Robert L. Habush

Robert L. Habush is the Chairman of the Board of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® He received his undergraduate degree and his juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin. Mr. Habush was Order of the Coif and a member of the Law Review.

Mr. Habush is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, where he served on the Board of Directors. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates and was the first President of the Wisconsin Chapter. He is certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is listed in theBest Lawyers in America.

Mr. Habush has held leadership roles in the American Association for Justice(formerly ATLA), serving on the Board of Governors, 1969-1970 and 1983-1986, as National Parliamentarian, 1971-1972, as National Secretary, 1972-1973, as President-Elect and then President, 1985-1987. He has also been instrumental in the success of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, serving as its President from 1968-1969 and 1970-1971.

Mr. Habush is admitted to practice before all Wisconsin courts and has been admitted pro hac vice in many courts around the country. He is a member of theAmerican Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Bar Association. He is a former member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar.

Mr. Habush has taught courses at both the University of Wisconsin Law School and the Marquette University School of Law over the past twenty-five years. He has authored law review articles and was the author of “Cross-Examination of Non-Medical Experts” in the Art of Advocacy series by Matthew Bender Company. He has lectured before professional groups throughout the country in the area of trial practice.

Mr. Habush has been named the recipient of the AAJ Harry Philo Award and Champion of Justice Award. The Wisconsin Association for Justice has named its annual award to an outstanding trial lawyer, “The Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award.” He has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Rating from his peers in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory for over 30 years. In 2001, for his victory in the Miller Park crane collapse case, Mr. Habush was named one of the top litigators in the United States. In addition to being named a 2014 Super Lawyer, he was also included on Super Lawyers’ 2014 “Top 50 Wisconsin” list and “Top 25 Milwaukee” list, and was the #1 point earner for the latter recognition. In 2014, the American Bar Association published a biography about Mr. Habush titled “Courtroom Avenger: The Challenges and Triumphs of Robert Habush,” written by Kurt Chandler.

• 1961 Wisconsin and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
• Also admitted in the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit Supreme Court of the United States

• 1961 University of Wisconsin Law School;
  Order of the Coif; Member of Law Review

• 1959 University of Wisconsin, B.B.A. (Accounting)

• #1 point earner for 2014 Super Lawyers’ “Top 25 Milwaukee” list
• Named to 2014 Super Lawyers’ “Top 50 Wisconsin” list
• 2014 Super Lawyer
• 2007 Received the Truman Q. McNulty Service Award for a lifetime of distinguished service to the legal profession, the State Bar, the state, and the nation for leadership in educating the public in the rule of law
• 2004 Milwaukee Chapter of the AJC – 2004 Community Service Human Relations Award
• 2003 AAJ named its endowment the Robert L. Habush AAJ Endowment
• 2003 Named as one of ten Wisconsin Leaders in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal
• 2003 Received the 2003 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin Law School
• 2002 Recipient of The American Association for Justice’s highest award, The Leonard Ring Champion of Justice Award
• 2001 Named by the National Law Journal as one of the top ten litigators in the United States
• Award Named in his Honor: The Wisconsin Association for Justice Robert L. Habush Trial Lawyer of the Year Award
• Awarded Evan P. Helfaer Donor Award from the National Society for Fundraising Executives
• 1999 Recipient of The American Association for Justice Harry Philo Award
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for 20 years
• Named as the top Personal Injury Lawyers in Milwaukee from Milwaukee Magazine For 2003-2004
• Listed in Who’s Who in America; Listed in Who’s Who in the World
• Listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest; Listed in Who’s Who in American Law

Memberships and Leadership Positions in Wisconsin

• Milwaukee Junior Bar Association – President
• Wisconsin State Bar Association Board of Governors, 1980-84
• Wisconsin Judicial Council, 1976-1979
• Wisconsin Association for Justice; President, 1968-69 and 1971-72
• Wisconsin Legislative Council Special Subcommittee on Product Liability, 1978- 1980
• Wisconsin Bar Foundation
• American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) – President 1986-87
• Wisconsin and Milwaukee Bar Association

