Thomas R. Schrimpf

Thomas Schrimpf has an extensive commercial litigation and appellate practice that emphasizes issues involving insurance coverage, environmental, and employment law.

Insurance Coverage: Tom's experience in negotiation, litigation, policy drafting, dispute resolution, and coverage opinions are highly valued by his clients. He meticulously evaluates complex coverage issues concerning commercial and personal lines liability insurance, business risk exclusions, professional liability, commercial general liability, and environmental claims. He also prosecutes and defends insurance coverage litigation relative to commercial claims, construction, environmental, toxic torts, and Wisconsin's direct action statute.

Environmental Law: Tom represents parties in toxic tort cases involving chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, latex gloves, and pollutants, including cases of contaminated groundwater.

Appellate: In his appeals practice, Tom defends judgment enforcement in state, federal, and appellate courts, handling a significant case volume.

Employment Law: Tom advises and represents employers in employment-related issues and claims arising out of Title VII, ADA, FLSA, and Wisconsin’s Fair Employment Laws. He has successfully tried and resolved cases pending before the State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, the EEOC, and State and Federal Courts. Tom counsels insurers on interpreting insurance coverage for employment-related claims under CGL, personal injury liability, and employment errors or omissions liability policies.

Tom joined Hinshaw in 1988. He is a former member of the firm's Executive Committee.

• Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin
• Defense Research Institute
• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Milwaukee Bar Association
  • Bench Bar Court of Appeals Committee, Co-Chair, 1999 – 2001
• State Bar of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Bar Association
  • Eastern District

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2007 – 2025
• Recognized as a "Super Lawyer" by Wisconsin Super Lawyers magazine, 2007 – 2023
• Selected to the 2020 Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society, 2020 – 2022 
• Jon Allen Pace Setter Award, Milwaukee Justice Center, 2021
• Holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability

Tom's practice encompasses jury trials, court trials, arbitrations, and appellate proceedings. His representative litigation cases and the issues they involve include:

Jury Trials

• Fresley v. Quigley Smart: carbon monoxide injury, service company negligence, damages.
• Harvey v. Western Diversified: insurance bad-faith.
• Jacobs v. Russo Builders: building construction dispute, contractor's negligence, damages.
• Patz v. St. PaulInsurance: environmental insurance coverage dispute.
• Tedco v. Empire Level: environmental contamination, insurance coverage, CERCLA contribution.

Court Trials/Arbitrations

• Automation Engineering v. Efector: Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law termination.
• Christ v. Merrill Lynch: stockbroker/client dispute, securities fraud.
• McKnight v. Merrill Lynch: employment discrimination.
• Rohne v. Walmart: Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave Act violation.
• Trecker v. Merrill Lynch: stockbroker/client dispute, securities fraud.

Appellate Proceedings

• Wascher v. ABC Ins. Co., 401 Wis. 2d 94, 972 N.W.2d 162 (Ct. App. 2022): insurance coverage involving statute of repose and limitations.
• Choinsky v. Emplrs Ins. Co., 2020 WI 13, 390 Wis. 2d 209, 938 N.W.2d 548: insurance coverage involving duty to defend.
• Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, LLC v. Nebraska Cultures of California, Inc., 2016 WI 14, 367 Wis.2d 221: insurance coverage involving property damage and economic loss.

• Co-Author, "Defense Cost Issues Under D & O Policies," Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Journal, Q1 2019