A tort reform bill in Wisconsin intended to restrict civil lawsuits may hamper criminal lawsuits as well.
Introduced in a “special economic session” of the Wisconsin State Legislature, the bill, touted by its supporters as a way to reduce litigation costs for businesses, was filled with provisions to reduce frivolous lawsuits. The bill included provisions that will create stricter guidelines for expert testimony, as well as limiting who can testify.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s chief legal counsel said that the bill only intends to bring Wisconsin’s trial guideline to those implemented on the Federal court level. However, legal professionals are expressing unease over how the bill’s unintended consequences.
In an interview with Wisconsin TV station WBAY, Outagamie County Deputy District Attorney Melinda Tempelis said “I don’t think anyone has really realized the dramatic impact it would have on criminal cases…It’s going to be a lot more complicated for us to prosecute some of the cases.”
In another interview, Brown County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Greene said that the bill may actually prohibit testimony in cases known as “Chapter 980 cases”, a type of case that allows Wisconsin courts to send sex offenders with the highest risk of repeat offenses to a mental health facility.
The bill is currently being debated in the Wisconsin State Legislature. However, for a session that is focusing heavily on the economy, this bill has repercussions beyond the economic livelihood of Wisconsinites.]]>
