SUBCHAPTER VIII
CLAIMS AGAINST GOVERNMENTAL BODIES,
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
893.80 Claims against governmental bodies or officers, agents or employees; notice of injury; limitation of damages and suits.
893.82 Claims against state employees; notice of claim; limitation of damages.
SUBCHAPTER IX
STATUTES OF LIMITATION; ACTIONS BY THE STATE, STATUTORY LIABILITY AND MISCELLANEOUS ACTIONS
893.85 Action concerning old-age assistance lien.
893.86 Action concerning recovery of legal fees paid for indigents.
893.87 General limitation of action in favor of the state.
893.88 Paternity actions.
893.89 Action for injury resulting from improvements to real property.
893.90 Bond; campaign financing; lobbying.
893.91 Action for expenses related to a forest fire.
893.92 Action for contribution.
893.925 Action for certain damages related to mining.
893.93 Miscellaneous actions.
893.94 Organized crime control; civil remedies.
893.95 Unclaimed property; civil remedies.
893.96 Family leave and medical leave; civil remedies.
893.97 Business closing notification.
893.98 Cessation of health care benefits notification.
893.99 Home care consumer notification.
Ch. 893 Note
NOTE: See the note at the end of this chapter containing indexes to statutes outside this chapter that impose time restrictions on asserting a claim or cause of action and statutes outside this chapter which govern claims against governmental entities.
COMMENCEMENT, COMPUTATION, ACTION IN
NON-WISCONSIN FORUM AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
893.01
893.01
Civil actions; objection as to time of commencing. Civil actions may be commenced only within the periods prescribed in this chapter, except when, in special cases, a different limitation is provided by statute. An objection that the action was not commenced within the time limited may only be taken by answer or motion to dismiss under
s. 802.06 (2) in proper cases.
893.01 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order,
67 Wis. 2d 585, 770 (1975);
1979 c. 323.
893.01 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section remains from previous ch. 893 and is revised only for purposes of textual clarity. [Bill 326-A]
893.01 Annotation
Estoppel can be invoked to preclude a defense based on a statute of limitations when a defendant has been guilty of fraudulent or inequitable conduct. The conduct need not constitute actual fraud, but may be equivalent to a representation upon which the plaintiff may have relied to his or her disadvantage by not commencing his or her action within the statutory period. That conduct must have occurred before the expiration of the limitation period with no unreasonable delay by the aggrieved party after the inducement therefor has ceased to operate. State ex rel. Susedik v. Knutson,
52 Wis. 2d 593,
191 N.W.2d 23 (1971).
893.01 Annotation
A court has no authority to enlarge the time in which to file a complaint. Pulchinski v. Strnad,
88 Wis. 2d 423,
276 N.W.2d 781 (1979).
893.01 Annotation
When a limitation period would otherwise expire on a legal holiday, s. 990.001 (4) (b) permits the commencement of an action on the next secular day. Cuisinier v. Sattler,
88 Wis. 2d 654,
277 N.W.2d 776 (1979).
893.01 Annotation
Statutes of limitations are substantive statutes and are not given retroactive effect. Betthauser v. Medical Protective Co.
172 Wis. 2d 141,
493 N.W.2d 40 (1992).
893.01 Annotation
A circuit court may use its equitable powers to set aside a statute of imitations if certain enumerated circumstances are present. Williams v. Kaerek Builders, Inc.
212 Wis. 2d 150,
568 N.W.2d 313 (Ct. App. 1997),
96-2396.
893.01 Annotation
A defendant was estopped from pleading the statute of limitations by fraudulent conduct that prevented the plaintiff from filing a timely suit. Bell v. City of Milwaukee,
746 F.2d 1205 (1984).
893.01 Annotation
Remedying the Confusion Between Statutes of Limitations and Statutes of Repose in Wisconsin - A Conceptual Guide, La Fave, 88 MLR 927 (2005)
893.02
893.02
Action, when commenced. Except as provided in
s. 893.415 (3), an action is commenced, within the meaning of any provision of law which limits the time for the commencement of an action, as to each defendant, when the summons naming the defendant and the complaint are filed with the court, but no action shall be deemed commenced as to any defendant upon whom service of authenticated copies of the summons and complaint has not been made within 90 days after filing.
893.02 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order,
67 Wis. 2d 585, 770 (1975);
1975 c. 218;
1979 c. 323;
1997 a. 187;
2003 a. 287.
893.02 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.39 of the statutes renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.02 Annotation
In a products liability action, a new cause of action for punitive damages brought after the statute of limitations expired related back to the date of filing the original pleading. Wussow v. Commercial Mechanisms, Inc.
