MAN GIVEN NEARLY 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR COVID-19 RELIEF MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Pewaukee businessman has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in federal coronavirus relief funding meant for struggling businesses. According to prosecutors, Thomas Smith, 47, involved seven other people, including his brother, in a scheme to get federal funding for phantom companies. U.S. District Judge COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited VOTERS WHO REGISTERED AT UPS STORE WON’T FACE FRAUD MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Sixteen people who registered to vote using the address of a UPS Store in western Wisconsin will not be charged with voter fraud because the prosecutor said Wednesday that they did not intend to break the law. The voters accounting for more than half of the 27 potential voter fraud cases out of nearly 3.3 million votes cast in the November 2020 presidential election that PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the WHITE FARMERS SUE SEEKING GOVERNMENT LOAN FORGIVENESS By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A group of Midwestern farmers sued the federal government Thursday alleging they can't participate in a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program because they're white. The group of plaintiffs includes farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Ohio. According to the lawsuit, the Biden administration's COVID-19 RUDER WARE ADDS ANDREW LORENZ TO EAU CLAIRE TEAM Andrew M. Lorenz Ruder Ware has added Andrew Lorenz to its Eau Claire attorney team. Lorenz will expand his litigation practice as a member of the firm and join its business group. He represents companies and individuals in business-transactional matters, having an emphasis on real-estate development, leasing, land use, mergers and acquisitions and business-entity formation. KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a SUPREME COURT AT ODDS OVER TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT OF The Wisconsin Supreme Court is at odds over trademark infringement case involving an overalls logo representing a northern Wisconsin resort that was turned into condominiums. In a 4-3 opinion released on Wednesday, the court analyzed if Wisconsin trademark law permitted an implied assignment of trademarks to a new owner when no other business assets or services are transferred, MAN GIVEN NEARLY 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR COVID-19 RELIEF MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Pewaukee businessman has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $1 million in federal coronavirus relief funding meant for struggling businesses. According to prosecutors, Thomas Smith, 47, involved seven other people, including his brother, in a scheme to get federal funding for phantom companies. U.S. District Judge COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited VOTERS WHO REGISTERED AT UPS STORE WON’T FACE FRAUD MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Sixteen people who registered to vote using the address of a UPS Store in western Wisconsin will not be charged with voter fraud because the prosecutor said Wednesday that they did not intend to break the law. The voters accounting for more than half of the 27 potential voter fraud cases out of nearly 3.3 million votes cast in the November 2020 presidential election that PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the WHITE FARMERS SUE SEEKING GOVERNMENT LOAN FORGIVENESS By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A group of Midwestern farmers sued the federal government Thursday alleging they can't participate in a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program because they're white. The group of plaintiffs includes farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Ohio. According to the lawsuit, the Biden administration's COVID-19 RUDER WARE ADDS ANDREW LORENZ TO EAU CLAIRE TEAM Andrew M. Lorenz Ruder Ware has added Andrew Lorenz to its Eau Claire attorney team. Lorenz will expand his litigation practice as a member of the firm and join its business group. He represents companies and individuals in business-transactional matters, having an emphasis on real-estate development, leasing, land use, mergers and acquisitions and business-entity formation. KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a SUPREME COURT AT ODDS OVER TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT OF The Wisconsin Supreme Court is at odds over trademark infringement case involving an overalls logo representing a northern Wisconsin resort that was turned into condominiums. In a 4-3 opinion released on Wednesday, the court analyzed if Wisconsin trademark law permitted an implied assignment of trademarks to a new owner when no other business assets or services are transferred, VOTERS WHO REGISTERED AT UPS STORE WON’T FACE FRAUD MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Sixteen people who registered to vote using the address of a UPS Store in western Wisconsin will not be charged with voter fraud because the prosecutor said Wednesday that they did not intend to break the law. The voters accounting for more than half of the 27 