National Bar Associations and Leadership Positions

• Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers – Board of Directors
• Fellow of the International Society of Barristers
• Fellow of the Inner Circle of Advocates
• Lifetime Sustaining Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• President, 1986-87, Board of Governors, 1969-70 and 1983-86, former AAJ- PAC Trustee and Chairman, Public Affairs Committee
• Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• American Board of Trial Advocates – Founder and First President/Wisconsin Chapter
• The Roscoe Pound Foundation – Lifetime Fellow, Trustee, President 1990-92
• American Bar Foundation – Member
• Advisor, American Law Institute – Restatement of Torts Products Liability 3rd and General Principles

The attorneys of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.® have represented injured people in all parts of Wisconsin and throughout the United States. This section contains a few of the recent cases our attorneys have successfully resolved for our clients.

•  99 million awarded by jury to widows of ironworkers killed in crane crash at Miller Park.
•  20 million to a child injured by a pipe which escaped a defective pipe rack
•  17.3 million settlement for a child permanently disabled during surgery
•  16 million awarded to 8 men injured while working inside a silo at a power plant when a fire and explosion occurred.
•  12.5 million to a young man injured due to a defective roof in his car.
•  12 million to a woman who suffered brain damage due to overprescription of pain medication.
•  11 million to a child injured due to a delay in delivery
•  10.5 million awarded to a woman by a jury for surgical malpractice.
•  10 million to a man injected with medication incorrectly
•  9.6 million awarded for medical malpractice causing birth injury.
•  8 million to a man who was severely injured at a construction site.
•  8 million from an auto manufacturer to children in injured by defective seatbelts.
•  8 million to a woman who suffered multiple amputations after inappropriate medical care.
•  7.5 million to a child injured by a defective garage door opener
•  7.2 million to a man injured due to medical malpractice.
•  7 million to construction workers injured when a wall collapsed.
•  7 million to a man who was paralyzed by a defective bicycle.
•  7 million to a man severely injured by a defectively designed seatbelt.
•  6.5 million to a 12-year-old child rendered paraplegic in a car accident.
•  6.5 million to a man injured by the negligent design of a fuel tank.
•  6 million to a man burned when his car caught on fire.
•  6 million awarded to a woman hit head-on by semi which crossed the center line when its brakes locked up.
•  5.4 million to a woman who suffered a brain in jury after being hit by a dump truck.
•  5.4 million to a young man injured by a pay loader.
•  5.1 million from an auto manufacturer to a woman injured by a faulty seatbelt.
•  5 million awarded to a man who suffered life-threatening electrical shock and severe burns upon contact with a power line.
•  5 million to a bricklayer struck in head by falling material
•  4.9 million to three workers burned by a hot oil explosion.
•  4.7 million to a 4-year-old severely burned by pajamas that were not flame retardant.
•  4.5 million to a family injured by the negligent installation of a furnace in the kitchen.
•  4.25 million to a child injured by medical malpractice.
•  4.2 million to a motorcyclist hit on the expressway.
•  4 million to a child injured at birth by a doctor.
•  4 million from an auto manufacturer to a man paralyzed by a seatbelt defect.
•  3.9 million to a man who received AIDS from a blood transfusion.
•  3.9 million to a man in injured by medical malpractice.
•  3.8 million to a student wrestler injured by a coach
•  3.75 million to a woman injured by a defective car seat
•  3.5 million to a boy injured by medical malpractice.
•  3.5 million from an auto manufacturer to a man injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  3.25 to a man injured due to a delay in emergency room treatment
•  3.2 million to a child injured due to a delay in delivery
•  3.2 million to a person injured by a gate that collapsed.
•  3.1 million to a person severely injured in an automobile accident.
•  3.1 million to a man who lost his hand when hit by a charge of electricity from a defective wire.
•  3 million to a child injured by a defective booster seat
•  3 million to a child injured by premature delivery due to DES taken by grandmother
•  3 million to a man injured by a defective forklift.
•  3 million to a man injured in a semi accident.
•  3 million from an auto manufacturer to a man injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  3 million to a person injured in an automobile accident.
•  3 million to a man injured by medical malpractice.
•  3 million to a girl who suffered a brain injury from a vaccination.
•  3 million from an auto manufacturer to a woman injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  3 million to a motorcycle racer rendered paraplegic due to poor track conditions.
•  2.9 million to a man injured by medical malpractice.
•  2.8 million to a child injured by a defective car side structure
•  2.75 million to a child injured at birth due to medical malpractice.
•  2.7 million to a child injured by a defective booster seat
•  2.7 million to a boy injured by a defective high chair.
•  2.7 million to the family of a man who died from burns from an electrical line.
