10. Corey Benson of Waupun, WI claims $18.65 for earbuds allegedly lost by DOC staff. Benson was moved to the Restrictive Housing Unit (RHU) at Waupun Correctional Institution on September 23, 2022, resulting in limited possession of his personal property items. Disallowed personal property items are packed, inventoried, and stored until the inmate returns to general population. On October 12, 2022, Benson was provided his allowable personal property items in RHU, and given an inventory log detailing the remaining, stored property items. Benson discovered his recently purchased earbuds were missing from the inventory log, in addition to other items not subject to this claim. Benson raised the issue with CO Avila, who suggested Benson complete an Interview/Request Form to have the discrepancy reviewed. Benson indicates that CO Avila confirmed on October 14, 2022, that the earbuds were not located with Benson’s stored property items. Benson returned to general population on December 12, 2022, and received the remainder of his property items, absent the earbuds. Benson alleges he contacted the property department and filed an inmate complaint, exhausting his administrative remedies.
DOC recommends denial of this claim. Benson filed a complaint through the Inmate Complaint Review System (ICRS) on December 21, 2022, which was rejected as untimely. (A complaint must be filed within 14 days after the occurrence giving rise to the complaint.) Benson appealed the rejection to the Warden, who affirmed the rejection. Because the complaint was rejected, the merits were never considered or investigated. Benson claims to have known of his missing earbuds on October 12, but did not file the ICRS complaint until 70 days later; he was 56 days late. DOC notes that Benson’s status in RHU would not prevent him from filing an ICRS complaint. DOC contends that Benson did not properly exhaust his administrative remedies, and that review of the rejected ICRS Complaint is not within the jurisdiction of the Claims Board.
The Board concludes there has been an insufficient showing of negligence on the part of the state, its officers, agents or employees and this claim is neither one for which the state is legally liable nor one which the state should assume and pay based on equitable principles. Member Barnes dissenting.
11. Anthony C. Holschbach of Waupun, WI claims $1,694.70 for vehicle damage caused by a resident of a Department of Health Services (DHS) facility – Central Wisconsin Center (CWC). Claimant (the presumed owner of the subject vehicle driven by CWC employee Ana Sucely Holschbach) provides a DHS Security Incident Report which indicates that on October 3, 2021, a CWC resident became agitated while on an on-grounds walk and started striking vehicles with his fist. Claimant’s vehicle sustained a dent in the back left quarter panel. Claimant incurred costs from an autobody shop to repair the damage. (Note that the autobody shop estimate lists Claimant as the vehicle owner.)
DHS recommends full payment of this claim. Ms. Holschbach submitted an expense report to be reimbursed for the damage, which was denied due to DHS’s limited ability to reimburse employees for damaged personal articles. DHS points to the State of Wisconsin Compensation Plan, Section G 2.02, authorized by Wis. Stat. §§ 20.918 and 230.12(1)(dm), which states a reimbursement may not exceed $100 for any one incident. DHS has no other mechanism to reimburse Claimant or Ms. Holschbach. The Board concludes the claim should be paid in the amount of $1,694.70 based on equitable principles. The Board further concludes, under authority of Wis. Stat. § 16.007(6m), payment should be made from the Department of Health Services appropriation Wis. Stat. § 20.435(2)(gk). The Board concludes:
That payment of the amounts below to the identified claimant from the following statutory appropriations is justified under § 16.007(6)(b). Anthony C.
That the following identified claimants are denied:
Martha Vazquez
Jacquese Harrell, Sr.
Eugene Cherry
Patrick Fowler
De’Angelo Carter
Corey Benson
That the decision of the following claim is deferred to a later date:
Budget Dumpster, LLC
Dated at Madison, Wisconsin this 27th day of September, 2023.
R. DUANE HARLOW
Chair, Representative of the Attorney General
ANNE L. HANSON
Secretary, Representative of the Secretary of Administration
ERIC WIMBERGER
Senate Finance Committee
ALEX DALLMAN
Assembly Finance Committee
MEL BARNES
Representative of the Governor
