803.01(2)
(2) Representatives. A personal representative, executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, trustee of an express trust, a party with whom or in whose name a contract has been made for the benefit of another, or a party authorized by statute may sue in the party's name without joining the person for whose benefit the action is brought. A partner asserting a partnership claim may sue in the partner's name without joining the other members of the partnership, but the partner shall indicate in the pleading that the claim asserted belongs to the partnership.
803.01(3)
(3) Infants or incompetent persons. 803.01(3)(a)(a)
Appearance by guardian or guardian ad litem. If a party to an action or proceeding is a minor, or if the court has reason to believe that a party is mentally incompetent to have charge of the party's affairs, the party shall appear by an attorney, by the general guardian of the party's property who may appear by attorney or by a guardian ad litem who may appear by an attorney. A guardian ad litem shall be appointed in all cases where the minor or incompetent has no general guardian of property, or where the general guardian fails to appear and act on behalf of the ward or incompetent, or where the interest of the minor or incompetent is adverse to that of the general guardian. Except as provided in
s. 807.10, if the general guardian does appear and act and the interests of the general guardian are not adverse to the minor or incompetent, a guardian ad litem shall not be appointed. Except as provided in
s. 879.23 (4), where the interests of the minor or mentally incompetent person are represented by an attorney of record the court shall, except upon good cause stated in the record, appoint that attorney as the guardian ad litem.
803.01(3)(b)1.1. The guardian ad litem shall be appointed by a circuit court of the county where the action is to be commenced or is pending, except that the guardian ad litem shall be appointed by a family court commissioner of the county in actions to establish paternity that are before the family court commissioner.
803.01(3)(b)2.
2. When the plaintiff is a minor 14 years of age or over, upon the plaintiff's application or upon the state's application under
s. 767.045 (1) (c); or if the plaintiff is under that age or is mentally incompetent, upon application of the plaintiff's guardian or of a relative or friend or upon application of the state under
s. 767.045 (1) (c). If the application is made by a relative, friend or the state, notice thereof must first be given to the guardian if the plaintiff has one in this state; if the plaintiff has none, then to the person with whom the minor or mentally incompetent resides or who has the minor or mentally incompetent in custody.
803.01(3)(b)3.
3. When the defendant is a minor 14 years of age or over, upon the defendant's application made within 20 days after the service of the summons or other original process; if the defendant is under that age or neglects to so apply or is mentally incompetent, then upon the court's own motion or upon the application of any other party or any relative or friend or the defendant's guardian upon such notice of the application as the court directs or approves.
803.01(3)(b)4.
4. If the appointment, for a plaintiff or a defendant, is after the commencement of the action, it shall be upon motion entitled in the action. If the appointment is for a plaintiff and is made before the action is begun, the petition for appointment shall be entitled in the name of the action proposed to be brought by the minor or incompetent, and the appointment may be made before the summons is served. Upon the filing of a petition for appointment before summons, the clerk may impose the fee required for the commencement of an action, but in that event no additional commencement fee may be imposed when the summons is filed.
803.01(3)(b)5.
5. The motion or petition under
subd. 4. shall state facts showing the need and authority for the appointment. The hearing on the motion or petition under
subd. 4., if made by a minor or mentally incompetent person for such person's guardian ad litem, may be held without notice and the appointment made by order. If the motion or petition is made for a minor or mentally incompetent who is an adverse party, the hearing shall be on notice.
803.01(3)(b)6.
6. If a compromise or a settlement of an action or proceeding to which an unrepresented minor or mentally incompetent person is a party is proposed, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed, upon petition in a special proceeding, to protect the interest of the minor or incompetent even though commencement of an action is not proposed. Any compromise or settlement shall be subject to
s. 807.10.
803.01(3)(c)
(c)
Procedure where minor or incompetent not represented. 803.01(3)(c)1.1. If at any time prior to the entry of judgment or final order, the court finds that either a minor, or a person believed by the court to be mentally incompetent to have charge of his or her affairs, has not been represented in the action or proceeding as provided in
par. (a), there shall be no further proceedings until a guardian ad litem is appointed. In making such appointment, the court shall fix a reasonable time within which the guardian ad litem may move to vacate or strike any order entered or action taken during the period when a guardian ad litem was required; and as to all matters to which objection is not made, the guardian ad litem and the ward shall be bound. Any such motion by a guardian ad litem shall be granted as a matter of right.
803.01(3)(c)2.
