805.04 Annotation
Where doubt exists regarding the finality of an order of dismissal, the court may look beyond the words "with prejudice" to determine if the dismissal was meant to be conclusive. Brye v. Brakebush, 32 F 3d 1179 (1994).
805.05
805.05
Consolidation; separate trials. 805.05(1)(a)(a) When actions which might have been brought as a single action under
s. 803.04 are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all of the claims in the actions; it may order all the actions consolidated; and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.
805.05(1)(b)
(b) When actions which might have been brought as a single action under
s. 803.04 are pending before different courts, any such action may be transferred upon motion of any party or of the court to another court where the related action is pending. A conference involving both judges and all counsel may be convened on the record as prescribed by
s. 807.13 (3). Transfer under this paragraph shall be made only by the joint written order of the transferring court and the court to which the action is transferred.
805.05(2)
(2) Separate trials. The court, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition or economy, or pursuant to
s. 803.04 (2) (b), may order a separate trial of any claim, cross-claim, counterclaim or 3rd party claim, or of any number of claims, always preserving inviolate the right of trial in the mode to which the parties are entitled.
805.05 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 692 (1975); Sup. Ct. Order, 141 W (2d) xiii (1987).
805.05 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (1) (b) is amended by allowing conferences regarding consolidation of actions to be conducted by telephone conference. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
805.06(1)(1) A court in which an action is pending may appoint a referee who shall have such qualifications as the court deems appropriate. The fees to be allowed to a referee shall be fixed by the court and shall be charged upon such of the parties or paid out of any fund or subject matter of the action, which is in the custody and control of the court, as the court may direct. The referee shall not retain the referee's report as security for compensation; but if the party ordered to pay the fee allowed by the court does not pay it after notice and within the time prescribed by the court, the referee is entitled to a writ of execution against the delinquent party.
805.06(2)
(2) A reference shall be the exception and not the rule. In actions to be tried by a jury, a reference shall be made only when the issues are complicated; in actions to be tried without a jury, save in matters of account and of difficult computation of damages, a reference shall be made only upon a showing that some exceptional condition requires it.
805.06(3)
(3) The order of reference to the referee may specify or limit the referee's powers and may direct the referee to report only upon particular issues or to do or perform particular acts or to receive and report evidence only and may fix the time and place for beginning and closing the hearings and for the filing of the referee's report. Subject to the specifications and limitations stated in the order, the referee has and shall exercise the power to regulate all proceedings in every hearing before the referee and to do all acts and take all measures necessary or proper for the efficient performance of duties under the order. The referee may require the production of evidence upon all matters embraced in the reference, including the production of all books, papers, vouchers, documents, and writings applicable thereto. The referee may rule upon the admissibility of evidence unless otherwise directed by the order of reference and has the authority to put witnesses on oath and may personally examine them and may call the parties to the action and examine them upon oath. When a party so requests, the referee shall make a record of the evidence offered and excluded in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as a court sitting without a jury.
805.06(4)(a)(a) When a reference is made, the clerk shall forthwith furnish the referee with a copy of the order of reference. Upon receipt thereof unless the order of reference otherwise provides, the referee shall forthwith set a time and place for the first meeting of the parties or their attorneys to be held within 20 days after the date of the order of reference and shall notify the parties or their attorneys. It is the duty of the referee to proceed with all reasonable diligence. Any party, on notice to the parties and the referee, may apply to the court for an order requiring the referee to speed the proceedings and to make the report. If a party fails to appear at the time and place appointed, the referee may proceed ex parte or may adjourn the proceedings to a future day, giving notice to the absent party of the adjournment.
805.06(4)(b)
(b) The parties may procure the attendance of witnesses before the referee by the issuance and service of subpoenas. If without adequate excuse a witness fails to appear to give evidence, the witness may be punished as for a contempt and be subjected to the consequences, penalties, and remedies provided in
ss. 885.11 and
885.12.
805.06(4)(c)
(c) When matters of accounting are in issue, the referee may prescribe the form in which the accounts shall be submitted and in any proper case may require or receive in evidence a statement by a certified public accountant who is called as a witness. Upon objection of a party to any of the items thus submitted or upon a showing that the form of statement is insufficient, the referee may require a different form of statement to be furnished, or the accounts or specific items thereof to be proved by oral examination of the accounting parties or upon written interrogatories or in such other manner as the referee directs.
