Past Seminar Topics

Copies of written materials from prior seminars are available on CD or direct download from the internet for only $39.95 per seminar. To order, click here.

2024 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Techniques For An Effective Direct Examination:
– Kate Cook

Advanced Motion Practice:
Reviewing video and paper Discovery – how to spot the issues – Christopher Mutschler

The Devil’s Advocate:
Effectively Challenging Prosecutorial Misconduct – Joshua Hargrove

The Conscientious Acquittal:
How to Achieve OWI Jury Nullification – Adam Nero

OWI Stop Expansions:
Overview and Novel Arguments – Gibson Hatch

Against All Odds:
Reviving the Fourth Amendment in State v. Wiskowski – Kirk Obear

Diabetes and Drunk Driving – An Overview – Emily Bell

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser and Anthony Jurek

Intro to Navigating AI in Your Firm – Lindsay Marty

Ethics Presentation: Let’s talk About Ethics – John Schiro

Advanced Trial Practice – Dennis Melowski

2023 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Creative Motion Practice:
A Practical Guide on “How To” Innovate – Christopher Mutschler

A Case of Chirality:
Chemistry Defense in an OWI-RCS Case – Amanda Riek and David Bolles

We Represent Clients with Substance Abuse Issues:
What About Us? – William Ginsberg

Just Because It’s Simple Doesn’t Meant It’s Easy:
Winning Jury Trials by Arguing Public Premises, Haanstad, and Drinking After Driving – Adam Nero

Advanced Trial Practice – Dennis Melowski

Setting Up the Chessboard:
Thinking Creatively and Using Pretrial Litigation to Prepare for Trial – Karleigh Miller

Overcome the Seemingly Insurmountable:
An Attorney’s Guide to Accident Investigation – Daniel Billington

ETHICS PRESENTATION:
Attorney Client Privilege Conspiracy, Issues Regarding Attorneys and the Handling of Evidence, and the Magical Story of Donald Trump and His Lawyers – John Schiro

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser and Anthony Jurek

The Master Litigator’s Toolbox: A Complete Guide to Fighting and Winning OWI Cases – Kirk Obear

2022 SEMINAR MATERIALS

We’re Here to Help:
Navigating Collateral Attacks Post State v. Clark – Teuta Jonuzi

Prescription for Disaster:
Defending OWI-Prescription Drug Cases + Issues in THC Cases In Light of Wisconsin CBD Reform – Lauren Stuckert

How Are Lawyer’s Getting Away with This:
Frivolous Lawsuits and Other Such Nonsense? Ethical Issues, Bad Lawyers, and Bad Lawyering – John Schiro

Buckle Up for ARIDE:
An Overview of Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement – Amanda Riek

Advanced Trial Practice:  – Dennis Melowski

It’s Not My Fault!
NGI and Involuntary Intoxication Defenses – Emily Bell

Behind the Wheel and Going Nowhere:
Navigating the Complex World of the Stationary Driver – Adam Welch

One of These Things Is Not Like the Others:
Disconnect and Defeat the Breath Test – Adam Nero

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser

New Frontiers:
Emerging Issues in OWI Litigation – Kirk Obear

 

2021 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Understanding and Overcoming – Adam Welch
Community Caretaker Arguments

The Question ain’t Really a Question: Tellin’ – Adam Nero
Po-Po How It Is on Cross

Out For Blood: – Teuta Jonuzi
How to Challenge the Prosecutor’s Use of Your Client’s Blood Refusal

Get in the Game:  – Amanda Riek
Resurgence of the Preliminary Hearing

Four Strikes and You’re Out:  – Kirk Obear
Litigating Felony Hearing OWI Sentencing Issues

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Jeremiah Meyer-O’Day
(Because We All Know That’s Code for Marijuana): Novel but – Promising Challenges to Dog Sniffs and Automobile Searches Based on the Alleged Odor of Marijuana

Fourth Amendment Issues: – John Bayer
A Deeper Look at Voluntariness of Consent to Blood Draw and Oath Requirement for Search Warrant

