Ernest Ernie Hanson was a founding member of the firm and practiced law for 65 years. His cases included the prosecution and defense of personal injury claims, foreclosure of mortgages and land contracts, will contest, labor disputes, divorce actions, defense of criminal charges, sales of business, re-zoning applications, real estate transactions, subdivisions and platting, quite title actions, adverse possession cases, juvenile proceedings, guardianship, paternity actions, medical malpractice matters, tax matters, estate planning, elder care, forming and dissolving corporations, and insurance matters.

Ernie was very active in the affairs of the local and state bar and served as president of the La Crosse County Bar Association, on the board of governors of the state bar, and on the Judicial Council, a state organization, which studies and drafted proposed legislation of the state legislature. Ernie is active in community, patriotic, and religious organizations and can speak and read Norwegian.

Practice Summary

Ernie now enjoys emeritus status with the firm. His passion for the law is evidenced by a speech he gave during a meeting about attorneys' roles in society. Ernie strongly feels attorneys are to be in a position to protect an individual's rights or to further a cause for the greater good, and he has spent a lifetime doing just that.