Assembly Bill 862, authored by Rep. Dana Wachs (D-Eau Claire), and Senate Bill 723, authored by Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma), would have reversed a major liability reform priority from last session relating to fraud in asbestos lawsuits involving personal injury trusts. On March 27, 2014, Gov. Scott Walker signed 2013 AB 19 into law as 2013 Wisconsin Act […]
Attempts to Repeal Asbestos Trust Reforms Die in Committee
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:58pm By Hamilton
Dies in Committee: Medical Malpractice Claims Relating to an Adult Child’s Death
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:44pm By Hamilton
Under current law, as stated in Estate of Wells v. Mt. Sinai Medical Center, 183 Wis. 2d 677 (1994), a parent does not have the right to recover for the loss of society and companionship of an adult child who dies as the result of medical malpractice. Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodd (D-Milwaukee) and Rep. Dana […]
Changes to Interest Rates on Small Claims Judgments Legislation Passes Assembly, Dies in Senate
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:29pm By Hamilton
Assembly Bill 95, authored by Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac), and Senate Bill 76, authored by Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater), sought to change the interest rate for pre- and post- judgment interest for verdicts in small claims court. AB 95, as introduced, would revise the formula created in 2011 Wisconsin Act 69 back to […]
Signed into Law: Liability Limitations under Wisconsin’s Dog Bite Law
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:26pm By Hamilton
Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) and Representative Mary Czaja (R-Irma) introduced Senate Bill 286 to reform Wisconsin’s long standing “dog bite” statute. The legislation, supported by WDC, was signed into law on November 11, 2015, as 2015 Wisconsin Act 112. Under prior law, Wis. Stat. § 174.02(1)(b), dog owners were liable for double damages for dogs […]
Signed into Law: Adult Sponsor of Minor Driver Liability Reform
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:23pm By Hamilton
On March 1, 2016, Governor Scott Walker signed into law 2015 Wisconsin Act 202, which limits the liability of a parent or other adult sponsoring a minor obtaining a driver’s license. Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) championed the legislation (Assembly Bill 540/Senate Bill 408). WDC supported this important liability reform. Wisconsin law […]
Collateral Source (Phantom Damages) Reform Fails to Pass
Date Mon, Mar. 28, 2016 - 2:21pm By Hamilton
In December 2015, Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) introduced Senate Bill 405/Assembly Bill 539 relating to how a jury determines damages relating to medical costs arising from injuries. The bills would allow the introduction into evidence of both the amounts billed and the amounts paid for such services. WDC supported […]
Worker’s Compensation Bill Signed into Law
Date Wed, Mar. 16, 2016 - 9:33am By Hamilton
On February 29, 2016, Governor Scott Walker signed the Worker’s Compensation “Agreed Upon” Bill for 2016, Assembly Bill 724, into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 180. Originally introduced by Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) and Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield) in January 2016, the bill is a result of a consensus recommendation from labor and management representatives on […]
Interest Rates on Judgments Legislation Dies
Date Wed, Mar. 16, 2016 - 9:23am By Hamilton
Authored by Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater), Assembly Bill 95/Senate Bill 76 sought to change the interest rate for pre- and post- judgment interest for verdicts in small claims court. As passed by the Assembly, the legislation would have revised the formula created in 2011 Act 69 (Act 69) to […]
Interest Rates on Judgments Legislation Gets Hearing
Date Thu, Mar. 3, 2016 - 6:09pm By Hamilton
A public hearing was held in the Senate committee on Judiciary and Public safety this week on Assembly Bill 95, authored by Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-Fond du Lac) and Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater). The bill seeks to change the interest rate for pre- and post- judgment interest for verdicts in small claims court. AB 95 […]
Minor Driver’s Sponsorship Liability Bills Pass Legislature
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 7:51pm By Hamilton
UPDATE: Governor Scott Walker signed this bill into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 202 on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) championed legislation (Assembly Bill 540/Senate Bill 408) to limit the liability that may be imputed to an innocent parent or other adult who sponsors a person under the […]