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Week of April 27, 2009

 Supreme Court Cases
  • Corporations/ Shareholders/ Fiduciary Duty/ Dissolution/ Failure To State A Claim/ Due Diligence Expenses/ Statutes

    Notz v. Everett Smith Group, Ltd.
    Docket: 2006AP003156 04-29-09
    N. PATRICK CROOKS, J. This review of a published court of appeals decision involves three questions that arise in the context of a minority shareholder's lawsuit against the majority shareholder: (1) whether the allegations in the complaint state a direct claim by the minority shareholder for breach of fiduciary duty; (2) whether an allegation that the majority shareholder benefited from due diligence----paid for by the corporation for the shareholder's own purposes without reimbursement to the corporation----supports a direct claim by the minority shareholder for breach of fiduciary duty; and (3) whether a pending direct claim by the minority shareholder for judicial dissolution (based on oppressive conduct) survives a cash-out merger that eliminates the petitioner's status as a shareholder.
  • Criminal Law/ Jurors/ Constitutional Law/ Juror Bias/ Judges

    State v. Tody
    Docket: 2007AP000400 04-30-09
    SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON, C.J. The defendant, Mark H. Tody, Jr., seeks review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals affirming a judgment and an order of the Circuit Court for Ashland County, Robert E. Eaton, Judge. Judge Eaton presided over the defendant's jury trial and denied the defendant's motion to strike Judge Eaton's mother as a prospective juror. Judge Eaton's mother sat on the jury. The defendant was convicted of taking and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent, as a party to a crime, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 943.23(2) and § 939.05 (2005-06).
  • Criminal Law/ Statutes/ Statutory Construction-Interpretation/ Restitution

    State v. Fernandez
    Docket: 2007AP001403 04-28-09
    N. PATRICK CROOKS, J. This case is before the court on certification from the court of appeals pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 809.61 (2005-06). The court of appeals asks us whether State v. Loutsch, 2003 WI App 16, ¶25, 259 Wis. 2d 901, 656 N.W.2d 781 (Ct. App. 2002), correctly interprets the criminal restitution statute when it states that a court may order only as much restitution as a defendant has the ability to pay within the term of the sentence.
 Court of Appeals Cases
  • Criminal Law/ Constitutional Law-Double Jeopardy/ Mistrial/ Procedure

    State v. Davis
    Docket: 2008AP002189 04-29-09
    State v. Davis
    Docket: 2008AP002189E 04-29-09
    SNYDER, J. Donessa T. Davis, Sr. appeals from a nonfinal order granting a mistrial on a finding of manifest necessity and denying Davis' motion to dismiss with prejudice. He argues that the circuit court erroneously granted the mistrial. Davis contends that, because the jury was selected and sworn, a new trial would expose him to double jeopardy. We agree with Davis and reverse the order of the circuit court. We direct that, because a new trial would subject Davis to jeopardy a second time for the same offense, the complaint must be dismissed with prejudice.
  • Criminal Law/ Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel/ Evidence/ Jury Instructions/ Sentencing/ New Trial

    State v. Borelli
    Docket: 2008AP001789 04-28-09
    HOOVER, P.J. Jason Borelli appeals a judgment of conviction for first-degree intentional homicide and an order denying his motion for a new trial. Borelli asserts numerous claims of trial court error and ineffective assistance of counsel. We reject Borelli's arguments and affirm the judgment and order.
  • Criminal Law/ Plea Withdrawal/ Constitutional Law-Double Jeopardy/ Jurisdiction

    State v. Taleronik
    Docket: 2008AP001737 04-29-09
    PER CURIAM. Ronald W. Taleronik, pro se, appeals an order denying his motion for postconviction relief by which he sought to withdraw his guilty plea, set aside the judgment of conviction and vacate his sentence. None of his arguments persuade us. We affirm.
  • Criminal Law/ Sentencing/ Sentencing Modification/ Judicial Authority-Discretion/ New Factor