805.06(5)(a)(a) The referee shall prepare a report upon the matters submitted by the order of reference and, if required to make findings of fact and conclusions of law, the referee shall set them forth in the report. The referee shall file the report with the clerk of the court and in an action to be tried without a jury, unless otherwise directed by the order of reference, shall file with it a transcript of the proceedings and of the evidence and the original exhibits. The clerk shall forthwith mail to all parties notice of the filing.
805.06(5)(b)
(b) In an action to be tried without a jury the court shall accept the referee's findings of fact unless clearly erroneous. Within 10 days after being served with notice of the filing of the report any party may serve written objections thereto upon the other parties. Application to the court for action upon the report and upon objections thereto shall be by motion and upon notice. The court after hearing may adopt the report or may modify it or may reject it in whole or in part or may receive further evidence or may recommit it with instruction.
805.06(5)(c)
(c) In an action to be tried by a jury the referee shall not be directed to report the evidence. The referee's findings upon the issues submitted are admissible as evidence of the matters found and may be read to the jury, subject to the ruling of the court upon any objections in point of law which may be made to the report.
805.06(5)(d)
(d) The effect of a referee's report is the same whether or not the parties have consented to the reference; but, when the parties stipulate that a referee's findings of fact shall be final, only questions of law arising upon the report shall thereafter be considered.
805.06 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 693 (1975);
1975 c. 218.
805.06 Annotation
Trial court properly refused to admit additional evidence on issue of fact which referee was appointed to resolve. Kleinstick v. Daleiden, 71 W (2d) 432, 238 NW (2d) 714.
805.07(1)(1)
Issuance and service. Subpoenas shall be issued and served in accordance with
ch. 885. A subpoena may also be issued by any attorney of record in a civil action or special proceeding to compel attendance of witnesses for deposition, hearing or trial in the action or special proceeding.
805.07(2)
(2) Subpoena requiring the production of material. 805.07(2)(a)(a) A subpoena may command the person to whom it is directed to produce the books, papers, documents or tangible things designated therein.
805.07(2)(b)
(b) Notice of a third-party subpoena issued for discovery purposes shall be provided to all parties at least 10 days before the scheduled deposition in order to preserve their right to object. If a third-party subpoena requests the production of books, papers, documents or tangible things that are within the scope of discovery under
s. 804.01 (2) (a), those objects shall not be provided before the time and date specified in the subpoena. The provisions under this paragraph apply unless all of the parties otherwise agree.
805.07(3)
(3) Protective orders. Upon motion made promptly and in any event at or before the time specified in the subpoena for compliance therewith, the court may (a) quash or modify the subpoena if it is unreasonable and oppressive or (b) condition denial of the motion upon the advancement by the person in whose behalf the subpoena is issued of the reasonable cost of producing the books, papers, documents, or tangible things designated therein.
805.07(4)(a)(a) The subpoena shall be in the following form:
Subpoena
State of Wisconsin
.... County
The State of Wisconsin, To ....:
Pursuant to section 805.07 of the Wisconsin Statutes, you are hereby commanded to appear in person before [.... designating the court, officer, or person and place of appearance], on [.... date] at .... o'clock ...M., to give evidence in an action between ...., plaintiff, and ...., defendant. [Insert clause requiring the production of material, if appropriate]. Failure to appear may result in punishment for contempt which may include monetary penalties, imprisonment and other sanctions. Issued this .... day of ...., 19...
[Handwritten Signature]
Attorney for [identify party]
(or other official title)
[Address]
[Telephone Number]
805.07(4)(b)
(b) For a subpoena requiring the production of material, the following shall be inserted in the foregoing form: You are further commanded to bring with you the following: [describing as accurately as possible the books, papers, documents or other tangible things sought].
805.07(5)
(5) Substituted service. A subpoena may be served in the manner provided in
s. 885.03 except that substituted personal service may be made only as provided in
s. 801.11 (1) (b) and except that officers, directors, and managing agents of public or private corporations or limited liability companies subpoenaed in their official capacity may be served as provided in
s. 801.11 (5) (a).
805.07 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 697 (1975);
1979 c. 110; Sup. Ct. Order, 141 W (2d) xiii (1987);
1987 a. 155;
1993 a. 112; Sup. Ct. Order, No. 95-09, 195 W (2d) xiii (1996).