“They Did What!?”:  – Andrew Mishlove
Misconduct and Ethics

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Advanced Trial Practices – Dennis Melowski

 

2020 SEMINAR MATERIALS

BIG CASE, SMALL POND: – Adam Welch
Effectively Handling OWI Cases in Municipal Court

BLOOD ALCOHOL TESTING ISSUES – Andrew Mishlove

CHALLENGING POLICE BIAS IN OWI CASES – Kirk Obear

I WALK THE LINE: – Amanda Riek
An Overview of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing

TRY THE HELL OUT OF IT: – Teuta Jonuzi / Joshua Hargrove
Trying Cases Before the Trial
Strategic Litigation

ETHICS PRESENTATION: – Barry Cohen
Important Rules Hidden in Plain Sight

CROSS-EXAM WARS – Episode III: – Adam Nero
Revenge of the Po-Po

ALL THINGS PBT – Michael Cohen

CASE LAW UPDATE – Sarah Schmeiser

ADVANCED TRIAL PRACTICE – Dennis Melowski

2019 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Ten Things (or More) That Can Make You More Effective: What 39 Years as a Criminal Defense Lawyer has Taught Me About Practicing Law – John Schiro

Ethics Presentation: No Good Deed – Michael Witt

Doggedly Pursuing Justice: Update on Using the Rodriquez “Mission” Requirement to Suppress a Car Search –Andrew Mishlove

Identifying Risk Factors & Triaging Client Needs in the Context of Substance Use– Lauren Stuckert

Advanced Motion Practice II: The Fallout from Mitchell v. Wisconsin and Beyond – Kirk Obear

Cutting Edge Refusal Tactics – Brian Dimmer

Welcome Back to Our World: Handling Po-Po in Court – Part Two – Aaron Nelson, Adam Nero

It is Not Always Just About the Booze: What You Need and How To Get It – Other Evidence in OWI Related Cases – Michael Cohen

Wisconsin’s Intoxicated Driver Program – LeeAnn Mueller, Bradley Babler, Roxanne Klossner

Advanced Trial Techniques – Dennis Melowski

2018 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Insurance Consequences and Other Related Issues – Matthew Murray

Welcome to Our World: – Aaron Nelson Handling Po-Po in Court – Adam Nero

Prison as a Treatment Facility: – Amanda Riek

Felony OWIs and the Substance Abuse Program

How to Capitalize on the “Unavailable” Prosecution Witness –Andrew Mishlove

Using Preliminary Breath Tests in Your Practice: – Lauren Stuckert

Revisiting Fischer and the Right to Present a Defense

Let’s Kick it Up a Notch!: – Kirk Obear

Advanced Motion Practice

Hidden Gems: – Brian Dimmer

Sentencing Alternatives in OWI Cases

Common Search and Seizure Issues in OWI Cases – Adam Welch

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Ethical Issues and Our Crazy Political World: – John Schiro

Public Statements, Conflicts of Interest and More

Advanced Trial Techniques – Dennis Melowski

 

2017 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Attacking Prior Convictions – Matthew Murray

Getting Discovery From the Crime Lab – Michael Cohen                              

Ethics Presentation: – John Schiro

What Are Our Clients Up to Now?
Recurring Dilemmas for Lawyers Representing
Clients with Drug and Alcohol Problems

Riding High: The Science of THC Impaired Driving – J. Steven House   

and the Affirmative Defense in OWI-THC
Injury/Homicide Cases            

Drugged Driving: The Need for Speed – John Birdsall

How to Win Cases When Clients Lose Control

Driving with Prescription Drugs – Andrew Mishlove

Defeating the “Drug Recognition Officer:”  – Corey Mehlos

Practical Strategies for Attacking a Pseudoscience

Challenging Warrants in OWI Cases: – Adam Welch

OK, so they got a warrant—now what? 