    State v. Pinch
    Docket: 2008AP001695 04-29-09
    PER CURIAM. Raymond Pinch appeals from a judgment of conviction of two counts of forgery and from an order denying his postconviction motion for sentence modification. Pinch argues that he was sentenced on the basis of inaccurate information, that the sentence is the result of an erroneous exercise of discretion, and that his amenability to treatment is a new factor supporting sentence modification to make him eligible for the Earned Release Program (ERP). We affirm the judgment and order.
  • Criminal Law/ Traffic Stops/ Searches/ Reasonable Suspicion/ Constitutional Law

    State v. Bridges
    Docket: 2008AP001207 04-29-09
    Recommended for Publication
    NEUBAUER, J. Melvin Bridges appeals from a judgment of conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver (between five and fifteen grams) in violation of WIS. STAT. § 961.41(1m)(cm)2. (2007-08). Bridges contends that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained during a protective search for weapons following a routine traffic stop. Because we conclude that the search was justified by specific, articulable facts supporting a reasonable suspicion that Bridges posed a threat to the officers' safety, we uphold the decision denying the motion to suppress and affirm the judgment of conviction.
  • Criminal Law/ Victims’ Past/ Evidence/ Constitutional Law/ Trial

    State v. Gardner
    Docket: 2008AP001547 04-28-09
    PER CURIAM. The State appeals an order granting Ernest Gardner's motion for a new trial. The State argues that because information about the victim's past sexual assault by another perpetrator was not exculpatory under the facts of this case, the circuit court erred by granting Gardner a new trial. We agree and reverse the order.
  • Family Law/ Children/ Visitation/ Grandparents/ Best Interest Of Child/ Statutes

    Cook v. Morris
    Docket: 2008AP001029 04-30-09
    VERGERONT, J. Michele Morris appeals the order of the circuit court granting scheduled visitation with her child to Keith and Bernadine Cook, the child's paternal grandparents. Michele argues that the court failed to apply the presumption required by Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000), that a parent's decision regarding visitation is in her child's best interest. The Cooks respond that the court did apply the presumption and properly determined that they had presented evidence rebutting the presumption. We conclude the circuit court did not apply the presumption. We therefore reverse and remand, as explained in more detail in paragraph 15, to allow the circuit court to apply the Troxel presumption in determining whether to grant visitation under WIS. STAT. § 767.43(3).
  • Family Law/ Divorce/ Contempt/ Child Support/ Statutes

    Barrock-Dinges v. Schoenwalder
    Docket: 2008AP002746 04-29-09
    SNYDER, J. Todd Schoenwalder appeals from a remedial contempt order entered as a remedy for Todd's failure to provide income information in a timely manner as required by his divorce judgment, by a family court order, and by WIS. STAT. § 767.58. The contempt order required Todd to reconcile his child support obligation to his actual annual income for the 2007 calendar year. Todd argues that § 767.58(1) does not require constant income fluctuation reporting and that, if it did, the trial court erroneously exercised its discretion in holding Todd in contempt on that basis. We affirm the contempt finding and order.
  • Family Law/ Divorce/ Property Division/ Attorney Fees

    Johnson v. Johnson
    Docket: 2008AP001672 04-28-09
    PER CURIAM. Scott Johnson appeals a divorce judgment dividing his and Wendie Johnson's property equally between them. Scott argues the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion by failing to address evidence he contends warranted deviation from the presumption of equal division. He also argues the court erred by awarding Wendie attorney fees in its initial decision, and then twice more in oral orders following Scott's postjudgment motions. We agree. We reverse and remand for the court to make factual findings on the evidence Scott presented and to address his argument that he rebutted the presumption that the parties' property should be divided equally. We also direct the court to redetermine the initial grant of attorney fees. We vacate the orders awarding Wendie attorney fees for Scott's postjudgment motions.
  • Family Law/ TPR/ Statutes/ Evidence/ Constitutional Law/ Burden Of Proof/ Verdicts

