The Wisconsin Legislature this morning (4:30 a.m.) finished its last day of session. It was a very successful session for the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council and its partners. None of the bills actively opposed by WCJC were passed into law.
Below is a wrap-up of the bills WCJC opposed, supported, or monitored:
Oppose
- SB 628/AB 815 (Medical Records and Medical Exams): Substantially limits a defendant’s attorney from determining whether a plaintiff’s injuries were the actual result of the accident caused by the defendant. Limits the amount of medical examinations a defendant could perform on the plaintiff. Also, severely limits the defendant’s ability to review plaintiff’s medical records when determining whether the accident caused by defendant led to the plaintiff’s injuries.
Status: DEAD
- SB 203/AB 291 (Medical Malpractice Liability): Expands medical liability by allowing adult children and their parents sue for loss of society and companionship damages.
Status: DEAD
- SB 447/AB 792 (False Claims): Allows private parties to file lawsuits on behalf of the state alleging that a person knowingly presented a false claim and deceived the state for the purpose of getting a false claim paid. The private party bringing the lawsuit is eligible to receive 15 to 25 percent of the amount recovered, thus providing plaintiffs’ attorneys an incentive to bring more lawsuits.
Status: DEAD
- SB 275/AB 367 (Credit Histories): Allows job applicants and employees to sue employers and seek punitive and compensatory damages if an employer “discriminates” against them based on that person’s credit history.
Status: DEAD
- AB 938 (Bifurcation of Trials for Claims of Interest): Provides that if a trial court bifurcates a trial with respect to a claim for interest that is allegedly due on insurance proceeds that were not timely paid, all claims must be heard by the same jury.
Status: DEAD
- SB 319/AB 453 (Statute of Limitations): Provides a three-year window for plaintiffs to file childhood sexual abuse claims, regardless of the previous expiration of the statute of limitations. Similar legislation in other states has been struck down as unconstitutional.
Status: DEAD
- SB 563 (Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations): Extends wrongful death statute of limitations in cases dealing with medical malpractice. Seeks to overturn a recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, Estate of Genrich v. OHIC Ins. Co., which held that the time limit for a wrongful death action caused by medical malpractice is counted from the date of the deceased person’s injury instead of the date of death.
Status: DEAD
- AB 894 (Workplace Bullying): Adds a private cause of action, along with punitive and compensatory damages, for alleged workplace bullying.
Status: DEAD
- AB 831/SB 585 (Employment Discrimination): Allows employees to sue for discrimination under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Law for being disciplined for declining to attend a meeting or to participate in any communication about religious or political matters.
Status: Senate passed SB 585. Assembly passed SB 585. Sent to Governor for signature.
Support
- AB 710 (Apology of Health Care Provider): Provides that a statement, gesture, or conduct of a health care provider that expresses apology, condolence, compassion, benevolence, or sympathy to a patient, patient’s relative, or representative is not admissible into evidence or subject to discovery in any civil action or administrative hearing regarding the health care provider as evidence of liability or as an admission against interest.
Status: DEAD
Monitor
- SB 337/AB 480 (Gender-based Cause of Action): Creates a new civil cause of action for a person who suffers physical, emotional, or economic harm as a result of a gender−based act. Imposes a seven-year statute of limitations (most other intentional tort claims must be brought within three years). A plaintiff who prevails in a civil action for a gender−based act may recover damages for emotional distress, punitive damages, and investigation or litigation costs, including attorney fees.
Status: DEAD