Our client was walking across Wal-Mart's parking lot when she accidentally stepped into a pothole, causing her to fall and injure her knee. The case was settled for $25,000 shortly after the commencement of litigation.
November 26, 2010
Attorney John Orton obtained a settlement in the case of Stephenson v. Juneau County. Mr. Stephenson was injured when his vehicle was struck by a Juneau County snowplow. The case was settled for a substantial undisclosed amount.
October 25, 2010
Attorney John Orton successfully concluded a personal injury case in which our client suffered a broken wrist in an ATV accident, caused by a dog which darted in front of our client's ATV, while traveling upon a State ATV trail. The case was settled for $25,000 before the commencement of litigation.
September 30, 2010
Attorney Fred D. Hollenbeck III and Attorney Eric Johnson successfully appealed the division of property in a divorce, gaining substantial additional assets for the client.
September 27, 2010
Attorney Catherine C. Orton and Attorney Eric Johnson guided their clients through the successful sale of a bar and restaurant.
September 17, 2010
Attorney John Orton successfully concluded the case of Hollman v. Town of Big Flats. Hollman sued the Town alleging that the Town had improperly attempted to vacate a Town road which services Hollman's property. The Town claimed that the road had never been established as a public highway. Attorney Orton successfully brought a Motion for Summary Judgment to establish that the road had been created in 1872, thereby shifting the burden of proof to the Town to establish that the road had been subsequently discontinued. Two weeks before trial, the Town stipulated to the entry of Judgment against the Town, declaring that the road was, in fact, a public highway.
August 18, 2010
Attorney John Orton obtained a successful settlement in the case of Hoem v. Town of Franklin, et. al. Wilma Hoem sued the Town of Franklin alleging that the Town breached its contract with her regarding the re-construction of a town road across her property. The Town had agreed to provide Hoem with all the dirt removed from the construction site, but during construction, numerous truck loads of dirt were delivered elsewhere. Initially, this case was dismissed on summary judgment, but Attorney Orton successfully appealed the case. The Court of Appeals agreed with Attorney Orton, reversed the trial court, and remanded the case for further proceedings. On the opening day of trial, the parties stipulated to the entry of Judgment in favor of Mrs. Hoem and against the Town in the amount of $35,000.
July 1, 2010
Attorney John Orton finished term as Chairman of Administrative and Local Government Lawyers Section.
July 1, 2010
Attorney William Curran elected to Executive Committee of State Bar.
May 31, 2010
Attorney Catherine Orton received IRS approval (tax clearance) in probate of multi-million dollar estate.
May 5, 2010
Attorney John Orton chaired CLE program at State Bar Convention.
April 30, 2010
Attorney John Orton received favorable verdict in a three-day civil jury trial.
March 28, 2010
Attorney William Curran was recognized as repeat selection by Wisconsin Super Lawyers (2008 and 2009).
March 15, 2010
Curran, Hollenbeck & Orton continues its AV rating with Martindale Hubbell for the 50th consecutive year.
