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    Wisconsin Lawyer
    June 01, 2000

    Wisconsin Lawyer June 2000: Supreme Court Digest 2

     

    Wisconsin Lawyer: June 2000

    Vol. 73, No. 6, June 2000

    <Previous Page

    Supreme Court Digest


    by Prof. Daniel D. Blinka & Prof. Thomas J. Hammer

    | Criminal Procedure |
    | Municipal Law | Torts |


    Municipal Law

    Police Officers - Disciplinary Actions - Newly Promoted Officer Serving Term of Probation - Demotion for Disciplinary Reasons - Right to a "Just Cause" Hearing

    Antisdel v. Oak Creek Police and Fire Commission, 2000 WI 35 (filed 2 May 2000)

    The appellant is a police officer employed by the city of Oak Creek. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and notified at the time of promotion that, upon completion of a one-year probationary period in the promoted rank, he would receive a permanent appointment as a sergeant. Prior to completion of the probation period, the police chief notified the appellant that he had not passed his probation because of unprofessional conduct that had occurred prior to the promotion. The chief advised him that he was being returned to his former position as a police officer.

    The officer requested a "just cause" hearing before the local police and fire commission. The commission denied his request, apparently concluding that probationary employees are not entitled to the "just cause" procedure established under Wis. Stat. section 62.13(5)(em). With this decision the circuit court agreed; however, the court of appeals reversed.

    In a unanimous decision authored by Chief Justice Abrahamson, the supreme court affirmed the court of appeals. The court concluded that the appellant was reduced in rank based on a disciplinary charge made by the police chief and that he was therefore entitled to a "just cause" hearing before the police and fire commission.

    The court specifically indicated that it did not need to and therefore did not decide whether it would reach the same decision if the probationary sergeant had been reduced in rank to a police officer because he failed to meet the level of performance demanded by his superiors or because of some other nondisciplinary reason.


    Torts

    Medical Malpractice - Noneconomic Damages Caps

    Guzman v. St. Francis Hospital, 2000 WI 34 (filed 2 May 2000)

    This appeal concerned the constitutionality of the $350,000 non-economic damages caps in medical malpractice cases, as provided by section 655.017 and section 893.55(4) of the Wisconsin Statutes. The court's per curiam order indicated that it was equally divided on the issue (Justice Prosser did not participate). The court vacated the order granting bypass and remanded the matter for decision to the court of appeals.

    Prof. Daniel D. Blinka and Prof. Thomas J. Hammer invite comments and questions about the digests. They can be reached at the Marquette University Law School, 1103 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233, (414) 288-7090.


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