Case of the month archive

2019

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Emer's Camper Corral, LLC v. Western Heritage Insurance Co. This is a review of a decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III (headquartered in Wausau), that affirmed a decision of the Burnett County Circuit Court, Judge Melissa R. Mogen, presiding, that entered a directed verdict in favor of the defendant, Western Heritage. This case presents the question of whether a plaintiff alleging negligence by an insurance agent must establish causation by showing that, absent the agent's negligence, the plaintiff would have been able to obtain a policy containing the plaintiff's desired terms. COA opinion 2018AP458 Audio
Steven J. Piper v. Jones Dairy Farm This case, taken on a petition to bypass the Court of Appeals, asks the Supreme Court to determine whether Wisconsin law requires employers to compensate employees for donning/doffing and walking time if the issue was negotiated as part of the creation of a collective bargaining agreement. This case concerns a Jefferson County Circuit Court decision, Judge William F. Hue presiding, that denied Jones Dairy Farm's motion for summary judgment on employees' claims for payment for donning/doffing/walking activities. SC opinion 2018AP1681 Audio
State v. Autumn Marie Lopez
State v. Amy J. Rodriguez
These consolidated appeals come to the Supreme Court from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV (headquartered in Madison). The Court of Appeals’ decision reversed the Green County Circuit Court’s decision, Judge James R. Beer, presiding, that dismissed retail theft charges against Autumn Lopez and Amy Rodriguez. SC opinion
COA opinion
2017AP913-CR & 2017AP914-CR  
Kristi Koschkee v. Carolyn Stanford Taylor The Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction over the original action petition filed by the Wisconsin Institute of Law & Liberty raising the question of whether the Department of Public Instruction and its Superintendent are required to comply with the Wisconsin Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act. SC opinion 2017AP2278-OA Audio
Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. v. Dane County This is a review of a decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District IV (headquartered in Madison), that reversed and remanded a Dane County Circuit Court decision, Judge Peter Anderson presiding, that had granted summary judgment in favor of Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. SC opinion
COA opinion
2016AP2503 & 2017AP13 Audio
Alan W. Pinter v. Village of Stetsonville This is a review of a decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III (headquartered in Wausau), which affirmed the Taylor County Circuit Court decision, Judge Ann N. Knox-Bauer, presiding, to grant summary judgment in favor of the Village of Stetsonville. SC opinion
COA opinion
2017AP1593 Audio
State v. John Patrick Wright This is a review of an opinion filed by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I (headquartered in Milwaukee), that affirmed a Milwaukee Circuit Court decision, Judge Hannah C. Dugan, presiding. COA opinion 2017AP2006-CR Audio

2018

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
West Bend Mutual Ins. Co. v. Ixthus Medical Supply, Inc. This case presents the question of whether West Bend Mutual Insurance Co. has a "duty to defend" its insured, Ixthus Medical Supply, Inc., in a federal trademark infringement case. COA opinion 2017AP909 Audio
Cacie M. Michels v. Keaton L. Lyons This is a review of a decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II (headquartered in Waukesha), that reversed a Racine County Circuit Court decision, Judge David W. Paulson, presiding.   2017AP1142 Audio
State v. Gerald P. Mitchell

This case examines the constitutionality of the implied consent law and revisits an issue raised, but not clearly decided, in State v. Howes, 2014AP1870-CR. The Court of Appeals certifies the issue here: "whether the warrantless blood draw of an unconscious motorist pursuant to Wisconsin's implied consent law, where no exigent circumstances exist or have been argued, violates the Fourth Amendment."

In Howes, the issue was whether the "implied consent," deemed to have occurred before a defendant is a suspect, is voluntary consent for purposes of the consent exception to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement.

SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP304-CR Audio
State v. Kyle Lee Monahan May a reviewing court find a trial error harmless by examining the evidence and drawing inferences in the light most favorable to the state? More specifically here, the Supreme Court reviews whether the Court of Appeals properly found that a guilty verdict in a homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle case was not attributable to an admitted error. SC opinion
COA opinion
2014AP2187-CR Audio
Golden Sands Dairy LLC v. Town of Saratoga This case arises out of a dispute between the Town of Saratoga and Golden Sands Dairy LLC, regarding the dairy's efforts to develop and operate an "integrated dairy farm" on approximately 6,388 acres of land in the township. The Supreme Court reviews the issue as presented by Golden Sands: When a permit applicant secures vested rights by filing a valid building permit application for a project (Wisconsin's "Building Permit Rule"), does the law protect the applicant's right to both construct buildings and to use the project land in the lawful manner described in the building permit application? SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP1258 Audio

2017

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Nationstar Mortgage v. Stafsholt This case involves a dispute over attorney fees arising from a home loan foreclosure. The Supreme Court reviews issues related to the awarding of attorney fees, the method by which attorney fees may be recovered, and the decision-making processes of lower courts in this case. SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP1586 Audio
State v. Brar This drunken driving case examines what constitutes actual consent to a blood draw when no search warrant is obtained, and whether the facts here would negate any such consent as constitutionally involuntary. The Supreme Court reviews the issues in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Missouri v. McNeely, ___ U.S. ___, 133 S. Ct. 1552 (2015). SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP1261-CR Audio
State v. Ozuna This case examines the expungement statute, due process rights and the requirements for determining whether a defendant has successfully satisfied the conditions of probation for expungement purposes. SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP1877-CR Audio

2016

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Parsons v. Associated Banc-Corp. The Supreme Court reviews whether, in advance of civil litigation, the right to a jury trial may be contractually waived, and if so, the process and requirements that may be involved in such a waiver. Discussion of this issue concerns Wis. Const. art. I, § 5, which guarantees the right to a jury trial—even for civil litigants—and provides for the waiver of that right "in the manner prescribed by law." SC opinion
COA opinion
2014AP2581 Audio
Voces de la Frontera, Inc. v. Clark This case addresses the following issues: (1) Does the Wisconsin Open Records Law require the records custodian of a local law enforcement agency to produce federal immigration detainer hold documents (I-247s) received from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the specific prohibition contained in 8 C.F.R. § 236.6? (2) In the alternative, does the balancing test set forth under the Wisconsin Open Records Law weigh in favor of the non-production of these same federal immigration detainer hold documents received by a local law enforcement agency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)? SC opinion
COA opinion
2015AP1152 Audio
State v. Scruggs This criminal case examines the constitutionality of retroactive application of the mandatory DNA surcharge, which requires defendants to pay a $250 DNA surcharge for every felony conviction, and a $200 DNA surcharge for every misdemeanor conviction. SC opinion
COA opinion
2014AP2981-CR Audio
State v. Finley This case examines what remedy may be available when a defendant who pleads no contest is misinformed that the maximum penalty that could be imposed is lower than the maximum actually allowed by law, and the sentence imposed is more than the defendant was told he could get. SC opinion
COA opinion
2014AP2488-CR Audio
State v. Salas Gayton This criminal case examines whether a sentencing court may rely on a defendant’s illegal immigrant status as a factor in fashioning a sentence. SC opinion
COA opinion
2013AP646-CR Audio
Milwaukee Police Association v. City of Milwaukee In this case, the Supreme Court reviews whether the Home Rule Amendment of the Wisconsin Constitution, Wis. Const. Art. XI, § 3(1), trumps the Wisconsin Legislature’s enactment of § 66.0502, which restricts municipalities from imposing residency restrictions on their employees. SC opinion
COA opinion
2014AP400 Audio

