893.925 History
History: 1979 c. 353 s.
7; Stats. 1979 s. 893.207;
1979 c. 355 s.
227; Stats. 1979 s. 893.925;
1995 a. 27 ss.
7214,
9116 (5).
893.93
893.93
Miscellaneous actions. 893.93(1)
(1) The following actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred:
893.93(1)(a)
(a) An action upon a liability created by statute when a different limitation is not prescribed by law.
893.93(1)(b)
(b) An action for relief on the ground of fraud. The cause of action in such case is not deemed to have accrued until the discovery, by the aggrieved party, of the facts constituting the fraud.
893.93(1)(c)
(c) An action upon a claim, whether arising on contract or otherwise, against a decedent or against a decedent's estate, unless probate of the estate in this state is commenced within 6 years after the decedent's death.
893.93(2)
(2) The following actions shall be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues or be barred:
893.93(2)(a)
(a) An action by a private party upon a statute penalty, or forfeiture when the action is given to the party prosecuting therefor and the state, except when the statute imposing it provides a different limitation.
893.93(2)(b)
(b) An action to recover a forfeiture or penalty imposed by any bylaw, ordinance or regulation of any town, county, city or village or of any corporation or limited liability company organized under the laws of this state, when no other limitation is prescribed by law.
893.93(3)
(3) The following actions shall be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues or be barred:
893.93(3)(a)
(a) An action against a sheriff or other officer for the escape of a prisoner arrested or imprisoned on civil process.
893.93(4)
(4) An action by a drainage board for damages under
s. 88.92 (2) shall be commenced within 3 years after the drainage board discovers the fact, or with the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered the fact of the damage, whichever comes first, or be barred.
893.93 Note
Judicial Council Committee's Note, 1979: This section has been created to place in one location within restructured ch. 893 various miscellaneous statutes of limitation for easier reference and use. Sub. (1) (a) is previous s. 893.19 (4). Sub. (1) (b) is previous s. 893.19 (7). Sub. (1) (c) is previous s. 893.19 (9). Sub. (1) (d) is previous s. 893.19 (10). Sub. (2) (a) is previous s. 893.21 (1) with a comma placed after the word "penalty" in order to have the section accurately reflect the decision in Grengs v. 20th Century Fox Film Corporation,
232 F.2d 325 (1956). Sub. (2) (b) is previous s. 893.21 (4). Sub. (3) (a) is previous s. 893.22 (1). Sub. (3) (b) is previous s. 893.22 (3). [Bill 326-A]
893.93 Annotation
If the complaint does not allege the requisite elements for a cause of action based on fraud, s. 893.19 (7) [now s. 893.93 (1) (b)] does not apply. Estate of Demos,
50 Wis. 2d 262,
184 N.W.2d 117.
893.93 Annotation
A complaint alleging employment discrimination on the basis of sex and seeking back-pay damages is an action upon a liability created by statute, and in the absence of any other applicable limitation, the 6-year limitation of s. 893.19 (4) [now s. 893.93 (1) (a)] applies. Yanta v. Montgomery Ward & Co., Inc.
66 Wis. 2d 53,
224 N.W.2d 389 (1974).
893.93 Annotation
When unreasonable delay in bringing suit prejudices the defendant because of the death of a key witness, laches will bar suit even if the s. 893.19 (7) [now s. 893.93 (1) (b)] statute of limitations does not. Schafer v. Wegner,
78 Wis. 2d 127,
254 N.W.2d 193.
893.93 Annotation
Complaints under the open meetings law are not brought in the individual capacity of the plaintiff but on behalf of the state, subject to the 2-year statue of limitations under sub. (2). Leung v. City of Lake Geneva, 2003 WI App 129,
265 Wis. 2d 674,
666 N.W.2d 104,
02-2747.
893.93 Annotation
Sub. (1) (a) does not apply to a professional disciplinary proceeding, the focus of which is to monitor and supervise the performance of a person who has been granted the privilege of a license in this state. Krahenbuhl v. Wisconsin Dentistry Examining Board, 2004 WI App 147,
275 Wis. 2d 626,
685 N.W.2d 591,
03-2864.
