Wis. judge to look at how union law was passed

Court Alerts

Having declared that Wisconsin's divisive union law isn't really a law yet, a judge was set to return to one of the underlying questions dogging the measure — whether Republicans violated the state's open meetings law during the frenzied run-up to passage.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration reluctantly suspended efforts to enact the law Thursday after Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi unexpectedly declared the measure hadn't been properly published. The move marked another round in a messy legal fight over the law, which requires most public workers to pay more for their benefits and strips away most of their collective bargaining rights.

Democrats and unions have filed three lawsuits challenging the law. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne's action has taken center stage so far; he alleges Republicans didn't provide the proper public notice when it convened a special committee to amend the plan before its passage.

Sumi earlier issued an emergency restraining order blocking the secretary of state from publishing of the bill while she considered the case, but Republicans persuaded another state office to publish it, raising questions of whether the law was in effect. Sumi settled that unequivocally with her declaration early Thursday morning: No.

The judge is scheduled to take more testimony on the open meetings allegations on Friday. It's unclear when Ozanne may rule, but any decision almost certainly will trigger a storm of appeals that could stretch to the state Supreme Court.

Related listings

  • Abuse cases against Santa Rosa diocese withdrawn

    Abuse cases against Santa Rosa diocese withdrawn

    Court Alerts 03/31/2011

    A lawyer for four men who claim they were molested by a priest at their Northern California parish says he has temporarily withdrawn his clients' lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santa Rosa. Attorney Joseph George said Wednesday that he...

  • W.Va. woman admits stealing from law firm

    W.Va. woman admits stealing from law firm

    Court Alerts 03/31/2011

    A Morgantown woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $140,000 from the law firm where she worked.Forty-year-old Lisa Buttermore pleaded to three counts Wednesday in Monongalia County Circuit Court.Each embezzlement charge carries a possible ...

  • Ind. high court hears Evansville dog bite suit

    Ind. high court hears Evansville dog bite suit

    Court Alerts 03/30/2011

    The Indiana Supreme Court will decide whether southern Indiana officials should be held liable for a dog that bit a 6-year-old Evansville boy. The court heard oral arguments in the case Wednesday. Misty Davis sued the city of Evansville on behalf of ...

Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?

IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.

Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.

Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.

Business News

St Peters, MO Professional License Attorney Attorney John Lynch has been the go-to choice for many professionals facing administrative sanction. >> read