Scott W. Hansen chairs Reinhart's Litigation Practice. Scott's work generally involves complex disputes between businesses or between business and governments in which a client's serious interests or ability to survive may be at risk. Recently, Hansen won summary judgment dismissing a demand that a client pay for environmental remediation and other damages that are estimated to reach well over $1 billion. He won a no liability decision involving claims that a manufacturer had misappropriated secrets allegedly worth over $250 million. Scott also successfully defended Milwaukee County against a $200 million damage claim that involved alleged misuse of public pension funds.
Scott has written and taught seminars about persuasion in complex litigation, the benefits of mock juries in franchise and distribution litigation, using financial experts in federal court, antitrust law, business torts, the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law, federal and state civil procedure and other topics.
Representative Matters and Experience
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Won dismissal (affirmed on appeal) of claims that a bank negligently facilitated a Ponzi scheme that allegedly stole more than $100 million of investor funds
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Won dismissal of litigation that alleged monopolization and attempted monopolization of the vision care insurance market
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Won a no-liability decision for a motor vehicle manufacturer wrongfully accused of misappropriating trade secrets allegedly worth $250 million
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Won summary judgment for a cleaning products manufacturer wrongfully sued by eight dealers who sought more than $200 million in damages and injunctive relief based on a long list of legal theories ranging from antitrust and unfair competition to bad faith, tortious interference, breach of contract and promissory estoppel
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Won a no-liability decision for a large cocoa products manufacturer wrongfully accused of illegally terminating its exclusive Mexican distributor
Many of Scott's cases have resulted in reported decisions. Here are some examples:
Distribution and Franchise Disputes
- Huntington Learning Centers, Inc. v. BMW Educ., LLC, No. 10-C-79, 2010 WL 1006545 (E.D. Wis. March 15, 2010)
- Saratoga Liquor Co. v. Pernod Ricard SA, No. 2006CV000002, Business Franchise Guide (CCH) 13,312 (Wis. Cir. Ct. Douglas County filed
April 6, 2006)
- Saratoga Liquor Co. v. Pernod Ricard SA, No. 06-C-14-S, 2006 WL 208845 (W.D. Wis. Jan., 24, 2006)
- Auto-Chlor System of Minnesota, Inc., et al. v. JohnsonDiversey, Inc., et al., 328 F. Supp. 2d 980 (D. Minn. July 19, 2004)
- East Bay Running Store, Inc. v. Nike, Inc., 890 F.2d 996 (7th Cir. 1998)
- Ransomes America Corp. v. Spartan Distributors, Inc., 914 F. Supp. 183 (W.D.)
- Pelican States Supply Co. v. Cushman, Inc.,39 F.3d 1184 (8th Cir. 1994)
- Wilfred McDonald, Inc. v. Cushman, Inc., No. 93-3468. WL 375968, Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) 10,025 (8th Cir. July 19, 1994)
Antitrust
Aspex Eyewear, Inc. v. Vision Service Plan, No. 10-16323, 2010 WL 2893824 (9th Cir. July 26, 2010)
- Servais v. Kraft Foods, Inc., 2002 WI 42, 252 Wis. 2d 145, 643 N.W. 2d 92, affirming 2001 WI App 165, 246 Wis. 2d 920, 631 N.W. 2d 629
- A.O. Smith Corp. v. Lewis, Overbeck & Fuhrman, et al., 979 F. 2d 546 (7th Cir. 1992)
- K-S Pharmacies, Inc. v. American Home Products Corp., 962 F. 2d 728 (7th Cir. 1992)
Racketeering and Fraud
Grad v. Associated Bank, N.A. No. 2010AP1461, 2011 WL 2184335 (Wis. Ct. App. June 7, 2011)
- Stark Trading & Shepherd Investments International v. Falconbride Ltd., No. 05-C-1167, 2008 WL 153542 (E.D. Wis. Jan. 14, 2008)
- Schimpf v. Gerald, Inc., 2 F. Supp. 2d 1150 (E.D. Wis. 1998)
- Select Creations, Inc. v. Paliafito America, Inc. et al., 830 F. Supp. 1223 (E.D. Wis 993)
Commercial Contract and Supply Disputes
- Saratoga Liquor Co. v. Pernod Ricard SA, 2006 WL 208845 (W.D. Wis. Jan. 24, 2006)
- Kaloti Enterprises., Inc. v. Kellogg Sales Co., 2005 WI 111, 283 Wis. 2d 555, 699 N.W. 2d 205
- Custom Products Corp. v. Internet, 170 F. Supp. 2d 853 (E.D. Wis. 2001)
- Ice Bowl v. Weigel Broadcasting Co., 14 F. Supp. 2d 1080 (E.D. Wis. 1998)
- Jackson National Life Insurance Co. v. Graycliff Partners Ltd., 960 F. Supp. 186 (E.D. Wis. 1997)
- Harley-Davidson Motor Co. v. Chrome Specialties, 173 FRD 250 (E.D. Wis. 1997)
- Saratoga Liquor Co. v. Pernod Ricard SA, 2006 WL 208845 (W.D. Wis. Jan. 24, 2006)
Speaking Engagements
Presented "Franchise Systems in Distress" in October 2009 at the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising
- Presented "Inside the Jury Room" in March 2009 at the meeting of the Civil Law Committee of the Eastern District of the Wisconsin Bar Association
- Presented "Presenting and Examining Financial Experts" in July 2008; Lorman Education Services
- Presented the seminar "Contract Litigation" in May 2006; Lorman Education Services
- Presented "The Use of Jury Studies in Franchise Litigation" at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the ABA Forum on Franchising
- Spoke on "The Art of Persuasion in Complex Litigation" at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Eastern District Bar Association
Notable Publications
Accolades
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Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation; Franchise Law; Litigation - Antitrust; Litigation - Patent)
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Best Lawyers’ 2012 Milwaukee Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year
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Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers (Wisconsin's Top 50, 2008-2010)
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Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2008 - 2010 (Tier One, 2004-2010)
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Wisconsin Top Rated Lawyer Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
- Named local litigation star by Benchmark Litigation 2012
Affiliations/Memberships
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State Bar of Wisconsin (Litigation and Business Law Sections)
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The Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
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American Bar Association (Litigation, Antitrust and Franchise Sections)
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Elected a Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation
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Elected to membership in the American Law Institute
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Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Law School
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American Constitution Society - Milwaukee Lawyers' Chapter (Board member)
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Thomas E. Fairchild Inns of Court (Master Bencher)
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Mequon Common Council (former Alderman and president)
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Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association (Executive Committee)
Education
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J.D., cum laude, University of Wisconsin Law School
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B.S., with honors, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Economics)
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