2015

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
State v. Valadez This case examines the degree of certainty necessary to show, for purposes of plea withdrawal under WIS. STAT. § 971.08(2), that a defendant is likely to suffer immigration consequences as a result of a guilty plea. SC opinion 2014AP678-80 Audio
New Richmond News v. City of New Richmond In this bypass of the District III Court of Appeals (headquartered in Wausau), the Supreme Court reviews a decision by St. Croix County Circuit Court, Judge Howard W. Cameron Jr. presiding. SC opinion 2014AP1938 Audio
State v. Shata This is a review of a decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District I (headquartered in Milwaukee), which reversed a Milwaukee County Circuit Court decision, Judge Timothy G. Dugan, presiding. SC opinion
COA opinion
2013AP1437-CR Audio
State v. Hogan This case examines whether evidence that led to the conviction of Patrick I. Hogan on charges of possession of methamphetamine and child neglect should have been suppressed because of the way police obtained the evidence during a traffic stop. SC opinion
COA opinion
2013AP430-CR Audio
Christ v. Exxon Mobil This case examines several issues arising from wrongful death and survival claims filed against Exxon Mobile Corp. and other companies for allegedly contributing to the presence of benzene-containing petroleum products at a Uniroyal tire factory in Eau Claire. The plaintiffs, including Donald Christ, are former Uniroyal employees and special administrators of deceased employees' estates who allege injuries from benzene exposure. SC opinion
COA opinion
2012AP1493 Audio
Milwaukee City Housing Authority v. Cobb The issue in this case is whether federal public housing law preempts Wis. Stat. § 704.17(2)(b), which permits landlords to terminate tenancies upon lease breaches if the landlord gives the tenant notice allowing the tenant five days to remedy the default or vacate the premises. SC opinion
COA opinion
2013AP2207 Audio

2014

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
State v. Anthony A decision by the Supreme Court in this case is expected to provide guidance on when a trial court may deny a defendant the right to testify and the standard by which the Court of Appeals should review that determination. SC opinion
COA opinion
2013AP467-CR Audio
State v. Griep This drunken driving case examines whether the Confrontation Clause prohibits a surrogate witness – in this case a crime lab section chief who did not personally conduct or observe lab work – from testifying regarding a non-testifying lab analyst's procedures and conclusions. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP3073-CR Audio
State v. Scull The general issue in this case is whether the trial court erred in denying defendant Gary Monroe Scull's motion to suppress evidence found by police after they brought a drug-sniffing dog to the front door of his residence without a warrant or probable cause. More specifically, the Wisconsin Supreme Court examines whether the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule applies because the police obtained a search warrant in good faith –although based, in part, on the prior illegal search with the drug dog. SC opinion
COA opinion
2011AP2956-CR Audio
Weissman v. Tyson Prepared Foods This wage claim case arises from a class action filed by six workers, including Jim Weissman, against their employer, Tyson Prepared Foods, Inc. (Tyson). Tyson operates a meat processing plant in Jefferson County. The employees contend they are entitled to compensation for the time spent putting on ("donning") and taking off ("doffing") sanitary and protective equipment and clothing and walking to work stations. SC opinion
COA opinion
2012AP2196 Audio
Legue v. City of Racine This certification from the District II Court of Appeals arises from a traffic accident in which an officer driving a police squad collided with another vehicle at an intersection in Racine. SC opinion
COA certification
2012AP2499 Audio
League of Women Voters v. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP v. Scott Walker These cases, arising from two Dane County Circuit Court decisions, deal with two closely related aspects of a single, overriding issue: the validity of 2011 Act 23's photo identification requirements under the suffrage provisions in Wis. Const. Art. III. SC opinion
SC opinion
COA opinion
2012AP584-AC and 2012AP1652 Audio
State v. Brown This Fourth Amendment case examines the legality of a traffic stop that started as a possible defective tail light violation, and ultimately resulted in charges of felon in possession of a firearm against Antonio D. Brown. SC opinion
COA opinion
2011AP2907-CR Audio

