Av. Douglas P. Dehler

Doug Dehler is a shareholder with the law firm of O’Neil, Cannon, Hollman, DeJong & Laing S.C., where he leads the firm’s Class Action and False Claims Act practice group. Mr. Dehler’s practice focuses primarily on high-stakes, complex litigation, including class action lawsuits and whistleblower (qui tam) cases. Mr. Dehler also represents healthcare providers and business clients in insurance matters, including disputes with health insurance companies and managed care payors.

Mr. Dehler has been regularly included in Wisconsin Super Lawyers based on his class action experience, and also has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® based on his insurance litigation experience. He has served on the Legal Assistance Committee, a standing committee of the Wisconsin State Bar Association. He also serves as a board member for the Friends of the Remington Center at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Doug Assists Clients With

• Class Action Litigation
• False Claims Act Litigation
• Insurance Coverage Litigation
• Health Care Litigation
• Business Litigation
• Fiduciary Duty Litigation
• Risk Management Counseling
• Arbitration
• Appellate Services
• Alternative Dispute Resolution

  Experience/Representative Client Work

• Successfully obtained multi-million dollar recoveries from insurance companies and health care payors on behalf of health care provider clients, business clients, and individuals
• Successfully represented a regional health care system in a series of disputes involving a health care payor’s refusal to pay large-dollar hospital claims
• Successfully represented a class of medical providers in a court-approved settlement of a class action against a California health insurance plan in Figueroa v. Molina Healthcare of California, Inc., Superior Court of State of California, County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC645344.
• Successfully represented client in False Claims Act litigation involving federal funds distributed to schools and libraries under the federal E-Rate Program, U.S. ex rel Health v. Wisconsin Bell, Inc., 111 F. Supp. 3d 923 (E.D. Wis. 2015) and U.S. ex rel. Heath v. Wisconsin Bell, Inc., 760 F.3d 688 (7th Cir. 2014)
• Successfully advocated for healthcare client in managed care litigation, including oral argument before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals in ProHealth Care, Inc. v. HealthEOS By Multiplan, Inc., 2014 WL 440663 (February 5, 2014)
• Obtained jury verdict in favor of business client against an insurance company defendant in the District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Cousins Submarines, Inc. v. Federal Ins. Co., 2013 WL 2898774 (E.D. Wis. June 13, 2013)
• Successfully argued before the Wisconsin Supreme Court in MBS-Certified Public Accountants, LLC v. Wisconsin Bell, Inc., 2012 WI 15, 338 Wis. 2d 647, 809 N.W.2d 859, obtaining a favorable decision that clarified the scope of the voluntary payment doctrine in Wisconsin
• Successfully argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and obtained a favorable appellate decision against a health payor in an ERISA breach of fiduciary duty case in Smith v. Medical Benefit Administrators Group, 639 F.3d 277 (7th Cir. 2011
• Successfully argued before the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and obtained the leading appellate decision interpreting Wisconsin's secret warranty statute in Cuellar v. Ford Motor Co., 2006 WI App 210, 296 Wis. 2d 545, 732 N.W.2d 747

  Class Action Case Experience

  • Successfully represented a class of medical providers in a court-approved settlement of a class action against a California health insurance plan in Figueroa v. Molina Healthcare of California, Inc., Superior Court of State of California, County of Los Angeles, Case No. BC645344.
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action alleging that health insurance company and health plan administrators breached fiduciary duties by failing to administer health claims in a manner consistent with employee health plan language covering “usual, customary and reasonable” charges for out-of-network services in George v. CNH Health & Wealth Benefit Plan, et al., No 16-CV-1678-JPS
  • Successfully represented business clients in certified class action involving allegations that insurance company and 401k service provider violated duties owed under ERISA in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Healthcare Strategies, Inc., et al. v. ING Life Insurance & Annuity Co., 3:11-cv-00282 (WGY)
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving alleged violations of the Wisconsin Consumer Act in Setzer vs. Festiva Development Group LLC, Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 11-CV-6252
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving allegations that a title insurance company collected certain fees from consumers in violation of Wisconsin law in Gary Gevaart et al. vs. Knight Barry Title Inc., Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 10-CV-11972
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving alleged violations of COBRA, 29 U.S.C. § 1161, et seq. in Gagliano v. Medical Staffing Network, Inc., United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Civil Action No. 06-80642
  • Successfully represented business clients in certified class action involving allegations of illegal revenue sharing by 401k plan administrators in Phones Plus, Inc. v. Hartford Life Insurance Company and Neuberger Berman Management, LLC, United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Civil Action No. 3:06-CV-1835 (AVC)
  • Successfully represented business clients in certified class action involving allegations that newspaper publisher falsely inflated circulation figures in an effort to boost advertising revenue in Shorewest Realtors, Inc. v. Journal Sentinel, Inc., Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 05-CV-003716
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving allegations that auto manufacturer violated Wisconsin’s secret warranty law, Wis. Stat. § 218.0172 in Cuellar and McVicker v. Ford Motor Co., Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 04-CV-009309
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving allegations that title insurer collected fees from consumers in violation of Wisconsin law in Tagatz v. Land Title Services, Inc., Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 06-CV-007371
  • Successfully represented clients in certified class action involving allegations that Milwaukee landlord routinely failed to correct building code violations, illegally collected rent at buildings with outstanding code violations, and improperly retained tenant security deposits in Wineberg v. Brophy, Circuit Court of Milwaukee County, Case No. 06-CV-003064

    Court Admissions

  • Wisconsin Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

    Awards/Distinctions

  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®–Litigation-Insurance in 2018–present
  • Selected for inclusion in Wisconsin Super Lawyers in the category of Mass Torts and Class Actions, Law & Politics and Milwaukee Magazine, 2014–present
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™–AV, reflecting an attorney who has reached the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity

    Community Involvement

  • Leadership Board, Galilee Lutheran Church in Pewaukee (2014–2018)
  • Board Member and Treasurer, Pewaukee Youth Baseball (2013–2017)

    Education

  • Washington University (B.S.B.A.)
  • University of Wisconsin Law School (J.D.)