Case Law/Legislative Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Advanced Topics in Breath Testing: – Lauren Stuckert

Breaking Down the Machine, the Data, and
Attacking the Test Results

Clinical Treatment of V.D. (Voir Dire, that is) – Kirk Obear

Mastering Jury Selection in OWI Cases

Advanced Trial Techniques   – Dennis Melowski

2016 SEMINAR MATERIALS

The OWI Litigation Battlefield: Strategic Planning and Tactical Execution – Kirk Obear

Learn the Ten Most Common DOT Pitfalls and Avoid Ethical Problem – Barry Cohen

The Dogs of (the Drug) War: Applying the “Mission” Requirement of Rodriquez v. United States in Every Case – John Birdsall

Case Law/Legislative Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Protecting Your Non-Citizen Client: The Long Shadow of Immigration Consequences – Moises Hernandez

Mother Truckers: CDL Issues – Matthew Murray

Don’t Believe the Hype: Disconnecting the Test Result – Michael Cohen and Aaron Nelson

Advanced Topics in Fighting Marijuana Driving Cases – Lauren Stuckert

Turning Nothing Into Something: How to Successfully Attack Blood Test Results without a Smoking Gun – Dennis Melowski

2015 SEMINAR MATERIALS

A Plethora of Pithy Points on Confrontation – Michele Tjader

Operation What & Where – John Schiro

Case Law Update – Sarah Schmeiser

Winning Prescription Med OWI Cases – Aaron Nelson

What’s Up DOC?: DOC Issues Every DUI Defense Attorney Should Know – Karyn Missimer

Ever Hear of Ben Matlock? How to Prepare Your Client for Cross-Examination in a Collateral Attack Hearing – Kirk Obear

Know Your Neighbors: What You Need to Know About Neighboring State OWI Treatment
– Andrew Mishlove, Moderator
– Patrick Barone Birmingham, MI

– Donald Ramsell, Wheaton, IL
– Douglas Hazelton, Minneapolis, MN
– Robert Rehkemper, W. Des Moines IA
 
ETHICS PRESENTATION: – ADA Michael Griesbach

Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor:
SCR 20:3.8 and the Spirit of the Rules – ADA Michael Griesbach

Refusals: Turning the Tide – Matthew Murray

OWI Injury Cases: Techniques and Strategies to Get Your Client the Best Results – Lauren Stuckert

Challenging PC to Arrest Despite PBT Evidence – Michael Witt

IID? We Don’t Need No Stinking IID – Corey Chirafisi

Advanced Trial Techniques – Dennis Melowski

2014 SEMINAR MATERIALS

How Good Faith (United States v. Leon) Can Help You Prove Bad Faith (Arizona v. Youngblood)
– John Henry Hingson
OWI Defense: From Intake to Acquittal
– Andrew Mishlove
Expert Witnesses: When to Bring Them, Where to Find Them, How to Use Them
– Lauren Stuckert
HGN 2.0: Advanced Issues in Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Testing – Using the Daubert Standard to Win at Trial
– Kirk Obear
After McNeely: Update on Decisions After the Fall of Bohling
– Sarah Schmeiser
 What a Trial Lawyer Needs to Know About Appellate Law
– Ellen Henak
 This Roller Coaster Will Not Stop: The Brandon Bentdahl Saga
– Barry Cohen
Friending Social Media: Using it to Get Results
– Casey Hoff
Questioning Cops: The What, When and How’s of It
– Aaron Nelson
Collateral Attacks, Void Convictions and Out of State Convictions: Law and Strategy of Challenging Prior Convictions
– John Schiro
Withdrawal Symptoms: The Ethics of Dealing with Difficult Clients
– Karyn Missimer
Putting Theory Into Practice: Cross-Examining The State’s Blood Test Analyst Into a Not Guilty Verdict
– Dennis Melowski 

 

