Proudly Serving The Eau Claire Area Since 1972

Attorney Thomas Guelzow

Thomas Guelzow

  • Attorney

Contact

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury
  • Products Liability Law

Biography

Tom graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1972. At that time, he found himself a young widower. He and his 1 year old son were, in fact, head-residents of the male dorm during Tom's third year of law school at Valparaiso. Tom's background and personal experience have served in large measure as a driving force for the work he has done for nearly four decades. Tom has represented individuals against Goliath corporations, holding them accountable for the faulty design of machinery and/or their conduct that resulted in severe injuries or death to his clients.

Tom's background in the trades has served him well in the practice of law, particularly in the areas where he has focused his work, personal injuries and product liability litigation; namely, his experiences have given him insight and understanding of construction methods, machine design, and personal experience in the real world of construction work. Tom has used this platform of knowledge to help him investigate, confirm, and document many equipment failures, and bring those cases to trial, not only for the benefit his clients, but with the ultimate goal of challenging industries to build better and safer products.

He has also developed a network of experts to aid investigations and provide testimony, including on safer designs, on behalf of his clients. The team at Guelzow Law Offices, Ltd. clearly understand their mission - to build a solid case for the victims they represent, seek to prevent similar injuries or deaths in the future where possible, and place responsibility where it rightfully belongs.

As a litigation attorney, Tom stands as one of the most respected. He has served as President of the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice, and as Chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Tom has also taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School and Marquette University Law School, through numerous teaching appointments. He has made dozens of speeches and presentations to lawyers across Wisconsin on practicing law through the Wisconsin State Bar Association and the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers. Without exception, his speaking engagements and published works are to share information and educate the public and his peers regarding liability issues.

Today, Tom enjoys living in the Northwoods. He and his wife, Bambi, have three adult children and two grandchildren. Also, Tom is certified as a minister and instructor of Stephen Ministries. As a private pilot with his own plane, Tom not only loves to fly, but is also able to respond quickly to any call for help - often flying across the country for consultations, investigations, or representations of clients.

Education

  • Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana
    • J.D. - 1972
  • University Of Wisconsin-Platteville in Platteville, Wisconsin
    • B.S. - 1969
    • Honors: cum laude
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
    • 1968
  • Luther College
    • 1965

Bar Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Tennessee
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Tennessee
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Tennessee
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

Professional Associations

  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, Board of Directors, Lifetime Membership
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, Past President, 1992 to 1992
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, President, 1991 to 1991
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, President-Elect, 1990 to 1990
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, Vice President, 1989 to 1989
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, Secretary, 1988 to 1988
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice, Treasurer, 1987 to 1987
  • American Association for Justice, 1985 to 1986
  • American Association for Justice, Co-Vice Chair, Basic Trial Advocacy Course Committee, 1986 to 1986
  • American Association for Justice, Board of Governors, Wisconsin Representative, 2000
  • American Association for Justice, Member, 2001 to 2001
  • American Association for Justice, Co-Chair, Litigation Committee, 2004 to 2004
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Treasurer of Litigation Section, Secretary, 1999 to 1999
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Vice Chair, 2001 to 2001
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Chair, 2002 to 2003
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Immediate Past Chairman , 2004 to 2004
  • Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin, Inc., Board Member
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Madison, Products Liability Committee Chairperson, , 1981 to 1984
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Legislative Committee, 1988
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Constitutional/By-Laws/Parliamentary Procedures Committee, 1990 to 1990
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Tort Fund Membership Committee, 1992 to 2004
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Long Range Planning Committee, 1992
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Tort Fund and Club Taskforce Committee, 1993 to 2002
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Nominating Committee, 1995 to 1995
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Lawyer-to-Lawyer Committee, 1983 to 1989
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Attorney Coach, Project Inquiry Mock Trial Competition, 1984 to 1984
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, State Director, 1988 to 1991
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, State Chair, 2004 to 2004
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Committee on Tort Law, 1988 to 1989
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Ad Hoc Committee, Judicial Administration, 1990 to 1990
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Member of Board of Directors, 1998 to 2004
  • Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers/Wisconsin Association for Justice
  • American Association for Justice
  • Eau Claire County Bar Association
  • State Bar of Wisconsin
  • Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Washington, D.C.

Honors

  • Wisconsin Super Lawyers
  • Multi-Million Dollar Advocates, Forum Member, 2008
  • Million Dollar Advocates, Forum Life Member, 2008

Published Works

  • Alleged Discovery Abuses, Judicial Council of Wisconsin Supreme Court: Ad Hoc Member of General Projects Committee, Summer, 1979
  • Special Problems of Sole Proprietors, Governor's Task Force, 1981
  • Punitive Damages in Medical Malpractice Cases, The Verdict, Summer, 1984
  • From the President, The Verdict, 1991
  • Message From the Chair, Litigation News (State Bar of Wisconsin), Spring, 2002

