Wisconsin High Court Adopts “Least Change” Approach to Redistricting
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:02pm By Hamilton
On November 30, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin issued its first major ruling related to this cycle of redistricting in Wisconsin. The Republican-led Legislature passed its proposed congressional and state legislative maps along party lines in early November. Governor Tony Evers (D) vetoed those maps in mid-November and has called for the state to adopt […]
Governor Evers Vetoes Redistricting Bills, Setting Up Court Battles
Date Fri, Nov. 19, 2021 - 8:52am By Hamilton
On November 18, Governor Tony Evers (D) vetoed Senate Bills (SB) 621 and 622, meaning that Wisconsin’s political maps for the next ten years will likely be set by the Wisconsin Supreme Court or a panel of federal judges. The governor announced the action in a press release and sent a veto message to the […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Holding Oral Arguments September Through December
Date Thu, Nov. 4, 2021 - 6:43pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has announced its schedule for oral arguments for the remainder of 2021. Earlier this year, the court heard cases in January through April and one case in May, then took a break over the summer and began hearing cases again in September. Below is a summary of the court’s schedule for […]
State Supreme Court Appoints New Chief Appellate Judge
Date Wed, Jul. 28, 2021 - 7:22pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has announced the appointment of a new chief appellate judge and the reappointment of five chief circuit court judges, effective August 1. Judge William W. Brash, III has been appointed chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, a position that oversees the entire four-district, 16-judge appellate court system in Wisconsin. […]
Graef v. Continental Indemnity Company (Worker’s Compensation Exclusive Remedy)
Date Wed, Jul. 28, 2021 - 7:20pm By Hamilton
In Graef v. Continental Indemnity Company (2018AP1782), the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that an employee’s negligence claim was barred by the exclusive-remedy provision of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Act. Facts Graef was gored by a bull while working in the livestock yard at Equity Livestock. Because of physical injuries and depression resulting from the incident, […]
Kemper Independence Insurance Company v. Islami (Insurance Denial for Concealment or Fraud)
Date Wed, Jul. 28, 2021 - 7:19pm By Hamilton
In Kemper Independence Insurance Company v. Islami (2019AP488), the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an insurer’s denial of coverage based on the actions of a claimant’s estranged spouse. Facts In 2014, Ydbi Islami set fire to the home occupied by his estranged wife, Ismet Islami. The two had been legally separated since 1998; Ismet received sole […]
State Supreme Court Chooses New Chief Justice
Date Fri, Apr. 23, 2021 - 9:24am By Hamilton
On April 14, a majority of the seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to select Justice Annette Ziegler as the state’s next chief justice. She will assume the office on May 1. Justice Ziegler was first elected to the court in 2007 and ran unopposed in 2017. She is the court’s third longest-serving […]
Mohns v. BMO Harris Bank (Discovery Violations)
Date Tue, Apr. 13, 2021 - 1:04pm By Hamilton
In Mohns v. BMO Harris Bank (2018AP71), the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that the circuit court was within its discretion to impose judgement on liability, including for intentional misrepresentation, as a sanction for discovery violations. Facts Mohns, Inc. was the general contractor for a condominium construction venture developed by Paul Bouraxis and financed by BMO […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Against Gov. Evers in Public Health Emergency Case, Ending Statewide Mask Mandate
Date Fri, Apr. 9, 2021 - 11:17am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, March 31, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling in Jeré Fabick v. Tony Evers, holding 4-3 that the governor cannot issue successive emergency declarations on the same subject. Petitioner Jeré Fabick sought a declaratory judgement on Governor Tony Evers’ authority to issue multiple public health emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Appeals Court Rules State Can Release Records on Businesses with COVID-19 Cases
Date Fri, Apr. 9, 2021 - 11:15am By Hamilton
On Monday, April 5, a three-judge panel from the District IV Court of Appeals ruled against Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and in favor of Governor Tony Evers, his administration, and the media in a case involving information about businesses whose employees have contracted COVID-19. The lawsuit was filed in October 2020 in Waukesha County […]