2013 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Warrant? We Don’t Need No Stinking Warrant!
– Michele Tjader & Michael Witt
Ethics Presentation
– Barry Cohen
Open Records to Not Guilty: Trying a Blood Case from Start to Finish
– Lauren Stuckert
Breath Testing: The Basics and Beyond
– Andrew Mishlove
Blowing Past the Interlock: Avoiding IID in OWI/Refusal 1st Cases
– Casey Hoff
Advanced Affirmative Defense Considerations with OWI and Drug Related Accidents
– Daniel Billington
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About HGN, But Were Afraid to Ask
– Kirk Obear
Custody Issues that Arise when Police Conduct FSTs Off-Site
– John Birdsall
“Accidentally” Giving Up Your Constitutional Rights?: Challenges to Blood Draws Under 343.305(3)(ar)
– Karyn Missimer
How the @%#! Did that Just Happen? Real Life Defenses that Left Prosecutors Scratching Their Heads
– Dennis Melowski

2012 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Having Your Cake & Eating it Too: Retrograde Extrapolation and Daubert
– Michael Witt
Confounding Constitutional Conundrums
– Michele Tjader
Ethics Presentation: Lawyering in the Clouds – Can you Negotiate Too Good of a Deal?
– William Weigel & Barry Cohen
Blood Testing: Basics and New Issues
– Andrew Mishlove
Master of Defense: Frequently Asked OWI Questions & Answers
– Jennifer Epps-Addison
Case Law Update
– John Schiro
The CSI Effect: Use of Cutting Edge Technology and Multimedia in the Courtroom
– Kirk Obear
Framing the Issues: Stops, Reasonable Suspicion, and Probable Cause
– Karyn Missimer
The Randy Hopper Case Deconstructed: A Lesson in Trial Strategy from Start to Finish
– Dennis Melowski

2011 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Daubert for Dummies
– John Schiro & Michele Tjader
Case Law Update and Preserving Issues for Appeal
– Barry Cohen
Act 100 Update
– Kirk Obear
Blood Testing Issues
– Andrew Mishlove
What Constitutes a Prior OWI Conviction
– Stephen Mays
Ethics Presentation: What Every Defense Attorney Needs to Know About Privilege and Confidentiality
– Timothy Pierce
On Its Last Breath: Fischer and the Constitutional Right to Present a Defense In Wisconsin
– Michael Witt
Getting the Most Out of Pretrial Monitoring Programs
– Sara Carpenter
Administrative Suspension Update
– Barry Cohen
Selected Issues in Refusals, FST, Drugged Driving
– Tracey Wood
Thinking Outside the Box: Creative Trial Strategies to Undermine Breath Test Evidence
– Dennis Melowski

 

2010 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Challenging PBT Evidence
– Stephen Mays
Necessity of Complete Discovery
– Michael Younglove
Collateral Attack Update: Prepare for the Prosecution’s Attack :
– Michele Tjader
Using Melendez-Diaz to Suppress Blood and Breath Tests
– Kirk Obear
Probation Revocation Issues
– Todd Snow
Bring Your File: Speed Analysis of Your Case
– Panel
The 911 Call: Winning the Stop Motion – Part I
– Michael Witt
911 – Part II
– Chad Lanning
Ethics Presentation: Social Media Networking and Lawyering – Avoiding the Mine Field
– Timothy Pierce
2009 Act 100: The New Drunk Driving Law Changes
– Lauren Stuckert
Winning a Drunk Driving Jury Trial From Start to Finish
– Dennis Melowski
Presumption of Innocence, Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Helping Juries “Get It”
– Richard L. Kaiser

2009 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Getting Started, Pleadings, Discovery, Investigation
– Andrew Mishlove
Motions/Challenges/Issues Refusal Hearing Administrative Suspension
– 
Barry Cohen
Understanding Breath & Blood Testing
– Andrew Mishlove
Successful Negotiation Strategies
– Barry Cohen
Trial of an OWI Case
– Barry Cohen
Advanced Trial Issues: Ten Ways to Force the Prosecutor to Fumble
– John Schiro
Advanced Implied Consent Issues
– Chad Lanning
Advanced Blood Testing Issues & Challenges
– Michael Witt
Running a Highly Efficient & Low Cost OWI Practice
– Michele Tjader
Advanced Issues and Challenges to the Stop, Arrest & Search
– Sarvan Singh, Jr.
Weapons of Choice for the Defense: Using Open Records Law, Document Subpoenas and Brady Demands to Obtain ‘Smoking Gun’ Evidence
– Erik Guenther
Case Law/Legislative Update
– Michael Rudolph
Ethics Presentation
– Waring Fincke
Defending an Operating Under the Influence of Drugs Charge
– Kirk Obear
How to Convert Loss of Automatic Admissibility of the Test into Suppression of Evidence
– Dennis Melowski

