799.208 Pretrial conference.
799.213 Arbitration actions.
799.215 Trial by court, findings and judgment.
799.22 Judgment on failure to appear or answer.
799.225 Dismissal of pending actions.
799.255 Small claims fees.
799.26 Money damages; disclosure of assets requested.
799.29 Default judgments.
799.41 Complaint in eviction actions.
799.42 Service and filing in eviction actions.
799.43 Defendant's pleading in eviction actions.
799.44 Order for judgment; writ of restitution.
799.45 Execution of writ of restitution; disposal of personal property.
799.01
799.01
Applicability of chapter. 799.01(1)(1)
Exclusive use of small claims procedure. Except as provided in ss.
799.02 (1) and
799.21 (4) and except as provided under sub.
(2), the procedure in this chapter is the exclusive procedure to be used in circuit court in the following actions:
799.01(1)(a)
(a)
Eviction actions. Actions for eviction as defined in s.
799.40 regardless of the amount of rent claimed therein.
799.01(1)(am)
(am)
Return of earnest money. Actions for the return of earnest money tendered pursuant to a contract for purchase of real property, including a condominium unit, as defined in s.
703.02 (15), and time-share property, as defined in s.
707.02 (32), that includes 1 to 4 dwelling units, as defined in s.
101.61 (1), by sale, exchange or land contract unless the transfer is exempt from the real estate transfer fee under s.
77.25 regardless of the amount claimed.
799.01(1)(b)
(b)
Forfeitures. Actions to recover forfeitures except as a different procedure is prescribed in chs.
23,
66,
345 and
778, or elsewhere, and such different procedures shall apply equally to the state, a county or a municipality regardless of any limitation contained therein.
799.01(1)(c)
(c)
Replevins. Actions for replevin under ss.
810.01 to
810.13 where the value of the property claimed does not exceed $10,000.
799.01(1)(cm)
(cm)
Arbitration. Actions for the confirmation, vacation, modification or correction of an arbitration award where arbitration was in settlement of a controversy arising out of a transaction for the purchase of real property, including a condominium unit, as defined in s.
703.02 (15), and time-share property, as defined in s.
707.02 (32), that includes 1 to 4 dwelling units, as defined in s.
101.61 (1), by sale, exchange or land contract regardless of the amount of that award.
799.01(1)(cr)
(cr)
Third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and tort claims. Third-party complaints, personal injury claims, and actions based in tort, where the amount claimed is $5,000 or less.
799.01(1)(d)
(d) Other civil actions. Other civil actions where the amount claimed is $10,000 or less, if the actions or proceedings are:
799.01(1)(d)1.
1. For money judgments only except for cognovit judgments which shall be taken pursuant to s.
806.25; or
799.01(2)
(2)
Permissive use of small claims procedure. A taxing authority may use the procedure in this chapter in an action to recover a tax from a person liable for that tax where the amount claimed, including interest and penalties, is $10,000 or less. This chapter is not the exclusive procedure for those actions.
799.01 Annotation
This section does not authorize the court to grant injunctional relief. County of Columbia v. Bylewski,
94 Wis. 2d 153,
288 N.W.2d 129 (1980).
799.01 Annotation
A plaintiff may elect to sue in small claims court when actual damages exceed $5,000. The small claims award limitation is a limit on recovery, not a bar that denies the court jurisdiction over cases in which the plaintiff's actual damages exceed $5,000. When a trial court finds that a small claims plaintiff's actual damages exceed the statutory award limit of $5,000, the court should apply any reduction for comparative negligence to the damages found before applying the statutory limit. Bryhan v. Pink,
2006 WI App 110,
294 Wis. 2d 347,
718 N.W.2d 112,
05-1030.
799.01 Annotation
Civil theft under s. 895.446 is an “other civil action" under sub. (1) (d), not an “action based in tort" under sub. (1) (cr), and $10,000 in damages claimed and subsequently awarded was appropriate under sub. (1) (d). The use of the term “civil action" in s. 895.446 to describe the cause for civil theft provided under that section indicates that the cause may also be properly characterized as a “civil action" under this section. This statutory civil theft claim has been specifically distinguished from similar claims of conversion, which sound in tort. Miller v. Storey,
2017 WI 99,
378 Wis. 2d 358,
903 N.W.2d 759,
14-2420.
799.02
799.02
Counterclaims and cross complaints. 799.02(1)(1)
If a counterclaim or cross complaint is filed, which arises out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim and which is beyond the limitations of s.
799.01, the person filing the same shall pay the fee prescribed in s.
814.62 (3) (b), and the entire matter shall be tried under chs.
801 to
847 procedure, except that the counterclaim or cross complaint shall be deemed denied and a responsive pleading thereto is not required unless ordered by the court and the requirements for appearance by the parties shall be governed by s.
799.06 (2).
799.02(2)
(2) If a counterclaim or cross complaint is filed, which does not arise out of the same transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim and which is beyond the limitations of s.
799.01, the court shall dismiss the same and proceed under this chapter.
799.02(3)
(3) If a counterclaim or cross complaint is filed that is beyond the limitations of s.
