William L. McCusker

Waunakee - William ""Bill"" L. McCusker, age 92, died on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the Waunakee Manor of natural causes. He was born July 27, 1918, to John T., Sr. and Emma (Helfmann) McCusker in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The family moved to Superior, Wisconsin in the early 1920s. Bill graduated from Superior schools and the former Superior State Teachers College (now UW-Superior).

Bill McCusker graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1946. He then worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Dane County and a Special Assistant Attorney General before entering private practice. He has been a member of the Dane County Bar Association, the State Bar member of Wisconsin, the American Bar Association, and WATL (Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers) where he was President in 1978. He was a world recognized Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He was a frequent lecturer and writer on tort issues, including as an author on ""Updating the Law of Damages"" (1977). One of his significant contributions to WATL, was service as amicus counsel with Randy Reinhardt in Hansen v. A.H. Robbins Company, 113 Wis. 2d 550, which resulted in adopting the ""discovery rule."" Subsequently the two received the Judicial Achievement Award for 1983 from WATL. Bill then represented WATL on the Injured Families and Patients Compensation Board from 1987 to 1994. He was noted in publications such as Who's Who in American Law, America's Top 500 Lawyers and others.

William practiced law for over 50 years in Madison, founding the law firm of McCusker and Robertson, and many times gave seminars in Las Vegas to trial attorneys, as McCusker was known for his expertise in all phases of law. He retired at the age of 80 to spend more time with his wife Phyllis and their family. Bill was an avid Badger football fan, a longtime member of the Mendota Gridiron Club and the Wisconsin Alumni Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter: Marcia and her husband James; brothers: John, Jr. and Robert; sisters: Marian Cochrane, Dorothy Garrity, Joan Ramsey.

Survived by wife of 68 years, Phyllis, children Patricia Stehling of Lodi, Barb (Stan) Hess, of Madison, William (Lynn) of Madison and Nancy Hill, of Grand Prairie, TX, 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, brother: James (Sharron) McCusker of Superior, WI and sister in law Elaine McCusker of Gordon, Wisconsin.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite charity in Bill's honor would be appreciated.