Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB702 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	LRB-3896/1
2	2	MCP:emw
3	3	2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
4	4	2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 702
5	5	November 27, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives CLANCY, C. ANDERSON,
6	6	MADISON, RATCLIFF, PALMERI, J. ANDERSON, BALDEH, BARE, CABRERA, DRAKE,
7	7	EMERSON, JOERS, MOORE OMOKUNDE, OHNSTAD, ORTIZ-VELEZ, SHELTON, SINICKI,
8	8	SNODGRASS and STUBBS, cosponsored by Senators LARSON, L. JOHNSON,
9	9	SPREITZER and ROYS. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
10	10	*AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
11	11	AN ACT to amend 799.05 (3) (b), 799.05 (7), 799.06 (3) (a), 799.12 (3), 799.16 (4)
12	12	(c), 799.20 (4), 799.206 (3), 799.21 (3) (a), 799.21 (3) (b), 799.25 (10) (b) and
13	13	799.27 (1); and to create 799.01 (1) (ag) and 799.47 of the statutes; relating
14	14	to: actions for relief from extrajudicial eviction in small claims court.
15	15	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
16	16	Under current law, actions for eviction are heard in small claims court. Under
17	17	this bill, actions brought by a tenant for relief from extrajudicial (also known as
18	18	“self-help”) evictions may also be heard in small claims court.
19	19	Under the bill, a tenant is required to file a summons and complaint in small
20	20	claims court and serve the summons and complaint on the defendant landlord. The
21	21	return date must be held between five and 25 days from the date that the summons
22	22	is issued, which is the same time period for eviction actions. Also, similar to eviction
23	23	actions, if the defendant appears on the return date and raises a defense, the court
24	24	or circuit court commissioner hearing the action must hold a trial within 30 days of
25	25	the return date. The bill also provides that a court hearing an action for relief from
26	26	extrajudicial eviction may grant a temporary injunction against a landlord or a
27	27	landlord's agent that has removed or attempted to removed the tenant or the tenant's
28	28	belongings from the premises as part of an extrajudicial eviction.
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33	33	MCP:emw
34	34	ASSEMBLY BILL 702
35	35	For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
36	36	printed as an appendix to this bill.
37	37	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
38	38	enact as follows:
39	39	SECTION 1. 799.01 (1) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
40	40	799.01 (1) (ag) Extrajudicial evictions. Actions for relief from extrajudicial
41	41	evictions as described in s. 799.47.
42	42	SECTION 2. 799.05 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
43	43	799.05 (3) (b) Except in eviction actions and actions for relief from extrajudicial
44	44	evictions, the return date for a summons served upon a resident of this state shall
45	45	be not less than 8 days nor more than 30 days from the issue date, and service shall
46	46	be made not less than 8 days prior to the return date. In eviction actions and actions
47	47	for relief from extrajudicial evictions, the return date for a summons served upon a
48	48	resident of this state shall be not less than 5 days nor more than 25 days from the
49	49	issue date, and service shall be made not less than 5 days prior to the return date.
50	50	SECTION 3. 799.05 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
51	51	799.05 (7) FORM; CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONER. Except as provided in s. 799.22
52	52	(4) (b) 3., in counties in which a circuit court commissioner is assigned to assist in
53	53	small claims matters, the summons shall be substantially in the following form:
54	54	STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT: .... COUNTY
55	55	A. B.
56	56	Address
57	57	City, State Zip Code File No. ....
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78	78	LRB-3896/1
79	79	MCP:emw
80	80	SECTION 3
81	81	ASSEMBLY BILL 702
82	82	, Plaintiff
83	83	vs. S U M M O N S (SMALL CLAIMS)
84	84	C.D.
85	85	Address
86	86	City, State Zip Code
87	87	, Defendant
88	88	THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, to the Defendant:
89	89	You are being sued for:
90	90	.... Eviction
91	91	.... Relief from extrajudicial eviction
92	92	.... Return of Property
93	93	.... Confirmation, vacation, modification or correction
94	94	of arbitration award
95	95	.... $........
96	96	If you wish to dispute this matter, you must then be in Room ...., of the ....
97	97	(County) County Courthouse, .... (address), .... (city), Wisconsin before .... o'clock
98	98	(a.m.) (p.m.), on ...., .... (year). If you do not appear, a judgment may be given to the
99	99	person suing you for what that person is asking.
100	100	You are encouraged to bring with you all papers and documents relating to this
101	101	matter, but there is no need to bring witnesses at this time.
102	102	Dated at .... County, Wisconsin, this .... day of ...., .... (year)
103	103	Signed: .... ....