799.01, the person filing the counterclaim or cross complaint shall mail a notice to the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney, if any, at the address listed on the summons. The notice shall be mailed on the same day the counterclaim or cross complaint is filed and shall inform the plaintiff of all of the following:
799.02(3)(a)
(a) That a counterclaim or cross complaint has been filed in the action.
799.02(3)(b)
(b) That as a result of that filing the entire matter may be tried under chs.
801 to
847 procedure.
799.02(3)(c)
(c) That the summons, specifying the time and date the parties are required to appear at court, may no longer apply.
799.02(3)(d)
(d) The telephone number of the appropriate clerk of circuit court that the plaintiff may call to find out if he or she should still appear in court at the time and date listed on the summons.
799.02(3)(e)
(e) That a copy of the counterclaim or cross complaint will be served on the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney within 60 days after filing.
799.02 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 776 (1975);
1979 c. 32 ss.
66,
92 (16);
1979 c. 89,
177; Stats. 1979 s. 799.02;
1981 c. 317;
1987 a. 208.
799.03
799.03
Definition. In this chapter unless otherwise designated, “court" means circuit court and “court" does not mean circuit court commissioner.
799.03 History
History: 1977 c. 345;
1977 c. 449 s.
497;
1979 c. 32 ss.
64,
92 (16); Stats. 1979 s. 799.03;
1983 a. 228;
2001 a. 61.
799.03 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1983: The first sentence is deleted because it has been construed to mean that actions for $1,000 or less need not be jurisdictionally brought under ch. 799. State v. Hervey,
113 Wis. 2d 634 (1983). Under revised s. 799.01, the circuit court lacks jurisdiction over certain actions unless ch. 799 procedures are followed. [Bill 324-S]
799.04
799.04
Relation of this chapter to other procedural rules. 799.04(1)(1)
General. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the general rules of practice and procedure in chs.
750 to
758 and
801 to
847 shall apply to actions and proceedings under this chapter. Any judicial proceeding authorized to be conducted under s.
807.13 may be so conducted in actions under this chapter.
799.04(2)
(2)
Forms. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and this chapter, the forms specified in chs.
801 to
847 shall be used. Forms shall be uniform, concisely written and readily understandable by members of the public. Summons and complaint forms shall be made available to the public by the clerk of court and, in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the summons shall have all provisions printed in both English and Spanish.
799.04 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 776;
1977 c. 345;
1979 c. 32 ss.
66,
92 (16);
1979 c. 89; Stats. 1979 s. 799.04; Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987);
2017 a. 207 s.
5.
799.04 Note
Judicial Council Note, 1988: Sub. (1) is amended to authorized the use of telephone conferences in proceedings under this chapter whenever such conferences would be so authorized in other civil actions. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
799.05(1)(1)
Contents. The summons shall state the nature of the demand substantially in the terms of one or more of the provisions of s.
799.01, and, except as provided in ss.
806.30 to
806.44, the dollar amount of damages, if any, the last-known address of the parties and the name, state bar number, if any, address and telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, if any. The caption shall include the standardized description of the case classification type and associated code number as approved by the director of state courts.
799.05(2)
(2)
Signing. The process shall be signed by the clerk or by any attorney duly authorized to practice law in this state and shall be issued by the clerk only to a person authorized to appear under s.
799.06 (2), and not otherwise.
799.05(3)(a)(a) Every summons shall specify a return date and time.
799.05(3)(b)
(b) Except in eviction actions, the return date for a summons served upon a resident of this state shall be not less than 8 days nor more than 30 days from the issue date, and service shall be made not less than 8 days prior to the return date. In eviction actions, the return date for a summons served upon a resident of this state shall be not less than 5 days nor more than 25 days from the issue date, and service shall be made not less than 5 days prior to the return date.
799.05(3)(c)
(c) The return date for a summons served upon a nonresident of this state shall be not less than 20 days from the issue date.
799.05(3)(d)
(d) The clerk shall set the day and hour at which the summons is returnable.
799.05(4)
(4)
Clerk to furnish time of return. If a summons is signed by an attorney, the attorney shall obtain from the clerk of court the hour and date within the limits of sub.
(3) on which to make the summons returnable.
799.05(5)
(5)
Noting date of mailing. After a copy of the summons has been mailed, the clerk shall note the date of mailing on the original.
STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT: ....County
A. B.
Address
City, State Zip Code File No. ....
, Plaintiff
vs. S U M M O N S - SMALL CLAIMS
C. D.
Address .... (Case Classification Type): .... (Code No.)
City, State Zip Code
, Defendant
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, to the Defendant:
You are hereby summoned to appear and plead to the Plaintiff's complaint in the above court at .... in the (city) (village) of ...., on the .... day of ...., .... (year), at .... o'clock (a.m.) (p.m.). [A copy of the complaint is hereto attached.] [The Plaintiff will state his or her demand on that date.] In case of your failure to appear, a judgment may be rendered against you in accordance with the demands made by the Plaintiff. The nature of the demand being made upon you is .... (state in terms of s.
799.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes) and the amount of damages, if any, demanded is .....
Dated: ...., ....(year)
Signed: .... ....
E. F., Clerk of Circuit Court
or
G. H., Plaintiff's Attorney
