905.14 Privilege in crime victim compensation proceedings.
905.15 Privilege in use of federal tax return information.
Ch. 905 Note
NOTE: Extensive comments by the Judicial Council Committee and the Federal Advisory Committee are printed with chs. 901 to 911 in 59 W (2d). The court did not adopt the comments but ordered them printed with the rules for information purposes.
905.01
905.01
Privileges recognized only as provided. Except as provided by or inherent or implicit in statute or in rules adopted by the supreme court or required by the constitution of the United States or Wisconsin, no person has a privilege to:
905.01(2)
(2) Refuse to disclose any matter; or
905.01(3)
(3) Refuse to produce any object or writing; or
905.01(4)
(4) Prevent another from being a witness or disclosing any matter or producing any object or writing.
905.01 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 59 W (2d) R1, R101 (1973).
905.01 Annotation
This section precludes courts from recognizing common law privileges not contained in the statutes, the supreme court rules, or the U.S. or Wis. constitutions. Privileges and confidentialities granted by statute are strictly interpreted. Davison v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. 75 W (2d) 190, 248 NW (2d) 433.
905.01 Annotation
See note to 968.26, citing In re Wis. Family Counseling Services v. State, 95 W (2d) 670, 291 NW (2d) 631 (Ct. App. 1980).
905.01 Annotation
Defendant did not have standing to complain that physician's testimony violated witness's physician/patient's privilege under 905.04; defendant not authorized to claim privilege on patient's behalf. State v. Echols, 152 W (2d) 725, 449 NW (2d) 320 (Ct. App. 1989).
905.015
905.015
Interpreters for persons with language difficulties or hearing or speaking impairments. If an interpreter for a person with a language difficulty or a hearing or speaking impairment interprets as an aid to a communication which is privileged by statute, rules adopted by the supreme court or the U.S. or state constitution, the interpreter may be prevented from disclosing the communication by any person who has a right to claim the privilege. The interpreter may claim the privilege but only on behalf of the person who has the right. The authority of the interpreter to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
905.015 History
History: 1979 c. 137;
1985 a. 266.
905.02
905.02
Required reports privileged by statute. A person, corporation, association, or other organization or entity, either public or private, making a return or report required by law to be made has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing the return or report, if provided by law. A public officer or agency to whom a return or report is required by law to be made has a privilege to refuse to disclose the return or report if provided by law. No privilege exists under this section in actions involving false swearing, fraudulent writing, fraud in the return or report, or other failure to comply with the law in question.
905.02 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 59 W (2d) R1, R109 (1973).
905.02 Annotation
This section applies only to privileges specifically and unequivocally provided by law against the disclosure of specific materials. Davison v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. 75 W (2d) 190, 248 NW (2d) 433.
905.03
905.03
Lawyer-client privilege. 905.03(1)
(1)
Definitions. As used in this section:
905.03(1)(a)
(a) A "client" is a person, public officer, or corporation, association, or other organization or entity, either public or private, who is rendered professional legal services by a lawyer, or who consults a lawyer with a view to obtaining professional legal services from the lawyer.
905.03(1)(b)
(b) A "lawyer" is a person authorized, or reasonably believed by the client to be authorized, to practice law in any state or nation.
905.03(1)(c)
(c) A "representative of the lawyer" is one employed to assist the lawyer in the rendition of professional legal services.
905.03(1)(d)
(d) A communication is "confidential" if not intended to be disclosed to 3rd persons other than those to whom disclosure is in furtherance of the rendition of professional legal services to the client or those reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication.
905.03(2)
(2) General rule of privilege. A client has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications made for the purpose of facilitating the rendition of professional legal services to the client: between the client or the client's representative and the client's lawyer or the lawyer's representative; or between the client's lawyer and the lawyer's representative; or by the client or the client's lawyer to a lawyer representing another in a matter of common interest; or between representatives of the client or between the client and a representative of the client; or between lawyers representing the client.
