On the basis of his belief that everyone who needs a lawyer should have a lawyer, Briane Pagel has dedicated his decades of practice to helping consumers assert their rights against lenders, debt collectors, and others who try to take unfair advantage of people. Since 1998, Briane has fought hard on behalf of his clients to save their houses, money, and small businesses, and in doing so has helped establish important consumer protections as standard in Wisconsin; along the way he has forced banks and corporations to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and legal fees to his clients for their illegal actions. Briane has also dedicated himself to expanding the protections consumers should enjoy through teaching and writing. On behalf of the State Bar of Wisconsin he gives several seminars per year to teach other lawyers how to practice consumer protection law, and he is a frequent lecturer for private companies, as well. Briane's abilities are so respected that he was asked by the former Iowa County judge, William Dyke, to train foreclosure lawyer mediators in that county, and he has helped provide legal advice on a pro bono basis to foreclosure clinics in Dane County, and has written several articles for Wisconsin Lawyer magazine. He was given the CALI award for excellence, and was the recipient of the Russell R. Bonfiglio award, given to those who demonstrate a commitment to social justice. Briane has also helped train the next generation of lawyers to do what he does; he started a law student training program, and under his guidance, dozens of young lawyers were taught how to protect consumers, as well. He has also been a guest speaker on consumer law at high schools in the Madison area. Briane is admitted to practice in state and federal courts, and has frequently argued on behalf of debtors and consumers at the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. He also is experienced in consumer and commercial arbitrations. Briane's practice is statewide; he has practiced in nearly every county in Wisconsin. Bar Admissions: Wisconsin, 1998; Western District of the United States District Court of Wisconsin; Eastern District of the United States District Court of Wisconsin, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Representative Cases: $80,000 settlement against car lender who engaged in illegal repossession tactics, Stull v. Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation, Dane County case 11 CV 2672. $73,000 settlement and court award against car dealer accused of falsifying credit application, Fifth Third Bank v. Norris, Green County case 14 CV 162. Established that lawyers who engage in foreclosure activities are required to comply with federal laws about debt collection, Bieber v. J. Peterman Legal Group (Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court, 2015). Forced debt buyers to comply with state-law protections before filing lawsuits against debtors, Johnson v. LVNV Funding (Eastern District of Wisconsin federal court, 2015). Proved that student loan servicers must comply with Wisconsin state laws providing protections to debtors, Weber v. Great Lakes Educ. Loan Serv. (Western District of Wisconsin federal court.) Prevented Minnesota bank from taking borrower's Wisconsin property to satisfy Minnesota judgment. (MidCountry Bank v. Bork, Wisconsin Court of Appeals District III, 2016). $110,000 settlement obtained from Summit Credit Union for illegal collection efforts in attempt to repossess car. Education: University of Wisconsin Law School, 1998, J.D., Honors, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 1995, B.A. (Political Science).
