Douglas Raines
Doug Raines is a Shareholder in the firm’s Litigation and Risk Management Practice Group and chair of the Appellate Section in the Milwaukee office of von Briesen & Roper,s.c. His practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation, insurance defense, and appellate work.
Doug has trial experience in state and federal courts and has argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. In addition, he has successfully briefed and argued numerous motions, including dispositive motions, discovery motions, and Daubert motions. The following is a sample of the positive results Doug has helped clients achieve:
- 5 Walworth LLC v. Engerman Contracting, Inc. et al., Walworth County Case No. 18-CV-319: Summary judgment granted declaring insurer did not have a duty to defend.
- Kress v. United States, Eastern District of Wisconsin Case No. 16-CV-795: Judgment in favor of taxpayers in federal gift tax refund suit following a bench trial.
- Brand v. Promega Corp., Dane County Case No. 16-CV-1978: Partial grant of Daubert motion to exclude Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses.
- Sczygelski v. Little Black Mut. Ins. Co., Lincoln County, Wisconsin Case No. 16-CV-72: Motion to quash subpoena granted and protective order granted to insurer in bad faith action.
- Pilon v. Erie Insurance Exchange, Calumet County, Wisconsin Case No. 14-CV-66: Partial grant of Daubert motion to exclude Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses.
- BouMatic LLC v. Idento Operations BV, Western District of Wisconsin Case No. 11-CV-822: Dismissal granted for lack of jurisdiction in commercial action alleging breach of contract (settlement reached after appellate decision).
- Elkay Manufacturing Co. v. General Electric Co., Dane County, Wisconsin Case No. 12-CV-1080: Partial summary judgment granted declaring negligence claims barred by Wisconsin’s economic loss doctrine.
- State of Wisconsin v. One 1993 Toyota Landcruiser et al., Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Case No. 08-CV-6701: Order to Show Cause granted holding the State of Wisconsin in contempt for failing to timely pay a money judgment.
Other experience in Wisconsin appellate and federal courts includes:
- Secura Ins. v. Lyme St. Croix Forest Co., LLC, 2017 WI App 80, 2017 WL 4546953 (Wis. Ct. App. Oct. 11, 2017): Reversal of circuit court summary judgment as to the applicability and scope of an umbrella insurance policy.
- Dufour v. Progressive Classic Ins. Co., 2016 WI 59, 370 Wis. 2d 313, 881 N.W.2d 678: Reversal of Court of Appeals Decision, holding the made-whole doctrine did not prevent an insurer from subrogating and also holding the insurer did not engage in bad faith.
- State of Wisconsin v. One 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2012 WI App 52, 2012 WL 1002755 (Wis. Ct. App. March 27, 2012): Reversal of circuit court decision that failed to address Defendant-Appellant’s Order to Show Cause for Contempt.
- Jackson v. McKay-Davis Funeral Home, Inc., 717 F.Supp.2d 809 (E.D. Wis. 2010): Successful opposition to insurer’s motion for summary judgment regarding coverage.
- Altergott v. Helen Altergott Family Corp., 2009 WI App 110, 2009 WL 1663930 (Wis. Ct. App. June 16, 2009): Reversal of judgment ordering dissolution of corporation.
In addition, Doug has helped clients achieve positive outcomes through settlement of numerous cases ranging from personal injury, breach of contract, landlord-tenant, and insurance coverage issues.
Before joining von Briesen, Doug served as the law clerk to Wisconsin’s current Chief Justice, the Hon. Patience D. Roggensack of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (2007-2008 term).
Doug is the author or co-author of multiple law review articles. His work on affirmative action jurisprudence, New Federalism, and Wisconsin’s risk contribution doctrine has been published in the Marquette Law Review, Boston University Law Review (co-author with Scott A. Moss), and Pace Environmental Law Review (co-author with Peter G. Earle and Fidelma Fitzpatrick), respectively.
During law school, Doug served as a senior editor of the Marquette Law Review. He also completed internships with the Hon. John L. Coffey of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Hon. Charles N. Clevert of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4427
