893.57 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.57 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.21 (2) renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.57 Annotation
This section governs the intentional tort of bad faith by an insurer. Warmka v. Hartland Cicero Mut. Ins.
136 Wis. 2d 31,
400 N.W.2d 923 (1987).
893.57 Annotation
A cause of action does not accrue until the plaintiff knows the tortfeasor's identity or reasonably should have discovered it. Spitler v. Dean,
148 Wis. 2d 630,
436 N.W.2d 308 (1989).
893.57 Annotation
A physician's intentional improper sexual touching of a patient was subject to s. 893.57 governing intentional torts, not s. 893.55 governing medical malpractice. Deborah S.S. v. Yogesh N.G.
175 Wis. 2d 436,
499 N.W.2d 272 (Ct. App. 1993).
893.57 Annotation
A claim involving excessive use of force in an arrest constitutes an intentional tort subject to s. 893.57. Kofler v. Florence,
216 Wis. 2d 41,
573 N.W.2d 568 (Ct. App. 1997).
893.58
893.58
Actions concerning seduction. All actions for damages for seduction shall be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues or be barred.
893.58 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.58 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.22 (2) renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.58 Annotation
Since the mother's counterclaim was served within one year from the date alleged of the last alleged act of seduction, the cause of action was not barred by the one-year statute of limitations. Slawek v. Stroh,
62 Wis. 2d 295,
215 N.W.2d 9 (1974).
893.585
893.585
Sexual exploitation by a therapist. 893.585(1)
(1) Notwithstanding
ss. 893.54,
893.55 and
893.57, an action under
s. 895.70 for damages shall be commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.
893.585(2)
(2) If a person entitled to bring an action under
s. 895.70 is unable to bring the action due to the effects of the sexual contact or due to any threats, instructions or statements from the therapist, the period of inability is not part of the time limited for the commencement of the action, except that this subsection shall not extend the time limitation by more than 15 years.
893.585 History
History: 1985 a. 275.
893.587
893.587
Sexual assault of a child; limitation. An action to recover damages for injury caused by an act that would constitute a violation of
s. 948.02,
948.025,
948.06, or
948.095 shall be commenced within 5 years after the plaintiff discovers the fact and the probable cause, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered the fact and the probable cause, of the injury, whichever occurs first. This section does not shorten the period to commence an action provided under
s. 893.16 (1).
893.587 History
History: 1987 a. 332;
2001 a. 16.
893.587 Annotation
A victim's action was time barred when "flashbacks" more than 2 years prior to commencing suit made her aware of incest that allegedly occurred more than 50 years earlier. The action was barred despite evidence that the victim was unable to shift the blame from herself at the time of discovery. Byrne v. Brecker,
176 Wis. 2d 1037,
501 N.W.2d 402 (1993).
893.587 Annotation
An adult victim of incest, who at the time of the incestuous act was aware of the identity of the tortfeasor and the impropriety of the conduct did not qualify for tolling of the statute of limitations under the discovery rule because she was unaware of the psychological harm that might occur. Cheryl D. v. Estate of Robert D.B.
207 Wis. 2d 546,
559 N.W.2d 272 (Ct. App. 1996).
893.59
893.59
Actions concerning damage to highway or railroad grade. An action under
s. 88.87 (3) (b) to recover damages to a highway or railroad grade shall be commenced within 90 days after the alleged damage occurred or be barred.
893.59 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.59 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section has been created to place into ch. 893 the statute of limitations for an action to recover damages to a highway or railroad grade. (See note following s. 88.87 (3) (b)). [Bill 326-A]
ACTIONS RELATED TO FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OR GOVERNMENTAL OBLIGATIONS
893.60
893.60
What actions not affected. Actions against directors or stockholders of a moneyed corporation or banking association or against managers or members of a limited liability company to recover a forfeiture imposed or to enforce a liability created by law shall be commenced within 6 years after the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts upon which the forfeiture attached or the liability was created or be barred.
893.60 History
History: 1979 c. 323;
1993 a. 112.
893.60 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.51 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.61
893.61
Contract for payment of money; governmental subdivisions. An action upon any bond, coupon, interest warrant or other contract for the payment of money, whether sealed or otherwise, made or issued by any town, county, city, village, school district or technical college district in this state shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred.
893.61 History
History: 1979 c. 323;
1993 a. 399.
893.61 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.19 (2) renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.62
893.62
Action concerning usury. An action under
s. 138.06 (3) for interest, principal and charges paid on a loan or forbearance shall be commenced within 2 years after the interest which is at a rate greater than allowed under
s. 138.05 is paid or be barred.
