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Litigation Analysis

Levies for Liens: New Risks for Judgment Creditors

[08/04/14]

Posted on August 4, 2014 in Litigation Analysis

Written by: Sara J. MacCarthy

In Associated Bank, N.A., v. Jack W. Collier, 2014 WI 62, the Wisconsin Supreme Court (the “Court”) held that a judgment creditor must levy a debtor’s specified non-exempt personal property in order to obtain a priority lien. Prior to Collier, a judgment creditor could impose an equitable lien, superior to other creditors’ unsecured claims,... READ MORE

Indiana Court of Appeals Declines to Create Duty for Alleged Failure to Treat Non-Patient

[07/31/14]

Posted on July 31, 2014 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

On July 21, 2014, the Indiana Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Giles v. Anonymous Physician I, refusing to extend the physician patient relationship to a hospitalist asked to consult on a patient – the hospitalist refused the consult because the patient’s primary care provider had not approved hospitalist care for his patients. ... READ MORE

Unpaid Interns Are Not Protected under Wisconsin’s Health Care Worker Protection Statute

[07/29/14]

Posted on July 29, 2014 in Litigation Analysis

Written by: Sara J. MacCarthy

 On July 22, 2014, the Wisconsin Supreme Court released Masri v. State of Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, 2014 WI 81, in which it held that an unpaid intern was not an “employee” subject to anti-retaliation protection under Wis. Stat. § 146.997, Wisconsin’s whistleblower protection law for health care employees. Asma Masri, a... READ MORE

Lawyer Who Disbursed Insurance Settlement Proceeds to Client Is Not Liable to Charitable Hospital for Impairing Its Hospital Lien

[04/23/14]

Posted on April 23, 2014 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

In Watertown Regional Medical Center, Inc. v. General Casualty Insurance Company, 2013AP2324 and 2013AP2511 (April 17, 2014) (recommended for publication), the Wisconsin Court of Appeals confronted the issue of who is liable for the impairment of a hospital lien when personal injury settlement proceeds are disbursed to the injured patient without first having been... READ MORE

Using Social Media for Discovery and Evidence Gathering

[12/03/13]

Posted on December 3, 2013 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

The abundance of information available on social media websites has changed the landscape of discovery in civil trials. A simple Google search can indicate whether a person has a Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or other social medical account with little effort. Informally, using Google can yield not only publicly available information, such as stories about... READ MORE

Wisconsin Supreme Court Clarifies Burden of Proof Required to Grant Involuntary Medication Extension Order

[08/06/13]

Posted on August 6, 2013 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

On July 11, 2013, the Wisconsin Supreme Court (“Court”) released its decision in Outagamie County v. Melanie L., reversing the decision of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals which affirmed the circuit court’s extension of an involuntary medication order.  The full text of the opinion can be found here. Procedural Posture The case involved review... READ MORE

Indiana Court of Appeals Restricts Dismissal of Medical Malpractice Claims Under the Medical Malpractice Act

[07/31/13]

Posted on July 31, 2013 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

In Mooney v. Anonymous, the Indiana Court of Appeals re-evaluated a trial court’s authority and jurisdiction to dismiss medical malpractice claims based upon a plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Medical Malpractice Act and to diligently prosecute the claim. Although the Court of Appeals’ decision was based upon procedural developments and global delays unique... READ MORE

Wisconsin Supreme Court Declines to Address the Mature Minor Doctrine

[07/11/13]

Posted on July 11, 2013 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

On July 10, 2013, the Wisconsin Supreme Court released its decision in Dane County v. Sheila W., 2013 WI 63 (per curiam), in which it affirmed the Court of Appeals’ dismissal of the case because the issues were rendered moot, or no longer in controversy, by the expiration of the underlying order appointing a temporary... READ MORE

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Indiana’s New Certified Direct Entry Midwife Law Takes Effect July 1, 2013

[06/14/13]

Posted on June 14, 2013 in Litigation Analysis

Published by: Hall Render

On July 1, 2013, House Bill 1135 takes effect.  The bill amends several current statutes and creates Ind.Code §25-23.4-1 et seq. for certified direct entry midwives (“CDEM”).  The new law includes the following provisions that could potentially affect hospitals and claims involving CDEM. Amendments to existing statutes include: IC §16-37-2-9 is amended to require... READ MORE