•  2.6 million to a boy injured at the hospital as a newborn.
•  2.6 million to two widows whose husbands were killed when a pipe ruptured in a power plant.
•  2.6 million to a woman who suffered brain damage from aspirin.
•  2.6 million to a child who suffered injuries due to medical malpractice.
•  2.5 million from an auto manufacturer to a person injured by a faulty seatbelt.
•  2.5 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  2.5 million to a man injured while driving a rental car with bad tires.
•  2.5 million to a man injured by a forklift.
•  2.45 million to a man injured by bald tires on a rental car
•  2.4 million from an auto manufacturer to a man injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  2.4 million to a woman hit by a car.
•  2.4 million to a 5-year-old who was rendered permanently disabled when a truck ran a stop sign.
•  2.4 million to a bicyclist hit by a car.
•  2.3 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  2.2 million to a 17-year-old girl severely burned by a mobile home’s defective electrical system.
•  2.2 million to a man injured by a defectively designed excavator.
•  2.2 million to a man injured in a workplace explosion.
•  2.1 million to a child injured by a defective infant car seat
•  2.07 million to the family of a pregnant woman and her daughter who were killed by an intoxicated driver.
•  2 million to a man injured in an ultralight crash
•  2 million from an auto manufacturer to a woman whose seatbelt failed in an accident.
•  2 million from an auto manufacturer to a person whose seatbelt failed.
•  2 million to a man injured by a defective ladder.
•  2 million to a man injured by defective scaffolding.
•  2 million from an auto manufacturer to a child injured by a defective car seat.
•  2 million from an auto manufacturer to a woman injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  2 million to a woman injured due to medical malpractice.
•  2 million from an auto manufacturer to a man injured by a defective seatbelt.
•  2 million to a man injured in an automobile accident.
•  1.9 million to a woman severely injured in an automobile accident.
•  1.9 million to a person injured in a car rollover accident.
•  1.9 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.8 million to a man paralyzed from the chest down due to a defective steering mechanism.
•  1.7 million to a woman injured due to medical malpractice.
•  1.7 million to a child injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.7 million to a woman injured in an automobile accident.
•  1.7 million to a child injured at birth due to medical malpractice.
•  1.6 million to motorcyclists struck by a truck.
•  1.6 million to a person hit by a bus.
•  1.6 million to a person who suffered head injuries after falling down the stairs.
•  1.53 million to a woman burned by a Coleman stove explosion.
•  1.526 million to a man injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.5 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.5 million to a man injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.5 million from an auto manufacturer to a woman injured by a defectively designed car.
•  1.5 million to a man rendered paraplegic after a forklift accident.
•  1.5 million to a woman injured due to medical malpractice.
•  1.5 million to a man rendered paraplegic after an elevator collapsed.
•  1.5 million to a man injured in a car accident.
•  1.5 million to a man injured in a car accident.
•  1.5 million to a woman injured when a porch railing gave out.
•  1.5 million to a woman whose seat failed in an automobile accident.
•  1.4 million to a woman injured in a motorcycle accident.
•  1.4 million to a man burned at work.
•  1.4 million to a woman who suffered brain injuries after taking aspirin.
•  1.4 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.35 million to a man injured at a construction site.
•  1.3 million to a 30-year-old man rendered paraplegic in an automobile accident.
•  1.3 million to a child injured from lead poisoning.
•  1.3 million to a woman whose foot was cut off by a lawn mower.
•  1.2 million to a couple injured as a result of stray voltage on a farm.
•  1.2 million to a man run over by a truck.
•  1.2 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.2 million to a man injured in an automobile accident.
•  1.2 million to a woman injured due to medical malpractice.
•  1.1 million to a farmer whose herd suffered from stray voltage.
•  1.1 million to a child injured by a defective garage door.
•  1.1 million for injuries in an automobile accident.
•  1.1 million to a man injured by a train.
•  1.1 million to a woman injured by medical malpractice.
•  1.1 million to a child who was struck by a school bus.
•  1.1 million to a woman severely burned in an automobile accident.
•  1.1 million to a child injured in an automobile accident.
•  1.1 million to a man injured by medical malpractice.
•  1 million to a pedestrian hit by a car.
•  1 million to a woman injured in an automobile accident.
•  1 million to a woman injured as a result of latex allergies.
•  1 million to a woman who suffered a brain injury in an automobile accident.
•  1 million to a man who suffered brain injuries in an automobile accident.
•  1 million to a man injured in an automobile accident.
•  801,381 awarded to the family of a woman who was killed by a driver who ran a red light.
•  410,000 for a woman who was sexually assaulted while she was in the hospital.
•  112,269 awarded to a woman who was attacked by her neighbor’s dog.

