News & Pubs Archive

From March 23 through April 3, the State Bar of Wisconsin is hosting a series of 10 virtual town hall meeting forums for practitioners to share how they’ve been coping with the abrupt disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The State Bar of Wisconsin’s new Coronavirus & the Law Blog is a repository of articles from attorneys that address the legal impact of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the practice of law in Wisconsin and elsewhere. Visit often – the page will be updated frequently.

Attorneys can obtain up to 30 continuing legal education (CLE) credits “on-demand” under a temporary order the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued today at the request of the State Bar of Wisconsin, providing more stay-at-home CLE options amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Our primary goal is your safety, health and well-being, as well as that of our State Bar team. We are also focused on providing continued assistance and services to our members.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that claim preclusion did not bar a private landowner’s claim that a new agricultural field road the town agreed to build, under a condemnation petition, was not up to snuff.

The Wisconsin Court System has issued a press release on measures the court system is taking to address COVID-19 coronavirus.

Felony arrest records must be expunged from the state’s crime database because the subject was never charged and the arrests were improperly appended to unrelated ordinance violations, an appeals court has ruled.

A contract purporting to grant certain rights to a sports memorabilia collection is not enforceable, a state appeals court has ruled.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled, in a duty-to-defend issue of first impression, that a school district’s insurer did not breach its duty to defend a lawsuit against the school district and thus was not responsible for additional attorney fees.

The State Bar of Wisconsin's Board of Governors discussed an initial budget proposal for fiscal year 2021, set a dues rebate amount, and heard remarks from Justice Brian Hagedorn, the newest member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled (4-3) that a municipal court had jurisdiction over a drunk driving case charged as an ordinance violation even though the case should have been charged as drunk driving, second offense.

A prized 1938 vehicle worth millions vanished in Milwaukee in 2001, reappearing 14 years later in Europe. Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a replevin action by those claiming rightful ownership was not time-barred.

The estate of a career pipefitter who died from mesothelioma recently lost an appeal on claims that asbestos exposure caused his cancer and the exposure, in the course of his employment, violated the state’s safe place statute.

A circuit court relied on inaccurate information when sentencing a criminal defendant to a 13-year prison term for armed robbery and reckless endangerment, but the error was harmless, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled.

A state appeals court has ruled that the man who escorted a drunk patron to the exit doors of a bar has immunity from the negligence lawsuit that followed when the patron fell down some stairs and suffered injuries to his head.

The maker of acrylic skylights for Jeep Wrangler vehicles sued Dow Chemical Company, alleging Dow Chemical made misrepresentations about an adhesive product. Recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the case can proceed.

It is with sadness that the State Bar of Wisconsin reports the passing of Past President Steven Levine on Jan. 4, 2020. Levine advocated for a diversity of thought and perspective within Wisconsin’s legal profession. Those who knew and worked with him say

In a case against the State Bar of Wisconsin, two lawyers have filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that the First Amendment does not allow compelled membership in the organization.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the state transportation department could not order the removal of an interstate adjacent billboard before adopting formal administrative rules that barred the owner from a curing a defect.

An environmental group recently lost a federal appeal to prohibit hunters from training dogs (using guns) on land the National Park Service donated for recreational uses, as well as off-road motorcycles, and military helicopter drill activities.