805.07 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (6) [created] allows motions for protective orders to be heard by telephone conference. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
805.07 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1995: Sub. (2) (b) requires notice of third-party discovery subpoenas in order to preserve the right of other parties to move to quash them.
805.07 Annotation
Court may quash under (3) only subpoena to compel production of tangible things, not subpoena to compel attendance of witnesses. State v. Gilbert, 109 W (2d) 501, 326 NW (2d) 744 (1982).
805.08(1)(1)
Qualifications, examination. The court shall examine on oath each person who is called as a juror to discover whether the juror is related by blood or marriage to any party or to any attorney appearing in the case, or has any financial interest in the case, or has expressed or formed any opinion, or is aware of any bias or prejudice in the case. If a juror is not indifferent in the case, the juror shall be excused. Any party objecting for cause to a juror may introduce evidence in support of the objection. This section shall not be construed as abridging in any manner the right of either party to supplement the court's examination of any person as to qualifications, but such examination shall not be repetitious or based upon hypothetical questions.
805.08(2)
(2) Number of jurors drawn. A sufficient number of jurors shall be called in the action so that the number applicable under
s. 756.096 (3) (b) remains after the exercise of all peremptory challenges to which the parties are entitled under
sub. (3). The court may order that additional jurors be impaneled. In that case, if the number of jurors remains more than required at the time of the final submission of the cause, the court shall determine by lot which jurors shall not participate in deliberations and discharge them.
805.08(3)
(3) Peremptory challenges. Each party shall be entitled to 3 peremptory challenges which shall be exercised alternately, the plaintiff beginning; and when any party declines to challenge in turn, the challenge shall be made by the clerk by lot. The parties to the action shall be deemed 2, all plaintiffs being one party and all defendants being the other party, except that in case where 2 or more defendants have adverse interests, the court, if satisfied that the due protection of their interests so requires, in its discretion, may allow peremptory challenges to the defendant or defendants on each side of the adverse interests, not to exceed 3. Each side shall be entitled to one peremptory challenge in addition to those otherwise allowed by law if additional jurors are to be impaneled under
sub. (2).
805.08(4)
(4) Jury view. On motion of any party, the jury may be taken to view any property, matter or thing relating to the controversy between the parties when it appears to the court that the view is necessary to a just decision. The moving party shall pay the expenses of the view. The expenses shall afterwards be taxed like other legal costs if the party who incurred them prevails in the action.
805.08 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 698 (1975);
1975 c. 218;
1977 c. 318;
1977 c. 447 s.
210;
1983 a. 226.
805.08 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1983: Sub. (2) is amended by replacing the concept of "alternate" jurors with a provision allowing the court to order the impaneling of additional jurors. The panel is then reduced to the proper size by lot immediately prior to final submission of the cause. These changes are intended to promote an attentive attitude and a collegial relationship among the members of the jury.
805.08 Annotation
The first sentence of prior sub. (3) is moved to sub. (2) for more logical placement in the statutes. The reference to "alternate" jurors in the final sentence is changed to "additional" jurors to reflect the modification of sub. (2). [Bill 320S]
805.08 Annotation
Case law makes clear that challenge for principal cause cannot be predicated on a ground not delineated in (1). Therefore, disqualification because of a juror's affiliation or interest in the insurance industry requires proof of bias or prejudice. Nolan v. Venus Ford, Inc. 64 W (2d) 215, 218 NW (2d) 507.
805.08 Annotation
Trial court did not abuse discretion in failing to strike for cause 3 veniremen who were friends of a prosecution witness where there was no showing of probable prejudice. Nyberg v. State, 75 W (2d) 400, 249 NW (2d) 524.
805.08 Annotation
Mere expression of predetermined opinion as to guilt during voir dire does not disqualify juror per se. Hammill v. State, 89 W (2d) 404, 278 NW (2d) 821 (1979).
805.08 Annotation
Disproportionate representation of group in one array is insufficient to establish systematic exclusion. State v. Pruitt, 95 W (2d) 69, 289 NW (2d) 343 (Ct. App. 1980).
805.08 Annotation
Trial court, sitting as trier of fact, committed error of law in making and relying on unrequested, unannounced, unaccompanied and unrecorded view of accident scene in assessing evidence produced at trial. American Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Shannon, 120 W (2d) 560, 356 NW (2d) 175 (1984).
805.08 Annotation
See note to 752.35, citing State v. Wyss, 124 W (2d) 681, 370 NW (2d) 745 (1985).
