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Love of litigation keeps Busch engaged

Love of litigation keeps Busch engaged

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John Busch (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)
John Busch (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

When John Busch joined Michael Best & Friedrich more than 39 years ago, the firm was expanding its litigation practice, so the new attorney decided to check it out.

“It was the best decision I ever made. I really found that I liked it and I haven’t looked back,” said Busch, who took on the role of counsel with Hansen Reynold Dickinson Crueger LLC in Milwaukee after retiring from Michael Best & Friedrich. “I really have a love/hate relationship with trials. They are a lot of work, but a jury trial is the greatest justice available to a person.”

But those trials are becoming fewer and fewer, something Busch laments.

“It’s a lot harder to get to a jury trial and I worry that when it comes to business litigation that many attorneys in this next generation won’t really have that courtroom experience and those skills,” he said. “I’ve just had this discussion with other attorneys that civil jury trials are getting so rare and you hope that changes.”

Busch said the rising costs associated with discovery — specifically electronic discovery — dissuade many cases from going to trial.

“Judges also put you through mitigations and things like that, which decreases the likelihood of a trial,” he said. “The best part of my job is being in front of a jury.”

Throughout his career, Busch said he’s had many memorable cases, including a 37-week jury trial. He was also lead counsel in the appeal of both personal injury and property damage claims arising from the Miller Park crane collapse.

“That 37-week trial taught me so much. It was like going through law school a couple of times,” he said.

Busch said every new case excites him and he can’t wait to dive in.

“Practicing law is still a lot of fun and there’s nothing more invigorating than starting a new case,” he said. “It’s like putting a giant puzzle together.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What was your favorite class in law school?
John Busch: Conflicts of law.

WLJ: What would you have done if you hadn’t become an attorney?
Busch: Newspaper reporter.

WLJ: What app can’t you live without?
Busch: CNBC

WLJ: What was the last movie that you saw?
Busch: ‘American Sniper

WLJ: If you could have drinks with anyone, who would you pick?
Busch: Julius Caesar

WLJ: Do you have any TV shows that you binge watch?
Busch: I have several, including ‘House of Cards.’

WLJ: What do you miss from your childhood?
Busch: My brother.

WLJ: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you pick?
Busch: Increase my willpower to resist certain things (ice cream today; tobacco in the past)

WLJ: What is your favorite season?
Busch: Summer. I love to sit on the beach in South Haven, Mich., with my girlfriend (who is also my wife of 41 years).

WLJ: What activity could you spend hours doing outside of work?
Busch: Reading financial newspapers and blogs.

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