News & Pubs Archive

Chronic and persistent adversity impacts development in children as they grow into adults. Melissa Ivens discusses adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and reviews strategies that facilitate healthy development in children.

Businesses face an uncertain labor supply heading into fall 2020, as school districts grapple with how to reopen. Ben Pliskie offers advice for employers planning for employee absences caused by school district attendance policies.

A recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision provides some clarity for Wis. Stat. section 895.447, but raises further questions on the enforceability of other common risk transfer and limitation clauses in construction contracts. Scott J. Thomsen talks aboutlessons to be learned from the decision and its impact on construction contracts.

Administrative paternity, a fourth way to determine paternity in Wisconsin, begins Aug. 1, 2020. Jill Mueller discusses the logistics of administrative paternity and why this new option is important for parents and children.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court in recent business-dispute decisions has indicated that judges have the ability to be more demanding of claimant’s counsel when considering motions to dismiss for a failure to state a claim. Alexander (Sandie) Pendleton comments on these developments, and the related developments as to the incorporation-by-reference doctrine, and the economic loss doctrine.

Meet the champions of the Appellate Practice Section’s third Best Briefs Competition. What did it take to find them? Jacques Condon talks about the winners and the competition.

Environmental justice addresses race-based environmental disparities, taking into account the impact of environmental decision-making on minority and low-income communities, and striving to increase access to decision-making processes. Christa Westerbergdiscusses how environmental justice has been implemented in Wisconsin.

Are waivers your clients using worth anything more than the paper it is printed on? Erik Monson discusses liability waivers in Wisconsin, and offers advice on drafting an enforceable liability waiver.

A new private minor guardianship law takes effect Aug. 1, 2020. In this second part of a two-part series, Courtney Roelandts provides tips and suggestions on how to prepare for a smooth transition.

Mediating by video conference is not as straightforward as in-person sessions. Lisa Derr and retired Judge Charles Kahn share their perspectives on how they have adapted to technology in the era of social distancing including accessibility, neutrality, and confidentiality.

Almost all Wisconsin workers are entitled to worker’s compensation benefits when they are injured at work and their injury requires medical treatment, including undocumented workers. Aaron Halstead discusses the benefits available to undocumented workers in Wisconsin.

With the ongoing economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction lien rights have become more vital than ever to businesses in the construction industry. Steven Slawinski provides a refresher course on the basics of construction liens on privately owned construction projects in Wisconsin.

The U.S. Supreme Court has now weighed in on sexual-orientation and gender-identity discrimination and protections in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Erin Strohbehn and Max T. Stephenson discuss the recent decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia.

What happens when the opposing party in a divorce action evades a Summons and Petition or simply cannot be located? Lauren Otte discusses the required steps to secure service and personal jurisdiction in these circumstances.

As businesses re-open, some of the questions employers have involve what type of screening they may or should conduct for employees returning to work.

Attorneys at Ruder Ware recently posted a blog article, providing updates on the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

With the rise in residential and commercial development in rural areas, rural property owners may face an unplanned expense – building or repairing a fence. Jason Brasch explains what to know about Wisconsin’s fence laws.

A new private minor guardianship law takes effect Aug. 1, 2020. In this first of a two-part series on the new Wis. Stat. chapter 48, Beth Lauck provides a background of private minor guardianships and an overview of the changes under the new law.

A federal bankruptcy court in Illinois, in a case of first impression, held that a contract’s force majeure clause was “unambiguously triggered” when the state’s governor issued an executive order closing restaurants because of COVID-19.

Owners of corporations and limited liability companies can have statutory and contractual obligations to indemnify officers, directors, managers, and members for legal fees incurred in defending litigation. Ryan M. Billings discusses equity holders’ exposure to legal fees when a company brings suit against its former officers, directors, managers, or members.