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128	128	SECTION 3 ASSEMBLY BILL 702
129	129	E. F., Clerk of Circuit Court
130	130	or
131	131	G. H., Plaintiff's Attorney
132	132	State Bar No.: ....
133	133	Address: ....
134	134	City, State Zip Code: ....
135	135	Phone No.: ....
136	136	SECTION 4. 799.06 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
137	137	799.06 (3) (a) The complaint in an eviction action shall conform to s. 799.41.
138	138	The complaint in other actions under this chapter shall be in writing and shall be
139	139	substantially in the following form:
140	140	STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT: .... COUNTY
141	141	A. B.
142	142	Address
143	143	City, State Zip Code File No. ....
144	144	, Plaintiff
145	145	vs. C O M P L A I N T
146	146	C. D.
147	147	Address .... (Case Classification Type): .... (Code No.)
148	148	City, State Zip Code
149	149	, Defendant
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174	174	SECTION 4
175	175	ASSEMBLY BILL 702
176	176	For the Plaintiff's claim against Defendant, Plaintiff states that:
177	177	1. Plaintiff's injuries or losses occurred on or about .... (month and day), ....
178	178	(year), and under the following circumstances (brief statement of the facts of
179	179	plaintiff's claim):
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184	184	2. Wherefore, Plaintiff demands judgment for (return of property) (relief from
185	185	extrajudicial eviction) (confirmation, vacation, modification or correction of
186	186	arbitration award) (the sum of $....) plus attorney fees, if any, costs of this suit and
187	187	such other relief as the court deems proper.
188	188	Signed: ....
189	189	A. B., Plaintiff
190	190	or
191	191	E. F., Plaintiff's Attorney
192	192	State Bar No.: ....
193	193	Address: ....
194	194	City, State Zip Code: ....
195	195	Phone No.: ....
196	196	SECTION 5. 799.12 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
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219	219	MCP:emw
220	220	SECTION 5 ASSEMBLY BILL 702
221	221	799.12 (3) If authorized by court rule under sub. (2), service may be made by
222	222	mail by filing the summons with the clerk of court, together with a request for mail
223	223	service and the fee prescribed in s. 814.62 (4). The court shall require the use of
224	224	certified mail with return receipt requested for all eviction and relief from
225	225	extrajudicial eviction cases for which service by mail is authorized under sub. (2),
226	226	and for all other cases may by rule require the use of certified mail with return receipt
227	227	requested. Whenever the use of certified mail is required, the additional fee
228	228	prescribed in s. 814.62 (4) shall be paid for each defendant. The clerk shall mail a
229	229	copy to each defendant at the last-known address as specified in the summons.
230	230	Service of the summons is considered completed when it is mailed, unless the
231	231	envelope enclosing the summons has been returned unopened to the clerk prior to
232	232	the return date. All mailing of summonses shall be done in envelopes upon which
233	233	the clerk's return address appears, with a request to return to that address. Service
234	234	by mail to obtain a personal judgment shall be limited to the county where the action
235	235	is commenced.
236	236	SECTION 6. 799.16 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
237	237	799.16 (4) (c) Notice in eviction and relief from extrajudicial eviction.
238	238	STATE OF WISCONSIN
239	239	CIRCUIT COURT
240	240	.... COUNTY
241	241	TO:
242	242	Take notice that an eviction action (eviction action) (action for relief from
243	243	extrajudicial eviction) has been commenced against you to recover the possession of
244	244	the following described premises ...., of which I, the plaintiff, am entitled to
245	245	possession, but which you have unlawfully detained from me.
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271	271	LRB-3896/1
272	272	MCP:emw
273	273	SECTION 6
274	274	ASSEMBLY BILL 702
275	275	Unless you appear and defend on the .... day of ...., .... (year), at .... o'clock ..M.,
276	276	in the circuit court of .... county, located in the courthouse in the city of ...., before the
277	277	Honorable ...., a Judge of said court, or before any judge to whom the action may be
278	278	assigned, judgment may be rendered against you for the restitution of said premises
279	279	and for costs.
280	280	Dated: ...., .... (year)
281	281	.... Plaintiff
282	282	By .... Plaintiff's Attorney
283	283	SECTION 7. 799.20 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
284	284	799.20 (4) INQUIRY OF DEFENDANT WHO APPEARS ON RETURN DATE. If the defendant
285	285	appears on the return date of the summons or any adjourned date thereof, the court
286	286	or circuit court commissioner shall make sufficient inquiry of the defendant to
287	287	determine whether the defendant claims a defense to the action. If it appears to the
288	288	court or circuit court commissioner that the defendant claims a defense to the action,
289	289	the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a trial of all the issues involved
290	290	in the action, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to
291	291	immediate dismissal. In a residential eviction action or action for relief from
292	292	extrajudicial eviction, the court or circuit court commissioner shall hold and
293	293	complete a court or jury trial of the issue of possession of the premises involved in
294	294	the action within 30 days of the return date of the summons or any adjourned date
295	295	thereof, unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the action is subject to immediate
296	296	dismissal.
