Jarvis fighting for the less fortunate

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Ken Jarvis became a paralegal because he wanted to work in a profession that allows him to fight for people who haven’t got the ability to fight for themselves.

“I have always had a plaintiff’s heart,” he said. “When someone is in a serious accident, their life is completely turned upside down. Being part of a team that can ultimately provide financial resources to the injured so they can get the medical and other help they desperately need, without fear of financial hardship, is very rewarding.”

Jarvis has been the statewide lead products-liability paralegal for Habush Habush & Rottier since 1989 and has been the lead paralegal on every large, complex piece of product-liability litigation the firm has been involved in for the past 28 years.

Timothy Trecek, managing partner of the firm’s Milwaukee and West Bend offices, said Jarvis’ specialty is helping with discovery matters when the firm sues a product manufacturer and alleges that a product was sold in a defective condition.

“Many times Ken is matching wits, work product and intelligence with a team of paralegals from the product manufacturer and their chosen law firm, whose main job is to provide as little information as possible and, if ultimately forced to produce discovery, hold off on doing so as long as possible,” he said.

Trecek said Jarvis has an uncanny ability to “sense” or predict what information and documentation lead trial lawyers will need to succeed in a deposition, motion or day of trial.

Jarvis has also use his time and expertise for the cause of safety. He led the firm’s endeavors to outfit schoolchildren with bike helmets free of charge. He also got together a team of 15 trained volunteers to provide helmet fittings at school gatherings, bike rodeos and safety events. Jarvis is trained to ensure that car seats are installed correctly and has attended many sessions at local police departments, fire stations and schools, making sure that children fit properly into their car seats.