Classes & Seminars

  • "Preparation of Civil Cases for Trial", University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, 1979 to 1981
  • "Opening Statement - For the Plaintiff", Marquette University Law School: College of Trial Advocacy, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1988 to 1988
  • Faculty, "Trial College", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1981 to 1982
  • Trial Demonstration, 1986 Midwinter Convention, State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1986 to 1986
  • Winter Seminar and Annual Meeting, "Medical Malpractice, Panel Powers - How Far Can the Panel Go?", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1983 to 1983
  • Winter Seminar and Annual Meeting, "Products Liability, Sports Litigation", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1984 to 1984
  • Winter Seminar and Annual Meeting, "Opening Statements, Burn, Baby, Burn", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Use of Vocational Rehabilitation Experts and Economic Experts in Proving Lost Earning Capacity, "Cross Examination of Defendant's Vocational Rehabilitation Expert", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Madison, Wisconsin, 10/03/1986 to 10/03/1986
  • Summer Section Seminar, "Depositions and Interrogatories Section", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 06/30/1987 to 06/30/1987
  • Civil Litigation Seminar, "Discovery - A Defense Bias?", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 10/14/1988 to 10/14/1988
  • 1989 Summer Seminar, "Discovery: Is There a Defense Bias?", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, 07/08/1989 to 08/08/1989
  • 1990 Summer Seminar, "Legal Analysis of Hedonic Damages in Wisconsin", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, 06/12/1990 to 06/14/1990
  • Nuts & Bolts of Personal Injury Practice, "Deposing Expert Witnesses", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Middleton, Wisconsin, 10/26/1990 to 10/26/1990
  • Annual Meeting & Winter Seminar, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Middleton, Wisconsin, 12/06/1991 to 12/07/1991
  • 7th Annual Summer Seminar, "Resisting Confidentiality/Secrecy Agreements: A Waste of Your Time?", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 07/08/1995 to 07/08/1995
  • 8th Annual Summer Seminar, "Discovery Abuses: Is Anyone Listening, Does Anyone Care", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, 06/12/1996 to 1996
  • Annual Meeting & Winter Seminar, "Domestic Abuse: A Trial Lawyer's Responsibility", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 12/05/1997 to 12/06/1997
  • 13th Annual Summer Seminar, "Small Firm Survival Kit (Bigger Telephone Ads and Other Snake Oil)", Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, 07/13/2001 to 08/14/2001
  • 2002 Spring Seminar, "Presenting Evidence at Mediation, Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 03/08/2002 to 03/08/2002
  • 9th Annual Torts Seminar, "Securing Jurisdiction Over Foreign Corporations", State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, 08/27/1986 to 08/28/1986
  • 11th Annual Torts Seminar, State Bar of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 09/01/1988 to 09/01/1988
  • "Slip, Trip, Fall and Sue" Seminar, State Bar of Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 05/06/1989 to 05/06/1989
  • Insurance Law Issues, "Homeowner's Policies - Insurance Coverage Questions/Insurance Coverage Issues", State Bar of Wisconsin, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 04/07/1993 to 04/08/1993
  • Summer Seminar, "Ulcers, Alcoholism and Coronary Disease vs. Common Sense and Humor (Fifty Years Old and Counting)", State Bar of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 06/13/1996 to 06/13/1996
  • 1998 Annual Convention, "Learned Treatises, Impeachment, Medical Records and the Jury, and Update on Discovery Abuses", State Bar of Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 06/25/1999 to 06/25/1999
  • 1999 Annual Convention, "Wrongful Death: Increased Limits, Increased Opportunities to Err", State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 06/24/1999 to 06/24/1999
  • 2001 Annual Convention, "Mediation 'Southern Style'", State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 05/02/2001 to 05/02/2001
  • 2003 Annual Convention, "Secrecy Agreements: Perhaps the End of a Disgrace", State Bar of Wisconsin, Litigation Section, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 05/07/2003 to 05/07/2003
  • "Liability in Sports", Wisconsin Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance State Convention, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 10/26/1984 to 10/26/1984
  • Panel on Tort Reform, Wisconsin Recreation Industries, Inc., Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 10/20/1987 to 10/20/1987
  • Annual Meeting, "Liability Insurance", Wisconsin Indian Head Country, Inc., Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 09/15/1988 to 09/15/1988
  • "Tort Reform", Monroe Kiwanis Club, Monroe, Wisconsin, 05/24/1990 to 05/24/1990
  • "Sports Litigation - Coaches' Liability", University of Wisconsin Stout, 04/30/1985 to 04/30/1985
  • "Medical Malpractice in Wisconsin - Where Are We At - Do We Need Reform?", Tri-County Medical Association, 10/24/1994 to 10/24/1994
  • "Dealing with Grief & Moving On", Widowed Persons Service, 09/13/1997 to 09/13/1997
  • Advanced Development Workshop, "Moving Human Value of Life from the Courtroom to the Kitchen Table", Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, 04/20/2004 to 04/20/2004

Representative Cases

  • Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Board of Regents, 2992 - 1998
  • Alumni Association, Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, Board of Directors, 1993 - Present
  • Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Washington, D.C., 1993 - 1998
  • Karate America, Part Owner, Member, Board of Governors
  • Eau Claire YMCA, Board Member, 2000 - 2004
  • Valparaiso University School of Law, National Council Member, 2003 - Present

Certified Legal Specialties

  • PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)
  • Teacher of Stephen Ministries, 1996
  • Stephen Minister, Stephen Ministries, St. Louis, Missouri, 1990
  • Civil Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000