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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tort reform bill passes the Senate By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal
The Wisconsin State Senate passed Tort Reform legislation Tuesday that would decrease business liability. The bill, aimed at protecting businesses from frivolous lawsuits, includes caps on punitive damages and limitations on what constitutes an “expert opinion” in court. Voting went down party lines, with the 19 senate Republicans voting in favor of the bill and the 14 Democrats voting against it. State Sen. Rich Zipperer, R-Pewaukee, an author of the bill, said Wisconsin’s current liability standards are too flexible and out of line with the mainstream. “No other state in the union has chosen to follow our lead,” he said on the Senate floor Tuesday. Although Republicans say the bill will create a better business climate, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said the bill is not the fiscally responsible thing to do, and will place greater financial burden on District Attorney offices statewide.
The bill, Erpenbach told the Senate, “is going to cost our counties a lot of money. And for those of you who ran on fiscal conservatism and fiscal spending … this legislation does not do that.” Walker praised the passing of the bill as part of a larger plan to make Wisconsin more business-friendly. Democrats voiced their opposition to the bill, claiming it hampers victims’ ability to hold businesses accountable for any damages they may have caused. State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, took particular issue with the component of the bill limiting expert opinion. He said he supports the current system, and said the bill is “an example of legislative malpractice.” “We said there were going to be some changes to the way Wisconsin does business,” state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a statement, “but the Democrats made it clear today they won’t let the status quo go without a fight.” The state Assembly will review the bill Thursday.
Obama returning to Wis. in wake of GOP victory Melanie HIghbloom/the daily cardinal
Percussionist Paul Vaillancourt and pianist Jeffery Meyer performed “Strike” Tuesday night as part of the School of Music’s Guest Artist Series.
Dane County sheriff ’s deputies make eight OWI arrests over past weekend In addition to regulating the heavy traffic and helping travelers make it through the severe weather, Dane County Sheriff ’s Deputies made eight arrests involving intoxicated drivers over the past weekend. Deputies responded to a one-vehicle crash at State Trunk Highway 73 and County Trunk Highway A Friday night, Dane County Sheriff Department spokesperson Elise Schaffer said. The driver, Scott Taylor, was pinned inside the vehicle. Taylor sustained serious injuries in the accident and was transported to Janesville’s Mercy Hospital. He was also arrested for his fourth Operating While Intoxicated offense, according to the report. There were also deputies working overtime on an OWI grant Saturday night, Schaffer said. “Deputies working that grant made four OWI arrests, including one felony
arrest,” Schaffer said in a statement. Additionally one of the Sheriff ’s deputies investigated a snowmobiler off a trail in the town of Windsor Monday night. The snowmobiler fled south towards Windsor Road, Schaffer said. The driver, Scott Brumm, then attempted to go into a house, but the deputy caught him before he made it into the house. Brumm was arrested for operating a snowmobile while intoxicated, Schaffer said. Some members of the Assembly including former member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, state Sen. Terese Bereau, D-Madison, and state Sen. Daniel LeMahieu, R-Cascade, support the lowering of the felony OWI from fifth offense to third offense. “At three times it’s obvious you have a problem,” Bereau said in a statement. —Maggie DeGroot
President Barack Obama plans to visit Manitowoc, Wis., Wednesday, Jan. 26, according to a statement from the White House. Though Obama has visited the state several times during his presidency, this will be his first time back in Wisconsin since a campaign rally on the UW-Madison campus in September.
Obama won Wisconsin by a nearly 14-point margin in 2008, but Republicans took many important offices in the last election, including the governorship and a U.S. Senate seat. The visit will come one day after his State of the Union address, which will take place on Jan. 25.
A rather blustery day
Man arrested, now facing sexual assault charges A 47-year-old intoxicated man threatened to burn down Kelley’s Market, 636 W. Washington Ave., and was arrested on sexual assault charges Thursday. The suspect, Christopher Gates, was arrested on two counts of fourth degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct, according to the police incident report. Gates grabbed the genitals of a female police officer and a female staff member at the Dane County Detoxification Center, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.
“The drunken suspect initially wanted a Kelley’s clerk to give him $3 in bills for $2.71 in change,” DeSpain said in a statement. “When the clerk refused the man became enraged.” Gates allegedly threatened the clerk and made remarks about burning the store down. The suspect “aggressively” asked customers for money after being kicked out of the establishment. The assaulted officer said the suspect was drooling and spitting as he was speaking, and his speech was slurred, according to police.
Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
Students brave the cold weather to walk to classes Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to drop throughout the week.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”