2. If the court finds after the entry of judgment or final order that a person, who at the time of entry of judgment or final order was a minor or mentally incompetent, was not represented in the action or proceeding by an attorney of record or otherwise represented as provided in
par. (a) the judgment or order shall be vacated on motion of:
803.01(3)(c)2.a.
a. The minor or mentally incompetent, for whom no appointment was made, at any time prior to the expiration of one year after the disability is removed; or
803.01(3)(c)2.b.
b. The personal representative of such minor or mentally incompetent at any time prior to the expiration of one year after the death of the minor or mentally incompetent.
803.01 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 638 (1975);
1975 c. 218;
1977 c. 299,
449;
1981 c. 317;
1993 a. 481;
1997 a. 35.
803.01 Annotation
See note to 753.19, citing Romasko v. Milwaukee, 108 W (2d) 32, 321 NW (2d) 123 (1982).
803.02
803.02
Joinder of claims and remedies. 803.02(1)
(1) A party asserting a claim to relief as an original claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or 3rd party claim, may join, either as independent or as alternate claims, as many claims, legal or equitable, as the party has against an opposing party.
803.02(2)
(2) Whenever a claim is one heretofore cognizable only after another claim has been prosecuted to a conclusion, the 2 claims may be joined in a single action; but the court shall grant relief in that action only in accordance with the relative substantive rights of the parties. In particular, a plaintiff may state a claim for money and a claim to have set aside a conveyance fraudulent as to the plaintiff, without first having obtained a judgment establishing the claim for money.
803.02 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 642 (1975);
1975 c. 218.
803.03
803.03
Joinder of persons needed for just and complete adjudication. 803.03(1)(1)
Persons to be joined if feasible. A person who is subject to service of process shall be joined as a party in the action if:
803.03(1)(a)
(a) In the person's absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties; or
803.03(1)(b)
(b) The person claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that the disposition of the action in the person's absence may:
803.03(1)(b)1.
1. As a practical matter impair or impede the person's ability to protect that interest; or
803.03(1)(b)2.
2. Leave any of the persons already parties subject to a substantial risk of incurring double, multiple or otherwise inconsistent obligations by reason of his or her claimed interest.
803.03(2)
(2) Claims arising by subrogation, derivation and assignment. 803.03(2)(a)(a)
Joinder of related claims. A party asserting a claim for affirmative relief shall join as parties to the action all persons who at the commencement of the action have claims based upon subrogation to the rights of the party asserting the principal claim, derivation from the principal claim, or assignment of part of the principal claim. For purposes of this section, a person's right to recover for loss of consortium shall be deemed a derivative right. Any public assistance recipient or any estate of such a recipient asserting a claim against a 3rd party for which the public assistance provider has a right of subrogation or assignment under
s. 49.89 (2) or
(3) shall join the provider as a party to the claim. Any party asserting a claim based upon subrogation to part of the claim of another, derivation from the rights or claim of another, or assignment of part of the rights or claim of another shall join as a party to the action the person to whose rights the party is subrogated, from whose claim the party derives his or her rights or claim, or by whose assignment the party acquired his or her rights or claim.
803.03(2)(b)
(b)
Options after joinder. Any party joined pursuant to
par. (a) may 1. participate in the prosecution of the action, 2. agree to have his or her interest represented by the party who caused the joinder, or 3. move for dismissal with or without prejudice. If the party joined chooses to participate in the prosecution of the action, the party joined shall have an equal voice with other claimants in such prosecution. If the party joined chooses to have his or her interest represented by the party who caused the joinder, the party joined shall sign a written waiver of the right to participate which shall express consent to be bound by the judgment in the action. Such waiver shall become binding when filed with the court, but a party may withdraw the waiver upon timely motion to the judge to whom the case has been assigned with notice to the other parties. A party who represents the interest of another party and who obtains a judgment favorable to such other party may be awarded reasonable attorneys fees by the court. If the party joined moves for dismissal without prejudice as to his or her claim, the party shall demonstrate to the court that it would be unjust to require the party to prosecute the claim with the principal claim. In determining whether to grant the motion to dismiss, the court shall weigh the possible prejudice to the movant against the state's interest in economy of judicial effort.
803.03(2)(c)
(c)
Scheduling and pretrial conferences. At the scheduling conference and pretrial conference, the judge to whom the case has been assigned shall inquire concerning the existence of and joinder of persons with subrogated, derivative or assigned rights and shall make such orders as are necessary to effectuate the purposes of this section. If the case is an action to recover damages based on alleged criminally injurious conduct, the court shall inquire to see if an award has been made under
ch. 949 and if the department of justice is subrogated to the cause of action under
s. 949.15.
