Wisconsin Law Journal – WI Legal News & Resources Wisconsin Legal News & Resources

Until about the mid-1870's—most aspiring lawyers did not attend law school and did not take a bar examination.

On May 2, 2022, the Supreme Court’s draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, was leaked to the public and suggested that the Court intends to overturn Roe. Although the Supreme Court’s draft opinion does not have any binding legal authority, some large, multi-state employers have announced steps to support employee access to abortion and related reproductive medical services, specifically for those employees residing in states that do (or will) restrict abortion.

Tagged with: abortion Employment Law Michael Best U.S. Supreme Court

Tagged with: cyber crime cybersecurity

According to the most recent records published by the Administrate Office of the United States Courts, nearly 60% of new civil cases brought in the federal courts were based on diversity jurisdiction. If you remove cases in which the U.S. ...

Tagged with: Kohner Mann & Kailas

In a politically charged era where activism is considered noble, HR managers are confronting new challenges in the workplace in an attempt to find balance between the expression of disparate views while maintaining a productive and cohesive workplace. Just Another ...

Tagged with: Activism Axley Attorneys Human Resource

Intake is one of the most critical aspects of any law firm. But far too often firms don’t give the intake process the special attention it deserves. When that happens, money goes flying out the door.

Tagged with: hiring

In all of the columns which I have written for this publication over the years (and there have been many) none have elicited more an angry response than my article on the Court of Appeals decision in Valadez v. Valadez, 2021AP1500: “The Valadez case: A bad start to the year."

Tagged with: Julie Valadez

With just a few months left to the school year, we all look to a strong, positive finish to what again has been a challenging year for school districts. Though I hope we are moving past mask and vaccine mandate ...

Tagged with: von Briesen & Roper

Following a federal judge’s ruling last week, striking down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) mask mandate in airports and other public transportation settings nationwide, the agency’s ability to impose future restrictions is in doubt.

Tagged with: Foley & Lardner Scott Allen

A Minnesota-based initiative has shipped 115 law and human rights libraries to 24 African countries since 2008, and new initiatives seek to strengthen the collaborative enterprise involving law firms, government officials and a leading legal publisher.

The emotional kaleidoscope of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing was nothing short of amazing. It was truly an exercise that allowed many of us to experience a range of emotions through a magnificently beautiful lens, as we witnessed the confirmation of our country’s first African-American female to the United States Supreme Court.

Tagged with: Ketanji Brown Jackson U.S. Supreme Court

For the past several years, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (“WDNR”) has engaged in a multi-media effort to regulate the class of chemicals commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” in waters and soils in the state.

Tagged with: Foley & Lardner

After a Michigan lawyer failed in her challenge to the requirement that she join the State Bar of Michigan and pay dues supporting advocacy activities with which she disagreed, she vowed to appeal to the highest court in the land.

Tagged with: Lathrop v. Donohue mandatory dues State Bar

It’s been more than two long years since the onset of the pandemic, and although things seem to be slowly, steadily improving, we’re not yet in the clear.

Tagged with: mental health

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The former news talk show “The Mclaughlin Group” used to give an annual award for the “Best Political Theater." If that show was still on the air, the nomination hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson would win hands down.

Tagged with: Ketanji Brown Jackson U.S. Supreme Court

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed HB 5541 that provides for the Michigan Bar Examination to consist of the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), bringing Michigan in line with 40 other jurisdictions. The result will be to strengthen the bar examination to test lawyering skills in a manner not currently tested, provide for the transferability of bar exam scores, and continue to provide necessary accommodations for test takers with disabilities.

Tagged with: bar exam Gretchen Whitmer

Tagged with: Ketanji Brown Jackson

Tagged with: Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

A Union County jury has awarded $250,000 to a Marshville woman who was struck by a car while viewing Christmas lights.  

Tagged with: verdicts & settlements

A federal judge awarded more than $625,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs to a man who successfully sued a police officer who tasered him in his home, bringing the final award to nearly $1.3 million. 

Tagged with: settlement

When you hear about the Robinson-Patman Act, you may remember it as a law that protects smaller product re-sellers (“mom and pop” stores, local dealers, etc.) by preventing product suppliers from giving better prices to larger re-sellers just because of their size.

Tagged with: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren

A Wisconsin man whose foot was injured at a Garth Brooks concert in 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis has received a $1.25 million settlement, part of which will be paid by Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which oversees the stadium.

Tagged with: settlement

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There are significant differences in the process and compensation for those injured from the COVID-19 vaccine versus other vaccines such as the seasonal flu.

Tagged with: coronavirus

While Kohl’s is juggling multiple proposals for a possible buyout, an activist investor group set a date for it to make a move, offering sharp criticism of management’s strategic plans.

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This article discusses supply chain delay claims and steps owners, contractors, and material suppliers can do to help mitigate the effects of supply chain troubles.

Tagged with: Axley Attorneys Contracts

In a recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the court explained how an employer should evaluate whether a disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) would pose a “direct threat” to others.

Tagged with: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren

In law, as in many things in life, some ideas are better in theory than in practice. It is not uncommon that the Legislature, which has precious few lawyers (most sessions have ten or fewer lawyers out of 133 state Senators and Representatives, and almost none of them has ever been in the private practice of law), passes legislation which sounds good on its face but has a different practical effect. The phrase which attaches to such legislation is “the law of unintended consequences.”

Tagged with: divorce Family Law Gregg Herman

After the judge in her Wisconsin divorce case ruled that her ex-husband — a man who had sought treatment for anger and alcohol issues — would get legal custody of and equal time with their four children, Julie Valadez vowed to fight back.

Tagged with: Julie Valadez Michael Aprahamian