Donald L. Heaney

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Donald L. Heaney’s idea of great entertainment is a Frank Capra film.
He is even more enthralled, however, when life imitates Capra’s art — when the ant moves the rubber tree plant, if you will.

Consider, for example, Heaney’s lengthy, pro bono representation of the Bayview Foundation in Madison. In the 1970s, a small group of neighbors living near dilapidated property dubbed “the Triangle” decided to restore that land by building low-income housing. About a dozen people, led by Judge Paul Gartzke, each put down a few thousand dollars as seed money.

The result is Bayview Townhouses — much more than just subsidized housing. The foundation also offers services geared toward positive youth development, such as after-school care, summer recreation programming and arts education. One of its most famous alums is Denver Broncos cornerback Tyrone Braxton.

“It was a real American, Frank Capra-esque story,” says Heaney, a partner with Lathrop & Clark, LLP.

Or, consider Heaney’s long-time involvement with the Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, as one of its promoters and board members. Heaney explains that in the mid-1980s, countless attorneys in the state, especially those in small firms, were having difficulty obtaining affordable malpractice insurance.

The bar’s solution, under the leadership of Heaney as its president, and others, was to create a new company committed to keeping Wisconsin lawyers in business.

“Bill Mulligan and I raised about $3 million to capitalize this company, mostly just by knocking on lawyers’ doors. Again, it was one of those crazy success stories, but I’m really proud of it,” he says.

Clearly, Heaney has expertise in business law. His first love, however, was and remains the courtroom.

A recent litigation victory came in January, for one of Heaney’s long-time clients, the Diocese of Madison. In O’Connell v. Catholic Diocese of Superior, plaintiffs claimed the church failed to act when abuse allegations against one of its priests first surfaced. The St. Croix County judge dismissed the case. The plaintiff named all 270 bishops across the U.S. as defendants — “So if anyone’s going to heaven, it’s me,” quips Heaney.

He’s not planning on going there anytime soon — longevity runs in his family. And, if Heaney has his way, he’ll be working until the end. At 76, he has no plans for retirement.

“I just can’t imagine doing hobbies or lying in hammocks all day long. I need a better reason than that to get up every morning.”