2013

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Robert V. Kimble v. Land Concepts, Inc. This case arises out of a dispute over legal access to a home site in the town of Nasewaupee in Door County. The Supreme Court will examine whether a jury's $1 million punitive damage award, which is 33 times the amount of the compensatory damages award, is sustainable. SC opinion
COA opinion
2011AP1514 Audio
Madison Teachers, Inc. v. Scott Walker This certification from the Court of Appeals, District IV, examines the constitutionality of various statutory changes made by 2011 Wis. Act 10 and 2011 Wis. Act 32, more commonly referred to respectively as the collective bargaining law and 2011-13 state budget. SC opinion 2012AP2067 Audio a.m.
Audio p.m.
Waller v. American Transmission Co. This bypass involves two prior Court of Appeals' decisions and three circuit court decisions arising from a dispute over the condemnation of property for the location of an electrical transmission line project in Walworth County. The Supreme Court examines Wis. Stat. § 32.06(3m), the uneconomic remnant statute. SC opinion 2012AP805/840 Audio
Showers Appraisal v. Musson Brothers This case involves a lawsuit over water damage that occurred to a privately owned building during a road construction project in Oshkosh in the summer of 2008. The Supreme Court examines whether a private governmental contractor is entitled to sovereign immunity under Estate of Lyons v. CNA Insurance Company, 207 Wis. 2d 446, 558 N.W.2d 658 (Ct. App. 1996) for its efforts to maintain water drainage on the construction site so as to protect the adjacent private property from water damage. SC opinion
COA opinion
2011AP1158 Audio
State v. Lonkoski This case examines what constitutes interrogation and what constitutes custody under Miranda. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP2809-CR Audio

2012

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
State v. Neumann This certification involves consolidated appeals that raise issues related to statutory construction, constitutional rights and appropriate jury instructions for persons charged with reckless homicide based on their choice to rely on prayer rather than medical treatment for an ill child. SC opinion
COA certification
2011AP1044-CR/2011AP1105-CR Audio
Acuity v. Society Insurance This case examines whether damages arising from faulty construction work performed by a contractor qualifies as an "occurrence" under the terms of a commercial general liability (CGL) insurance policy. COA opinion 2009AP2432 Oral argument was cancelled and not rescheduled.
Schinner v. Gundrum This case examines the meaning of "occurrence" and "accident" under the terms of a homeowners insurance policy and how they apply to the facts presented here. The Supreme Court is asked to review whether a homeowners insurance policy covers the 21-year-old host of a drinking party who provided alcohol to an underage guest who assaulted another guest. SC opinion
COA opinion
2011AP564 Audio
State v. Brereton This case examines whether a defendant's constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures was violated when police seized his vehicle and covertly installed a sophisticated real-time GPS tracking device. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP1366-CR Audio
Wis. Industrial Energy Group v. PSC This certification involves a dispute over the Wisconsin Public Service Commission's (PSC) approval process and whether a certificate of public convenience and necessity was needed for a Wisconsin public utility to construct a wind electric generating facility in Minnesota. SC opinion
CA certification
2010AP2762 Audio
Wis. Dolls v. Town of Dell Prairie This case involves a dispute between the owners of Wisconsin Dolls, an adult-themed resort in the Wisconsin Dells, and the town of Dell Prairie and its town board, over a liquor license. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP2900 Audio
State v. Negrete This case involves an illegal immigrant now facing deportation proceedings because of a crime he was convicted of 18 years ago. The Supreme Court examines whether the fact a transcript of Abraham C. Negrete's plea hearing is no longer available means that a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, pursuant to Sec. 971.08(2), Stats., cannot be granted. SC opinion 2010AP1702 Audio
State v. Tyler T. This case examines the fairly narrow issue of whether it is improper for an assistant district attorney to appear at a waiver recommendation meeting when neither the juvenile nor his attorney was asked to attend. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP784 Audio