potential voter fraud cases out of nearly 3.3 million votes cast in the November 2020 presidential election that FOND DU LAC ATTORNEY REINSTATED AFTER SECOND PETITION TO After a second petition to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, a former Fond du Lac attorney who saw his law license revoked will be able to practice again. The high court on Tuesday granted Christopher Mutschler's petition for reinstatement. He hasn't been able to practice law for the last decade. Mutschler's disciplinary history Mutschler petitioned to have his license revoked in 2010. At the time WHITE FARMERS SUE SEEKING GOVERNMENT LOAN FORGIVENESS By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A group of Midwestern farmers sued the federal government Thursday alleging they can't participate in a COVID-19 loan forgiveness program because they're white. The group of plaintiffs includes farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Ohio. According to the lawsuit, the Biden administration's COVID-19 ATTORNEY MICHAEL LI AMONG EXPERTS TO TESTIFY AT Michael Li Michael Li, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice's Democracy Program, is among the experts scheduled to testify during a virtual public hearing about redistricting in Wisconsin. The People's Maps Commission, a nonpartisan group charged with drawing new congressional maps, will hear a presentation from Li on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. The hearing will SUPREME COURT AT ODDS OVER TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT OF The Wisconsin Supreme Court is at odds over trademark infringement case involving an overalls logo representing a northern Wisconsin resort that was turned into condominiums. In a 4-3 opinion released on Wednesday, the court analyzed if Wisconsin trademark law permitted an implied assignment of trademarks to a new owner when no other business assets or services are transferred, FORMER MAYOR CHARGED WITH BANK FRAUD MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal grand jury has charged a former mayor of Columbus with bank fraud. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Michael Eisenga was indicted on Thursday. The indictment alleges that Eisenga took out a nearly $7 million loan from an Illinois credit union in February 2017 to buy property in Columbus. He claimed the property was under a 20-year lease to Festival SAFRAN, PROMINENT MILWAUKEE CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY, DIES OF Jonathan Safran, a prominent Milwaukee civil rights attorney, has died after a five-and-a-half year battle with cancer. An obituary posted by the funeral home Schmidt & Bartelt said Safran died on Monday at age 62. Safran was a shareholder and founding member of Samster Konkel & Safran in Milwaukee, practicing personal injury and civil rights law for more than 35 years. He handled a number BRIGGS COMMITTED TO INCREASING DIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S Dr. Jeneise Briggs Dr. Jeneise Briggs, the State Bar of Wisconsin’s diversity and inclusion specialist, is passionate about doing the work to make the legal community more welcoming for all. “When you think of diversity, a lot of people think that it’s just race, but there's so many different dimensions to it,” Briggs said. Since joining the State Bar in August, she’s been building BLOMME ARRESTED ON 7 FELONY COUNTS OF POSSESSING CHILD Brett Blomme Milwaukee County Children's Court Judge Brett Blomme has been charged with seven felony counts of possession of child pornography. The state filed a criminal complaint against Blomme, 38, on Wednesday morning saying the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation had received a tip saying a user of the messaging app Kik who went by the name PROBATION OFFICER SHOULDN’T TESTIFY Probation officer shouldn’t testify. A defendant’s prior conviction can be unfairly prejudicial even if the jury only learns of it through inference. The 7th Circuit held on Nov. 5 that it violated Rule 403 to permit a defendant’s probation agent to testify that she was an agent, because the jury would assume the defendant had prior COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited MASKS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN STATE BUILDINGS BEGINNING JUNE MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New guidelines from Gov. Tony Evers' administration says people vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer be required to wear masks in the state Capitol and most other state facilities beginning on June 1. The revised guidelines for state government follows advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who are fully vaccinated can go without SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon COURT APPROVES CHANGES TO EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP STATUS, MORE The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved changes to emeritus membership status at the State Bar of Wisconsin and re-established a rule to allow more supervised practice time for law students. The court issued orders about three rule petitions this week. On Tuesday, it took up a petition to modify emeritus status and establish a new active senior status, and a petition to add to students KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their LIEGEOIS APPOINTED TO BROWN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Brown County Circuit Court's newest judge is Beau Liegeois, who fills a vacancy created when Brown County's longest serving judge retired. Gov. Tony Evers announced Liegeois' appointment Friday. Liegeois fills Judge William Atkinson's vacancy. Atkinson retired in August after sitting on the bench for 28 years. Liegeois is a lifelong Brown County resident and Valparaiso University Law School MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited MASKS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN STATE BUILDINGS BEGINNING JUNE MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New guidelines from Gov. Tony Evers' administration says people vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer be required to wear masks in the state Capitol and most other state facilities beginning on June 1. The revised guidelines for state government follows advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who are fully vaccinated can go without SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon COURT APPROVES CHANGES TO EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP STATUS, MORE The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved changes to emeritus membership status at the State Bar of Wisconsin and re-established a rule to allow more supervised practice time for law students. The court issued orders about three rule petitions this week. On Tuesday, it took up a petition to modify emeritus status and establish a new active senior status, and a petition to add to students KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their LIEGEOIS APPOINTED TO BROWN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Brown County Circuit Court's newest judge is Beau Liegeois, who fills a vacancy created when Brown County's longest serving judge retired. Gov. Tony Evers announced Liegeois' appointment Friday. Liegeois fills Judge William Atkinson's vacancy. Atkinson retired in August after sitting on the bench for 28 years. Liegeois is a lifelong Brown County resident and Valparaiso University Law School MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association ATTORNEY SUSPENDED FOR 60 DAYS AS RECIPROCAL DISCIPLINE An attorney's Wisconsin law license has been suspended for 60 days as reciprocal discipline for his disbarment in Minnesota. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday in the Office of Lawyer Regulation's case against Joseph M. Capistrant, a solo practitioner in Osseo, Minnesota. The case is reciprocal discipline for Capistrant's professional misconduct in Minnesota. A client hired EMPLOYERS HAVE MANY QUESTIONS TO WEIGH WHEN IT COMES TO Erik Eisenmann is a partner in Husch Blackwell’s Milwaukee office and chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group By Erik Eisenmann The vaccine. For what has felt like the longest year of our lives, we have held out hope for a return to “normal.” That hope hinged on the development, approval and distribution of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the eligibility WISCONSIN SENATE VOTES TO REPEAL WISCONSIN MASK MANDATE By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to repeal Gov. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate, despite warnings from virtually every sector of the health care profession that doing so would impair efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Both legislative chambers have to pass the resolution in order to undo the RACINE LAWYER REPRIMANDED FOR MISLEADING FIRMS, CLIENTS A Racine lawyer has been publicly reprimanded for misleading her employers and clients about her inactive law license. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced that a public reprimand was the appropriate punishment for the misconduct of Heather Downs Russell, who currently works at Modine Manufacturing Company in Racine. The Office of Lawyer Regulation filed a four-count WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO RECORD YOUR EASEMENTS By Nida Shakir and Hal Karas Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek Nida Shakir Hal Karas Forty or 60 years may seem like a generously long amount of time to re-record an easement, but for many Wisconsin property owners who are unaware of Wisconsin’s re-recording statute time is of the essence. Wisconsin Statutes Sec. 893.33(6) provides a statute of limitations for an action enforcing a recorded easement MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association BUYER MUST SPECIFICALLY PERFORM Buyer must specifically perform. Specific performance remains a viable remedy for sellers, as well as buyers, when the other party breaches a contract for real property. The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined on June 3 to limit the remedy to buyers only. Ash Park, LLC, owned a vacant parcel of real estate in Brown County. EXPERT WITNESS RULE CHANGES SIGNIFICANT Starting Dec. 1, there was a significant change to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for expert witness reports. With this change, Rule 26 dictates that the draft reports of experts will no longer be discoverable, and will be protected under the work product doctrine. In addition, communications