Unions filed another Act 10 lawsuit in 2019, arguing that the law was unconstitutional because unions have a constitutional right to collectively bargain.  We intervened on behalf of a teacher who objects to being forced to pay union dues to defend the law.

Filed: September 2019

State law permits counties to impose a 0.5% sales tax, but requires that tax to be used only for “directly reducing the property tax levy.”  Brown County imposed a sales tax, but is instead using the proceeds to fund new spending.  We sued to have the tax struck down.

Filed: January 2018

If you rent your space out and your guests bring their own alcohol to drink, should you have to get a liquor license?  We don’t think so, and interpreting the law that way puts wedding barns and similar venues at risk, so we sued to get the question cleared up.

Filed: January 2019

Wisconsin prohibits the sale of butter that has not met the approval of government taste testers, effectively banning imports such as the popular Kerrygold butter from Ireland.  On behalf of consumers and a retailer, we challenged the law, which furthers no health or safety purpose.

Filed: March 2017

The State of Wisconsin thinks consumers need to be protected from low prices, and has passed a law prohibiting retailers from setting prices too low.  It also requires some products to be sold at a substantial markup – a hidden tax on consumers that goes straight into the pockets of business owners.  We sued to get rid of that law.

Filed: August 2016

Unions filed a lawsuit in state court arguing that Wisconsin’s “Right to Work” law was an unlawful “taking” of their property right to non-members’ fees.  We filed amicus briefs successfully arguing in support of Right to Work.

Filed: March 2015

Seeking to protect the local bed & breakfast owners, Bayfield passed an ordinance requiring anybody who wanted to run a B&B during the summer months to live in the city at least six months each year.  We filed a federal lawsuit because this discriminated against owners who lived (most of the time) in other states.  To settle the lawsuit, Bayfield amended its ordinance.

Filed: March 2015

The Madison Metropolitan School District negotiated with its teachers unions in violation of Act 10.  We sued to stop them, but the Dane County Circuit Court concluded that because one of the unions had won a temporary victory (which the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled, declaring Act 10 constitutional), the collective bargaining agreement was lawful.

Filed: September 2014

Kenosha was one of a few school districts to negotiate with its employee unions in violation of Act 10.  On behalf of a teacher and Kenosha taxpayer, we sued and were successful in having the collective bargaining agreement voided.

Filed: November 2013

When Judge Colas held the Wisconsin Employment Relation Commission in contempt in the Madison Teachers case for attempting to hold recertification elections, it created confusion around the state.  We sued WERC in another county, seeking a declaration that WERC must hold elections.  WERC stipulated to a judgment directing them to hold such elections, and then the supreme court vacated Colas’s contempt order.

Filed: October 2013

2011 Wisconsin Act 10 reformed collective bargaining for public sector employees.  Unions sued to stop it, and WILL filed amicus briefs on behalf of employees who wanted the freedom to not pay union dues.  Eventually, the Wisconsin Supreme Court declared Act 10 constitutional.

Filed: August 2011

Unions brought this suit in federal court seeking to overturn Act 10, arguing that it made unconstitutional distinctions between general employees and public safety employees.  WILL filed amicus briefs arguing the distinction was justified and if it wasn’t, the proper fix was to remove the exemption for public safety employees.  The 7th Circuit concluded the law was constitutional.

Filed: June 2011