803.03(3)
(3) Determination by court whenever joinder not feasible. If any such person has not been so joined, the judge to whom the case has been assigned shall order that the person be made a party. If the person should join as a plaintiff but refuses to do so, the person may be made a defendant, or, in a proper case, an involuntary plaintiff. If a person as described in
subs. (1) and
(2) cannot be made a party, the court shall determine whether in equity and good conscience the action should proceed among the parties before it, or should be dismissed, the absent person being thus regarded as indispensable. The factors to be considered by the court include:
803.03(3)(a)
(a) To what extent a judgment rendered in the person's absence might be prejudicial to the person or those already parties;
803.03(3)(b)
(b) The extent to which, by protective provisions in the judgment, by the shaping of relief, or other measures, the prejudice can be lessened or avoided;
803.03(3)(c)
(c) Whether a judgment rendered in the person's absence will be adequate; and
803.03(3)(d)
(d) Whether the plaintiff will have an adequate remedy if the action is dismissed for nonjoinder.
803.03(4)
(4) Pleading reasons for nonjoinder. A pleading asserting a claim for relief shall state the names, if known to the pleader, of any persons as described in
subs. (1) and
(2) who are not joined, and the reasons why they are not joined.
803.03(5)
(5) Exception of class actions. This section is subject to
s. 803.08.
803.03 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 643 (1975);
1975 c. 218;
1979 c. 189,
221;
1983 a. 192;
1985 a. 29;
1989 a. 31;
1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 35.
803.03 Annotation
See note to 806.04, citing In Matter of Estate of Fessler, 100 W (2d) 437, 302 NW (2d) 414 (1981).
803.03 Annotation
"May" as used in (2) (b) is mandatory, requiring subrogated party to choose one of the options or risk dismissal with prejudice. Radloff v. General Cas. Co. 147 W (2d) 14, 432 NW (2d) 597 (Ct. App. 1988).
803.03 Annotation
A claim of misjoinder must be timely asserted in a responsive pleading. Failure to do so may result in the entry of default judgment against the defaulting party. Holman v. Family Health Plan, 216 W (2d) 100, 573 NW (2d) 577 (Ct. App. 1997).
803.03 Annotation
Mere presence of a party does not constitute "participation" under sub. (2) (b). A subrogated insurer who exercises none of the 3 options under sub. (2) (b must pay its fair share of attorney fees and costs if it has notice of and does nothing to assist in the prosecution of the action. Ninaus v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. 220 W (2d) 869, 584 NW (2d) 545 (Ct. App. 1998).
803.04
803.04
Permissive joinder of parties. 803.04(1)
(1)
Permissive joinder. All persons may join in one action as plaintiffs if they assert any right to relief jointly, severally, or in the alternative in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. All persons may be joined in one action as defendants if there is asserted against them jointly, severally, or in the alternative, any right to relief in respect of or arising out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences and if any question of law or fact common to all defendants will arise in the action. A plaintiff or defendant need not be interested in obtaining or defending against all the relief demanded. Judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief, and against one or more defendants according to their respective liabilities.
803.04(2)(a)(a) In any action for damages caused by negligence, any insurer which has an interest in the outcome of such controversy adverse to the plaintiff or any of the parties to such controversy, or which by its policy of insurance assumes or reserves the right to control the prosecution, defense or settlement of the claim or action, or which by its policy agrees to prosecute or defend the action brought by plaintiff or any of the parties to such action, or agrees to engage counsel to prosecute or defend said action or agrees to pay the costs of such litigation, is by this section made a proper party defendant in any action brought by plaintiff in this state on account of any claim against the insured. If the policy of insurance was issued or delivered outside this state, the insurer is by this paragraph made a proper party defendant only if the accident, injury or negligence occurred in this state.
803.04(2)(b)
(b) If an insurer is made a party defendant pursuant to this section and it appears at any time before or during the trial that there is or may be a cross issue between the insurer and the insured or any issue between any other person and the insurer involving the question of the insurer's liability if judgment should be rendered against the insured, the court may, upon motion of any defendant in the action, cause the person who may be liable upon such cross issue to be made a party defendant to the action and all the issues involved in the controversy determined in the trial of the action or any 3rd party may be impleaded as provided in
s. 803.05. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as prohibiting the trial court from directing and conducting separate trials on the issue of liability to the plaintiff or other party seeking affirmative relief and on the issue of whether the insurance policy in question affords coverage. Any party may move for such separate trials and if the court orders separate trials it shall specify in its order the sequence in which such trials shall be conducted.
