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John A. Kramer - Wausau, WI
210 McClellan St.Suite 400 Wausau, WI 54403 - 5473
Kramer Shull Reeths LLP
Wausau Insurance Coverage Lawyer
Overview
John has been assisting insurance companies and their insureds for over 35 years, focusing his practice on insurance defense and coverage litigation. He has successfully defended his clients in countless jury and bench trials, appeals, mediations, and arbitrations. Today his practice involves complex litigation, coverage litigation, and coverage opinions. In addition, he regularly consults with claims professionals, directs claim investigations, and is retained by other attorneys as co-counsel or local counsel on insurance defense and coverage cases. John also represents insureds on coverage issues involving non-client insurers and in claims where they face personal liability for damages exceeding their coverage limits.
John has resolved over 600 cases through direct negotiation or mediation. Recognized for his ability to objectively evaluate claims and amicably work with opposing counsel, he now acts as a neutral mediator to help other attorneys and their clients settle their lawsuits.
After obtaining his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 1988, John was an associate attorney with Grzeca & Stanton, S.C., an insurance defense firm in Green Bay. In 1989, he conducted the first of many solo jury trials during his time with the firm. John went in-house with American Family Insurance in Wausau in 1993, where he tried cases on behalf of the company and its insureds, supervised outside counsel, and advised claims representatives on a variety of insurance coverage issues.
John returned to private practice in 2001 with Dick Zalewski and Mark Klinner as a partner in their young insurance defense firm, which then became Zalewski, Klinner & Kramer, LLP. Now Kramer Shull Reeths LLP, the firm continues its focus on insurance litigation and related claims and lawsuits.
About John A. Kramer
Current Employment Position(s)
- Senior Partner
Practice Areas
- Insurance Coverage
- Insurance Defense Litigation
- Auto Liability Insurance
- UM/UIM Coverage
- Home Owners Insurance
- Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance
- Other Property & Casualty Insurance
Litigation
- 75%
Representative Cases
- Welin v. Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., 2006 WI 81, 292 Wis. 2d 73, 717 N.W.2d 690.
- Fandrey v. Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., 2004 WI 62, 272 Wis. 2d 46, 680 N.W.2d 345.
- Mullen v. Walczak, 2003 WI 75, 262 Wis. 2d 708, 664 N.W.2d 76.
- Griebler v. Doughboy Recreational, Inc., 160 Wis. 2d 547, 466 N.W.2d 897 (1991).
- Mathison v. Kulhanek, 2021 WI App 20, 958 N.W.2d 164.
- Sunday v. McMillan-Warner Mut. Ins. Co., 2021 WI App 50, 963 N.W.2d 586.
- Uneeda Rest, LLC v. Hexum, 2020 WI App 55, 948 N.W.2d 499.
- Security Health Plan of Wis., Inc. v. Am. Std. Ins. Co. of Wis., 2018 WI App 68, 384 Wis. 2d 545, 920 N.W.2d 340.
- Drexler v. McMillan Warner Mut. Ins. Co., 2017 WI App 21, 374 Wis. 2d 436, 896 N.W.2d 390.
- Pierce v. Mid. Century Ins. Co., 2016 WI App 171, 372 Wis. 2d 171, 887 N.W.2d 115.
- Pettis v. Price, 2015 WI App 68, 364 Wis. 2d 759, 869 N.W.2d 170.
- Town of Lafayette v. Balsiger, 2011 WI App 75, 799 N.W.2d 928.
- Mueller v. McMillan-Warner Mut. Ins. Co., 2005 WI App 210, 287 Wis. 2d 154, 704 N.W.2d 613.
- Mullen v. Walczak, 2002 WI App 254, 257 Wis. 2d 928, 653 N.W.2d 529.
- Gilbert v. Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co., 199 Wis. 2d 125, 545 N.W.2d 521 (Ct. App. 1995).
- Gunderson v. Drew, 189 Wis. 2d 491, 527 N.W.2d 399 (Ct. App. 1994).
- Griebler v. Doughboy Recreational, Inc., 152 Wis. 2d 622, 449 N.W.2d 61 (Ct. App. 1989).
- Owen v. Wangerin, 985 F. 2d 312, 1993 (7th Cir. 1993).
- Hammerlund v. Auto Club Grp., 2017 WL 3142113 (W.D. Wis. July 24, 2017).
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Wisconsin, 1988
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1988
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1991
Other Affiliations
- State Bar of Wisconsin, 1988 - Present
- Defense Research Institute, 1995 - Present
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, 2012 - Present
- Wisconsin Defense Counsel, 1988 - Present
- Marathon County Bar Association, 1993 - Present
Past Positions
- Grzeca & Stanton, S.C., Associate Attorney, 1988 - 1993
- American Family Mutual Insurance Co., Senior Claim Attorney, 1993 - 2000
- Zalewski, Klinner & Kramer, LLP, Senior Partner, 2001 - 2014
- Klinner Kramer Shull LLP, Senior Partner, 2015 - 2023
Education
- Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1988
J.D. - Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan, 1985
B.A.
Minor: History
Major: Political Science
Articles
Published Works
- Not Just Another "Dog Bite" Case: The Impact of Public Policy Concerns on the Defense of Dog Bite Cases, Wisconsin Civil Trial Journal, Fall, 2004
Office Information
Address
210 McClellan St.Suite 400 Wausau, WI 54403 - 5473
Fax
- 715-845-5666
Office Hours
8 a.m to 5 p.m. Mon- Fri or by appointment
Websites
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About John A. Kramer
Honors
- Selected for inclusion, Wisconsin Super Lawyers Magazine for Insurance Coverage, 2008, 2019-2023
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