    Sheboygan County DHHS v. Tanya M.B.
    Docket: 2008AP003065 04-29-09
    Sheboygan County DHHS v. Tanya M.B.
    Docket: 2008AP003066 04-29-09
    Sheboygan County DHHS v. Tanya M.B.
    Docket: 2008AP003067 04-29-09
    Sheboygan County DHHS v. William S.L.
    Docket: 2009AP000136 04-29-09
    Sheboygan County DHHS v. William S.L.
    Docket: 2009AP000137 04-29-09
    Sheboygan County DHHS v. William S.L.
    Docket: 2009AP000138 04-29-09

    NEUBAUER, J. William S.L. and Tanya M.B. appeal from trial court orders terminating their parental rights to their three children, Elijah, Emily, and Irie, on grounds that the children were in continuing need of protection or services under WIS. STAT. § 48.415(2)(a). The parents contend that there was no credible evidence to support the jury's finding that the Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services made reasonable efforts to provide specific court-ordered services as required by WIS. STAT. §§ 48.355(2)(b)1. and 48.415(2)(a)2. Because the CHIPS dispositional orders underlying the termination of parental rights (TPR) petitions failed to set forth any court-ordered services as required by § 48.355(2)(b)1., we conclude that the trial court erred in denying the parents' motions to change the jury's special verdict answers and dismiss the TPR petitions on that basis. We reverse the trial court's orders.
  • Insurance/ Summary Judgment/ Insurance Coverage/ Contracts

    Venerable v. Adams
    Docket: 2008AP002188 04-28-09
    Recommended for Publication
    BRENNAN, J. InsureMax Insurance Company appeals from an order reserving its right to appeal from the trial court's denial of its motion seeking summary judgment on coverage. InsureMax contends the trial court should have ruled that its policy did not provide coverage because the "deemed permission" rule set forth in Arps v. Seelow, 163 Wis. 2d 645, 472 N.W.2d 542 (Ct. App. 1991), does not apply to the facts of this case, and because the car, as it was being used when the accident occurred here, does not qualify as an insured car under InsureMax's insurance policy. Because InsureMax's policy did not provide coverage for the car under the specific circumstances in this case, we reverse the order and direct the trial court to grant judgment to InsureMax.
  • OWI/ Probable Cause To Arrest/ Evidence

    State v. Stahl
    Docket: 2008AP002116 04-30-09
    DYKMAN, J. Christopher Stahl appeals from a judgment convicting him of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant (OWI), second offense, contrary to WIS. STAT. § 346.63(1)(a). Stahl contends that the arresting officer lacked probable cause to request he take a preliminary breathalyzer test (PBT), and also lacked probable cause to arrest him for OWI. We conclude that the State had probable cause to arrest Stahl based on the arresting officer's observations before requesting Stahl take a PBT. We affirm.
  • OWI/ Traffic Stops/ Reasonable Suspicion

    County of Ozaukee v. Johnson
    Docket: 2008AP002773 04-29-09
    ANDERSON, P.J. Eric A. Johnson challenges the investigatory stop that led to his arrest for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). Johnson argues that the citizen who contacted the police ought not qualify as a reliable informant because he both lacked a record of being a reliable informant and because his information lacked enough specificity. Johnson further argues that the arresting officer lacked sufficient articulable facts required to initiate a stop and, consequently, that the officer lacked requisite reasonable suspicion to initiate the stop. We reject Johnson's appeal and affirm because, based on the totality of the circumstances, there was reasonable suspicion to initiate the stop.
  • Property/ Contracts/ Real Estate Commission/ Liens/ Good Faith/ Damages

    Gallagher Real Estate v. Barian, Inc.
    Docket: 2008AP002606 04-30-09
    PER CURIAM. Gallagher Real Estate LLC appeals a money judgment. We affirm.
  • Statutes/ Administrative Regulations/ Consumer Protection/ Statutory Construction-Interpretation/ Administrative Regulation Construction-Interpretation/ Repairs/ Informed Consent