2011

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Fond du Lac Co. v. Helen E.F. This case examines whether a person who has Alzheimer's or similar dementia may also be found to have a mental illness for purposes of a ch. 51 involuntary commitment and whether certain medications constitute "treatment" under the statute. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP2061 Audio
State v. Soto This certification examines whether a defendant's statutory right to be physically present during a plea hearing was violated when the court conducted the hearing through video teleconferencing, and whether the issue was properly preserved. More broadly, the Supreme Court examines the effect of Wis. Stat. ch. 885, regarding the use of videoconferencing, on prior law. SC opinionCA certification 2010AP2273-CR Audio
Hirschhorn v. Auto-Owners Insurance Company This case calls upon the Wisconsin Supreme Court to decide if bat urine and droppings ("guano"), and the associated smell, fit the definition of "pollutant" for purposes of determining whether homeowner's insurance will cover losses related to an accumulation of bat excrement. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP2768 Audio
MBS-Certified Pub. Accountants v. Wis. Bell This case arises from a class action lawsuit over the practice of "cramming" in which a telephone company deceptively inserts relatively small, unauthorized charges into a telephone bill. As part of its review, the Supreme Court examines the voluntary payment doctrine and statutory damage claims under §§ 100.207, 100.18, and §§ 946.80-946.88 (Wisconsin Organized Crime Control Act or WOCCA). SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP1830 Audio
State v. West In this case, the Supreme Court is asked to review statutory and constitutional issues related to Wis. stat. ch. 980, the state's law that allows civil commitment for persons deemed to be sexually violent. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP1579 Audio
Lk. Beulah Mgt. Dist. v. Wis. DNR and Lk. Beulah Mgt. Dist. v. Village of East Troy These two cases arise from a dispute between the Lake Beulah Management District (Lake District) and the Village of East Troy (the Village) and the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over a proposed high-capacity well. Proponents argue the well is needed to support increased development; opponents charge that pumping millions of gallons of water per day will damage the lake and surrounding wetlands. SC opinion
SC opinion
COA opinion
COA opinion
2008AP3170
2009AP2021
Audio
Audio
Jessica Siebert et al v. Wis. American Mutual Insurance Co. This case examines insurance coverage in a situation where a woman lent her father's car to a man who said he was running an errand. Instead, he picked up a woman who was then injured in an accident on the way to a party. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP1422 Audio
E-Z Roll Off v. County of Oneida This case involves allegations that Oneida County helped a waste-hauling company engage in monopolistic behavior by selectively charging reduced dumping fees at a county-run landfill. The Supreme Court is asked to examine the notice requirements of Wis. Stat. § 893.80(1) for filing claims against a county. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP775 Audio
State v. Beauchamp In this case, the Supreme Court examines whether "dying declarations" made under the circumstances presented here constitute a permissible exception to the confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The confrontation clause generally guarantees a criminal defendant's right to confront an accusing witness in court. SC opinion
COA opinion
2009AP806-CR Audio

2010

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Brown County DHS v. Brenda B. In this termination of parental rights case, the Supreme Court examines a trial court's discretion in denying a motion to withdraw a no contest plea without an evidentiary hearing. SC opinion
COA opinion
2010AP321 Audio
Curt Andersen, et al v. DNR In this case, the Supreme Court examines issues arising from a dispute between environmental advocates and the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) over re-issuing a wastewater discharge permit for a paper manufacturing plant in Green Bay. A decision by the Supreme Court could have broad statewide implications for industries regulated by the permits. SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP3235 Audio
State v. Janet A. Conner In this case, the Supreme Court examines provisions of Wisconsin's stalking statute, Wis. Stat. § 940.32(2m)(b) to determine what acts may constitute a course of conduct and whether the defendant in this case received adequate notice of the course of conduct elements of the statute. SC opinion

COA opinion
2008AP1296-CR Audio
State v. Patrick R. Patterson This reckless homicide case involves the death of a 17-year-old girl, who died as a result of a drug overdose. The primary issues before the Supreme Court are whether contributing to the delinquency of a child resulting in death is a lesser-included offense of first-degree reckless homicide under Wis. Stat. § 939.66(2), and whether a defendant can be found guilty of contributing to the delinquency of a 17-year-old, even though 17-year-olds cannot be prosecuted as juveniles. SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP1968 Audio
State v. David A. Dearborn In this case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is asked to examine the search-incident-to-arrest doctrine and how it applies to a vehicle search in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Arizona v. Gant, 129 S. Ct. 1710 (2009). SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP1894-CR Audio
State v. Michael A. Sveum In this criminal case, the Supreme Court is asked to consider whether a defendant's constitutional rights or Wisconsin Statutes were violated when police placed a global positioning system (GPS) device on his vehicle and recorded its movements. SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP658 Audio
Zarder v. Humana Insurance Co. In this case, the Supreme Court is asked to clarify the meaning of "hit-and-run" in an uninsured motorist policy, and in an insurance statute, as applied to the facts of this case. SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP919 Audio
State v. Pinkard This criminal case examines the law as it relates to the "community caretaker" function of police and constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP1204 Audio