803.04(3)
(3) Actions affecting marital property. In an action affecting the interest of a spouse in marital property, as defined under
ch. 766, a spouse who is not a real party in interest or a party described under
s. 803.03 may join in or be joined in the action.
803.04(4)
(4) Separate trials. The court may make such orders as will prevent a party from being embarrassed, delayed, or put to expense by the inclusion of a party against whom the party asserts no claim and who asserts no claim against the party, and may order separate trials or make other orders to prevent delay or prejudice.
803.04 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 646 (1975);
1975 c. 218;
1985 a. 37.
803.04 Cross-reference
Cross-references: As to insurers being made defendants, see s.
632.24. See s.
775.10, providing that the state may be made a party in an action to quiet title to land.
803.04 Annotation
See note to 802.02, citing Voight v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. 80 W (2d) 376, 259 NW (2d) 85.
803.04 Annotation
Where insurer made good-faith request for bifurcated trial under (2) (b) on issue of coverage, trial court erred in finding insurer's refusal to settle was tort of bad faith. Mowry v. Badger State Mut. Cas. 129 W (2d) 496, 385 NW (2d) 171 (1986).
803.04 Annotation
That policy is one of indemnity rather than liability does not prevent direct action against insurer. Decade's Monthly Fund v. Whyte & Hirschboeck, 173 W (2d) 665, 495 NW (2d) 335 (1993).
803.04 Annotation
Joinder of one tortfeasor who causes an injury and a successive tortfeasor who aggravates the injury is permitted by this section. Kluth v. General Casualty Co. 178 W (2d) 808, 505 NW (2d) 442 (Ct. App. 1993).
803.04 Annotation
There is neither a statutory nor a constitutional right to have all parties identified to a jury, but as a procedural rule, the court should in all cases apprise the jurors of the names of all the parties. Stoppleworth v. Refuse Hideaway, Inc. 200 W (2d) 512, 546 NW (2d) 870 (Ct. App. 1996).
803.04 Annotation
If the issue of insurance coverage involves a party not a party to the underlying lawsuit, coverage may be determined by either a bifurcated trial or a separate declaratory judgment action. The plaintiff and any other party asserting a claim in the underlying suit must be named and consolidation with the underlying action may be required. Fire Insurance Exchange v. Basten, 202 W (2d) 74, 549 NW (2d) 690 (1996).
803.04 Annotation
See note to 632.24, citing Fagnan v. Great Central Ins. Co. 577 F (2d) 418 (1978).
803.04 Annotation
In order to join insurer under (2) (a), accident must have occurred in state or policy must have been issued or delivered in state. Utz v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. 619 F (2d) 7 (1980).
803.04 Annotation
See note to 632.24, citing Federal Deposit Ins. Co. v. MGIC Indem. Corp. 462 F Supp. 759 (1978).
803.045
803.045
Actions to satisfy spousal obligations. 803.045(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (2), when a creditor commences an action on an obligation described in
s. 766.55 (2), the creditor may proceed against the obligated spouse, the incurring spouse or both spouses.
803.045(2)
(2) In an action on an obligation described in
s. 766.55 (2) (a) or
(b), a creditor may proceed against the spouse who is not the obligated spouse or the incurring spouse if the creditor cannot obtain jurisdiction in the action over the obligated spouse or the incurring spouse.
803.045(3)
(3) After obtaining a judgment, a creditor may proceed against either or both spouses to reach marital property available for satisfaction of the judgment.
803.045(4)
(4) This section does not affect the property available under
s. 766.55 (2) to satisfy the obligation.
803.045 History
History: 1985 a. 37.
803.05
803.05
Third-party practice. 803.05(1)
(1) At any time after commencement of the action, a defending party, as a third-party plaintiff, may cause a summons and complaint to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the defending party for all or part of the plaintiff's claim against the defending party, or who is a necessary party under
s. 803.03. The third-party plaintiff need not obtain leave to implead if he or she serves the third-party summons and third-party complaint not later than 6 months after the summons and complaint are filed or the time set in a scheduling order under
s. 802.10; thereafter, the third-party plaintiff must obtain leave on motion upon notice to all parties to the action. The person served with the summons and third-party complaint, hereinafter called the third-party defendant, shall make defenses to the third-party plaintiff's claim as provided in
s. 802.06 and counterclaims against the third-party plaintiff and cross-claims against any other defendant as provided in
s. 802.07. The third-party defendant may assert against the plaintiff any defenses which the third-party plaintiff has to the plaintiff's claim. The third-party defendant may also assert any claim against the plaintiff if the claim is based upon the same transaction, occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences as is the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff. The plaintiff may assert any claim against the third-party defendant if the claim is based upon the same transaction, occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences as is the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff, and the third-party defendant thereupon shall assert defenses as provided in
s. 802.06 and counterclaims and cross-claims as provided in
s. 802.07.