893.93 Annotation
The limitation period under sub. (1) (b) was tolled when the victim had "sufficient knowledge to make a reasonable person aware of the need for diligent investigation." Stockman v. La Croix,
790 F.2d 584 (1986).
893.93 Annotation
A cause of action under sub. (1) (b) accrues on the discovery of the fraud. Discovery occurs when the party has knowledge that would cause a reasonable person to make sufficient inquiry to discover the fraud. Owen v. Wangerin,
985 F.2d 312 (1993).
893.93 Annotation
Section 551.59 (5) applies to actions arising out of sales of securities under SEC rules, rather than s. 893.19 (7) [now 893.93 (1) (b)]. Kramer v. Loewi & Co., Inc.
357 F. Supp. 83 (1973).
893.93 Annotation
Section s. 893.21 (1) [now s. 893.93 (2) (a)] did not control an action by the EEOC charging discrimination in employment when the statute limited only acts brought by a "private party" and the EEOC is a federal agency enforcing public policy. Equal Employment Opportunity Comm. v. Laacke & Joys Co.
375 F. Supp. 852 (1974).
893.93 Annotation
Section 893.19 (4), 1977 stats. [now s. 893.93 (1) (a)] governs civil rights actions. Minor v. Lakeview Hospital,
421 F. Supp. 485 (1976).
893.93 Annotation
Section 893.19 (4) [now s. 893.93 (1) (a)] governed an action under federal law against an oil refiner for compensatory damages for alleged overcharges. Section 893.21 (1) [now s. 893.93 (2) (a)] governed an action for treble damages. U. S. Oil Co., Inc. v. Koch Refining Co.
497 F. Supp. 1125 (1980).
893.93 Annotation
The defendant in a civil rights action was estopped from pleading the statute of limitations when its own fraudulent conduct prevented the plaintiff from timely filing suit. Bell v. City of Milwaukee,
498 F. Supp. 1339 (1980).
893.94
893.94
Organized crime control; civil remedies. Any civil action arising under
ss. 946.80 to
946.88 is subject to the limitations under
s. 946.88 (1).
893.94 History
History: 1981 c. 280;
1989 a. 121.
893.95
893.95
Unclaimed property; civil remedies. Any civil action to enforce
ch. 177 is subject to the limitations under
s. 177.29 (2).
893.95 History
History: 1983 a. 408.
893.96 History
History: 1987 a. 287.
893.97 History
History: 1989 a. 44.
893.98 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
893.99 History
History: 2005 a. 197.
893.99 Note
NOTE: Statutes not contained in this chapter that relate to or impose time restrictions on asserting a claim or a cause of action include, but are not limited to, the following:
Annulment of marriage767.313
Anti-trust violations 133.18 (2)
Bank deposits and collections404.111
Bank liquidation, claim220.08 (5)
Beverage tax, recovery139.092
Bridge, lien for damages related to31.26
Bulk transfer, creditor action406.111
Business closing notification, claims and actions109.07 (4)
Child, rehearing on status48.46
Construction lien, bond, notice 779.036
Construction lien, notice 779.02
Construction lien, notice and claim779.06
Consumer transactions, customer remedies425.307
Contract for sale, breach 402.725
Cooperatives, articles of amendment, contesting validity185.53 (4)
Cooperatives, dissolution, effect on remedy 185.76
Cooperatives, dissolution, unlawful distributions 185.71 (6)
Corporations, directors' liability, proceedings against 180.0833 (3)
Corporations, dissolution, nonstock, remedies 181.1407
Corporations, dissolution proceeding, claim180.1406 (2), 180.1407 (2)
Corporations, shareholder dissent180.1328 (2), 180.1330 (1)
Corporations, take-over, recovery of security552.21 (3)
Creditors' claims128.14
Dam, lien for damages related to31.26
Death, effect on cause of action859.15
Decedent's estate:
Contesting claim 859.33
Claim against859.01
Election of surviving spouse 861.11
Fraud of surviving spouse 861.17 (5)
Marital property agreement766.58 (13)
Tort claim against 859.45
Discrimination in employment, complaint 111.39 (1)
Drainage proceedings, appeals 88.09
Election, contesting, notice 13.23
Execution, after death of debtor815.14
Extradition of persons of unsound mind51.84
Family and Medical Leave Act, violations103.10 (13)
Felony prosecutions 939.74
Flood damage from milldam, action for31.33 (1)
Franchise investment, action to enforce553.51 (4)
Fraudulent representation, commercial100.18 (11) (b) 3.
Gambling, recovery of wagers895.056
Garnishment, reinstatement of employment 425.110
General relief, recovery49.08
Hazardous substance cleanup, cost recovery by local governments 292.33 (7)