905.03(3)
(3) Who may claim the privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the client, the client's guardian or conservator, the personal representative of a deceased client, or the successor, trustee, or similar representative of a corporation, association, or other organization, whether or not in existence. The person who was the lawyer at the time of the communication may claim the privilege but only on behalf of the client. The lawyer's authority to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
905.03(4)
(4) Exceptions. There is no privilege under this rule:
905.03(4)(a)
(a)
Furtherance of crime or fraud. If the services of the lawyer were sought or obtained to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit what the client knew or reasonably should have known to be a crime or fraud; or
905.03(4)(b)
(b)
Claimants through same deceased client. As to a communication relevant to an issue between parties who claim through the same deceased client, regardless of whether the claims are by testate or intestate succession or by inter vivos transaction; or
905.03(4)(c)
(c)
Breach of duty by lawyer or client. As to a communication relevant to an issue of breach of duty by the lawyer to the lawyer's client or by the client to the client's lawyer; or
905.03(4)(d)
(d)
Document attested by lawyer. As to a communication relevant to an issue concerning an attested document to which the lawyer is an attesting witness; or
905.03(4)(e)
(e)
Joint clients. As to a communication relevant to a matter of common interest between 2 or more clients if the communication was made by any of them to a lawyer retained or consulted in common, when offered in an action between any of the clients.
905.03 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 59 W (2d) R1, R111 (1973);
1991 a. 32.
905.03 Annotation
Section is cited in discussion on general law and former statute. Jax v. Jax, 73 W (2d) 572, 243 NW (2d) 831.
905.03 Annotation
Exception under (4) (c) in legal malpractice cases discussed. Dyson v. Hempe, 140 W (2d) 792, 413 NW (2d) 379 (Ct. App. 1987).
905.03 Annotation
When a defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel, the lawyer-client privilege is waived to the extent that counsel must answer questions relevant to the allegation. State v. Flores, 170 W (2d) 272, 488 NW (2d) 116 (Ct. App. 1992).
905.03 Annotation
A litigant's request to see his or her file that is in the possession of current or former counsel does not waive the attorney-client and work product privileges and allow other parties to the litigation discovery of those files. Borgwardt v. Redlin, 196 W (2d) 342, 538 NW (2d) 581 (Ct. App. 1995).
905.03 Annotation
Waiver of attorney-client privilege is not limited to direct attacks on attorney performance. An attempt to withdraw a plea on the grounds that it was not knowingly made raised the issue of attorney performance and resulted in a waiver of the attorney-client privilege. State v. Simpson, 200 W (2d) 798, 548 NW (2d) 105 (Ct. App. 1996).
905.03 Annotation
Attorney-client privilege in Wisconsin. Stover and Koesterer. 59 MLR 227.
905.03 Annotation
Attorney-client privilege: Wisconsin's approach to exceptions. 72 MLR 582 (1989).
905.04
905.04
Physician-patient, registered nurse-patient, chiropractor-patient, psychologist-patient, social worker-patient, marriage and family therapist-patient and professional counselor-patient privilege. 905.04(1)(a)
(a) "Chiropractor" means a person licensed under
s. 446.02, or a person reasonably believed by the patient to be a chiropractor.
905.04(1)(b)
(b) A communication or information is "confidential" if not intended to be disclosed to 3rd persons other than those present to further the interest of the patient in the consultation, examination, or interview, or persons reasonably necessary for the transmission of the communication or information or persons who are participating in the diagnosis and treatment under the direction of the physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor, including the members of the patient's family.
905.04(1)(bm)
(bm) "Marriage and family therapist" means an individual who is certified as a marriage and family therapist under
ch. 457 or an individual reasonably believed by the patient to be a marriage and family therapist.
905.04(1)(c)
(c) "Patient" means an individual, couple, family or group of individuals who consults with or is examined or interviewed by a physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor.
905.04(1)(d)
(d) "Physician" means a person as defined in
s. 990.01 (28), or reasonably believed by the patient so to be.
905.04(1)(dm)
(dm) "Professional counselor" means an individual who is certified as a professional counselor under
ch. 457 or an individual reasonably believed by the patient to be a professional counselor.
905.04(1)(e)
(e) "Psychologist" means a licensed psychologist, as that term is defined in
s. 455.01 (4), or a person reasonably believed by the patient to be a psychologist.
905.04(1)(f)
(f) "Registered nurse" means a nurse who is licensed under
s. 441.06 or a person reasonably believed by the patient to be a registered nurse.
