Gingras, Cates and Wachs - Waukesha
3228 Turnberry Oak Dr Ste 210
Waukesha, WI 53188
414-935-5482 www.gcwlawyers.com
When the Indiana steel mill department shutdown in 1984 where I had worked for nearly 8 years as a steelworker, including a stint as union representative, my family and I moved to Milwaukee. I started law school and after graduating in 1987, I served as a law clerk to the Hon. John L. Coffey, circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. My time as a lawyer has now spanned 30 years, and my practice is primarily dedicated to representing and fighting for justice for injured people, including those injured by nursing home neglect, by medical and legal malpractice, in automobile and trucking collisions, by people's general negligence, by defective products, and for violations of individual's civil rights (?1983 claims). During this time, whether by settlement or trial whenever necessary, I have successfully obtained millions over the years for those individuals and families I have been honored to represent.
Education
J.D., Marquette University Law School, cum laude, 1987 B.G.S., Indiana University Northwest, 1984 Luther College, 1974-1976 Loras College, 1972-1974
Bar Admission
Wisconsin State Bar, 1987 U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit United States Supreme Court
Professional Associations and Memberships
Milwaukee County Bar Association Waukesha County Bar Association State Bar of Wisconsin American Bar Association American Association for Justice Wisconsin Association for Justice - Board of Directors, 1994 - present - Chair of the Amicus Curiae Brief Committee, 1992-2001 - Treasurer, 2005 - Secretary, 2006 - Vice-President, 2007 - President-Elect, 2008 - President, 2009 - Past-President, 2010
Honors and Awards
Wisconsin Super Lawyers, 2005- present Best Lawyers in America since 2009 - Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs - Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Martindale-Hubbell, AV rated Speaker at Team Up for Change - Social justice summit hosted by the Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings
Recent Cases
GCW Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Milwaukee Bucks Player, Sterling Brown Woman Sues Glendale Police After Alleged Wrongful Arrest GCW Helps Trammell Family Seek Justice After DA Declines to Press Charges Motto "I get knocked down But I get up again. You're never going to keep me down"
Favorite Book
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bola?o
When You're Not Working...
My wife of 40 years this year, Grace (a retired teacher and principal), and I love to spend time with family and friends. We love to take the grandchildren fishing, we enjoy sailing, we love the Packers, and I deer hunt with her brothers whenever possible.
Favorite Quote "Never give in?never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." Winston Churchill