STATE OF WISCONSIN
Senate Journal
One-Hundred and Second Regular Session
MONDAY, October 26, 2015
The Chief Clerk makes the following entries under the above date.
_____________
Petitions and Communications
State of Wisconsin
Legislative Reference Bureau
October 26, 2015
The Honorable, the Legislature:
The following rules have been published in the October 26, 2015 Wisconsin Administrative Register No. 718:
  Clearinghouse Rules   Effective Date(s)
hist42532   15-001   2-1-2016
hist42533   15-007   11-1-2015
hist42534   15-008   11-1-2015
hist42535   15-009   11-1-2015
hist42536   15-016   11-1-2015
hist42537   15-022   11-1-2015
hist42538   15-029   11-1-2015
hist42539   15-030   11-1-2015
hist42540   15-031   11-1-2015
Sincerely,
BRUCE J. HOESLY
Senior Legislative Attorney/Code Editor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Claims Board
September 16, 2015
Enclosed is the report of the State Claims Board covering the claims heard on August 25, 2015.Those claims approved for payment pursuant to the provisions of s.16.007 and 775.05 Stats., have been paid directly by the Board.
This report is for the information of the Legislature, The Board would appreciate your acceptance and publication of it in the Journal to inform the members of the Legislature.
Sincerely,
GREGORY D. MURRAY
Secretary
STATE OF WISCONSIN CLAIMS BOARD
The State of Wisconsin Claims Board conducted hearings at the State Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin, on August 25, 2015, upon the following claims:
Claimant   Agency   Amount
1
1.
Wasserstrass     Agriculture, Trade, & $2,579.70
Farms, Inc.     Consumer Protection
2
2.
Mark Bernhardt, Jr.   Revenue     $783.00
The following claims were decided without hearings:
Claimant   Agency   Amount
3
3.
Cedar Road Meats   Agriculture, Trade, & $423.80
Consumer Protection
4
4.
TRC Engineers, Inc.   Financial Institutions $918.00
5
5.
Michelle Milstein   University of   $14,803.36
Wisconsin
6
6.
Fred Plummer     Revenue     $18,670.66
7
7.
Mark B. Brown   Corrections   $21.09
8
8.
Mark B. Brown   Corrections   $184.56
9
9.
Mark B. Brown   Corrections   $176.20
10. Ricky Grandy     Corrections   $42.94
11. Mark S. Hickles   Corrections   $381.48
12. Robert Morrison   Corrections   $19.71
With respect to the claims, the Board finds:
1.   Wasserstrass Farms, Inc. of Monroe, Wisconsin claims $2,579.70 for value of milk that could not be sold, allegedly due to retaliation by a DATCP inspector. The claimants state that inspector Jennifer Barker wrote up their farm for violations related to their Delaval robotic milking system. The claimants believe that Barker did not have sufficient training for the Delaval system in order to properly inspect it. The claimants also state they had the system inspected by a DATCP equipment expert, who verbally told them it was working properly (he did not file a written report). The claimants state Ms. Barker told them she had experience inspecting Delaval systems at other farms. The claimants state that they called all the other farms in the area with a Delaval system and found that Ms. Barker had not inspected any of them. The claimants state that they made three requests to DATCP for list of other Delaval systems inspected by Ms. Barker but that DATCP never provided that information. The claimants believe Ms. Barker lied to them about her experience with the Delaval system. They believe her suspension of their license on 12/2/14, was retaliatory because they had questioned Ms. Barker’s experience and accused her of lying to them. At hearing, the claimants stated that the Delaval system computer notified them whenever they needed to perform routine maintenance and that they had always performed that maintenance “as best they could.” The claimants stated that a prior inspector had told them he would like them to update their computer software but that they had not done so. The claimants also stated that they made no changes to the milking system, other than performing routine maintenance, between the time they failed inspection and when they passed the reinstatement inspection.
