Heath P. Straka

Specialization

• LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
• LITIGATION
• PERSONAL INJURY

About Heath's Practice

Heath Straka is a partner at Axley Brynelson, LLP and is the Immediate Past President of the Wisconsin Association of Justice (WAJ). WAJ is the state-wide association for trial attorneys and has over 800 professional members. His practice focuses on personal injury actions, general litigation involving employment and construction disputes and also complex litigation and class actions involving product liability claims and wage and hour violations. Heath received his law degree from the UW Law School in 2000.  He has extensive litigation experience in the State and Federal Courts of Wisconsin and has practiced in the successful resolution of numerous Civil Rights and Personal Injury cases. He was recently appointed to be the Chair of the Dane County Civil Service Commission. In that role, Heath serves as the presiding attorney regarding employment disputes with Dane County Civil servants. Heath is also an editor and contributor to the Great Lakes Employment Law Letter.

Heath has successfully argued two cases in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, both involving medical malpractice; Otto v. PIC and Bubb v. Brusky, et. al.  As a member of WAJ, Heath has been the Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President and is past chair of the Program Committee and New Lawyers Section. Heath is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Dane County Bar Association and American Association for Justice.  Heath has been consistently voted by his peers to be both a Super Lawyer and among the Best Lawyers in America.

He has also been recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and was awarded the Top 40 Under 40 Award by The National Trial Lawyers in 2012. Heath is fluent in Spanish and has volunteered with the Dane County bar for non-English speaking legal services. He also volunteers in the community.  He is the Past-President of the Patriots Youth Hockey Association; is a past Board Member with Madison Festivals, Inc. (which runs Taste of Madison, The Madison Marathon, and Rhythm & Booms); and coaches both youth hockey and soccer. Heath is married with three children.

Education

• J.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
• B.A., Spanish and International Relations, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Major Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Editor, Wisconsin Employment Law Letter
• Contributing Editor, Great Lakes Employment Law Letter
• Author, "7th Circuit holds winery violated NLRA over 'Cellar Lives Matter' slogan," Wisconsin Employment Law Letter, June 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, June 10, 2021
• Author, "Terminating employee with COVID-19 for exposing coworker," Wisconsin Employment Law Letter, March 2021, and HR Daily Advisor, February 5, 2021

Professional Recognition

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© (2019-2021 Edition) – Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© (2016-2021 Edition) – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
• Named a Top Rated Class Action, Personal Injury, and  Mass Torts Attorney on the Wisconsin Super Lawyers List
• Named Nation’s Top 1% by National Association of Distinguished Counsel
• Has a 9.9 Rating on Avvo
• Voted Best Attorney in Cottage Grove in 2019

Admitted to Practice

Admitted to practice in the State Courts of Wisconsin, Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, for the District of Colorado, for the Northern District of Iowa, for the District of Minnesota, for the Northern District of Ohio, for the Northern District of Texas, and for the Southern District of West Virginia, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and United States Court of Federal Claims.