Biography

Paul is a retired shareholder with the firm. He regularly counseled private and public sector employers, including corporations, school districts, and municipalities on a wide range of labor and employment issues. Such issues included hiring and termination, conditions of employment, employment policies, collective bargaining, labor contract administration, grievance arbitration, employment discrimination, workers and unemployment compensation, and management training.

In addition, Paul advised educational institutions at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels on all aspects of educational law. His services included policy development and enforcement, application of statutory and regulatory requirements, student discipline, enrollment, school district reorganization, student records, discrimination, vendor contracts and environmental matters, real estate transactions, and application of the Wisconsin open records and open meetings laws.

Paul’s diligent integration of the practice of law with experienced business acumen remains a core foundational element of Davis|Kuelthau’s innovative client service.

Representative Clients

• Sheboygan Area School District
• Lakeshore Technical College
• Plymouth Joint School District
• School District of Sheboygan Falls
• City of Port Washington
• School District of New Holstein
• Sheboygan Paper Box Company

Notable Representations

Personal leave grievance, same-sex marriage Paul represented a school district in a grievance arbitration related to a demand for personal leave to participate in a same-sex marriage within another country. The grievance was a precursor to a demand for health insurance coverage for the partner of the employee. The case addressed issues as to the fundamental character of marriage; application of the statutes, common law, and the constitution of the State of Wisconsin; together with an assertion that denial of personal leave represented employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Disciplinary grievance, employee discharge Paul represented a school district in a disciplinary grievance involving discharge of an employee for removing a document from the desk of a supervisor, making a copy, and showing the document to other employees. The document related to discipline of another employee. The document was located in a concealed position. It was necessary for the employee to look for the document. The case also presented the very difficult issue of compelling one Union member to testify against another.

School law, students with disabilities Paul advised a school district in a complex case involving a unilateral change in academic requirements for teacher aides working with students with disabilities. A new position, requiring at least a two-year academic degree or equivalent, was created in order to increase the level of direct academic support provided to students with learning and cognitive disabilities. Those employees, who were not able to present evidence satisfying the new academic qualification, were placed on layoff. The academic qualification was successfully implemented and proved highly successful. Students with disabilities, attending within the district, have demonstrated substantially greater success on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination.

School law, integration of a transsexual student Paul worked closely with a district with regard to successful integration of a transsexual elementary age student. The issue of transsexual identity is extraordinarily complex. Although professional studies exist, there is little legal authority on the question within the State of Wisconsin. The school district was required to identify appropriate accommodations within an environment of competing interests, position statements by both internal and external groups, as well as uncertain medical opinion.

Leadership

Professional Activities

Member, State Bar of Wisconsin

Member, Sheboygan County Bar Association

Member, Sheboygan Chapter of the Society of Human Resources Managers

Member, Sheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce

Community Involvement

Colonel, Judge Advocate Generals' Corps, United States Army Reserve

Published Articles / Presentations

Contributing author, “Public Sector Labor Relations,” State Bar of Wisconsin.

Multiple presentations to the Society of Human Resources Managers, Wisconsin Association of Business

Officers, Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators, annual Davis & Kuelthau Public

Officials Seminar, and Davis & Kuelthau seminars at Lakeland College and Lakeshore Technical College.