905.04(1)(g)
(g) "Social worker" means an individual who is certified as a social worker under
ch. 457 or an individual reasonably believed by the patient to be a social worker.
905.04(2)
(2) General rule of privilege. A patient has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any other person from disclosing confidential communications made or information obtained or disseminated for purposes of diagnosis or treatment of the patient's physical, mental or emotional condition, among the patient, the patient's physician, the patient's registered nurse, the patient's chiropractor, the patient's psychologist, the patient's social worker, the patient's marriage and family therapist, the patient's professional counselor or persons, including members of the patient's family, who are participating in the diagnosis or treatment under the direction of the physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor.
905.04(3)
(3) Who may claim the privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the patient, by the patient's guardian or conservator, or by the personal representative of a deceased patient. The person who was the physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor may claim the privilege but only on behalf of the patient. The authority so to do is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
905.04(4)(a)(a)
Proceedings for hospitalization, guardianship, protective services or protective placement. There is no privilege under this rule as to communications and information relevant to an issue in proceedings to hospitalize the patient for mental illness, to appoint a guardian under
s. 880.33, for court-ordered protective services or protective placement or for review of guardianship, protective services or protective placement orders, if the physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor in the course of diagnosis or treatment has determined that the patient is in need of hospitalization, guardianship, protective services or protective placement.
905.04(4)(am)
(am)
Proceedings for guardianship. There is no privilege under this rule as to information contained in a statement concerning the mental condition of the patient furnished to the court by a physician or psychologist under
s. 880.33 (1).
905.04(4)(b)
(b)
Examination by order of judge. If the judge orders an examination of the physical, mental or emotional condition of the patient, or evaluation of the patient for purposes of guardianship, protective services or protective placement, communications made and treatment records reviewed in the course thereof are not privileged under this section with respect to the particular purpose for which the examination is ordered unless the judge orders otherwise.
905.04(4)(c)
(c)
Condition an element of claim or defense. There is no privilege under this section as to communications relevant to or within the scope of discovery examination of an issue of the physical, mental or emotional condition of a patient in any proceedings in which the patient relies upon the condition as an element of the patient's claim or defense, or, after the patient's death, in any proceeding in which any party relies upon the condition as an element of the party's claim or defense.
905.04(4)(d)
(d)
Homicide trials. There is no privilege in trials for homicide when the disclosure relates directly to the facts or immediate circumstances of the homicide.
905.04(4)(e)2.
2. There is no privilege in situations where the examination of an abused or neglected child creates a reasonable ground for an opinion of the physician, registered nurse, chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor that the abuse or neglect was other than accidentally caused or inflicted by another.
905.04(4)(f)
(f)
Tests for intoxication. There is no privilege concerning the results of or circumstances surrounding any chemical tests for intoxication or alcohol concentration, as defined in
s. 340.01 (1v).
905.04(4)(g)
(g)
Paternity proceedings. There is no privilege concerning testimony about the medical circumstances of a pregnancy or the condition and characteristics of a child in a proceeding to determine the paternity of that child under
ss. 767.45 to
767.53.
905.04(4)(h)
(h)
Reporting wounds and burn injuries. There is no privilege regarding information contained in a report under
s. 146.995 pertaining to a patient's name and type of wound or burn injury.
905.04(4)(i)
(i)
Providing services to court in juvenile matters. There is no privilege regarding information obtained by an intake worker or dispositional staff in the provision of services under
s. 48.067,
48.069,
938.067 or
938.069. An intake worker or dispositional staff member may disclose information obtained while providing services under
s. 48.067 or
48.069 only as provided in
s. 48.78 and may disclose information obtained while providing services under
s. 938.067 or
938.069 only as provided in
s. 938.78.
905.04 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 59 W (2d) R121;
1975 c. 393;
1977 c. 61,
418;
1979 c. 32 s.
92 (1);
1979 c. 221,
352;
1983 a. 400,
535;
1987 a. 233,
264; Sup. Ct. Order, 151 W (2d) xxi (1989);
1991 a. 32,
39,
160;
1993 a. 98;
1995 a. 77,
275,
436.
905.04 Annotation
See note to Art. I, sec. 11, citing State v. Jenkins, 80 W (2d) 426, 259 NW (2d) 109.