893.62 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.62 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section has been created to place into ch. 893 the statute of limitations for an action concerning usury. (See note following s. 138.06 (3)). [Bill 326-A]
893.63
893.63
Actions on cashier's check, certified check, or bank money order. 893.63(1)(1) Upon the expiration of 2 years from the date of any cashier's check, certified check or bank money order, there having been no presentment for payment of the check or money order by a holder thereof, the maker shall, upon demand, return to the remitter noted thereon, if any, the full face amount of the cashier's check, certified check or bank money order, and thereafter shall be relieved of any and all liability upon the cashier's check, certified check or bank money order, to the remitter, the payee or any other holder thereof.
893.63(2)
(2) Subsection (1) applies to all cashier's checks, certified checks and bank money orders, which have been made before November 2, 1969 but were not presented for payment by a holder within 2 years of their date, but an action by the remitter of a cashier's check, certified check and bank money order, to recover moneys held by a bank beyond the time limited by
sub. (1) shall be subject to
s. 893.43.
893.63 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.63 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.215 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.64
893.64
Actions upon accounts. In actions brought to recover the balance due upon a mutual and open account current the cause of action shall be deemed to have accrued at the time of the last item proved in such account.
893.64 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.64 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.25 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.65
893.65
Bank bills not affected. This chapter does not apply to any action brought upon any bills, notes or other evidences of debt issued or put into circulation as money by a bank or other person.
893.65 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.65 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.29 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893 and revised to reflect Lusk v. Stoughton State Bank, 135 Wis. 311, 115 N.W. 813 (1908). [Bill 326-A]
893.66
893.66
Certified public accountants; limitations of actions. 893.66(1)(1) Except as provided in
subs. (1m) to
(4), an action to recover damages, based on tort, contract or other legal theory, against any certified public accountant licensed or certified under
ch. 442 for an act or omission in the performance of professional accounting services shall be commenced within 6 years from the date of the act or omission or be barred.
893.66(1m)
(1m) If a person sustains damages covered under
sub. (1) during the period beginning on the first day of the 6th year and ending on the last day of the 6th year after the performance of the professional accounting services, the time for commencing the action for damages is extended one year after the date on which the damages occurred.
893.66(2)
(2) If a person sustains damages covered under
sub. (1) and the statute of limitations applicable to those damages bars commencement of the cause of action before the end of the period specified in
sub. (1), then that statute of limitations applies.
893.66(4)
(4) This section does not apply to any person who commits fraud or concealment in the performance of professional accounting services.
893.66 History
History: 1993 a. 310;
2001 a. 16.
ACTIONS RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS OR ORGANIZATION
893.70
893.70
Action against certain officials. An action against a sheriff, coroner, medical examiner, town clerk, or constable upon a liability incurred by the doing of an act in his or her official capacity and in virtue of his or her office or by the omission of an official duty, including the nonpayment of money collected upon execution, shall be commenced within 3 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred. This section does not apply to an action for an escape.
893.70 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.70 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.20 (1) renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.71
893.71
County seat; contesting change. An action or proceeding to test the validity of a change of any county seat shall be commenced within 3 years after the date of the publication of the governor's proclamation of such change or be barred. Every defense founded upon the invalidity of any such change must be interposed within 3 years after the date of the aforesaid publication, and the time of commencement of the action or proceeding to which any such defense is made shall be deemed the time when such defense is interposed.
893.71 History
History: 1979 c. 323.
893.71 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.20 (3) renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.72
893.72
Actions contesting special assessment. An action to avoid any special assessment, or taxes levied pursuant to the special assessment, or to restrain the levy of the taxes or the sale of lands for the nonpayment of the taxes, shall be brought within one year from the notice thereof, and not thereafter. This limitation shall cure all defects in the proceedings, and defects of power on the part of the officers making the assessment, except in cases where the lands are not liable to the assessment, or the city, village or town has no power to make any such assessment, or the amount of the assessment has been paid or a redemption made.
893.72 History
History: 1979 c. 323;
1993 a. 246.
893.72 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section is previous s. 893.24 renumbered for more logical placement in restructured ch. 893. [Bill 326-A]
893.73
893.73
Actions contesting governmental decisions. 893.73(1)(1) The following actions are barred unless brought within 180 days after the adoption of the order, resolution, ordinance or ordinance amendment contested:
893.73(1)(a)
(a) An action to contest the validity of a county zoning ordinance or amendment, if
s. 59.69 (14) applies to the action.
893.73(1)(b)
(b) An action to review the validity of proceedings for division or dissolution of a town under
s. 60.03.