between the party's attorney and the expert witness will be protected, except communications SEX ADDICTION REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION Sex addiction requires careful consideration. By: Jane Pribek December 7, 2010 11:16 am. WLJ photo illustration by Kevin Harnack. Family practitioners increasingly find themselves facing a new issue in custody and divorce cases: an accusation of sexual addiction. Any addiction can have a devastating effect on one’s life. COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited MASKS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN STATE BUILDINGS BEGINNING JUNE MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New guidelines from Gov. Tony Evers' administration says people vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer be required to wear masks in the state Capitol and most other state facilities beginning on June 1. The revised guidelines for state government follows advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who are fully vaccinated can go without SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon COURT APPROVES CHANGES TO EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP STATUS, MORE The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved changes to emeritus membership status at the State Bar of Wisconsin and re-established a rule to allow more supervised practice time for law students. The court issued orders about three rule petitions this week. On Tuesday, it took up a petition to modify emeritus status and establish a new active senior status, and a petition to add to students KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their LIEGEOIS APPOINTED TO BROWN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Brown County Circuit Court's newest judge is Beau Liegeois, who fills a vacancy created when Brown County's longest serving judge retired. Gov. Tony Evers announced Liegeois' appointment Friday. Liegeois fills Judge William Atkinson's vacancy. Atkinson retired in August after sitting on the bench for 28 years. Liegeois is a lifelong Brown County resident and Valparaiso University Law School MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association COURT RULES AGAINST USING RACE, SEX TO ALLOCATE FEDERAL By REBECCA REYNOLDS Associated Press A federal appeals court ruled in favor of a conservative legal group that sought to stop President Joe Biden's administration from giving priority status for COVID-19 relief to restaurants and bars owned by women and certain minorities. The U.S. 6th Circuit Appeals Court issued a 2-1 opinion Thursday that said the government cannot allocate limited MASKS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN STATE BUILDINGS BEGINNING JUNE MADISON, Wis. (AP) — New guidelines from Gov. Tony Evers' administration says people vaccinated for COVID-19 will no longer be required to wear masks in the state Capitol and most other state facilities beginning on June 1. The revised guidelines for state government follows advice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that those who are fully vaccinated can go without SPLIT COURT FINDS DOT MADE VALID OFFER FOR CHURCH PROPERTY A split Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the Wisconsin Department of Transportation made a valid offer to a Fox Valley church for land obtained through eminent domain. The 4-3 majority ruled in Christus Lutheran Church of Appleton v. Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Thursday. The high court was considering whether the DOT's jurisdictional offer to purchase was valid under the PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES NOW ELIGIBLE FOR MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration clarified on Tuesday that all judges, prosecutors, public defenders and other essential criminal-court personnel can now receive the coronavirus vaccine, as can members of the clergy. People age 16 and up with certain preexisting conditions in Wisconsin can also starting receiving the vaccine this Monday, a week earlier than SUPREME COURT ADDRESSES RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL PRINCIPLES The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that a Fond du Lac County court didn't violate right-of-first-refusal principles in its decision to set an exercise price higher than fair-market value. The case, decided on Wednesday, involved a contract between Country Visions Cooperative and Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. that granted Country Visions a right of first refusal to purchase a property in Ripon COURT APPROVES CHANGES TO EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP STATUS, MORE The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved changes to emeritus membership status at the State Bar of Wisconsin and re-established a rule to allow more supervised practice time for law students. The court issued orders about three rule petitions this week. On Tuesday, it took up a petition to modify emeritus status and establish a new active senior status, and a petition to add to students KRISTIN CAFFERTY APPOINTED TO RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Kristin Cafferty Kristin Cafferty has been appointed to the Racine County Circuit