905.04 Annotation
Sub. (4) (a) applies to proceedings to extend a commitment under the sex crimes act. State v. Hungerford, 84 W (2d) 236, 267 NW (2d) 258 (1978).
905.04 Annotation
By entering plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, defendant lost physician-patient privilege by virtue of 905.04 (4) (c) and lost confidentiality of treatment records under 51.30 (4) (b) 4. State v. Taylor, 142 W (2d) 36, 417 NW (2d) 192 (Ct. App. 1987).
905.04 Annotation
Psychotherapist's duty to third parties for dangerous patients' intentional behavior discussed. Schuster v. Altenberg, 144 W (2d) 223, 424 NW (2d) 159 (1988).
905.04 Annotation
See note to 905.01, citing State v. Echols, 152 W (2d) 725, 449 NW (2d) 320 (Ct. App. 1989).
905.04 Annotation
Under (4) (g) history of pregnancy is discoverable; court may permit discovery of history as long as information regarding mother's sexual relations outside of conceptive period is eliminated. In re Paternity of J.S.P., 158 W (2d) 100, 461 NW (2d) 794 (Ct. App. 1990).
905.04 Annotation
Because under (4) (f) there is no privilege for chemical tests for intoxication, results of test taken for diagnostic purposes are admissible in OMVWI trial. City of Muskego v. Godec, 167 W (2d) 536, 482 NW (2d) 79 (1992).
905.04 Annotation
A patient's mere presence in a physician's office is not within the ambit of this privilege; defendant charged with trespass to a medical facility (s. 943.145) is entitled to compulsory process to determine if any patients present at time of the alleged incident had relevant evidence. State v. Migliorino, 170 W (2d) 576, 489 NW (2d) 678 (Ct. App. 1992).
905.04 Annotation
To be entitled to an in camera inspection of privileged records, a criminal defendant must show the sought after evidence is relevant and helpful to the defense or necessary to a fair determination of guilt or innocence. Failure of the record's subject to agree to inspection is grounds for sanctions, including suppressing the record subject's testimony. State v. Shiffra, 175 W (2d) 600, 499 NW (2d) 719 (Ct. App. 1993).
905.04 Annotation
The patient's objectively reasonable expectations of confidentiality from the medical provider are the proper gauge of the privilege. State v. Locke, 177 W (2d) 590, 502 NW (2d) 891 (Ct. App. 1993).
905.04 Annotation
When a patient's medical condition is at issue the patient-client privilege gives way. Wikrent v. Toys "R" Us, 179 W (2d) 297, 507 NW (2d) 130 (Ct. App. 1993).
905.04 Annotation
Ex parte contacts between several treating physicians after the commencement of litigation did not violate this section. This section applies only to judicial proceedings and places restrictions on lawyers not physicians. Limited ex parte contacts between defense counsel and plaintiff's physicians are permissible, but ex parte discovery is not. Steinberg v. Jensen, 194 W (2d) 440, 534 NW (2d) 361 (1995).
905.04 Annotation
There is no general exception to privileged status for communications gathered from incarcerated persons. State v. Joseph P. 200 W (2d) 227, 546 NW (2d) 494 (Ct. App. 1996).
905.04 Annotation
A court's failure to inform a juvenile of the right to judicial substitution does not affect its competence and warrants reversal only if the juvenile suffers actual prejudice. State v. Kywanda F. 200 W (2d) 26, 546 NW (2d) 440 (1996).
905.04 Annotation
Privilege under this section is not a principle of substantive law, but merely an evidentiary rule applicable at all stages of civil and criminal proceedings, except actual trial on the merits in homicide cases. 64 Atty. Gen. 82.
905.05
905.05
Husband-wife privilege. 905.05(1)
(1)
General rule of privilege. A person has a privilege to prevent the person's spouse or former spouse from testifying against the person as to any private communication by one to the other made during their marriage.
905.05(2)
(2) Who may claim the privilege. The privilege may be claimed by the person or by the spouse on the person's behalf. The authority of the spouse to do so is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
905.05(3)
(3) Exceptions. There is no privilege under this rule:
905.05(3)(a)
(a) If both spouses or former spouses are parties to the action.
