Other Significant Decisions
Space does not permit a more complete discussion, but the holdings of
these other interesting and informative cases are summarized below:
Judicial Disciplinary Proceeding
Against Tesmer, 219 Wis. 2d 709, 580 N.W.2d 307 (1998)
(judge reprimanded for having ex parte communications with a law
professor who helped draft her decisions).
Barland v. Eau Claire
County, 216 Wis. 2d 560, 575 N.W.2d 691 (1998) (inherent
power of judges over court personnel to prevent "bumping" of a judge's
secretary pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement covering
courthouse employees).
State v. Hydrite Chemical
Co., 220 Wis. 2d 51, 582 N.W.2d 411 (Ct. App.
1998) (scope of attorney client privilege and work product
doctrines).
Vultaggio v. Yasko, 215
Wis. 2d 326, 572 N.W.2d 450 (1998) (no absolute privilege for
slanderous statements made before city council).
Miller v. Wal-Mart Stores
Inc., 219 Wis. 2d 250, 580 N.W.2d 233 (1998) (court
recognizes tort of negligent hiring).
Gaertner v. Holcka, 219
Wis. 2d 436, 580 N.W.2d 271 (1998) (no contribution against insurer
for driver who failed to comply with seat belt law).
Pfister v. MEDC,
216 Wis. 2d 243, 576 N.W.2d 554 (Ct. App. 1998) (upholds priority
of wage claims over pre-existing liens).
Hull v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins.
Co., 222 Wis. 2d 627, 586 N.W.2d 863 (1998) (construction
of uninsured motorist clause in insurance policy and Wis. Stat. section 632.32(4)).
Lambert v. Hein,
218 Wis. 2d 712, 582 N.W.2d 84 (Ct. App. 1998) (no survival of
warranty and misrepresentation claims known before closing).
Tatge v. Chambers & Owen
Inc., 219 Wis. 2d 99, 579 N.W.2d 217 (1998) (at will
employee's refusal to sign illegal covenant not to compete grounds for
termination).
State v. Chrysler Outboard
Corp., 219 Wis. 2d 130, 580 N.W.2d 203 (1998) (discovery
rule not applicable to statute of limitations for violations of Solid
Waste Law, but Spills Law applies to compel remediation of hazardous
substance spills that continue to discharge after the 1978 effective
date of the statute).
Froebel v. DNR,
217 Wis. 2d 652, 579 N.W.2d 774 (Ct. App. 1998) (DNR cannot be
ordered to take remedial action).
State v. Kenosha County Board of
Adjustment, 218 Wis. 2d 396, 577 N.W.2d 813 (1998) (court
makes it difficult for a property owner to obtain a variance for
unnecessary hardship).
Sallie T. v. Milwaukee County
DHHS, 219 Wis. 2d 296, 581 N.W.2d 182 (1998) (birth
mother's compliance with return home conditions does not overcome best
interests of child determination to justify child's removal from foster
home).
State v. Anderson,
219 Wis. 2d 740, 580 N.W.2d 329 (1998) (construction of bail
jumping statute to allow multiple criminal violations when based upon
breach of more than one term of the bail bond).
State ex rel. Warren v.
Schwarz, 219 Wis. 2d 616, 579 N.W.2d 698 (1998)
(consequences of an Alford plea in subsequent parole revocation
proceedings for refusal to admit guilt).
Wisconsin Lawyer
