Statutory Interpretation

By: Derek Hawkins//October 18, 2017//

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WI Court of Appeals – District IV

Case Name: Dr. Stuart White, et al. v. City of Watertown

Case No.: 2016AP2259

Officials: Lundsten, P.J., Blanchard and Kloppenburg, JJ.

Focus: Statutory Interpretation

Chapter 90 of the Wisconsin Statutes regulates partition fences on farming and grazing land as defined in the chapter. For ease of reading, we will frequently refer to farming and grazing land that is covered by Chapter 90 as “qualifying land.”

For the reasons explained below, we agree with the circuit court that Chapter 90 is ambiguous. We thus turn to the legislative history and, based on that history, agree with the circuit court and the Whites that, when qualifying land is in a city or village, that city or village must administer and enforce Chapter 90 the same as a town would if the land were in that town. Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court’s order declaring that the City must assume Chapter 90 duties with respect to the Whites’ land.

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.

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