97 Wis. 2d 136,
293 N.W.2d 897 (1980).
893.02 Annotation
An action against an unnamed defendant under s. 807.12 that was filed on the last day of a limitation period, in which amended process naming the defendant was served within 60 days after filing, was not time barred. The relation back requirements of s. 802.09 (3) were inapplicable. Lak v. Richardson-Merrell, Inc.
100 Wis. 2d 641,
302 N.W.2d 483 (1981).
893.02 Annotation
Service of process did not commence an action when the plaintiff failed to file the summons and complaint. The defendant's answer did not waive the statute of limitations defense or estop the defendant from raising it after the limitation period expired. Hester v. Williams,
117 Wis. 2d 634,
345 N.W.2d 426 (1984).
893.02 Annotation
A fictitiously designated defendant's right to extinction of an action does not effectively vest until 60 days after the statute of limitations runs. Lavine v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.
140 Wis. 2d 434,
410 N.W.2d 623 (Ct. App. 1987).
893.02 Annotation
Timely Service Abroad in Diversity Suits. La Fave. Wis.Law. Nov. 2000.
893.03
893.03
Presenting claims. The presentation of any claim, in cases where by law such presentment is required, to the circuit court shall be deemed the commencement of an action within the meaning of any law limiting the time for the commencement of an action thereon.
893.03 History
History: 1977 c. 449 s.
497;
1979 c. 323.
893.03 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.41 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.03 Annotation
A statute of limitations is not tolled by filing an action in a court completely lacking jurisdiction and later refiling in the proper court after the statute has run. Schafer v. Wegner,
78 Wis. 2d 127,
254 N.W.2d 193 (1977).
893.04
893.04
Computation of period within which action may be commenced. Unless otherwise specifically prescribed by law, a period of limitation within which an action may be commenced is computed from the time that the cause of action accrues until the action is commenced.
893.04 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.04 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: Previous section 893.48 is repealed and sections 893.04 and 893.14 created for the purpose of clarity. See Denzer v. Rouse,
48 Wis. 2d 528,
180 N.W.2d 521 (1970) for a discussion of when a cause of action accrues, citing Holifield v. Setco Industries, Inc.
42 Wis. 2d 750,
168 N.W.2d 177 (1969). [Bill 326-A]
893.04 Annotation
In attorney malpractice actions, as in medical malpractice cases, when the date of the negligence and the date of injury are the same, the statute of limitations runs from that date, for that is the time when the cause of action accrues. Denzer v. Rouse,
48 Wis. 2d 528,
180 N.W.2d 521 (1970).
893.04 Annotation
The loss of the right to a patent is the loss of the right to exclude others and, therefore, the injury occurred on the date that the right to the patent was lost. Boehm v. Wheeler,
65 Wis. 2d 668,
223 N.W.2d 536 (1974).
893.04 Annotation
Because s. 67.11 requires moneys in a sinking fund to remain inviolate until the bonds are retired, a cause of action regarding the fund could only accrue at retirement. Joint School District No. 1 of Chilton v. City of Chilton,
78 Wis. 2d 52,
253 N.W.2d 879 (1977).
893.04 Annotation
A tort claim accrues when the injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. This "discovery rule" applies to all tort actions other than those governed by a statutory discovery rule. Hansen v. A. H. Robins, Inc.
113 Wis. 2d 550,
335 N.W.2d 578 (1983).
893.04 Annotation
When the plaintiff's early subjective lay person's belief that a furnace caused the injury was contradicted by examining physicians, the cause of action against the furnace company did not accrue until the plaintiff's suspicion was confirmed by later medical diagnosis. Borello v. U.S. Oil Co.
130 Wis. 2d 397,
388 N.W.2d 140 (1986).
893.04 Annotation
Claimed ignorance of, and a blatant failure to follow, applicable regulations cannot be construed as reasonable diligence in discovering an injury when following the rules would have resulted in earlier discovery. Stroh Die Casting v. Monsanto Co.
177 Wis. 2d 91,
502 N.W.2d 132 (Ct. App. 1993).
893.04 Annotation
The day upon which a cause of action accrues is not included in computing the period of limitation. Pufahl v. Williams,
179 Wis. 2d 104,
506 N.W.2d 747 (1993).
893.04 Annotation
A plaintiff can rely on the discovery rule only if he or she has exercised reasonable diligence. Jacobs v. Nor-Lake,
217 Wis. 2d 625,
579 N.W.2d 254 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-1740.
893.04 Annotation
The discovery rule applies to statutes of limitations that limit the time to sue from the time when the action "accrues," being the time of discovery. The discovery rule does not apply to a statute of repose, a statute that specifies the time of accrual and limits the time suit can be brought from that specified date. Tomczak v. Bailey,
218 Wis. 2d 245,
578 N.W.2d 166 (1998),
95-2733.