803.05(2)
(2) When a counterclaim is asserted against a plaintiff, the plaintiff may cause a 3rd party to be brought in under circumstances which under this section would entitle a defendant to do so.
803.05(3)
(3) Oral argument permitted on motions under this section may be heard by telephone under
s. 807.13 (1).
803.05 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 648 (1975);
1975 c. 218; Sup. Ct. Order, 82 W (2d) ix (1978); Sup. Ct. Order, 141 W (2d) xiii (1987).
803.05 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1977: Sub. (1) has been amended to allow a third-party plaintiff to serve the third-party summons and third-party complaint without leave of the court to implead if the third-party summons and third-party complaint are filed not later than 6 months after the summons and complaint in the original action are filed. The new six-month time period has been created since the old time period allowing a third-party plaintiff to file a third-party summons and third-party complaint without the need to obtain leave to implead during the time set in a scheduling order under s. 802.10 can no longer apply in most cases. The use of such a scheduling order is now completely discretionary with the trial judge. [Re Order effective July 1, 1978]
803.05 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (3) [created] allows oral argument permitted on motions under this section to be heard by telephone conference. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
803.06
803.06
Misjoinder and nonjoinder of parties. 803.06(1)
(1) Misjoinder of parties is not ground for dismissal of an action. Parties may be dropped or added by order of the court on motion of any party or on its own initiative at any stage of the action and on such terms as are just. Any claim against a party may be severed and proceeded with separately. Oral argument permitted on motions under this subsection may be heard by telephone under
s. 807.13 (1).
803.06(2)
(2) When it comes to the attention of the court that the summons has not been served upon a named defendant, the court may enter an order on its own initiative, after notice to parties of record, dismissing the action as to that defendant without prejudice.
803.06 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 649 (1975); Sup. Ct. Order, 73 W (2d) xxxi (1976); Sup. Ct. Order, 141 W (2d) xiii (1987).
803.06 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1976: Sub. (2) establishes an efficient procedure for dismissing an action against a defendant who has not been served. It will help alleviate situations such as clouds on title that could result from a summons that was not served being on file with the clerk of court. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1977]
803.06 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (1) is amended to permit oral argument on motions to drop or add parties to be heard by telephone conference. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
803.07
803.07
Interpleader. Persons having claims against the plaintiff may be joined as defendants and required to interplead when their claims are such that the plaintiff is or may be exposed to double or multiple liability. It is not ground for objection to the joinder that the claims of the several claimants or the titles on which their claims depend do not have a common origin or are not identical but are adverse to and independent of one another, or that the plaintiff avers that the plaintiff is not liable in whole or in part to any or all of the claimants. A defendant exposed to similar liability may obtain such interpleader by way of cross-claim or counterclaim. The provisions of this section supplement and do not in any way limit the joinder of parties permitted in
s. 803.04.
803.07 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 649 (1975);
1975 c. 218.
803.08
803.08
Class actions. When the question before the court is one of a common or general interest of many persons or when the parties are very numerous and it may be impracticable to bring them all before the court, one or more may sue or defend for the benefit of the whole.
803.08 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 W (2d) 585, 650 (1975).
803.08 Annotation
Section 803.08 is inapplicable to procedure for making claims against a county. Multiple claims must identify each claimant and show each claimant's authorization. Hicks v. Milwaukee County, 71 W (2d) 401, 238 NW (2d) 509.
803.08 Annotation
Trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that an action for damages caused by the negligent withdrawal of groundwater was not an appropriate class action. Nolte v. Michels Pipeline Const. Inc. 83 W (2d) 171, 265 NW (2d) 482 (1978).
803.08 Annotation
Test of common interest under 260.12, 1973 Stats., is whether all members of purported class desire same outcome of suit that their alleged representatives desire. Goebel v. First Fed. Savings & Loan Asso. 83 W (2d) 668, 266 NW (2d) 352 (1978).
803.08 Annotation
Choice of law in class action based on pension rights discussed. Schlosser v. Allis-Chalmers Corp. 86 W (2d) 226, 271 NW (2d) 879 (1978).
803.08 Annotation
Trial court must decide if named plaintiffs can fairly represent common class interest which they share with represented class and if joinder of all members is impracticable. O'Leary v. Howard Young Medical Center, 89 W (2d) 156, 278 NW (2d) 217 (Ct. App. 1979).