893.73(2)
(2) The following actions are barred unless brought within 90 days after the adoption of the order, annexation ordinance or final determination of the action contested:
893.73(2)(a)
(a) An action under
s. 60.73 contesting an act of a town board or the department of natural resources in the establishment of a town sanitary district.
893.73(2)(c)
(c) A petition for certiorari or other action under
s. 80.34 (2) to contest the validity of an order regarding a highway or highway records.
893.73 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section has been created to consolidate into one provision of ch. 893 six types of actions presently outside of the chapter involving the contesting of governmental decisions. The actions have been broken down into 2 separate categories, those which must be commenced within 180 days of the adoption of the governmental decision and those that must be commenced within 90 days of the decision.
893.73 Annotation
The previous 180-day period within which to contest a county zoning ordinance or amendment remains unchanged.
893.73 Annotation
The one-year period in which to commence an action to contest the proceedings to constitute or divide a town has been shortened to 180 days (see note following s. 60.05 (4)). The previous 180-day time period to commence an action contesting the validity of the creation of a soil and water district remains unchanged (see note following s. 92.16).
893.73 Annotation
The previous 20-day period to commence an action to set aside an action of a town board to establish a sanitary district has been increased to 90 days (see note following s. 60.304).
893.73 Annotation
The previous 60-day period within which to commence an action to contest the validity of an annexation has been increased to 90 days (see note following s. 66.021 (10) (a)).
893.73 Annotation
The 90-day period to commence an action contesting the validity of an order regarding a highway or highway records remains unchanged (see note following s. 80.34 (2)). [Bill 326-A]
893.73 Annotation
Under sub. (2), "adoption" refers to a legislative body's approval of an annexation ordinance. The statute of limitations begins to run on that date. Town of Sheboygan v. City of Sheboygan,
150 Wis. 2d 210,
441 N.W.2d 752 (Ct. App. 1989).
893.735
893.735
Action by prisoner contesting a governmental decision. 893.735(2)
(2) An action seeking a remedy available by certiorari made on behalf of a prisoner is barred unless commenced within 45 days after the cause of action accrues. The 45-day period shall begin on the date of the decision or disposition, except that the court may extend the period by as many days as the prisoner proves have elapsed between the decision or disposition and the prisoner's actual notice of the decision or disposition. Subject to no contact requirements of a court or the department of corrections, a prisoner in administrative confinement, program segregation or adjustment segregation may communicate by 1st class mail, in accordance with department of corrections' rules or with written policies of the custodian of the prisoner, with a 3rd party outside the institution regarding the action or special proceeding.
893.735(3)
(3) In this section, an action seeking a remedy available by certiorari is commenced at the time that the prisoner files a petition seeking a writ of certiorari with a court.
893.735 History
History: 1997 a. 133.
893.735 Annotation
The words "on behalf of" in sub. (2) are not restricted to 3rd-party conduct. The time limit applies to actions filed by a prisoner on behalf of himself or herself. State ex rel. Collins v. Cooke, 2000 WI App 101,
235 Wis. 2d 63,
611 N.W.2d 774.
893.735 Annotation
The definition of "prisoner" in s. 801.02 (7) (a) 2. does not include a Wisconsin inmate sent to an out-of-state county jail, and, therefore, the 45-day limit does not apply to the inmate. State ex rel. Frohwirth v. Wisconsin Parole Commission, 2000 WI 139,
237 Wis. 2d 627,
614 N.W.2d 541.
893.735 Annotation
Persons seeking certiorari review of probation revocation are prisoners subject to the 45-day filing deadline under sub. (2). State ex rel. Cramer v. Wisconsin Court of Appeals, 2000 WI 86,
236 Wis. 2d 473,
613 N.W.2d 591.
893.735 Annotation
When a prison inmate places a certiorari petition in the prison's mailbox for forwarding to the circuit court, the 45-day limit under sub. (2) is tolled. However, other defects in in filing may nonetheless result in rejection by the court. State ex rel. Shimkus v. Sondalle, 2000 WI App 262,
240 Wis. 2d 310,
622 N.W.2d 763.
893.735 Annotation
To invoke the tolling of the 45-day limit under sub. (2), an inmate must present an affidavit or some other sufficient evidence of the date on which the petition was deposited in the institution mailbox. State ex rel. Shimkus v. Sondalle, 2000 WI App 262,
240 Wis. 2d 310,
240 Wis. 2d 310,
622 N.W.2d 763.
893.735 Annotation
That out-of-state inmates have a longer filing deadline for challenging parole revocation under Frohwirth does not violate the constitutional grantee of equal protection. State ex rel. Saffold v. Schwarz, 2001 WI App 56,
241 Wis. 2d 253,
625 N.W.2d 333.
