Staff 
Patrick C. Hess Accomplishments:
Partners Jeffrey R. Zehe and Patrick C. Hess obtained a $63,335,819 verdict in a case arising from the catastrophic collapse of a recently constructed storage system at a printing facility, Quad/Graphics, Inc. and Industrial Risk Insurers v. HK Systems, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Wisconsin, First Judicial District, Milwaukee County, Case No. 03CV7184.
Quad/Graphics, which is the largest privately held printing company in the world, contracted HK Systems, Inc., to design and build a sophisticated storage system capable of holding 108 million pounds of printed materials. HK Systems delivered an enormous rack structure, 10-stories tall and three hundred yards long, equipped with computer-controlled cranes. HK Systems subcontracted with a rack supplier to design and build that rack structure. HK Systems’ subcontractor obtained rack structure components, including the steel columns that supported the weight of the entire storage system and its contents, from a tubing manufacturer.
The entire storage system crashed to the ground less than two months after its delivery, triggering a fire that burned for 10 days. Quad/Graphics sustained extensive damages as a result of that catastrophe, including the destruction of the storage system and its contents, lost profits and severe damage to nearby buildings. Quad/Graphics’ property insurer paid for $59,000,000 of those damages and promptly selected the Firm to undertake the recovery of that money.
Under the Firm’s management, dozens of public and private organizations investigated the cause of the storage system’s dramatic failure. Armed with the results of its own investigation, the Firm commenced an action on behalf of its insurance company client against HK Systems, its rack supplier and the tubing manufacturer and other companies.
The Firm recovered $19,000,000 on behalf of its insurance company client before trial in settlements with various defendants. Partners Jeffrey R. Zehe and Patrick C. Hess proceeded to trial on a breach of contract claim against HK Systems and product liability claims against HK Systems, its rack supplier and the tubing manufacturer. After a month-long, hard-fought trial, they prevailed on every claim, resulting in a $63,335,819 verdict in favor of the Firm’s client.
