Last week, the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety held a public hearing on a bill that would prohibit using electronic devices while driving. The bill expands existing state law prohibiting texting and emailing while driving to include entering, transmitting, or accessing data via an “interactive electronic device.” These infractions would be categorized […]
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Files Amicus Brief in Mayo Case
Date Fri, Aug. 18, 2017 - 8:56am By Hamilton
Last week, the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in Ascaris Mayo v. Wis. Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. WCJC supports the patients’ compensation fund position on the validity of the $750,000 cap on noneconomic damages arising out of medical malpractice claims. The brief asked […]
Appeals Court Tosses Medical Malpractice Caps for Noneconomic Damages
Date Mon, Jul. 10, 2017 - 12:37pm By Hamilton
In a July 5 opinion, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 1 (Milwaukee County), found the statutory $750,000 cap on noneconomic damages arising out of medical malpractice claims was unconstitutional. The court found the cap was “an unfair and illogical burden only on catastrophically injured patients, thus denying them equal protection of the law.” The […]
Bills of Note: Marsy’s Law
Date Fri, Jun. 23, 2017 - 9:52am By Hamilton
On June 15, the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a joint hearing on a bill that would elevate victims’ rights under Wisconsin law. AJR 47/SJR 53, authored by Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), proposes a Wisconsin constitutional amendment […]
Bills of Note: REINS Act
Date Fri, May. 12, 2017 - 9:51am By Hamilton
On May 2, the Senate voted 19-14 to pass the REINS (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) Act. The bill (SB 15/AB 42) was reintroduced this session by Sen. Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Rep. Adam Neylon (R-Pewaukee) after passing the Assembly last session, but stalling in the Senate. The version passed by the […]
Josh Kaul to Challenge AG Brad Schimel in November 2018
Date Fri, Apr. 28, 2017 - 10:32am By Hamilton
Josh Kaul, attorney in Madison and son of former state Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, announced on Monday, April 10 that he will challenge Brad Schimel for his position as Wisconsin Attorney General. The election will be held on November 6, 2018. Lautenschlager resigned from her position with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission on Friday, April 7 […]
Bills of Note: Civil Asset Forfeiture
Date Fri, Feb. 24, 2017 - 11:13am By Hamilton
A bill (SB 61) to drastically change the civil asset forfeiture law in Wisconsin was introduced on Wednesday, Feb. 22. In the closing weeks of last session, a similar bill advanced but ultimately died in the Assembly. Like last session, the authors of the legislation include Sen. Craig (R-Big Bend), Sen. Nass (R- Whitewater), Rep. […]
Leak of John Doe Documents Being Looked at by AG
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:55am By Hamilton
In what appears to be a targeted leak aimed at Gov. Walker, the Guardian US published sealed Wisconsin court documents from the controversial John Doe investigation. It has been reported that over six million records were seized in the politically driven investigation. The leak involved 1,350 records. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other GOP leaders […]
AG Schimel Files Complaint Against New DOL Overtime Rule
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:50am By Hamilton
On Sept. 20, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel joined a bipartisan coalition of states in filing a federal complaint against the U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The complaint cites federal overreach by DOL and asks the court to prevent implementation of the rule before it is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1. […]
Department of Justice Submits Budget Request
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:47am By Hamilton
Attorney General Brad Schimel submitted the Department of Justice (DOJ) 2017-19 budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. Including all funding sources, DOJ’s request is a 6.2 percent increase over the base fiscal year (2016-17) doubled. This increase amounts to $6.6 million in new general purpose revenue (GPR) over the biennium. The largest […]