Biography

Joe is a commercial litigation attorney and a partner with Beck, Chaet, Bamberger & Polsky, S.C.  Clients turn to Joe for representation in business litigation matters, including trial work, appellate work, and arbitration.  Joe’s practice focusses on financial services litigation, class-action litigation, commercial real estate litigation, shareholder disputes, creditor/debtor litigation, and general breach of contract and business tort matters.  Joe comes from a family of entrepreneurs and understands how businesses tick. When representing a client and crafting a litigation strategy, Joe sizes up the case from the business’ perspective and devises a strategy that is efficient and that best serves the client’s business interests.  Joe is a graduate of Marquette University Law School (J.D., 2007) and Colgate University (B.A., 2003).

Representative Matters

  • Successfully defended financial institution client against class action consumer protection claims under the Uniform Commercial Code and the Wisconsin Consumer Act seeking in excess of $7 million in damages and obtained a negotiated resolution on behalf of client representing a small fraction of damages sought by plaintiff’s counsel
  • Lead litigation counsel defending financial institution clients in numerous consumer protection lawsuits alleging violations of the Wisconsin Consumer Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and Uniform Commercial Code
  • Successfully litigated on behalf of landlord in dispute involving national restaurant tenant’s claim that COVID-19 Pandemic excused performance under commercial lease by prevailing on motion for summary judgment that resulted in dismissal of tenant’s defenses and substantial settlement in landlord’s favor
  • Successfully litigated breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims against purchaser of frac sand and obtained substantial six-figure judgment after conclusion of bench trial
  • Successfully argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in Chapter 128 Receivership matter in dispute regarding priority of secured lender’s claim and allegations that Receiver breached his fiduciary duty to creditors by seeking ruling from the trial court as to priority
  • Member of litigation defense counsel team for large corporate client involving premises liability claim, resulting in full defense verdict after seven-day jury trial despite claims of $1.5 Million in damages
  • Successfully defended against several mortgage repurchase lawsuits as much as $100 Million resulting from Great Recession against financial institution client
  • Successfully defended real estate client in two-week trial against claims brought by limited liability member seeking millions of dollars in damages for alleged breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty 

Areas of Practice

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Financial Services Litigation
  • Class Action Defense Litigation
  • Consumer Defense Litigation
  • Real Estate Litigation
  • Commercial Evictions
  • Appeals and Appellate Litigation
  • Complex & Critical Contract Disputes
  • Insolvency Litigation
  • Partnership Disputes
  • Arbitration
  • Breach of Fiduciary Duty Litigation
  • D&O Litigation
  • Fraudulent Conveyance and Transfer Litigation
  • Insurance Disputes and Litigation

Admissions Details

  • Wisconsin, 2007
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2007
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 2007
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2017

Education

  • Marquette University Law School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2007
  • Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 2003

Representative Cases

  • In re Atrium of Racine, Inc., 2023 WI 19, 406 Wis. 2d 247, 986 N.W.2d 780
  • Cho v. Spinnaker Insurance Co., 2022 WL 475963 (E.D. Wis. 2/16/22)
  • Oney v. Assured Recovery, LLC, 2019 WL 3346754 (E.D. Wis. 7/25/19)
  • Nash Finch Co. v. Gordy’s Chippewa Foods, Inc., 2019 WI App 33, 388 Wis. 2d 145, 930 N.W.2d 287
  • Fricano v. Bank of America, 2016 WI App 11, 366 Wis. 2d 748, 875 N.W.2d 143
  • Oneida Seven Generations Corp. v. City of Green Bay, 2015 WI 50, 362 Wis. 2d 290, 865 N.W.2d 162
  • Goeckner v. Carstensen, 2013 WI App 73, 348 Wis. 2d 262, 831 N.W.2d 824
  • Carstensen v. Goeckner, 2013 WI App 84, 348 Wis. 2d 761, 833 N.W.2d 872
  • Mark Travel Corp. v. Walter, 2009 WL 4912101 (E.D. Wis. 12/11/09)

Honors & Awards

  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Star 2009-2012 and 2014-2021
  • Featured by the Wisconsin Law Journal in Asked and Answered Column, April 2014

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • American Bar Association
  • Milwaukee Bar Association
  • Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association

Milwaukee Office