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Tag Archives: Jury instructions

10-2334 U.S. v. Mokol

Criminal Procedure Jury instructions; constructive possession The pattern jury instruction for constructive possession is not misleading. “We decline Mokol’s invitation to hold that the Seventh Circuit Pattern Criminal Federal Jury Instruction for constructive possession misleads juries into convicting defendants on a conspiracy theory of liability. These two respective forms of liability have different elements, which the pattern jury instructions reflect. ...

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2010AP258 Weborg, et al. v. Jenny, et al.

Torts Medical malpractice; collateral source rule; alternative treatments; jury instructions Theresa Weborg and her children, who are the surviving spouse and children of William Weborg, appeal judgments finding in favor of Dr. Joseph Rebhan, Dr. Donald Jenny and Dr. Erik Borgnes on the Weborgs’ medical malpractice actions against them. The Weborgs contend they are entitled to a new trial because ...

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08-2029 Mendez v. Perla Dental

Civil Procedure Jury instructions; waiver The defendants waived their objections to the jury instructions by failing to raise them. “The error in the jury instruction is simply a trial error that the defendants could have challenged on the merits, but they failed to do so at any appropriate point in time. At trial, the defendants agreed to the instruction, and ...

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2010AP1341-CR, 2010AP2011-CR State v. Knutson, et al.

Hazardous Waste Intent; jury instructions Dale Knutson and CAAP, Inc. (collectively Knutson) appeal from judgments of conviction of party to the crime of the unlicensed storage of hazardous waste contrary to Wis. Stat. § 291.97(2)(b)2. (2009-10). Knutson argues that the jury was improperly instructed that the prosecution only had to prove that Knutson knew that the material had the potential ...

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2009AP3074-CR State v. Thornton

3rd-degree sexual assault Sufficiency of the evidence; jury instructions; intent Dennis J. Thornton was found guilty of third-degree sexual assault, contrary to Wis. Stat. § 940.225(3) (2009-10), following a jury trial. Thornton challenges his conviction on three grounds. First, he contends that the jury instruction should have been modified to include “knowledge of nonconsent” as an element of the offense. ...

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2010AP1275 Froseth v. Allied Property & Casualty Insurance Company, et al.

Torts Negligence; jury instructions; causation Sandra and Michael Froseth appeal the judgment entered in their personal injury action against Michael Brenizer. The Froseths argue the circuit court erroneously excluded reference to the substantial factor test in the jury instructions. The Froseths further contend that Brenizer’s offer of judgment was deficient, thereby precluding a costs award, because the lump-sum offer failed ...

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2010AP2216-FT In the matter of the mental commitment of Michael B.

Civil Commitment Jury instructions; sufficiency of the evidence Michael B. appeals an order extending his Wis. Stat. ch. 51 mental health commitment. Michael asserts the jury instructions directed the jury to find he was dangerous and there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of dangerousness. We disagree and affirm. This opinion will not be published. 2010AP2216-FT In the matter ...

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2008AP886 Thomas, et al. v. Mallett, et al.

Civil Procedure Jury instructions; peremptory strikes Steven Thomas sued various paint manufacturers, alleging that childhood exposure to white lead carbonate found in their products caused injury to his brain. A jury returned a verdict in favor of the Manufacturers. Thomas contends he is entitled to a new trial because of flaws in the verdict form, the improper use of peremptory ...

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2009AP2833-CR State v. Harris

Criminal Procedure Jury instructions; ineffective assistance; judicial recusal Morris L. Harris appeals the judgment entered after a jury found him guilty of battery to a domestic-abuse-injunction petitioner, see Wis. Stat. §§ 940.20(1m)(a) & 813.12, and substantial battery with intent to cause bodily harm, see Wis. Stat. § 940.19(2), both while armed and as an habitual criminal, see Wis. Stat. §§ ...

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