Paul W. Zimmer

Paul is a diligent and fearless litigator with substantial trial experience in real estate and business disputes.

Paul has had tremendous success both in the trial court and on appeal. Paul won a case at the Wisconsin Supreme Court setting precedent in the law of property tax classification of agricultural land.

In addition, Paul has handled several trials, including winning two week-long jury trials in contentious real estate disputes, one involving adverse possession and property damage, and the other involving a commercial lease issue in connection with the multi-million dollar sale of a business.

Paul has also won numerous cases at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, including published decisions setting precedent in the areas of construction lien waivers, recovery of attorneys’ fees in litigation, and property tax classifications.

Paul simply enjoys practicing law and is dedicated to obtaining favorable results for his clients.

Admissions

State of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Experience / representative client work

Richard Carr v. City of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Case No. 21-CV-1180 (summary judgment for taxpayer on property tax objection claim, plus recovery of majority of client’s attorneys’ fees on sanctions award obtained against the municipality’s legal counsel).
US Bank Trust National Association v. Ambiguous Asset Corporation, 23-AP-1671 (court of appeals reversal of circuit court order denying motion to reopen order confirming foreclosure sale based on untimely filing of eligible third-party bidder affidavit).
Jennifer Buth v. Daniel and Jodi Pyawasay, et al., Milwaukee County Case No. 20-CV-5561 (summary judgment for clients defeating home buyer’s claims alleging fraud based on alleged non-disclosure of alleged house defects).
Christopher Hookstead v. Gary Beal, et al., No. 20-AP-895 (Wis. Ct. App. Aug. 5, 2021) (affirming jury verdict in client’s favor defeating plaintiff’s adverse possession claim and obtaining judgment on counterclaim for nearly $400,000 in damages, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees, plus recovery of attorneys’ fees for defending verdict on appeal).
Mid America Steel Drum Properties, LLC, et al. v. Container Life Cycle Management LLC, Milwaukee County Case No. 19-CV-644 (jury verdict in client’s favor for over $450,000 in damages for unjust enrichment for the use of client’s industrial properties and judgment dismissing defendant’s claim for reformation of lease).
Great Lakes Excavating, Inc. v. Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., 2021 WI App 23, 397 Wis. 2d 210, 959 N.W.2d 351 (published decision of court of appeals affirming summary judgment for client and holding contractor waived its construction lien rights in disputed lien waiver document).
Wind Point Restoration, Inc. v. Anne Weikel, No. 18-AP-2258, 2020 WL 6051095 (Wis. Ct. App. Oct. 14, 2020) (affirming trial verdict in client’s favor recovering damages for breach of contract in home restoration project, dismissing homeowner’s counterclaims alleging violations of home improvement practices law, and awarding attorneys’ fees against homeowner).
Central United Methodist Church v. City of Milwaukee, Case No. 19-AP-778, 2020 WL 1264074 (Wis. Ct. App. Mar. 17, 2020) (reversing adverse ruling of circuit court and holding client’s church parking lot is tax exempt despite the church’s use of the lot to collect donations from people parking there for nearby concerts).
Parrish v. Weaver, Eastern District of Wisconsin Case No. 2:17-cv-01500 (summary judgment for client defeating home buyer’s claims alleging misrepresentation and failure to disclose alleged water entry into basement).
State ex rel. Peter Odgen Family Tr. of 2008 v. Bd. of Review, 2019 WI 23, 385 Wis. 2d 676, 923 N.W.2d 837 (unanimous decision of Wisconsin Supreme Court holding agricultural use of property does not require any business intent, saving client over $800,000 in assessed property tax value).
State ex rel. Peter Ogden Family Tr. of 2008 v. Bd. of Review for Town of Delafield, 2018 WI App 26, 381 Wis. 2d 161, 911 N.W.2d 653 (published decision of court of appeals reversing circuit court’s adverse ruling regarding classification of agricultural land for property tax purposes).
Talmer Bank & Tr. v. Jacobsen, 2018 WI App 15, 380 Wis. 2d 171, 908 N.W.2d 495 (published decision of court of appeals clarifying that the third-party exception to the American Rule applies in breach of contract actions and holding clients could recover their attorneys’ fees as damages for another party’s breach of contract).