The Senate and Assembly have adjourned their last regular sessions for 2013. Both houses had busy agendas as they moved to get bills passed before the end of the calendar year. Elections and Politics The most contentious issues involved elections – from voting to recalls and redistricting. Party line votes and long debates were abundant. […]
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Receive ILR’s Outstanding Organization Award
Date Wed, Oct. 23, 2013 - 4:50pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC) and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) were awarded the Outstanding Organization Award at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s (ILR) 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit for their contributions to making Wisconsin’s civil justice system simpler, fairer, and faster for everyone. Members of WCJC and WMC traveled to the […]
Vote Pending on Personal Injury Trust Bill
Date Wed, Oct. 9, 2013 - 10:12am By Hamilton
The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee has scheduled an executive session on Wednesday, October 9 to vote on AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trust Claims Transparency. The legislation will prevent double-dipping in personal injury cases that also involve potential compensation from trust funds created under the federal bankruptcy law. The most common types of lawsuits […]
TiPAC Headed to Governor for Approval
Date Wed, Oct. 9, 2013 - 10:10am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed AB 27, Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting (TIPAC), on a bipartisan vote, 23-10 (five Democrats joined all 18 Republicans). This legislation provides greater transparency and oversight when the State of Wisconsin hires private plaintiff attorneys on a contingency fee basis. The bill also imposes caps on attorney’s […]
Senate Passes Bi-Partisan Lemon Law Reform Bill
Date Wed, Sep. 18, 2013 - 8:23am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate voted 32-1 to enact changes to Wisconsin’s Lemon Law. AB 200 makes several significant changes to Wisconsin’s law, as outlined in this memo from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and other supporters, but paramount is the elimination of the punitive double damages mandate. Wisconsin is universally known among automobile, motorcycle, truck, and […]
Senate Committee Considers Changes to Wisconsin’s Lemon Law
Date Thu, Aug. 22, 2013 - 7:22am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate Committee on Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs will today vote on long-needed changes to Wisconsin’s Lemon Law. Wisconsin is universally known among automobile, motorcycle, truck, and recreational vehicle manufacturers as having the worst lemon law in the country. The law places unreasonable and unworkable requirements on vehicle manufacturers that […]
Civil Justice Reforms Move Forward
Date Mon, Jul. 8, 2013 - 11:13am By Hamilton
With the budget having been completed, the focus of the remainder of the 2013-14 legislative session will be on individual bills, including civil liability reforms. In this area, the first portion of the 2013-14 legislative session has been very active and successful. Numerous bills improving Wisconsin’s legal climate have received public hearings, passed the Assembly […]
Legislature Adopts Budget Provision Retroactively Applying Lead Paint Provisions
Date Wed, Jun. 19, 2013 - 2:45pm By Hamilton
In 2011, Gov. Scott Walker introduced and the Legislature passed the omnibus civil liability reform bill (2011 Wisconsin Act 2). One of Act 2’s provisions overturned the Thomas v. Mallet decision, which established the “risk contribution” theory in lead paint cases. The legislature is considering retroactively applying the Act 2 standard to all cases. […]
Lemon Law Reform Passes Assembly in Bi-Partisan Vote
Date Fri, Jun. 14, 2013 - 10:22am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly voted 88-8 to enact long-needed changes to Wisconsin’s Lemon Law. AB 200 makes several significant changes to Wisconsin’s law, as outlined in this memo from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and other supporters, but paramount is the elimination of the punitive double damages mandate. Wisconsin is universally known among automobile, motorcycle, truck, […]
Assembly to Vote on Lemon Law Reform Bill
Date Wed, Jun. 12, 2013 - 12:04pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly will today vote on long-needed changes to Wisconsin’s Lemon Law. Wisconsin is universally known among automobile, motorcycle, truck, and recreational vehicle manufacturers as having the worst lemon law in the country. The law places unreasonable and unworkable requirements on vehicle manufacturers that allows lawyers like self-proclaimed “Lemon Law King,” Vince Megna, to […]