On Point blog, page 295 of 491
Service, Attorney General; Statutory Construction: Surplusage Rule
Melissa M. Hines v. Daniel K. Resnick, M.D., 2011 WI App 163 (recommended for publication); case activity
The requirement in § 893.82(5) that a notice of claim against a state employee must be “served upon the attorney general at his or her office in the capitol by certified mail” is satisfied “by certified mail addressed to the attorney general at his or her capitol office, Main Street office,
Arrest, OWI – Probable Cause – Video Evidence
State v. Gustavo E. Lopez, 2011AP1037-CR, District 2, 11/23/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Lopez: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
¶8 While the record reveals that Lopez is correct in stating that the court took video evidence from the roadside stop into consideration when making the finding of probable cause, we disagree that this was in any way not allowed. When determining the facts available to the officer to formulate probable cause,
PBT – Probable Cause
State v. Herbert L. Hamilton, 2011AP1325-CR, District 4, 11/23/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Hamilton: Dixie Lippit; case activity
Although driver in single-car accident didn’t exhibit signs commonly associated with intoxication, the smell of alcohol on his breath coupled with his loss of control of the car provided probable cause to administer a preliminary breath test under § 343.303:
¶15 First,
OWI-Repeater – Challenge to Prior Conviction
State v. Jeffrey Steinhorst, 2011AP1360-CR, District 4, 11/23/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Steinhorst: Steven Cohen; case activity
Steinhorst made a prima facie showing that he did not validly waive counsel in a prior OWI case; therefore, he is entitled to a hearing at which the State must prove proper waiver, by clear and convincing evidence, else the prior conviction may not be used to enhance his current case.
TPR – Sufficiency of Evidence, Likelihood of Meeting Conditions for Return of Children
Dane Co. DHS v. Nikita B., 2011AP2054, District 2, 11/23/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Nikita B.: Suzanne l. Hagopian, Eileen Huie; case activity
Evidence held sufficient to sustain termination of parental rights, premised on substantial likelihood parent wouldn’t meet conditions for return of child placed in foster care:
¶8 This court’s review of a jury’s verdict is narrow. Morden v.
Expert Testimony; Impeachment – Prior Convictions
State v. Olu A. Rhodes, 2009AP25-CR, District 1, 11/22/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication), on remand from, 2011 WI 73; for Rhodes: John J. Grau; case activity
Expert witness qualification rests in the sound discretion of the trial court; here, it was well within that discretion to allow the following testimony:
¶4 Marchant, who described herself as a “criminal intelligence analyst” working for the Department of Justice,
Notice of Alibi, § 971.23(8): DA Comment on Missing Witness; Appellate Procedure, Forfeiture of Issue: Sleeping Juror
State v. Forrest Andre Saunders, 2011 WI App 156 (recommended for publication); for Saunders: Robert A. Kagen; case activity
Notice of Alibi, § 971.23(8) – DA Comment on Missing Witness
“Alibi” merely refers to the fact that the defendant was elsewhere when the alleged occurred, ¶21, citing, State v. Brown, 2003 WI App 34, ¶13, 260 Wis. 2d 125, 659 N.W.2d 110.
Sentencing – Inaccurate Information – Reliance Factor
State v. Lavalle Rimmer, 2010AP2680-CR, District 1, 11/22/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Rimmer: Christian C. Starner; case activity
The sentencing court did not actually rely on concededly inaccurate information, therefore Rimmer isn’t entitled to resentencing.
Methodology for analyzing inaccurate-information issue recited, ¶¶11-16. Court suggests that something akin to explicit reference to inaccurate information required, ¶16.)
Discovery Violation, § 971.23(1)(g) – Prejudice
State v. Joseph Hammer, 2010AP3019-CR, District 1, 11/22/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Hammer: Rex Anderegg; case activity
The State’s conceded discovery violation (failure to produce reports or photographs related to a trajectory rod investigation) prejudiced the defense and therefore entitles Hammer to a new trial on two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide: 1. the erroneously admitted trajectory rod evidence “severely undermined”
Sentencing Discretion, DNA Surcharge: Ability to Pay
State v. Michael T. Ziller, 2011 WI App 164 (recommended for publication); for Ziller: Michael S. Holzman; case activity
¶11 On the basis of our review of the record in this case, we are satisfied that the circuit court properly exercised its discretion in sentencing Ziller. The circuit court considered the three primary sentencing factors and noted them on the record. See State v. Gallion,