DATCP recommends denial of this claim. DATCP notes that the claimants’ farm has had repeated problems with its Delaval milking system. DATCP states that inspections found that the robot sometimes failed to find and properly attached to the teats and would fall off onto the ground, where it became dirty. DATCP also notes that Ms. Barker is one of two DATCP inspectors who do nothing but farm inspections and that she has the necessary training to appropriately inspect Deleval robotic milking systems. After repeated failed inspections, DATCP sent the claimants a warning letter on 1/28/14. DATCP held an administrative conference with the claimants after another failed inspection on 3/3/14. DATCP states that another inspection on April 22 found the same problems. Another administrative conference was held on 5/8/14, during which Mr. Wasserstrass signed a stipulation and consent order placing conditions on his license. These conditions included a mandatory summary suspension of his license if the Delaval system was again found to be not working properly. DATCP notes that any suspension of a conditional license continues until a successful inspection. On 10/2114, Ms. Barker and a DATCP supervisor inspected the system and found it was not working properly. DATCP sent a notice of summary suspension to the claimants on 12/1/14. The procedure for requesting a reinstatement inspection were included with the suspension notice, however, the claimants waited until 12/8/14, to request reinspection. The reinstatement inspection was successfully conducted on December 12, and the claimant’s license was immediately reinstated. DATCP notes that the claimants are requesting reimbursement for milk loss between 12/3 and 12/13/14. DATCP believes this loss was not the result of improper behavior by DATCP employees, but rather by the claimants own delay in seeking the reinstatement inspection. At hearing, DATCP stated, and the claimant agreed, that the routine maintenance mentioned by the claimant (replacement of hoses and rubber parts) could easily have made the difference between the failed October inspection and the subsequent successful reinstatement inspection.
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 with the state should assume and pay based on equitable principles.  
2.   Mark Bernhardt, Jr. of Kenosha, Wisconsin claims $783.00 for refund of money overpaid due to an estimated tax assessment. The claimant states that in February 2015 he hired H&R Block to file his late annual sales tax returns. The claimant states that H&R Block did not go back far enough and neglected to file returns for 2010. The claimant states his business was not active in 2010. In March 2011 DOR issued an estimated assessment for 2010 sales taxes. DOR levied $594.24 from the claimant’s business account in September 2011 for the 2010 assessment. In February 2015 the claimant received a letter from DOR stating that they had applied his 2014 individual income tax return of $181.00 towards the assessment. The claimant filed his 2010 sales tax return, which showed he did not owe any 2010 sales taxes and he then called DOR. The claimant states that if he had called DOR the day before he filed the returns instead of the day after, he would have received his refund. The claimant requests reimbursement of his 2014 tax refund ($181) because he feels it was H&R Block’s error that caused DOR to seize this refund. The claimant believes it is unfair that a taxpayer only has 2 years to claim a refund, while DOR has no restriction regarding how many years back they can pursue a taxpayer. The claimant also requests reimbursement of the $594.24 levied by DOR in 2011, since he was able to prove that he did not owe any 2010 sales taxes.
DOR recommends denial of this claim. DOR issued an estimated assessment for 2010 sales taxes on 3/22/11. DOR levied monies in September 2011 and also applied the claimant’s 2014 income tax refund towards the assessment. The claimant’s actual 2010 sales tax return was filed on 2/4/15. DOR points to § 77.59(4)(b), Wis. Stats., which prohibits DOR from refunding the overpayment on the original sales tax assessment since no refund was claimed within the prescribed two-year period.
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 with the state should assume and pay based on equitable principles.
3.   Cedar Road Meats of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin claims $423.80 for cost to replace a septic control box damaged by a DATCP inspector. On 4/29/15, while parked in an undesignated area, a DATCP inspector accidentally backed into a PVC pipe containing the equipment. The claimant requests reimbursement for the cost of replacing the equipment.
DATCP recommends payment of this claim in full. DATCP agrees that an inspector accidentally backed her vehicle over the equipment as alleged by the claimant.
The Board concludes the claim should be paid in the amount of $423.80 based on equitable principles. The Board further concludes, under authority of § 16.007(6m), Stats., payment should be made from the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection appropriation § 20.115(1)(a), Stats.
4.   TRC Engineers, Inc. of Windsor, Connecticut claims $918.00 for refund of an alleged overpayment of fees due to an error on the claimant’s Foreign Corporation Annual Report for 2015. The claimant states that its 2015 Wisconsin assets should have been reported as $0 but were mistakenly reported as $902,855. The claimant states that this error resulted in DFI calculating fees of $1,008 instead of the correct amount, $65. The claimant requests reimbursement for the overpayment.
