Agriculture Litigation
Agriculture plays an important role in Wisconsin’s history and the state’s economy.
For generations, Ruder Ware’s attorneys have counseled producers, processors, equipment manufacturers, and distributors. When transactions require litigators, Ruder Ware’s team offers the depth and experience to step in and intuitively guide the issue to resolution. The firm regularly works in partnership with owners of family operated farms, agribusiness corporations and cooperatives, and other related companies.
Specifically our litigators represent ag professionals in:
- Contract, lease and other business disputes
- Regulatory enforcement defense
- Construction disputes
- Real estate disputes
- Boundary disputes
- Pesticide and herbicide drift cases
- Insurance claims
- Employment issues
- Workplace safety issues
- Shareholder disputes
Should legal disputes extend beyond Wisconsin, Ruder Ware’s affiliation with Meritas®, an international alliance of law firms, means our network of lawyers can provide counsel for clients anywhere in this country or around the world.
Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware provides business, employment, estate planning, and litigation services. A full-service law firm, over 45 attorneys provide clients with a one-stop approach to their legal needs. Ruder Ware, Business Attorneys for Business Success.
Posted on March 11, 2024 by Eric R. Johnson
The push for sustainable energy presents farmers with an intriguing opportunity: leasing their land for solar energy projects. These arrangements, known as solar leases (or easements), offer a blend of benefits and risks to farmers. Solar leases offer enticing benefits to farmers, including: Rent payments often far exceed the profitability of traditional farming. Solar leases […]
Posted on February 24, 2023 by Amy E. Ebeling
About 98 percent of U.S. farms are family-owned, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So most farm owners are not surprised that an important part of farm succession planning is balancing the expectations of and promises to their children. In drafting a farm succession plan, the farm owner will be asked to make the […]
Posted on October 26, 2022 by Jessica A. Merkel
Paying for nursing-home and long-term care can seem daunting when the cost can be $5,000 to $12,000 per month – or more. When a married couple is no longer able or willing to privately pay out of pocket for care and chooses to apply for Medicaid, it’s a complex process. The Medicaid agency must analyze […]
Posted on July 20, 2022 by Amy E. Ebeling
Estate planning isn’t just for the elderly. Young farmers can also benefit from taking a quick look at their own estate and succession plans. It is not uncommon for the estate and succession planning process to focus on the older generation, as they may be the individuals that have the most assets to plan for, […]
Posted on May 13, 2022 by Amy E. Ebeling
Carbon credits have been a hot topic around the country as a potential opportunity for extra farm revenue. However, like any contract, farmers should carefully consider the terms of a carbon credit sale before signing an agreement. There are several terms that could trip up the unwary signer. What is a “carbon credit?” A carbon […]
Posted on March 17, 2022 by Andrew M. Lorenz
Just as things were returning to normal after this past year, a resurgence of COVID-19 cases put a pause on the much-anticipated full return to pre-pandemic life. But Wisconsin shows no signs of reverting to the “stay at home” level of lockdown that we faced in late-spring 2020. With warm weather returning, events will likely […]
Posted on March 3, 2022 by Ruder Ware Alumni
All one needs is a simple financial power of attorney … think again. Wendell knew he needed a financial power of attorney document in order to ensure he named someone to manage his finances and take care of his farm if he was ever unable to do so on his own. But Wendell was busy […]
Posted on February 17, 2022 by Nicole L. Stangl
“Protecting the Farm” is a common phrase associated with succession planning but employment considerations are just as important in protecting an agribusiness. Employment considerations include how to protect confidential information and skilled farm employees. At-Will Employment Wisconsin is an “at-will” employment state. That means both the employee and the employer are free to terminate the […]
Posted on May 13, 2021 by Andrew M. Lorenz
In any normal year, the onset of warm weather causes Wisconsin residents to flock to the outdoors. This year, however, the stream of cars leaving cities should flow stronger than ever, as large sectors of the state’s population has been either outright locked down or significantly restricted in their travel since last spring. Landowners who […]
Posted on February 24, 2021 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Farmers know there’s going to come a day when they’re no longer around to run their farms – and they know they should have plans in place for when that day comes. But farmers often delay planning because it forces them to think about difficult topics and make difficult decisions. The first step to beginning […]
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