• Adjunct Professor, Marquette University Law School, Fall 2004
• Past Adjunct Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School – Trial Advocacy
• Annual Lecturer, Advanced Products Liability Seminar – Marquette University Law School
• Frequent lecturer to AAJ and Wisconsin Trial Lawyers, State Bar of Wisconsin, ABA, state trial lawyer associations

• The Art of Advocacy: Cross-Examination of Non-Medical Experts, Matthew Bender & Co., 1981 (annually supplemented);
• “Hey Manufacturer, You Blew It”, Trial Diplomacy Journal, Summer 1980, Vol. 3, No. 2;
• “A Panel State: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, Trial Diplomacy Journal, Winter 1983-84, Vol. 6, No. 4;
• “Maximizing Damages Through Trial Techniques”, Trial Magazine, April 1984 (quoted in part in Forbes, June 18, 1984);
• An Interview of Robert L. Habush Entitled “Hey Manufacturer, You Blew It” presented in “The Trial Masters: A Handbook of Strategies and Tactics That Win Cases”, Bertram G. Warshaw, Editor Prentice Hall, 1984;
• Contributing Author to Masters of Trial Practice – Techniques of 22 Nationally Recognized Advocates; Wiley Law Publications, 1988;
• Contributor to Trial Practice Series – Successful Trial Techniques of Expert Practitioners, Robert V. Wells, J.D., Ph.D., Shepard’s/McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1988, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Contributor to The Art of Advocacy Skills in Action Series –Cross-Examination of Non-Medical Experts Videotape Series, Matthew Bender & Co.
• Contributor to Crashworthiness: AAJ Anthology Series, AAJ, 1989, Washington, D.C.
• Contributor to Excellence in Advocacy – Trial Expertise and Wisdom from the National College of Advocacy, AAJ Press, 1992, Washington, D.C.

Law School Contributions

• Benefactor – Marquette University Law School – Habush Advocacy Scholarship;
• Benefactor – University of Wisconsin Law School:
• Habush/Bascom Chair in Trial Advocacy, and
• Robert L. Habush Moot Court Advocacy Fund;
• Benefactor – Howard B. Eisenberg Memorial Hall;
• Benefactor – Wisconsin Civil Justice Education Foundation