 

2008 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Causes and Burdens in Death and Injury Cases
– Michael C. Witt
Keynote Presentation: Prosecutors Don’t Win Cases, Attorneys Lose Them
– Mary Lou Robinson
Ethics Presentation: Swinging the Sword of Justice: Effective and Ethical Defense of Driving Under Influence Clients
– Raymond Dall’Osto
Preserving Issues for Appeal
– Stephen Mays
Deflating a Bunch of Hot Air: A Practical Approach to Undermining Breath Test Evidence
– Dennis M. Melowski
Out-of-State Driver Issues – Solving Common Post-Conviction Problems
– Andrew Mishlove
Lose the Battle But Win the War: How to Attack Prior Convictions
– Michele A. Tjader
Legislative/Case Law Update
– Sarvan Singh, Jr.
The Sleeper Must Awaken: Converting the Blood Analyst from Enemy to Ally
– Kirk B. Obear
Sharpen Your Focus on the Person with the Needle: Cross-Examining the Person Who Drew Blood
– Chad A. Lanning

 

2007 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Basic Training and Resources for OWI Defense: Administrative Code, Statutes, Breath Test Manuals, Blood Manuals, Field Sobriety Test Manuals, books, Periodicals Getting the Initial Phone Call, Initial Client Meeting

Defining Issues, Problems & Goals
– Christopher A. Mutschler
Initial Documents: Administrative Suspension Hearing, Refusal Hearing, Discovery/Investigation
– Robert C. Raymond
Understanding Breath Testing – Understanding Blood Testing
– Tracey A. Wood
Understanding Field Sobriety Tests, Identifying Issues for Pretrial Motions, Jury Trial Preparation, Motions in Limine
– Michael C. Witt
Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Demonstration
– Catherine Trimboli, Joseph Keil & Daniel Delmore
Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Cross-Examination of Arresting, Officer Cross-Exmaination of Backup Officer
– John S. Schiro
Cross-Examination of Breath Test Cop, Cross-Examination of Breath Test Expert
– Michele A. Tjader
Protecting Your Client’s Rights: Identifying and Dealing with Prosecutorial Misconduct and Ethical Violations
– Michael Cicchini
Cross-Examination of Phlebotomist, Objection to Raise if Not Present at Trial, Cross-Examination of Blood Test Expert, Objection to Raise if Someone Other Than Tester is There to Testify or If No-one is
– Dennis M. Melowski
Presenting Defense Case: Does Defendant Testify? Jury Instructions, Closing Argument
– Kirk B. Obear

 

2006 SEMINAR MATERIALS

Schmerbered Again in Margaritaville: Revitalizing the Fourth Amendment in OWI Cases
– Kirk Obear
OWI Homicide Cases: Defense and Sentencing Considerations
– Bill Ginsberg, G. Brian Brophy & Buckley Meade
Cross-examination of the Arresting Officer
– John Schiro
Pretrial Motions: Setting the Table for Dinner
– Steve Mays
How to Plead Guilty and Still Win: Collaterally Attacking Prior Convictions
– Michele Tjader
The Changing Face of DUI in Illinois From Rehabilitation to Retribution: What Every Wisconsin Attorney Should Know
– Dennis M. Kleper
Closing Arguments
– Christopher Mutschler
Using Municipal Court Procedures to Win Your OWI Case
– Rex Anderegg
The Anatomy of a Drunk Driving Amendment from Start to Finish
– Dennis M. Melowski
Alternatives to Incarceration in OWI Cases: Utilizing Forensic Social Workers
– Ryan Lister& Elton Louis
Ethics Presentation
– Barry S. Cohen & Dudley Williams

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *