Lawyer Who Targets Injured Bikers In WI and IL Goes To Prison

Hausmann-McNally Law Firm Senior partner, Charles J. Hausmann, with offices in Milwaukee, Appleton and Madison, Wisconsin and Decatur, Peoria and Rockford, Illinois went to prison on November 28, 2003, for defrauding approximately 200 of his firm’s personal injury clients. He was released from prison 2 months later and was charged with ethical violations for sending unsuspecting clients to a chiropractor who then paid $70,000.00 in kickbacks through 3rd parties. He lost his license for one year and has his license back.

However, none of this stopped Hausmann or the law firm of Hausmann-McNally, S.C., from sending direct mail advertising to people involved in motorcycle or automobile accidents in Wisconsin and central Illinois. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else you will probably receive a special edition of their advertisement TURNING WRONGS INTO YOUR RIGHTS. Before, during and after Hausmann’s conviction and imprisonment, the firm continued to send this booklet to accident victims stating 51 times throughout, that victims should hire a “trusted lawyer” – most of the time referring to the Hausmann Firm. In January of 2004, Hausmann was charged by the Office of Lawyer Regulation in Wisconsin with ethical violations including having a conflict of interests. 

Hausmann and his partner, John F. McNally, have hired not one but two law firms to shut me up. I am committed to protecting the biking community and I will continue to look out for you. I will not be intimidated.

When bikers are mistreated, members of this law firm have gone to bat for them for decades no matter who is on the other side. When clients of a law firm are defrauded by it’s senior partner, accident victims are entitled to know this when the firm continues to tell them to hire a “trusted lawyer.”

Here are some examples of things that we have done to protect the interests of bikers:

1. When the Federal Government wanted to pass a Blackmail Bill requiring states to pass mandatory helmet laws, we went to Washington and argued against this Bill. 

2. When the City of Milwaukee Police Department decided to start confiscating motorcycles without having clear proof they were stolen, we put on seminars to educate bikers and went to Court, pro bono, to fight this abuse.

3. When Summerfest in Milwaukee, ejected three members of the Outlaws Milwaukee Motorcycle Club for wearing patches, we sued Summerfest, the City of Milwaukee and the Police Department. Two days later Harley Davidson announced that no bikers attending the 100th Anniversary would be prevented from attending for wearing club colors. 

4. When the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided bikers’ accident awards could be reduced for not wearing a helmet, I helped draft a Bill to change the law. I testified before the Wisconsin Senate and the Wisconsin Assembly on behalf of David Zien’s Bill to provide corrective legislation. 

5. When the Federal Government started forfeiture proceedings against the Outlaws Milwaukee Clubhouse we agreed to defend the case. The case is still pending and we will probably never receive a fee whether we win or lose.

6. When Accident Scene Management needed financial help (www.accidentscene.net) to start its life saving training course for injured bikers we contributed financially to this worthwhile cause and still do.

7. When Milwaukee City and County Law Enforcement Officers were accused of harassing members of the Outlaws Milwaukee Motorcycle Club by telling bar owners not to allow them in their establishments and not to hire them, I complained and have been assured by the District Attorney’s Office that this conduct will not be tolerated. It is being investigated internally and has apparently stopped. 

8. When an Indianapolis lawyer demanded exclusive rights to advertise on the ABATE of Illinois newsletter, we objected and when we did not prevail continued to support ABATE of Illinois by advertising in local newsletters. I am a life member of ABATE of Wisconsin and a member of A.B.A.T.E of Illinois and ABATE of Indiana.

Hausmann stood on the sidelines and watched much of this happen. Several years ago he decided to come up with a marketing program which included literature proclaiming his firm the “premiere” law firm in the state representing motorcyclists and professing decades of enthusiasm for motorcycling. I set the record straight about his advertising by informing the biking community that my law firm has represented hundreds and hundreds of injured bikers and has long served the interest of the riding community.

We are committed to the biking community and will continue to look out for you.

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