805.08 Annotation
Law enforcement officers should not be automatically excused for cause from venire on grounds of implied bias. State v. Louis, 156 W (2d) 470, 457 NW (2d) 484 (1990).
805.08 Annotation
Prospective jurors related to a state witness by blood or marriage to the third degree must be struck from the jury panel. State v. Gesch, 167 W (2d) 660, 482 NW (2d) 99 (1992).
805.08 Annotation
Verdict of thirteen member jury panel agreed to by defense and prosecution was not invalid. State v. Ledger, 175 W (2d) 116, 499 NW (2d) 199 (Ct. App. 1993).
805.08 Annotation
Guarantees of open public proceedings in criminal trials includes voir dire examination of potential jurors. Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court of Cal. 464 US 501 (1984).
805.08 Annotation
No new trial was required where juror's failure to disclose during voir dire was harmless. Mc Donough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood, 464 US 548 (1984).
805.08 Annotation
Use of peremptory challenges by private litigant in civil action to exclude potential jurors solely because of race violates equal protection. Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Co., 500 US 614, 114 LEd 2d 660 (1991).
805.08 Annotation
State v. Louis: A Missed Opportunity to Clarify when Law Enforcement Officials May Serve as Petit Jurors in Criminal Cases. 1992 WLR 757.
805.08 Annotation
See also notes to Article I, section 7.
805.09
805.09
Juries of fewer than 12; five-sixths verdict. 805.09(2)
(2) Verdict. A verdict agreed to by five-sixths of the jurors shall be the verdict of the jury. If more than one question must be answered to arrive at a verdict on the same claim, the same five-sixths of the jurors must agree on all the questions.
805.09 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 700 (1975);
1977 c. 318;
1977 c. 447 s.
210.
805.09 Annotation
"Claim-by-claim" analysis of multiple-question verdicts discussed. Giese v. Montgomery Ward, Inc. 111 W (2d) 392, 331 NW (2d) 585 (1983).
805.10
805.10
Examination of witnesses; arguments. Unless the judge otherwise orders, not more than one attorney for each side shall examine or cross-examine a witness and not more than 2 attorneys on each side shall sum up to the jury. The plaintiff shall be entitled to the opening and final rebuttal arguments. Plaintiff's rebuttal shall be limited to matters raised by any adverse party in argument. Waiver of argument by either party shall not preclude the adverse party from making any argument which the adverse party would otherwise have been entitled to make. Before the argument is begun, the court may limit the time for argument.
805.10 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 701 (1975);
1975 c. 218.
805.10 Annotation
Attorney's concession during closing argument that client was negligent could not be construed as binding admission. Kuzmic v. Kreutzmann, 100 W (2d) 48, 301 NW (2d) 266 (Ct. App. 1980).
805.10 Annotation
This section authorizes judge to allow more than 2 attorneys on each side to sum up to jury but judge may not limit to fewer than 2 on each side. In Interest of C.E.W. 124 W (2d) 47, 368 NW (2d) 47 (1985).
805.11
805.11
Objections; exceptions. 805.11(1)
(1) Any party who has fair opportunity to object before a ruling or order is made must do so in order to avoid waiving error. An objection is not necessary after a ruling or order is made.
805.11(2)
(2) A party raising an objection must specify the grounds on which the party predicates the objection or claim of error.
805.11(3)
(3) Exceptions shall never be made.
805.11 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 701 (1975);
1975 c. 218.
805.12
805.12
Special verdicts. 805.12(1)(1)
Use. Unless it orders otherwise, the court shall direct the jury to return a special verdict. The verdict shall be prepared by the court in the form of written questions relating only to material issues of ultimate fact and admitting a direct answer. The jury shall answer in writing. In cases founded upon negligence, the court need not submit separately any particular respect in which the party was allegedly negligent. The court may also direct the jury to find upon particular questions of fact.
805.12(2)
(2) Omitted issue. When some material issue of ultimate fact not brought to the attention of the trial court but essential to sustain the judgment is omitted from the verdict, the issue shall be deemed determined by the court in conformity with its judgment and the failure to request a finding by the jury on the issue shall be deemed a waiver of jury trial on that issue.
805.12(3)
(3) Clerk's entries after verdict. Upon receiving a verdict, the clerk shall make an entry on the minutes specifying the time the verdict was received and the court's order setting time for motions after verdict under
s. 805.16. The verdict and special findings shall be filed.
