The Supreme Court plans to hear several cases in October that are relevant to the Wisconsin business community. The court has already heard oral arguments in six cases and will hear three more at the end of the month.

On Oct. 10, the court heard oral arguments in City Deck Landing LLC v. Circuit Court for Brown County. The case will determine whether a circuit court properly stayed a private arbitration proceeding while a related insurance company duty to defend action proceeded in circuit court. The court also heard Midwest Neurosciences Associates v. Great Lakes Neurosurgical Associates, a contract dispute which will examine whether an arbitration clause from a prior agreement is applicable in a subsequent contract. In Stuart White v. City of Watertown, the court will determine whether cities, in addition to towns, may enforce statutes related to fences for farms.

On Oct. 12, the court traveled to Sparta, Wisconsin to hold oral arguments. One notable case was Kieninger v. Crown Equipment Corp., which will determine whether employees who voluntarily commute using an employer’s vehicle should be compensated for commuting time under the federal Employee Commuting Flexibility Act.

On Oct. 29, the court will be back in the state capitol to hear arguments in Steadfast Insurance Co. v. Greenwich Insurance Co., which will decide how coverage and defense costs should be allocated between the two insurance companies that covered Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District during several rain events that caused damage to homeowners.

Check back on the WCJC blog for updates on these and other Supreme Court cases of note to the business community.