James A. Niquet

Biography

James A. Niquet is a Shareholder and member of Board of Directors at Crivello, Nichols & Hall, S.C. He serves as National Coordinating Counsel for a number of major manufacturing corporations, assisting with their litigation, risk management and process audits. He has a broad litigation background, and concentrates in the areas of product liability, toxic torts and professional malpractice.

Mr. Niquet is experienced in handling mass litigation and currently defends manufacturers, contractors, utilities and premises owners in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana and North Dakota.

Mr. Niquet has tried a number of catastrophic injury, toxic tort and professional malpractice lawsuits in Wisconsin and prevailed in a number of high risk lawsuits, including the following:

• Successful resolution of a wrongful death and multiple injury explosion case for a gas utility - 2023
• Dismissal of gas explosion case for a product manufacturer in Colorado involving multiple plaintiffs at a correctional facility - 2023
• Dismissal of playground manufacturer in a defect design case involving paraplegic injuries - 2023
• Summary judgment in Wisconsin for a treadmill manufacturer based on lack of product defect 
• Summary judgment in Wisconsin for a Wisconsin utility based on Statute of Repose 
• Summary judgment in Wisconsin for a Wisconsin contractor in toxic tort case based on Statute of Limitations 
• Summary judgment in Virginia for an appliance manufacturer in the severe scald of a child.
• Summary judgment in Chicago for a Wisconsin contractor sued under a successor liability theory.
• Summary judgment for an appliance manufacturer in Iowa based on a statute of repose defense.
• Summary judgment upheld by Texas Court of Appeals in favor of an appliance manufacturer involving severe scalds to two adults.
• Summary judgment in favor of a water heater manufacturer in Alabama based upon lack of product defect.

Mr. Niquet implements a cost-effective investigative approach and devises alternative fee agreements so that his clients can effectively budget for their litigation needs.

Practice Areas

Commercial and Personal Injury Litigation
Construction Law
Environmental Litigation and Coverage
Industrial Accidents
Insurance Defense, Coverage, and Disputes
Mass Tort and Toxic Tort Litigation
Negligence and Personal Injury Defense
Product Liability
Professional Malpractice Litigation

Bar Admissions

Wisconsin Supreme Court
U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court - Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals - Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court - District of Nebraska

Education

Marquette University, J.D. 1986
Marquette University, B.A., cum laude, 1983
Editor, Marquette Law Review, 1985-1986

Professional Organizations

American Bar Association
Civil Trial Counsel
Defense Research Institute
National Fire Protection Association
State Bar of Wisconsin