Wisconsin Pretrial Civil Procedure

Erik Pless is a partner at One Law Group S.C. in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is a seasoned civil trial attorney with over 30 years of trial experience and over 80 jury trials to verdict as lead counsel. He limits his practice to civil litigation -- primarily the defense of negligence and tort-based claims, legal malpractice and insurance bad faith and coverage litigation. The bulk of Erik’s practice is insurance defense, which includes the defense of individuals, other attorneys and businesses who have been sued. Erik is a 1990 graduate or Wisconsin Lutheran College magna cum laude with a BA in both English and Communication. He went on to the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 1993. He has been based in Northeastern Wisconsin for his entire career but enjoys a statewide practice in both State and Federal Courts. Erik has argued several cases in the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Erik has been board certified as a Civil Trial Specialist since 2004 by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Trial law board certification is a comprehensive evaluation that officially recognizes extensive education, training, courtroom experience and actual trial experience as lead counsel. Certified trial lawyers like Erik undergo a thorough screening process, including documentation of trial experience, recommendations by judges before whom Erik has tried cases, and opposing attorneys who have tried cases against Erik, and successful completion of a thorough written essay examination. Additionally, Erik has been selected every year since 2008 for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers in the category of civil defense. To be so designated, each nominee is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and verified professional achievement. Selections are made annually, and only five percent of the attorneys in Wisconsin are selected for designation as Super Lawyers. Erik was also honored with an AV Preeminent rating through Martindale-Hubbell which is based upon peer reviews by other lawyers and judges familiar with his work. AV is the highest rating for professional ethics and legal ability. It is granted to fewer than eight percent of attorneys. As an author and instructor, Erik has participated in teaching trial advocacy and deposition taking at the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School. He also authored the Insurance Law Chapter for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Annual Update on Wisconsin Law from 1998-2016. Erik also has been a contributor to the State Bar’s publication Anderson’s Insurance Law. Outside the office, Erik enjoys physical challenges such as backcountry hiking and camping, adventure travel and triathlon, having finished 5 Ironman distance events.

Monte E. Weiss is the founder and president of Weiss Law Office, S.C., with locations in Appleton and Mequon. He primarily focuses on diverse insurance coverage issues for both insurance companies and policyholders. As part of his practice, he has drafted several personal lines property and casualty insurance policies, including homeowner and automobile policies. He is also regularly retained to defend bodily injury and property damage cases. Monte’s courtroom experience includes numerous jury and civil court trials as well as arguing cases before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Monte served a 9-year term on District Investigation Committee Two of the Office of Lawyer Regulation and his experience in this role helps him effectively serve his clients in the defense of legal malpractice claims as well as grievances with and complaints filed by the Office of Lawyer Regulation. Monte has helped shape and develop Wisconsin law on several critical issues that impact insurance law. In addition to his efforts in the courtroom, he has authored numerous articles regarding insurance coverage and other insurance industry-related topics and is a regular speaker on these same issues. Monte is frequently retained as a mediator and he serves as a special master/referee for insurance coverage disputes. Monte is an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School and he served as president of the Wisconsin Defense Counsel in 2023.

Kristen S. Scheuerman is the managing partner of Weiss Law Office, S.C.’s Appleton office. Kristen completed her undergraduate studies at Lawrence University and after working in corporate America for several years, she returned to the classroom and earned her JD from the Marquette University Law School. Kristen’s practice is primarily dedicated to representing plaintiffs in personal injury actions although she also has experience serving as a municipal prosecutor. Kristen serves as a mediator throughout Wisconsin and uses her experience handling both insurance defense files and representing injured plaintiffs to help parties effectively resolve claims. Kristen’s professional passions include legal education and lecturing and consulting on compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payor Act.