DFI recommends denial of this claim. DFI notes that it has no means by which to verify the accuracy of the information provided by the claimant, because the claimant has exclusive control over the information on which the Annual Report’s calculations are based. DFI points to the fact that there was no error by DFI or any of its employees. DFI notes that the Claims Board has a history of denying similar claims and recommends that the board deny this claim as well.
The Board defers decision of this claim at this time in order to seek additional information from DFI.
5.   Michelle Milstein of Shorewood, Wisconsin claims $14,803.36 for damages related to an allegedly improper termination from an instructor position at UW-Milwaukee. On 8/8/14 the clamant was offered and accepted a full-time position for fall 2014 as an ESL instructor. The claimant began working for UWM on 8/19/14 and was told her salary would be $17,137.50 for teaching two ESL sections for the Fall 2014 semester. The claimant taught her first two classes on 9/3/14. On 9/5/14, after teaching her first class, she was informed that she was being terminated due to low enrollment in the ESL program. The claimant attempted to find a teaching position at another institution but was unsuccessful because the semester had already begun. The claimant notes that prior to her acceptance of the UWM position, she had been contacted by MATC regarding moving forward in the hiring process for a part-time instructor position. That position was no longer available when she was terminated by UWM.
The claimant believes she is entitled to the remainder of her salary for the fall 2014 semester. She states that she had a valid oral contract with UWM beginning 8/8/14 and that at no time did UWM inform her that the terms of that contract included the ability to terminate her due to low enrollment. The claimant disputes UWM’s assertion that a written contract dated 9/3/14 was in effect when she was terminated. The claimant notes that she never signed that contract, which was not even mailed to her until five days after her termination.
The claimant believes it was reasonable for her to rely on UWM’s promise of employment for the full fall 2014 semester. The claimant notes that acceptance of full-time employment at UWM would naturally preclude her from employment at other institutions. The claimant states that she is familiar with academic hiring practices and that the fact that lecturers are not eligible for tenure does not mean lecturers cannot be issued contracts for fixed terms, such as one or more semesters.
On 10/15/14 the claimant filed a Notice of Claim against UWM. The claimant alleges that this NOC contained two distinct claims, a breach of contract claim related to her termination and a wage claim related to UWM’s failure to pay her for work already performed. On 11/24/14 UWM sent her a paycheck along with a letter explaining that the payment was “in satisfaction of wages owed…for the period of August 18, 2014 through and including September 5, 2014.” The claimant states it is clear from UWM’s letter that they understood the claimant had two distinct claims and that the payment only satisfied her wage claim. The claimant also alleges that, by law, a wage claim cannot be satisfied in exchange for a settlement of other claims.
UWM recommends denial of this claim. The offer made to the clamant on 8/8/14 was for a Lecturer position ($17,137.50 per semester). Upon the claimant’s acceptance of the offer, the ESL Department contacted the College of Letters & Science to obtain a written employment contract. The College informed the ESL Department that based on her experience; the claimant could only be employed as an Associate Lecturer ($13,537.50 per semester). UWM notes that all ESL lecturers are issued written employment contracts and that UWM made it clear to the claimant that she would have a written contract. UWM alleges the claimant clearly understood this because she inquired about the status of the written contract on several occasions. UWM states that due to a beginning of semester backlog in the College, the written employment contract was not finalized until 9/3/14.
UWM states that even if the written contract is not controlling as the claimant alleges, UWM had a right to terminate under the oral contract. UWM notes it never at any time represented to the claimant that her employment was guaranteed for the full semester. Although the claimant argues that UWM never told her it could terminate her due to low enrollment, UWM never told the claimant that it could not do so. In the absence of a promise by UWM of guaranteed employment for the full semester, the claimant is not allowed to invent such a promise, simply because it is in her favor. UWM also notes the claimant has not provided proof that she forewent other employment. The alleged MATC employment offer was not an official job offer, but only an invitation to move to the “next step” in the hiring process. UWM also notes that this was a part-time position and that the claimant has provided no salary information regarding MATC’s alleged offer.
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