Court, Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday. She fills a vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michael J. Piontek, effective April 9. Cafferty will serve a term ending July 31, 2022. Cafferty has been a partner at Habush, Habush & Rottier in Racine for 16 years, representing Racine and Kenosha residents as a WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their LIEGEOIS APPOINTED TO BROWN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT Brown County Circuit Court's newest judge is Beau Liegeois, who fills a vacancy created when Brown County's longest serving judge retired. Gov. Tony Evers announced Liegeois' appointment Friday. Liegeois fills Judge William Atkinson's vacancy. Atkinson retired in August after sitting on the bench for 28 years. Liegeois is a lifelong Brown County resident and Valparaiso University Law School MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association ATTORNEY SUSPENDED FOR 60 DAYS AS RECIPROCAL DISCIPLINE An attorney's Wisconsin law license has been suspended for 60 days as reciprocal discipline for his disbarment in Minnesota. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday in the Office of Lawyer Regulation's case against Joseph M. Capistrant, a solo practitioner in Osseo, Minnesota. The case is reciprocal discipline for Capistrant's professional misconduct in Minnesota. A client hired EMPLOYERS HAVE MANY QUESTIONS TO WEIGH WHEN IT COMES TO Erik Eisenmann is a partner in Husch Blackwell’s Milwaukee office and chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group By Erik Eisenmann The vaccine. For what has felt like the longest year of our lives, we have held out hope for a return to “normal.” That hope hinged on the development, approval and distribution of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the eligibility WISCONSIN SENATE VOTES TO REPEAL WISCONSIN MASK MANDATE By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to repeal Gov. Tony Evers' statewide mask mandate, despite warnings from virtually every sector of the health care profession that doing so would impair efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Both legislative chambers have to pass the resolution in order to undo the RACINE LAWYER REPRIMANDED FOR MISLEADING FIRMS, CLIENTS A Racine lawyer has been publicly reprimanded for misleading her employers and clients about her inactive law license. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced that a public reprimand was the appropriate punishment for the misconduct of Heather Downs Russell, who currently works at Modine Manufacturing Company in Racine. The Office of Lawyer Regulation filed a four-count WHAT’S IN A NAME CHANGE? LGBT CENTER HELPS TRANS PEOPLE GO Alex Corona, transgender program coordinator at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, has set up the Name Change Clinic to guide transpeople through the name-change process in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine counties. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Harnack) The Milwaukee County courthouse can be a daunting place for pro se petitioners. And for transgender people who are trying to change their DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO RECORD YOUR EASEMENTS By Nida Shakir and Hal Karas Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek Nida Shakir Hal Karas Forty or 60 years may seem like a generously long amount of time to re-record an easement, but for many Wisconsin property owners who are unaware of Wisconsin’s re-recording statute time is of the essence. Wisconsin Statutes Sec. 893.33(6) provides a statute of limitations for an action enforcing a recorded easement MAKING THE JUMP FROM CRIMINAL TO CIVIL IS MORE NATURAL Andrew Wier is an associate at Habush Habush & Rottier’s Kenosha office whose practice includes all types of personal-injury claims. Before the firm, Wier worked for five years as an assistant district attorney in the Racine County District Attorney’s Office. He currently serves on the Caledonia Police and Fire Commission and is the president-elect of the Kenosha County Bar Association BUYER MUST SPECIFICALLY PERFORM Buyer must specifically perform. Specific performance remains a viable remedy for sellers, as well as buyers, when the other party breaches a contract for real property. The Wisconsin Supreme Court declined on June 3 to limit the remedy to buyers only. Ash Park, LLC, owned a vacant parcel of real estate in Brown County. EXPERT WITNESS RULE CHANGES SIGNIFICANT Starting Dec. 1, there was a significant change to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for expert witness reports. With this change, Rule 26 dictates that the draft reports of experts will no longer be discoverable, and will be protected under the work product doctrine. In addition, communications between the party's attorney and the expert witness will be protected, except communications SEX ADDICTION REQUIRES CAREFUL CONSIDERATION Sex addiction requires careful consideration. By: Jane Pribek December 7, 2010 11:16 am. WLJ photo illustration by Kevin Harnack. Family practitioners increasingly find themselves facing a new issue in custody and divorce cases: an accusation of sexual addiction. Any addiction can have a devastating effect on one’s life.