2009

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
McConkey v. Van Hollen In this certification, the District IV Court of Appeals asks the Supreme Court to review issues arising from a state constitutional amendment passed by voters on Nov. 7, 2006. The ballot measure read, in part, "that only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state and that a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state." SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP1868 Audio
Pawlowski v. American Family and Nancy L. Seefeldt In this strict liability case involving a dog bite, the Supreme Court has been asked to review statutes and case law to clarify the statutory keeper provisions of Wis. Stat. § 174.02. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP2651 Audio
State v. Lange In this case, the state has asked the Supreme Court to review how the standards for determining probable cause should apply to an arrest for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. SC opinion
COA opinion
2008AP882-CR Audio
State v. Baron This is the second time this case, which involves e-mail messages and the state's identity theft statute, Wis. Stat. § 943.201, has reached the Supreme Court. The defendant filed a petition to bypass, which was denied Nov. 5, 2007; a petition for review was granted July 25, 2008 after the Court of Appeals decision. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP1289-CR Audio
Tammi v. Porsche This certification from the U.S. District Court for the 7th Circuit asks the Wisconsin Supreme Court to clarify issues related to the state's "lemon law." A decision could affect consumers, auto manufactures and the sale of motor vehicles throughout the state. SC opinion 2008AP1913-CQ Audio
State v. Jordan L. Gajewski This case involves a high school student who was convicted of third-degree sexual assault after allegedly having intercourse with a high school student at a party. The Supreme Court is expected to clarify how 'ineffective assistance of counsel' claims are to be analyzed. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP1849-CR Audio

2008

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
State v. Mark H. Tody, Jr. his case arises from Mark H. Tody Jr.'s conviction for operating a motor vehicle without consent as party to a crime. Tody asks the Supreme Court to review several issues stemming from the fact the trial judge's mother served on the jury that found him guilty. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP400-CR Audio
State v. Kramer This case, which involves a conviction for intoxicated use of a motor vehicle (OWI), examines the "community caretaker" function of a police officer, who was checking on a vehicle pulled to the side of the road. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP1834-CR Audio
State v. Jordan A. Denk This case involves a police search. The Supreme Court is expected to determine whether police were acting lawfully when they seized an item that (1) was not inside the automobile that they were searching, and (2) belonged to a passenger who had not been arrested. SC opinion
COA certification
06AP1744-CR Audio
State ex rel. Hipp v. Murray This case examines whether judges have exclusive authority to issue subpoenas to produce witnesses in John Doe proceedings. The state has asked the Supreme Court to review a Court of Appeals' decision, which could alter the way John Doe subpoenas have historically been handled. SC opinion
COA opinion
2007AP230-W Audio
WIREdata Inc. v. Village of Sussex This litigation, which includes cases involving the villages of Sussex and Thiensville and the city of Port Washington, concerns the state's open records law and its application to requests for access to large data bases created by private contractors on behalf of municipalities. The Supreme Court has been asked to consider a number of issues about the scope, timing, procedure, cost and format of electronic records involved in open records requests. SC opinion
COA opinion
2005AP1473/2006AP174-75 Audio