    Kaskin v. Lynch Chevrolet-Pontiac
    Docket: 2008AP001199 04-29-09
    Recommended for Publication
    BROWN, C.J. This case concerns that part of our consumer protection law dealing with unauthorized motor vehicle repair. WISCONSIN ADMIN. CODE § ATCP 132.09(4)(e) (Oct. 2004) states, in pertinent part, that "[n]o shop may [d]emand or receive payment for unauthorized repairs, or for repairs that have not been performed." We hold that a major purpose of this provision is to prevent either unexpected repairs, unexpected expense or both. Therefore, if the work done here was unauthorized, then the harm to the consumer, Randy W. Kaskin, was that he was deprived of his prescribed right to be informed and his concomitant right to consent or refuse consent. The remedy for a violation of this right is that the repair shop must forego being paid, even if the shop did, in fact, satisfactorily repair the vehicle.
  • Statutes/ Resident/ Mental Health/ Statutory Construction-Interpretation/ Liability For Treatment

    Wisconsin DHS v. Wood County
    Docket: 2008AP002123 04-30-09
    VERGERONT, J. The issue on this appeal is whether Wood County is the entity responsible for Richard S.P.'s care and treatment under an order for commitment pursuant to WIS. STAT. § 51.20 (2007-08). The resolution of this issue turns on whether Richard is a resident of Wood County within the meaning of WIS. STAT. § 49.001(6). The circuit court held that he was not, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services appeals. Construing and applying § 49.001(6) in a manner consistent with the statutory scheme established in § 51.20 and related statutes, we conclude that Richard is a resident of Wood County. Accordingly, we reverse.
  • Summary Judgment/ Personal Injury/ Insurance/ Evidence/ Negligent Supervision

    Ezell v. West Bend Mutual
    Docket: 2008AP001110 04-30-09
    PER CURIAM. Shalonda Ezell and Omarion Ezell, by his guardian (collectively, Shalonda), appeal a judgment dismissing their personal injury claims against the Boomland Learning Center, LLC, and its insurer. The issue is whether the trial court properly granted summary judgment to Boomland. We affirm.
  • Wills/ Probate/ Estates/ Undue Influence/ Attorney Fees

    Shannon v. UW-Richland
    Docket: 2007AP002501 04-30-09
    PER CURIAM. June Shannon, Joni Sharpe, Joshua Bindl, Kerry Shannon, Robert Shannon, Sarah Munz and Timothy Munz appeal from an order admitting the will of Mae Smart into probate over their objections. The Appellants challenge both the trial court's findings of fact and its conclusion that Smart did not execute the will as the result of undue influence. Respondents UW-Richland Campus Foundation and Bonnie Moerer move to strike an argument they claim was raised for the first time in the Appellant's reply brief and ask this court to declare the appeal frivolous. As we will explain below, we decline to strike an argument from the reply brief, but do conclude that the appeal is frivolous. Accordingly, the probate order is affirmed and the Respondents shall be awarded their costs, fees and attorney fees.
Links
Also of Interest
FTC delays enforcement of rule requiring identity theft prevention programs
FTC extends enforcement date of the Red Flags Rule to Aug. 1, 2009. More

Supreme Court says judge’s mom should not sit on jury but disagree why
Justices were divided over the rationale for throwing out a criminal conviction delivered by a jury that included the trial judge’s mother. More

Commission seeks applicants for U.S. Attorney for the Western District
Federal Nominating Commission is accepting applications for U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. Applications due May 18. More

Criminal defendant can pay restitution after expiration of sentence
The Wisconsin Supreme Court clarified the statute governing the amounts of restitution a court may order a criminal defendant to pay. More

Supreme Court distinguishes breach of duty to minority shareholders
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court dissects an alleged scheme of majority shareholders to freeze out the minority to find which claims may only be brought on behalf of the corporation itself. More

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