297	297	SECTION 8. 799.206 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
298	298	799.206 (3) When all parties appear in person or by their attorneys on the
299	299	return date in an eviction, relief from extrajudicial eviction, garnishment, or replevin
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325	325	MCP:emw
326	326	SECTION 8 ASSEMBLY BILL 702
327	327	action and any party raises valid legal grounds for a contest, the matter shall be
328	328	forthwith scheduled for a hearing, to be held as soon as possible before a judge and
329	329	in the case of an eviction action or action for relief from extrajudicial eviction, not
330	330	more than 30 days after the return date.
331	331	SECTION 9. 799.21 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
332	332	799.21 (3) (a) Any party may, upon payment of the fees prescribed in ss. 814.61
333	333	(4) and 814.62 (3) (e), file a written demand for trial by jury. If no party demands a
334	334	trial by jury, the right to trial by jury is waived forever. In eviction actions and actions
335	335	for relief from extrajudicial eviction, the demand shall be filed at or before the time
336	336	of joinder of issue; in all other actions within 20 days thereafter.
337	337	SECTION 10. 799.21 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
338	338	799.21 (3) (b) In counties in which a circuit court commissioner is assigned to
339	339	assist in small claims matters, except in eviction actions and actions for relief from
340	340	extrajudicial eviction which shall be governed by par. (a), demand for trial by jury
341	341	shall be made at the time a demand for trial is filed. If the party requesting a trial
342	342	does not request a jury trial, any other party may request a jury trial by filing the
343	343	request with the court and mailing copies to all other parties within 15 days from the
344	344	date of mailing of the demand for trial or the date on which personal notice of demand
345	345	is given, whichever is applicable. If no party demands a trial by jury, the right to trial
346	346	by jury is waived forever. The fees prescribed in ss. 814.61 (4) and 814.62 (3) (e) shall
347	347	be paid when the demand for a trial by jury is filed.
348	348	SECTION 11. 799.25 (10) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
349	349	799.25 (10) (b) In an action of replevin and attachment the value of the property
350	350	recovered shall govern the amount of the attorney fees taxable. In an action of
351	351	eviction or action for relief from extrajudicial eviction the attorney fees taxable shall
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377	377	LRB-3896/1
378	378	MCP:emw
379	379	SECTION 11
380	380	ASSEMBLY BILL 702
381	381	be $10 plus such sum as is taxable under par. (a) on account of the recovery of
382	382	damages.
383	383	SECTION 12. 799.27 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
384	384	799.27 (1) ON REQUEST. Except in eviction actions and actions for relief from
385	385	extrajudicial eviction, a party who appears on the return date shall be given, on
386	386	request, an adjournment of at least 7 days, or such longer period as the court grants.
387	387	In eviction actions and actions for relief from extrajudicial eviction, no adjournments
388	388	shall be granted except for cause shown under sub. (2) and (3), unless with the
389	389	consent of the plaintiff.
390	390	SECTION 13. 799.47 of the statutes is created to read:
391	391	799.47 Actions for relief from extrajudicial evictions. (1) WHEN
392	392	COMMENCED. A civil action for relief from extrajudicial eviction may be commenced
393	393	by a person entitled to the possession of real property if a landlord or landlord's agent
394	394	has removed or attempted to remove the person or the person's belongings from the
395	395	real property by any method other than by an action under s. 799.40.
396	396	(2) JOINDER OF OTHER CLAIMS. The plaintiff may join with the claim for
397	397	restitution of the premises or other injunction any other claim against the defendant
398	398	arising out of the defendant's extrajudicial eviction of the plaintiff.
399	399	(3) ORDER FOR JUDGMENT. If the court finds that the plaintiff is entitled to
400	400	possession of the premises, the court shall immediately enter an order for judgment
401	401	for the restitution of the premises to the plaintiff. If an additional cause of action is
402	402	joined under sub. (2) and the plaintiff prevails thereon, the court shall enter
403	403	judgment for such other relief as the court orders. A court may grant an injunction
404	404	against a person that has removed or attempted to remove a person entitled to the
405	405	possession of real property or the person's belongings from the real property by any
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431	431	MCP:emw
432	432	SECTION 13 ASSEMBLY BILL 702
433	433	method other than by an action under s. 799.40. Chapter 813 governs any temporary
434	434	or interlocutory injunction or ex parte restraining order in an action under this
435	435	section. Judgment shall be entered accordingly as provided in s. 799.24.
436	436	(END)
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