Profile
James A. Olson is a senior shareholder and a former president of the law firm of Lawton & Cates, S.C., in Madison, Wisconsin. His vast accomplishments include obtaining the first personal injury jury verdict in excess of $1 million in Juneau County, the first personal injury jury verdict in excess of $1 million in Dane County, and the largest verdict of approximately $5.5 million in the history of Dodge County. He was also the lead counsel in a case that recouped $6.7 million for Tri-State homeowners, after six appeals and two reported opinions.
Jim Olson recognized a need to serve consumers whose rights have been violated. He helped found the Consumer Law Clinic at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and served on the advisory board from 1996 to 1999. The clinic serves those clients with few financial resources or those whose recovery potential is small.
Jim is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Attorneys, since 1987. He was rated by Madison Magazine as one of Madison’s Top Lawyers in Products Liability and Environmental Law in January 1994.
About James Olson
Law School: University of Wisconsin Law School
Admitted: 1966, Wisconsin
Professional Webpage: www.lawtoncates.com/oc-bin/show_staffb.cgi/0?feed_id=000233
Honors and Awards:
- Rated by Madison Magazine as a Top Lawyer in Products Liability and Environmental Law, 1994 - Present
- Finalist, Wisconsin Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2000 - Present
- Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- AV Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Civil Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1987 - Present
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member, Dane County Bar Association
- Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Chairman, Environmental Law Committee, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Chairman, Capital Community Citizens, 1980 - 1981
- Wisconsin Citizens Advisory Board to the Public Intervenor, 1976 - 1982
- National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1982 - Present
- Member, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1976 - Present
- Member, American Association for Justice, 1978 - Present
- U.S. Federal Court, 1966
- Wisconsin, 1966
Scholarly Lectures and Writings:
- Lecturer, State Bar of Wisconsin
- Lecturer, Trial Tactics, Discovery, Products Liability, Environmental Litigation, Consumer Law, and Insurance Coverage, University of Wisconsin and NBTI
- Lecturer, Environmental Litigation, University of Wisconsin
- Wilcox v. Wilcox: The Beginning of a New Approach to Conflict of Laws in Tort Cases, Wisconsin Law Review, No. 3, 1966
- Progress and Problems in Wisconsin's Scenic & Conservation Easement Program, Wisconsin Law Review
Representative Clients:
- State v. Chvala, 673 N.W.2d 401
- State v. Chvala, 678 N.W.2d 880, Wis.App., 2004
- State v. Jensen, 681 N.W.2d 230, Wis.App., 2004
- State v. Chvala, 693 N.W.2d 747, Wis.App., 2005
- Yao v. Chapman, 705 N.W.2d 272, Wis.App., 2005
Educational Background:
- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, B.S., 1961
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Social/Professional Services