A new poll, conducted by the Marquette Law School May 15-18, finds the governor’s race a virtual dead heat with incumbent Governor Scott Walker (R) and Democratic challenger Mary Burke both polling at 46% support. The response represents a significant tightening of the race compared to the last Marquette poll in March, which had Walker […]
Election News – May 23rd, 2014
Date Wed, May. 21, 2014 - 3:59pm By Hamilton
Transportation Referendum on November Ballot The Legislature has successfully adopted the same proposed constitutional amendment in each of the last two sessions, to make it illegal for the government to raid segregated funds for transportation to fill holes in the state budget. This qualifies the question for a deciding vote by electors in the upcoming […]
Wisconsin Legislative Session Comes to A Close – Summary of Newly Enacted Civil Liability Laws
Date Mon, Apr. 28, 2014 - 2:35pm By Hamilton
On April 1, the Wisconsin Legislature ended the 2013-14 legislative session. Once again, in the area of civil liability, it was another active legislative session. I. Newly Enacted Civil Liability Reforms Physician’s Duty of Informed Consent (SB 137/AB 139): This legislation clarifies a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, Jandre v. Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Excessive Punitive Damages Unconstitutional
Date Mon, Apr. 28, 2014 - 10:30am By Hamilton
On April 22, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision (4-2) in Kimble v. Land Concepts, Inc., 2014 WI 21, holding that $1 million in punitive damages against a title insurance company violated due process and therefore was unconstitutional. Justice Annette Ziegler authored the decision, and was joined by Justices Patrick Crooks, Patience Roggensack, and […]
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Act 10
Date Fri, Apr. 25, 2014 - 12:23pm By Hamilton
In September, we reported that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin upheld Wisconsin Act 10, also known as the Budget Repair Bill. The plaintiffs failed to prove that Act 10 improperly restricts collective bargaining rights, and that Act 10 violates the Equal Protection Clause by treating individuals represented by a collective […]
Governor Walker Signs More Than 100 Bills
Date Fri, Apr. 25, 2014 - 10:55am By Hamilton
Governor Walker signed over 100 bills in the last two weeks. Many of the bills passed both houses of the State Legislature in the final days of session, in mid-March. You can find a full list of the bills Governor Walker signed on the Governor’s website. Energy Assembly Bill 344– requires property owners to disclose […]
2014 Election Update
Date Thu, Apr. 24, 2014 - 3:11pm By Hamilton
Sixth Congressional District Seat Open U.S. Representative for the Sixth Congressional District Tom Petri has announced he will not be seeking re-election, after 39 years in Congress. In the wake of the announcement, a number of candidates have entered the race: State Senator Glenn Grothman (R- Campbellsport) State Representative Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) State Senator Joe […]
Building Commission Approves New Projects
Date Thu, Apr. 24, 2014 - 3:05pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Building Commission, chaired by Governor and made up of Republican and Democratic state legislators, and one citizen member, passed four new state building projects: Construction of new motor vehicle storage facilities at the Onalaska Readiness Center in La Crosse County and the Portage Readiness Center in Columbia County; Expansion of the UW Hospital […]
LRB Provides Online Privacy and Security Info
Date Thu, Apr. 24, 2014 - 3:02pm By Hamilton
In the wake of the Internet scare caused by the “Heartbleed Bug”, the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau has released two reports detailing online privacy and state services regarding cyber security. Regarding online privacy, a hot topic in the nation after the revelations in the media relating to the National Security Agency’s surveillance, many states are […]
DOJ Launches New Medical Forensics Website
Date Thu, Apr. 24, 2014 - 2:53pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has launched a new website which provides information and assistance for nurses and other medical professionals practicing medical forensics and responding to sexual assault cases. The website provides information, training, and technical assistance for medical professionals to learn how to collect evidence. Said Attorney General Van Hollen, “It’s incredibly important […]