The Wisconsin Supreme Court today accepted three new cases, including one involving the “stacking” of auto insurance policies, but denied law firm dispute.

Acknowledging the case “raises thorny questions,” a Wisconsin Supreme Court majority recently ruled that Wisconsin’s statute of repose did not bar a plaintiff’s action to collect a half-interest in her ex-spouse’s retirement pension.

May 20, 2013 – Nationally recognized government scholar Charles Franklin drew a large audience when he presented “Divided Wisconsin: What Unites and Divides the Citizens of the State?” last week at the State Bar PINNACLE Institute.

May 17, 2013 – The District II Court of Appeals has certified a case that pits Wisconsin case law against a series of recent – and controversial – U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the Confrontation Clause.

May 15, 2013 – Plaintiffs’ lawyer granted big oil defendants extra time to file a late answer and avoid default; plaintiffs still prevail in challenge to summary judgment.

May 9, 2013 – For the 10th consecutive year, State Bar dues remained unchanged. Supreme court-ordered fees include assessments remain stable for second year.

May 6, 2013 – Controversial law eliminates most collective bargaining rights for public employees; enforcement on hold until constitutionality resolved.

May 1, 2013 – Court reins in statutory immunity; giving a horse’s lead rope to another qualifies as “providing an equine.”

April 29, 2013 – A defendant sought to withdraw his plea after sentencing because the circuit court understated the maximum sentence. The Outagamie County Circuit Court found harmless error and denied relief. On certification by the District IV Court of Appeals, the Wisconsin Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court, finding that the defendant knew the correct maximum sentence, and that the circuit court’s error was “an insubstantial defect” in the plea colloquy.

April 26, 2013 – Robert Gagan, Green Bay, won the race for State Bar president-elect. His term begins July 1. In other State Bar races, Kevin Lyons was elected treasurer and Amy E. Wochos was elected to a three-year seat on the Judicial Council.

April 22, 2013 – The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors recently took action on several proposed rule changes impacting lawyer discipline and disciplinary proceedings, as well as other rules enforced by the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

A former student of Carthage College in Kenosha sued the school for negligence after she was sexually assaulted in her dorm room. Recently, a federal appeals court ruled that an expert on premises-security could testify in the case.

A state appeals court has ruled that the City of Milwaukee can modify its labor agreement with the Milwaukee Police Association, because Wisconsin’s collective bargaining laws prohibit bargaining on health care coverage costs.

A Wisconsin court must apply Michigan’s wrongful death statute in an action stemming from a tragic snowmobile accident that occurred in Michigan, a state appeals court has ruled, rejecting arguments that would limit the plaintiff’s remedies.

In the absence of an clear agreement, Wisconsin arbitration law limits discovery in arbitration proceedings, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has clarified.

The state’s “health care worker protection” statute did not protect an unpaid intern who was fired from the Medical College of Wisconsin after reporting potential medical ethics violations, a state appeals court has ruled.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court, by a 4-3 majority, has ruled that a Dane County woman will have another shot to keep her kids because of erroneous lower court rulings that prevented her from presenting evidence to a jury.

Mark Libecki was convicted of killing a coworker in Germantown 14 years ago. Recently, a state appeals court rejected his appeal for a new trial.

March 25, 2013 – Candidates vying for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat – incumbent Justice Pat Roggensack and Marquette law professor Ed Fallone – covered a lot of ground last Friday in their first and only debate at the State Bar Center in Madison.

March 22, 2013 – Twenty-six young lawyers who were nominated by legal professionals statewide are attending the first State Bar Leadership Development Summit in Madison today.

The State Bar of Wisconsin applauds the Wisconsin Supreme Court for calling on members of the state Joint Committee on Finance to “support state funding to assist indigent self-represented persons in meeting their legal needs.”

The ongoing disputes related to Act 10, the divisive collective bargaining bill passed in 2011, continue as a state appeals court recently ruled to keep a Dane County Circuit Court decision in place pending full appeal.

March 11, 2013 – This month's issue of Wisconsin Lawyer magazine contains a feature on financial elder abuse in the securities investment context. In addition, estate planners will learn strategies to avoid the pitfalls associated with payable-on-death designations. And one Milwaukee lawyer makes a convincing case for your first pro bono project.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s Indian Law Section is seeking feedback on its plan to file an amicus curiae brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case, Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, brought by a couple who attempted to adopt a Native American child.​