|
2026 WDC Spring Committee Awards The WDC Spring Committee Awards recognize the talent, effort, and accomplishments of our incredible committee members and volunteer leaders. Congratulations to the following award recipients who will be recognized during the WDC 2026 Spring Conference on April 23-24, 2026! Amicus Committee Award Recipient: Caleb Gerbitz Congratulations to Caleb Gerbitz for being selected by the Amicus Committee and the Awards Committee for the 2026 Amicus Committee Award! Caleb has been one of the more active members of the committee, often bringing cases to the committee’s attention for review, even if he was not directly involved in them. Most recently, he brought Wren v. Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee to the attention of the committee. This case concerned a COVID-era civil immunity statute that the court of appeals invalidated as violating the state constitutional right to a jury. Though the particular statute at issue had relatively limited reach, the court of appeals’ analysis in this case could be used to invalidate every single civil immunity statute. The committee readily concluded that calling into question every civil immunity statute was an issue of deep concern to the WDC membership and therefore voted to file an amicus brief in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Caleb then took the lead in drafting the brief, coordinating research activities from multiple firms. The Amicus Committee is grateful for Caleb’s participation and efforts on behalf of WDC. Caleb is an attorney in Meissner, Tierney, Fisher & Nichols, S.C.’s litigation practice group. He focuses on assisting clients in complex commercial, insurance, employment, and appellate matters. Caleb brings to his work a dedication to client service and a focus on providing skillful representation throughout a dispute—from pre-litigation, to trial, and through appeal if necessary. Bylaws Committee Award Recipient: Doug Ross Congratulations to Doug Ross for being selected by the Bylaws Committee and the Awards Committee for the 2026 Bylaws Committee Award! Doug’s dedication to the Bylaws committee is only rivaled by his devotion to the Oxford comma. His attention to detail is legendary—whether he’s untangling the most complex bylaw or championing the cause of clarity in every committee document. He’s the person you want in your corner if there’s even a whiff of ambiguity or a missing punctuation mark. In fact, his steadfast commitment to the Oxford comma has saved us all from more than one grammatical disaster and, arguably, several potential lawsuits (or at least some very confusing sentences). Doug has a knack for finding the perfect balance between technical precision and collegial good humor, making every meeting both productive and enjoyable. Doug’s outstanding effort, participation, and engagement have truly elevated the Bylaws Committee’s work. He’s always willing to review bylaws, share his expertise, and advocate for best practices—all while keeping the committee members on their grammatical toes. Doug is the Director of Casualty & Auto Claims at Rural Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to joining Rural, Doug spent his career as a trial attorney
|