Wisconsin

At Otjen, Van Ert & Weir we understand the significant impact that medical malpractice actions have on health care providers. Our attorneys have decades of experience in defending the most complex medical and dental malpractice cases. We have obtained successful defense verdicts on behalf of hospitals and physicians in virtually every area of medical practice or specialty. Hospitals in our community have consistently relied on the firm to defend them in malpractice actions since before the enactment of Chapter 655. When competent, aggressive and compassionate representation is needed in malpractice cases the attorneys at Otjen, Van Ert & Weir are the logical choice. Our malpractice team includes trial attorneys, licensed nurse/paralegals, and skilled investigators who will develop and understand every medical and legal issue presented by the malpractice case. We understand that each case is unique to the health care provider and will diligently develop, with the health care provider, the best possible defense to the case.

While we are proud of our results in the courtroom, our attorneys also work closely with hospitals, clinics, and the medical community in an effort to reduce the risk of malpractice cases. We make presentations in conjunction with risk managers at hospitals and clinics in an effort to make employees aware of how to reduce and recognize risk.

Laurie J. McLeRoy focuses her practice in the areas of medical malpractice and personal injury defense, having handled numerous complex trials in her over 25 year practice. Ms. McLeRoy is also a skilled appellate advocate handling all aspects of appeals from successful Petitions for Review, briefs and oral arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

WILSON ELSER

Nearly 800 attorneys strong, our firm serves clients of all sizes, across multiple industries and around the world. Wilson Elser has 27 strategically located offices in the United States, another in London and several European affiliates. This depth and scale has made us one of the nation’s most influential law firms, ranked in the Am Law 200 and in the top 50 of the National Law Journal 350.

Since our founding in 1978, Wilson Elser has forged a reputation as a formidable player in insurance coverage and defense. Our experience in this tightly regulated, cost-conscious industry has shaped a firm culture of accomplished professionalism and cost efficiency that delivers demonstrable value to clients.

Today, Wilson Elser provides clients with full-service, first-class legal services, spanning the spectrum of litigation and related areas. We apply the discipline and diligence of effective litigation to virtually all areas of the law, drawing on a comprehensive roster of legal services to create multidisciplinary teams that give each client matter the best of the firm’s collective intelligence and capabilities.

Our firm’s uncommonly high concentration of seasoned senior litigators gives us an advantage when handling our clients’ most challenging and technical cases. More broadly, many of our attorneys have specialized degrees in business, engineering, medicine and accounting, as well as extensive on-the-ground professional experience, which translate into client solutions that work in the real world.

By combining our attorneys’ deep experience with the vast resources and technical capacity of a large and highly respected firm, Wilson Elser consistently provides our clients with sound, uncompromising legal representation.

SEAN GAYNOR

Sean Gaynor is a litigation attorney who represents health care providers in matters related to malpractice, licensing boards and business issues. The variety of medical- and dental-related matters he has handled provide him the knowledge and experience to acutely assess each case, conduct efficient discovery and take cases to trial. Sean frequently lectures before hospitals, physicians, medical/dental associations, insurance companies and lawyers regarding health care and dental liability. He has co-authored articles on informed consent and changes to Wisconsin’s peer review and quality assurance statutes.

Health care-related litigation is complex, both legally and factually, and carries significant financial and personal exposure. Sean appreciates each of these aspects and strives to provide his clients a principled, well-planned, strongly executed defense. Sean prides himself on collaboration and ensures that his clients have an active say in how their respective matter is handled. A strong work ethic, professionalism and quality work product are trademarks of Sean’s practice and culminate in his desire to achieve the results his clients seek.

Areas of Focus:

Medical Malpractice
Sean’s current clients include physicians, hospitals, nurses, dentists, oral surgeons and other medical/dental providers throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Over the past several years, he has been involved in numerous trials representing obstetricians, family practice physicians, urologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, anesthesiologists, pain medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, nurses and otolaryngologists. His trials have involved an array of subjects, including brain-damaged infants, medication-induced liver failure, sinus surgery, urological surgery, pacemaker malfunction, Coumadin-related coagulation issues and spinal surgery complications.

Dental & Oral Surgery Specialization
Sean has developed a specialized approach to litigation involving dentists and oral surgeons. His knowledge of the dental profession due to his work with providers in this field in previous cases gives him the insight to handle dental-related matters efficiently, economically and with favorable results. He has represented general dentists, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, orthodontists and dental hygienists in a broad spectrum of legal matters, including, but not limited to, dental infections, allegedly mistaken extractions, TMJ-related treatment, placement of crowns and implants, and anesthesia complications. In addition, he represents these clients before licensing and regulatory boards.

Nursing Home & Care Facilities
Claims against nursing home and care facilities are on the rise and Sean has been actively involved in defending these providers/facilities in Wisconsin. He has been involved in the representation of facilities in matters pertaining to medication errors, falls, alleged improper supervision, alleged abuse and neglect. Sean strongly believes that claims against these providers can be aggressively litigated to achieve appropriate results.

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
Sean represents and litigates on behalf of pharmaceutical and medical device entities in resolving complications related to compliance, labeling, marketing and recalls as well as product liability claims.