Buying or selling a home can be a lengthy, complicated process, requiring both parties, their real estate agents, and their attorneys to meet a variety of legal and financial requirements. Unfortunately, disputes can arise in which a party fails to abide by the terms of the purchase contract, and real estate litigation may be necessary to resolve these matters. Consider the following common issues that can lead to legal disputes in real estate transactions:

• Failure to disclose - Under Wisconsin law, a seller is required to fully disclose any known defects that affect the value of a property, present safety issues for those who use it, or result in a shortened lifespan for the premises. Failure to disclose required information may result in the buyer rescinding the purchase contract. Furthermore, in some cases, a seller may be required to pay damages to the buyer.

• Zoning issues - Following the signing of the purchase contract, legal issues affecting the property may arise, such as disputes over boundaries or property lines, zoning regulations that affect how a property can be used, or easements on a property. Litigation may be required to determine how these issues will impact the sale of the property.

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At some point in life, most people experience being pulled over by police or receiving a ticket for a traffic violation. While a traffic ticket can disrupt your life and affect your insurance rates, drivers may not worry too extensively about the consequences of these seemingly minor offenses. However, it is important to realize that each ticket received goes on your driving record, and multiple offenses may result in serious consequences to your license.

Wisconsin’s Point System

Under Wisconsin law, each moving violation that a driver receives assigns a certain number of demerit points to his or her driving record. Points vary depending on the seriousness of the offense, and some common violations and their point values include the following:

The state of Wisconsin treats drug crimes very seriously. While drug distribution or trafficking can result in lengthy jail sentences or extensive fines, simply being in possession of an illegal drug (known as a controlled substance) can also lead to severe punishments. Those who are facing drug charges for possession should be sure to understand how Wisconsin laws affect them.

Penalties for Drug Possession

Under Wisconsin law, it is illegal to possess or attempt to possess a controlled substance, unless a person has a valid prescription or is legally authorized to possess the drug in question. Controlled substances are grouped into different “schedules” depending on their potential for abuse and their accepted use for medical treatment.

Most people spend time on the road each day, and driving is such a habitual activity that the dangers are often forgotten. However, it is important to remember that anyone who gets behind the wheel has a duty to protect the safety of those who use the road. Unfortunately, drivers can neglect this duty and act in a manner that puts themselves and others in danger. One of the most common ways that people do so is driving while drowsy, which can lead to serious and often fatal car accidents.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that around 800 fatalities occur in the United States every year due to drowsy driving. However, other studies have suggested that the problem is even more widespread, and fatigued driving may be a factor in as many as 1.2 million car accidents every year, leading to up to 8,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries.

Motor vehicle collisions can be incredibly traumatic, resulting in serious, life-changing injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injury, or paralysis. However, even if someone does not suffer major trauma, a car accident can cause long-lasting harm that is not immediately evident.

Soft tissue injuries can occur in minor collisions. Therefore, if you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of these types of injuries and seek treatment. Being armed with this information will help ensure that you are able to pursue compensation from the party or parties responsible for your damages.

What Are Soft Tissue Injuries? 

During a divorce, disputes about how parents will divide responsibility for their children and where children will live can be highly contentious. When divorcing parents in Wisconsin are working to make decisions about their children, it is important to understand how the state’s child custody laws affect these matters.

Legal Custody and Physical Placement

Wisconsin law divides decisions about child custody into two categories: legal custody and physical placement. Legal custody involves the right to make decisions about a child’s care and upbringing, including the medical care he or she receives, where he or she will go to school, the choice of religion, and permission to obtain a driver’s license, join the military, or get married. Physical placement (also known as visitation) refers to the time a child spends in each parent’s care.

By: Chris Strohbehn

Every year business owners go through the ritual of opening up their notices from their municipality or an assessor to see how much the municipality is charging for property taxes that year. Of course, that ritual often ends with a groan and perhaps a feeling that for whatever reason this is not right. What can you do to make it right?

Call Your Assessor

Being arrested and charged with a crime is a serious matter for any person; however criminal charges are especially concerning for juvenile and young offenders and their families. Wisconsin’s juvenile justice system is complex. Therefore, it is important to understand the consequences that minors may face, especially if the charges are serious enough for the juvenile to be charged as an adult and what defense options exist.

Wisconsin Laws and Policies

Prior to 1996, all juvenile court cases were handled pursuant to the provisions of Chap. 48, Wis. Stats. Since that time, juvenile delinquency cases are handled under Chap. 938, Wis. Stats. and Child in Need of Protection and Services (CHIPS) cases under Chap. 48. The so-called “reforms” enacted in 1996 harshly criminalized Wisconsin juvenile law, e.g., carved out an age group of children (17 year olds), who are now always prosecuted and punished as adults, lowered the delinquency age to 10 years old, and allowed for automatic waiver of children to adult court depending on the type of felonies they are charged with. Most children 10 years and older who face charges of violating the criminal law will be tried in juvenile court if they are under the age of 17. However, there are a number of situations in which a minor may be charged as an adult. These include:

by Ray Dall’Osto & Steven McGaver

While criminal charges can result in serious consequences, those who are arrested and charged with drug crimes, particularly those involving opioids and distribution, will face zealous prosecution and a significantly greater risk of incarceration. Charges related to the possession of controlled substances are serious, but accusations of drug trafficking (sale and/or distribution, possession with intent to deliver and manufacturing) are more likely to result in severe punishment, as well as a felony record. Those facing drug charges should make sure they understand the nature of the charges and their options for defense.

Drug Crime Statistics

Healthcare is one of the largest industries in the United States with billions of health insurance claims being processed every year and trillions of dollars spent on medical care. The massive size of this industry and the complexity of insurance coverage and billing methods has led to prevalent abuse of the system as people and organizations seek to fraudulently enrich themselves. Healthcare fraud is common, and people should be aware of the possibility that they may face serious criminal charges if they commit this type of offense.

Common Types of Healthcare Fraud

Healthcare fraud can be committed by medical providers, patients, or other people or organizations involved in the healthcare system. Some common forms of healthcare fraud include: