Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 80, No. 6, June 2007

Constitutional Law

• Dairyland Greyhound Park Inc. v. Doyle, 2006 WI 107, 295 Wis. 2d 1, 719 N.W.2d 408 (constitutional amendment (Wis. Const., art. IV, § 24) does not affect validity of original compacts with Indian tribes involving gaming; compacts are protected under the contract clauses of the Wisconsin and federal constitutions).
• Driver v. Housing Auth. of Racine County, 2006 WI App 42, 289 Wis. 2d 727, 713 N.W.2d 670 (due process requires specific allegation in notice of termination of lease of Section 8 tenants).

Attorneys

• Yorgan v. Durkin, 2006 WI 60, 290 Wis. 2d 671, 715 N.W.2d 160 (chiropractor did not have equitable lien for services on attorney's portion of settlement proceeds).
• State v. Medina, 2006 WI App 76, 292 Wis. 2d 453, 713 N.W.2d 172 (motion to disqualify prosecuting attorney who formerly represented defendant denied as untimely).

Torts

• Lassa v. Rongstad, 2006 WI 105, 294 Wis. 2d 187, 718 N.W.2d 673 (upholding circuit court's order requiring disclosure of identities of members of an organization in defamation action against the organization).
• 1325 N. Van Buren LLC v. T-3 Group Ltd., 2006 WI 94, 293 Wis. 2d 410, 716 N.W.2d 822 (economic loss doctrine applied to a general contractor who contracted to build a building; contract was deemed to be a contract for construction services).

Procedure

• Richards v. First Union Secs. Inc., 2006 WI 55, 290 Wis. 2d 620, 714 N.W.2d 913 (definition of managing agent for purpose of service of process on a corporation).
• Affordable Erecting Inc. v. Neosho Trompler Inc., 2006 WI 67, 291 Wis. 2d 259, 715 N.W.2d 620 (settlement agreement must satisfy requirements of Wis. Stat. section 807.05 to be enforced; equitable estoppel may apply).

Contracts

• Wisconsin Auto Title Loans v. Jones, 2006 WI 53, 290 Wis. 2d 514, 714 N.W.2d 155 (arbitration clause in auto title loan agreement requiring borrower, but not lender, to arbitrate is unconscionable).

Real Estate

• First American Title Ins. Co. v. Dahlmann, 2006 WI 65, 291 Wis. 2d 156, 715 N.W.2d 609 (encroachment on neighboring property is title defect insured under title policy).
• Dawson v. Goldammer, 2006 WI App 158, 295 Wis. 2d 728, 722 N.W.2d 106 (attorney fee provision in lease in violation of Wis. Admin. Code section ATCP 134.08(3) may be severed).

Insurance

• Kontowicz v. American Standard Ins. Co., 2006 WI 48, 290 Wis. 2d 302, 714 N.W.2d 105 (Wis. Stat. sections 628.46(1) and 646.31(2) construed to require insurers to pay 12 percent interest to third parties on overdue payments of claims that involve no question of liability and sum certain amounts).
• Rebernick v. Wausau Gen. Ins. Co., 2006 WI 27, 289 Wis. 2d 324, 711 N.W.2d 621 (insurers must provide written notice to insureds of availability of underinsured motorist coverage on umbrella policies under Wis. Stat. section 632.32(4m)).

Taxation

• Adams Outdoor Adver. Ltd. v. City of Madison, 2006 WI 104, 294 Wis. 2d 441, 717 N.W.2d 803 (improper to use only the income approach to assess property).

Family Law

• Linda L. v. Collis (In re Guardianship & Protective Placement of Catherine P.), 2006 WI App 105, 294 Wis. 2d 637, 718 N.W.2d 205 (Wis. Stat. section 55.06(9)(b) does not authorize guardian to remove ward from Wisconsin without court approval).
• Kenosha County Dep't of Human Servs. v. Jodie W. (In re Termination of Parental Rights to Max G.W.), 2006 WI 93, 293 Wis. 2d 530, 716 N.W.2d 845 (no-contest plea in termination of parental rights (TPR) hearing was not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently made; TPR cannot be based on incarceration alone).
• Paulhe v. Riley, 2006 WI App 171, 295 Wis. 2d 541, 722 N.W.2d 155 (holding that Social Security disability payments paid to parent on behalf of child may be credited to past child support paid by other, disabled parent).

Municipal Law

• Apartment Ass'n of S. Cent. Wis. Inc. v. City of Madison, 2006 WI App 192, 296 Wis. 2d 173, 722 N.W.2d 614 (Wis. Stat. section 66.1015 preempts Madison General Ordinance section 28.04(25)(e); city cannot use rent control as regulatory device).

Criminal Law

• State v. Payano-Roman, 2006 WI 47, 290 Wis. 2d 380, 714 N.W.2d 548 (administration of laxative was a reasonable search).
• State v. Young, 2006 WI 98, 294 Wis. 2d 1, 717 N.W.2d 729 (person who "runs away" from police officer is not "seized" until officer physically restrains person).
• Huml v. Vlazny, 2006 WI 87, 293 Wis. 2d 169, 716 N.W.2d 807 (restitution judgment in favor of victim not enforced when victim settles civil lawsuit and releases defendant).

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