Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson delivered the annual State of the Judiciary Address at the Wisconsin Judicial Conference on November 6. Her remarks, titled “Back to the Future,” focused on effort to improve the judiciary by applying cutting-edge innovation to evidence-based lessons learned in the past. Abrahamson focused specifically on judicial selection and recusal, touched on the financial challenges the courts face, and detailed new criminal and family initiatives. Continue reading “Abrahamson Delivers State of the Judiciary Address”
Category: Editorials
Wisconsin Businesses Support AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trusts
The Wisconsin business community supports AB 19/SB 13, providing transparency in personal injury trusts. The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council respectfully requests that the Senate schedule and pass the bill.
This bill does NOT negatively affect veterans: To the contrary, by protecting limited funds available to trusts and the limited resources of solvent Wisconsin businesses, AB 19/SB 13 will help ensure that veterans and other legitimate victims receive fair compensation in the future. Continue reading “Wisconsin Businesses Support AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trusts”
Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Receives Outstanding Organization Award
The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council has gained national recognition for its role in passing sweeping legal reforms in 2011 and its continued commitment to combating lawsuit abuse.
Members of WCJC and WMC traveled to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit in Washington, D.C. to accept the award. Continue reading “Wisconsin Civil Justice Council Receives Outstanding Organization Award”
Wisconsin Reforms Draw National Attention
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed AB 27, Transparency in Private Attorney Contracting (TIPAC), on a bipartisan vote, 23-10 (five Democrats joined all 18 Republicans). The U.S. Chamber applauds AB 27 as “Nation’s Strongest Outside Counsel Sunshine Law,” while the American Tort Reform Association proclaimed to its national audience that the “New Law Will Help Make Wisconsin More Attractive to Employers.” Continue reading “Wisconsin Reforms Draw National Attention”
WCJC Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Passing Pro-Business, Transparency Legislation
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Wisconsin Senate passed Assembly Bill 27, which provides transparency when the State of Wisconsin hires private plaintiff attorneys’ on a contingency fee basis. The bill passed on a bipartisan basis, 23-10, and will be sent to Gov. Scott Walker for his signature. Continue reading “WCJC Applauds Wisconsin Senate for Passing Pro-Business, Transparency Legislation”
Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee Schedules Vote for Personal Injury Trust Claims Transparency Bill
The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee has scheduled an executive session on Wednesday, October 9 to vote on AB 19/SB 13, Personal Injury Trust Claims Transparency. The purpose of this bill is to prevent double-dipping by plaintiffs’ attorneys through greater transparency during the litigation process in cases where the plaintiff also has a claim with a bankruptcy trust fund. SB 13/AB 19 is a top priority for WCJC and the Wisconsin business community, as evidenced by the groups supporting the bill. AB 19 passed the Assembly earlier this year.
For more information about AB 19/SB 13, please see WCJC’s legislation webpage, which includes a white paper explaining the purpose of the bill, along with a Wall Street Journal editorial discussing a similar bill that passed in Ohio last year.
Cook to Provide Legislative Update at State Bar Seminar
Hamilton Consulting’s Andrew Cook has been tapped to give a legislative update at the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 36th Annual Torts Update in Milwaukee and Madison on September 12 and 13. Continue reading “Cook to Provide Legislative Update at State Bar Seminar”
Busy Fall Floor Session Anticipated
The first portion of the 2013-14 legislative session was very busy for the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council (WCJC). Numerous bills supported by WCJC received public hearings, passed the Assembly and now await action in the Senate. We fully expect the Senate to take up an pass several WCJC supported bills when the Legislature reconvenes this fall. Continue reading “Busy Fall Floor Session Anticipated”
WCJC Wins 2013 Outstanding Organization Award
In recognition for its role in passing sweeping legal reform in 2011 and its continued commitment to combating lawsuit abuse, WCJC has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Outstanding Organization Award.
“This award acknowledges WCJC’s work with state lawmakers and the Walker administration in enacting legislation to promote business and job growth in Wisconsin,” said Bill G. Smith, WCJC President and State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
WCJC’s Executive Director, Robert Fassbender, will accept the award on behalf of WCJC’s 18 member board and litigation reform partners on October 23 at the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s 14th Annual Legal Reform Summit in Washington, D.C.
To continue WCJC’s mission of promoting fairness and equity in Wisconsin’s civil justice system it will take substantial resources. Please consider making a contribution to the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council, Inc.
NY Times Op-ed – Plaintiff Attorneys’ Business Model
The New York Times today published an op-ed (“Lawyers’ Business Model”) describing how the plaintiff attorney business model is under attack and how many plaintiff attorneys gin up mass tort cases at the expense of their clients. Below is an excerpt:
Yes, there are certainly times when the court system provides the appropriate forum to address corporate wrongdoing. But just as often — more often, in my view — plaintiffs’ lawyers gin up cases because, well, that’s what they do. Like the corporations they sue, big-time plaintiffs’ lawyers have a business model. Theirs requires them to constantly seek out cases that can be blown up into giant mass torts, as they’re called, which can then be used to extract billions from companies.