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* ‘Faithful guardian of the Constitution’: High court honors Dan Kelly
* Milwaukee man charged with killing 5 family members * Businesses urge legislators to OK re-opening plan * Marital property rights, double recovery debated in front of state Supreme Court
* 2 arrested after three overdose in Lafayette County * New ABA pro bono portal connects lawyers with volunteer opportunities
* Evers’ attorney warns of safe-at-home patchwork * Supreme Court considers gambling statutes in phone-charging lawsuit
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Go to... News – Subscriber-Only Content – Legal News – E-Edition – Asked & Answered – Commentary – – Bench Blog – – Critic’s Corner – – On Ethics – – On the Defensive – – Law and Disorder – Disciplinary Actions – Special Sections – Practice management Case Digests – Case Digests – By Court and Case Type – Weekly Case Digest Summary Verdicts & Settlements – Verdicts & Settlements – Submit a Verdict & Settlement Report Legal Directory Court Calendar Classifieds – Employment – Legal Notices – Legal Resource Directory Events – Women in the Law – Diversity in Business Awards – Leaders in the Law/Up and Coming Lawyers – Unsung Heroes – Construction Law Roundtable – Event Calendar Advertising – Print and Online Advertising – Event Advertising – Video Services – Classified and Directory Advertising – Reprints Email Alerts LEGAL NEWS
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‘FAITHFUL GUARDIAN OF THE CONSTITUTION’: HIGH COURT HONORS DAN KELLY
April 30, 2020 12:18 pm The Wisconsin Supreme Court honored Justice Dan Kelly for his time on the high court, with Justice Rebecca Bradley calling him a "faithful guardian of the Constitution" and a good friend. Read More »
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MILWAUKEE MAN CHARGED WITH KILLING 5 FAMILY MEMBERS April 30, 2020 4:28 pm *
BUSINESSES URGE LEGISLATORS TO OK RE-OPENING PLAN April 30, 2020 2:20 pm *
MARITAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, DOUBLE RECOVERY DEBATED IN FRONT OF STATE SUPREME COURT
April 30, 2020 2:11 pm *
2 ARRESTED AFTER THREE OVERDOSE IN LAFAYETTE COUNTY April 30, 2020 1:48 pm *
NEW ABA PRO BONO PORTAL CONNECTS LAWYERS WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES April 30, 2020 11:11 am *
EVERS’ ATTORNEY WARNS OF SAFE-AT-HOME PATCHWORK April 29, 2020 11:01 pm CASE DIGESTS
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STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – DONNING AND DOFFING
April 29, 2020 7:58 am Current and former employees of Jones Dairy Farm (the employees) filed suit in December 2010 seeking unpaid wages for time spent at the start and end of their shifts "donning and doffing" personal protective equipment and walking to and from their workstations. Read More »
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SENTENCING GUIDELINES – RESENTENCING April 29, 2020 7:56 am *
2ND AMENDMENT VIOLATION April 29, 2020 7:55 am *
EVICTION – CASTLE DOCTRINE April 29, 2020 7:53 am *
WORKER’S COMPENSATION CLAIMS – ATTORNEY FEES April 29, 2020 7:51 am *
COURT ERROR – TAX REFUND April 29, 2020 7:50 am *
SENTENCING – EXTENDED SUPERVISION April 29, 2020 7:49 am VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS *
JURY AWARDS MAN $1.9M FOR INJURIES FROM MPD TRAFFIC STOP April 2, 2020 12:07 pm A jury awarded a man more than $1.9 million for injuries he sustained from a Milwaukee Police officer during a traffic stop. Read More »
COMMENTARY
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KEEPING IT CONFIDENTIAL: PROTECTING PRIVILEGE WHILE YOU’RE WORKING REMOTELY
April 27, 2020 11:19 am The attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between clients and their attorneys that are made for the purpose of rendering legal advice and are kept confidential. Read More »
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HOW SUPPORT HAS CHANGED IN THE AGE OF COVID-19 April 24, 2020 8:56 am *
MEDIATION DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK April 17, 2020 10:00 am *
IN WRITING: REMOTE ONLINE NOTARIZATION BECOMES LAW April 2, 2020 8:09 am *
AVOID THE ‘F’ WORD: WHAT’S ‘FAIR’ GOT TO DO WITH IT? April 1, 2020 7:52 am 2020 CONSTRUCTION LAW CONSTRUCTION LAW DIRECTORY January 28, 2020 6:00 am BUILDING TRENDS: ESOPS GAIN POPULARITY WITH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS January 23, 2020 11:16 am COMMUNICATION KEY TO KEEPING PROJECTS ON TRACK January 23, 2020 10:54 am ADAPTING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE January 23, 2020 10:49 am ____
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