Michael Cerjak

Motivated by injustice and a sense of fair play, Michael Cerjak handles a variety of personal injury, civil rights, and commercial litigation matters. Most recently, he has specialized in representing individuals seriously harmed as the result of substandard care, errors, or systemic deficits in nursing homes, prisons, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, but whether he represents an individual, family, or business, his goal remains the same: seek accountability on behalf of those who have been harmed by righting the wrong.

Before devoting his practice to representing individuals, families, and closely held businesses, Michael spent years representing large institutions—insurers, large corporations, and governmental entities—in commercial litigation, insurance coverage, civil rights, and personal injury cases. Having extensively defended complex cases, he is able to anticipate how the defense will approach a case, and his clients benefit from the unique perspective and reliable insight he offers in evaluating claims, negotiating settlements, and presenting cases at trial.

Michael has obtained considerable experience over his career. He has successfully obtained favorable verdicts in dozens of cases and has argued numerous appeals before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. In 2015, he participated in the 43rd Annual International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy at Stanford University, where he earned praise from top advocates for his “innate ability to communicate with jurors,” “impressive skills,” and “solid experience.” After joining the plaintiffs’ bar, Michael was nominated for and selected to serve on the Wisconsin Association of Justice’s Amicus Committee. This committee is comprised of highly trained trial attorneys working to present and highlight arguments before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Wisconsin Court of Appeals in notable cases. In addition to his professional experience, Michael has advised students at Marquette University Law School for many years in how to prepare for and present appellate arguments at notable moot court competitions throughout the country.

Michael is listed in Best Lawyers in America for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, he has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star every year since 2012, and Milwaukee Magazine has named him as a Leading Lawyer in Insurance Law. Avvo rates him as “Superb.”

In 2021, he was named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a highly selective honorary society of trial lawyers

Outside Interests

When he’s not practicing law, Michael enjoys watching sports (especially soccer), traveling, and drinking wine with James and his wife—simultaneously, in many instances.