On Thursday, July 8, Governor Tony Evers (D) signed into law 2021 Act 58, the state budget for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, which began July 1. The two-year budget, assembled by the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee (JFC), spends $87.5 billion and cuts income and property taxes by $3.4 billion. The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council worked to ensure that the final version of the budget did not create new civil causes of action or other concerning civil justice policies. The final budget also did not include any funding for staff or activities of the Wisconsin Judicial Council.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has announced the appointment of a new chief appellate judge and the reappointment of five chief circuit court judges, effective August 1. Judge William W. Brash, III has been appointed chief judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, a position that oversees the entire four-district, 16-judge appellate court system in Wisconsin. Judge Brash, who serves on the District I Court of Appeals, is replacing Chief Judge Lisa S. Neubauer, who serves on the District II Court of Appeals.

In Graef v. Continental Indemnity Company, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that an employee’s negligence claim was barred by the exclusive-remedy provision of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Act.

In Kemper Independence Insurance Company v. Islami, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld an insurer’s denial of coverage based on the actions of a claimant’s estranged spouse.

In Anderson v. LIRC, the District III Court of Appeals held that an employer was not liable for refusing to rehire an injured employee because the employee’s injuries prevented him from performing his previous job, while the employee also failed to express an interest in taking a different position with the company.

In Shannon v. Mayo Clinic Health System, the District III Court of Appeals held that the circuit court erred in its refusal to amend the class definition in a class action lawsuit.