893.04 Annotation
Knowing that a particular product caused an injury, an injured party cannot extend the accrual date for a cause of action against the product's manufacturer due to the subsequent discovery of possible connections between that product and another manufacturer's product in causing the injury. Baldwin v. Badger Mining Corporation & Mine Safety Appliances Co. 2003 WI App 95,
264 Wis. 2d 301,
663 N.W.2d 382,
02-1197.
893.04 Annotation
Computing time in tort statutes of limitation. Ghiardi, 64 MLR 575 (1981).
893.04 Annotation
Computing Time. Ghiardi. Wis. Law. March 1993.
893.05
893.05
Relation of statute of limitations to right and remedy. When the period within which an action may be commenced on a Wisconsin cause of action has expired, the right is extinguished as well as the remedy.
893.05 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.05 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This new section is a codification of Wisconsin case law. See Maryland Casualty Company v. Beleznay, 245 Wis. 390,
14 N.W.2d 177 (1944), in which it is stated at page 393: "In Wisconsin the running of the statute of limitations absolutely extinguishes the cause of action for in Wisconsin limitations are not treated as statutes of repose. The limitation of actions is a right as well as a remedy, extinguishing the right on one side and creating a right on the other, which is as of high dignity as regards judicial remedies as any other right and it is a right which enjoys constitutional protection". [Bill 326-A]
893.05 Annotation
The expiration of the limitations period extinguishes the cause of action of the potential plaintiff and it also creates a right enjoyed by the would-be defendant to insist on that statutory bar. A defendant, having acquired a right to assert the statute of limitations bar by operation of law, would suffer plain legal prejudice if a plaintiff's motion for voluntary dismissal were granted. Wojtas v. Capital Guardian Trust Co.
477 F.3d 924 (2007).
893.07
893.07
Application of foreign statutes of limitation. 893.07(1)(1) If an action is brought in this state on a foreign cause of action and the foreign period of limitation which applies has expired, no action may be maintained in this state.
893.07(2)
(2) If an action is brought in this state on a foreign cause of action and the foreign period of limitation which applies to that action has not expired, but the applicable Wisconsin period of limitation has expired, no action may be maintained in this state.
893.07 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.07 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: Sub. (1) applies the provision of s. 893.05 that the running of a statute of limitations extinguishes the right as well as the remedy to a foreign cause of action on which an action is attempted to be brought in Wisconsin in a situation where the foreign period has expired. Sub. (1) changes the law of prior s. 893.205 (1), which provided that a resident of Wisconsin could sue in this state on a foreign cause of action to recover damages for injury to the person even if the foreign period of limitation had expired.
893.07 Annotation
Sub. (2) applies the Wisconsin statute of limitations to a foreign cause of action if the Wisconsin period is shorter than the foreign period and the Wisconsin period has run. [Bill 326-A]
893.07 Annotation
The borrowing statute was properly applied to an injury received outside of this state. A conflict of laws analysis was not appropriate. Guertin v. Harbour Assurance Co.
141 Wis. 2d 622,
415 N.W.2d 831 (1987).
893.07 Annotation
Section 893.16 (1) is effective to toll the running of the statute of limitations, even when under s. 893.07 the plaintiff would be barred from bringing suit under applicable foreign law. Scott v. First State Insurance Co.
155 Wis. 2d 608,
456 N.W.2d 312 (1990).
893.07 Annotation
This section is applicable to actions on contracts. A claim is foreign when the final significant event giving rise to a suable event, the alleged breach, occurs outside the state. Abraham v. General Casualty Co.
217 Wis. 2d 294,
576 N.W.2d 46 (1998),
95-2918.
893.07 Annotation
Sub. (1) refers to "the period of limitation," as defined by the foreign jurisdiction, that governs the case in the foreign state. Application of this rule includes a limitation period that operates as a statute of repose. Wenke v. Gehl Company, 2004 WI 103,
274 Wis. 2d 220,
682 N.W.2d 405,
01-2649.
893.07 Annotation
A tort action based on an injury received outside of this state was "foreign." Johnson v. Deltadynamics, Inc.
813 F.2d 944 (1987).
893.07 Annotation
Under this section, a foreign jurisdiction's period of limitations is borrowed, but not its period of repose. Beard v. J. I. Case Co.
823 F.2d 1095 (1987).
893.07 Annotation
This section directs courts to apply the shortest limitation period possible to foreign causes of action, whether the applicable statue is a statue of limitations or a statute of repose. Merner v. Deere & Co.
176 F. Supp. 2d 882 (2001).
893.07 Annotation
Wisconsin's borrowing statute: Did we shortchange ourselves? 70 MLR 120 (1986).
893.07 Annotation
Interpreting Wisconsin's Borrowing Statute. Wiegand. Wis. Law. May 2001.
LIMITATIONS TOLLED OR EXTENDED