2007

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
WRA, Inc. v. Town of West Point This certification from the District IV Court of Appeals could affect the state's Smart Growth statute and examines whether towns in Wisconsin have the authority to place moratoriums on new development of land while updating land-use plans. SC opinion
COA opinion
2006AP2761 Audio
Richards v. Badger Mutual Insurance Co. This insurance liability case stems from a fatal automobile accident and wrongful death lawsuit that was filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. SC opinion 06AP1114-CR Audio
State v. Michelle R. Popenhagen This case examines whether a person has a protected right to privacy of bank records under Wisconsin law and how state law interacts with federal law regarding the question. SC opinion 06AP1114-CR Audio
State ex rel. Jose Castaneda v. Woody Welch, et al. This case could determine the scope of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission's rulemaking authority. SC opinion 04AP3306 Audio
State v. Jeffrey Allen House This is an appeal by a man who was convicted of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. The issue before the Wisconsin Supreme Court is whether the circuit court should have suppressed evidence that was gathered from a wiretap that the defendant alleges was illegal. SC opinion 05AP2202-CR Audio
Kristie L. M., et al v. Dennis E. M. The issue raised in this case is whether the lower courts infringed on a parent's constitutional right to have a relationship with a child by expanding the definition of "severe" bruising to include any bruising. SC opinion 05AP1034 Audio
State ex rel. Jose Castaneda v. Woody Welch, et al. This case could determine the scope of Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission's rulemaking authority. SC opinion 04AP3306 Audio
State v. Robert E. Post This case examines the legality of a traffic stop, and whether there was reasonable suspicion to investigate when an officer observed a vehicle weaving within its own lane. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP2778 Audio
State of Wisconsin v. Edward Bannister In its petition for review, the state has asked the Supreme Court to clarify whether the corroboration rule operates as a rule of admissibility or a rule of substantive evidence. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP767-CR Audio

2006

Case Description Opinion(s) Case No./Briefs Listen to argument
Shannon E.T. v. Alicia M.V.M. The case involves a man who hopes to establish that he is the father of a stillborn baby so he can pursue a wrongful death claim based upon the stillbirth. The circuit court dismissed his case, and the Court of Appeals affirmed this decision but under different reasoning. Now the Supreme Court will clarify whether the law permits an unmarried man who claims to be the father of a stillborn baby to seek a legal order establishing himself as the father for purposes of filing a wrongful death claim. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP77 Audio
City of Milwaukee v. Ruby Washington This case involves a woman with infectious tuberculosis (TB) who was confined in the Milwaukee County jail to keep her from spreading the disease after she refused to follow her treatment regimen. The Supreme Court will clarify whether the circuit court had the authority to order confinement in this type of facility. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP3141 Audio
Karl McNeil v. Brandon Hansen This case involves a man who was injured while working on a vehicle at an oil change shop. The Supreme Court is expected to determine whether the man's co-worker, who was standing outside the vehicle but set it in motion by leaning in and turning the key, was operating the vehicle under the meaning in the Worker's Compensation Statute. SC opinion
COA certification
05AP423 Audio
State v. David Allen Bruski This case involves a police search of a travel bag. The Supreme Court is expected to determine if the search was legal. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP1516-CR Audio
Jo-El Hanson v. American Family Mutual Insurance Company This is a personal injury case arising out of a car crash. The woman who was injured sought medical treatments, including a surgery that allegedly was not medically necessary. The Supreme Court is expected to clarify whether there is a difference between unnecessary surgery and surgery that is badly performed for purposes of allowing the accident victim to recover compensation for medical expenses. SC opinion
COA opinion
04AP2065
Audio
State v. Brian Hibl This is a so-called “accidental confrontation” case involving an encounter that occurred by chance rather than as a part of a police investigation. The Supreme Court is expected to clarify the admissibility of this type of eyewitness identification. SC opinion
COA opinion
04AP2936-CR Audio
Lina M. Mueller v. McMillian Warner Insurance Company This case began with an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). Those in a position to render aid to the victim claimed not to have immediately recognize her injuries. The Supreme Court is expected to clarify the circumstances under which a person who comes to the aid to an injured person at or near the scene of an accident is immune from civil liability under the Good Samaritan law. SC opinion
COA opinion
05AP121 Audio
State v. Scott K. Fisher This is a "concealed carry" case. The Supreme Court will decide if the law that prohibits carrying concealed weapons may be enforced against a business owner who kept a loaded gun in the console of his vehicle for security while making night deposits. SC opinion 04AP2989-CR Audio
State v. Mark D. Jensen This case stems from a Kenosha County homicide investigation. The question before the Supreme Court is whether a voice mail message and a letter that the victim left behind, and that implicate the defendant, were properly barred from evidence. SC opinion 04AP2481-CR Audio

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