Donald H. Carlson

Biography

Don is a founder of Crivello Carlson, has served as President and Chairman of the Board and currently serves as advisor to the Board. Don is national counsel for OEM products manufactured by the country's largest manufacturer of small engines; national counsel for a manufacturer of commercial turf care products and has served as national counsel for a leading water heater manufacturer. Don has tried well over 100 jury trials and handles cases for clients throughout the country.

He consults with companies on product design issues, warnings, contents of manuals and risk assessment. He also works with companies to help settle commercial disputes, and on CPSC issues and recalls.

Don has obtained defense verdicts and court dismissals including: the action brought against the manufacturer of one of the world’s largest mobile cranes in the Miller Park baseball stadium accident litigation; defense verdicts in actions brought against the manufacturer of gas controls and water heaters in fire, explosion and carbon monoxide cases including cases tried in Iowa and Kansas: defense verdicts in actions brought against one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pacemakers, pacemaker leads, and infusion pumps; a defense verdict after a three month trial in a New Jersey asbestos case brought against the manufacturer of package boilers; a defense verdict in a commercial action brought by a manufacturer of refrigeration equipment against the manufacturer of a hot gas bypass valve; defense verdicts and summary judgments in actions brought against one of the country's leading manufacturer of electrical components; summary judgment in a scald case in Virginia brought on behalf of an infant who was terribly burned when submerged in scalding hot water; dismissal of actions brought against a punch press manufacturer; defense verdicts and dismissals in actions brought against a manufacturer of power tools resulting from table saw and power miter box accidents, a defense verdict in an action brought against the producer of "agent orange" which had been used by a county highway crew; and summary judgment in Pennsylvania for the manufacturer of construction chemicals whose sealant was alleged to have contaminated a state office building with PCB's. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decision he obtained Fish vs. Amsted established the corporate successor liability law in this state.

Community Service Activities

Headed up the firm's United Way campaign

Member of Crossroads Presbyterian Church

Youth Soccer Coach

Practice Areas

Appellate Practice
Business Transactions and Contracts
Commercial and Personal Injury Litigation
Industrial Accidents
Insurance Defense, Coverage, and Disputes
Environmental Litigation and Coverage
Mass Tort and Toxic Tort Litigation
Negligence and Personal Injury Defense
Product Liability
Professional Malpractice Litigation
Construction Law
Wrongful Death

Bar Admissions

State of Wisconsin
State of Iowa (non-active)
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court - Western District of Michigan
U.S. District Court - Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court - Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court - District of Nebraska
U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Education

Drake University Law School, J.D., 1966
Drake University, B.A., Business Administration, 1964

Professional Organizations

American College of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates
American Bar Association
Wisconsin Bar Association
Iowa Bar Association
Defense Trial Counsel of Wisconsin (former president)
International Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
American Association for Justice
Milwaukee Bar Association