If you’ve been injured at work in Wisconsin, you might assume that once your workers’ compensation claim is accepted, your medical treatment will be covered.

But what happens if you undergo surgery for your work injury and, afterward, the insurance company argues that the surgery was not actually related to your workplace accident?

That question was addressed in Kimberly Brown v. Shirley Gregory & Jose Vaz, Sangria’s Mexican Grill, a 2025 decision from the Wisconsin Labor and Industry…
Continue Reading Can Workers’ Comp Deny Benefits for a Surgery You Already Had?

Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document. ​By Alexandria StaubachWisconsin Justice Initiative has joined a new 45-organization coalition led by the ACLU of Wisconsin and Milwaukee Turners to advocate for an ordinance that strengthens community oversight over police surveillance technology. The coalition sent an open letter (above) to city officials late last week. The letter calls on officials to demand an end to the use of the Flock Safety automated license plate reader…
Continue Reading Coalition renews call for community supervision over surveillance tech

On September 29, 2026, in LifeLink Foundation, Inc. v. Kennedy, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (the “Court”) upheld the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) 2020 rule governing Organ Procurement Organization (“OPO”) performance measures and tier classifications (the “Final Rule”). The decision rejects one significant legal challenge to the Final Rule and, for now, leaves the current framework in place for the 2026–2030 recertification cycle, although other lawsuits challenging the framework remain…
Continue Reading Federal Court Upholds CMS’s OPO Performance Rule but Allows Earlier Judicial Challenges

We’re proud to share that Milwaukee Shareholder Summer Murshid has been invited to join Elite Lawyer, a distinction recognizing attorneys who demonstrate a high level of professional achievement, experience, and commitment to their clients.

Elite Lawyer selections are made through a multi-phase process that considers peer nominations, attorney achievements, experience, reputation, and recognition within the legal community.

Summer’s selection reflects her continued commitment to advocating for employees and protecting workers’ rights throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

Congratulations, Summer, on this…
Continue Reading Milwaukee Shareholder Summer Murshid Invited to Join Elite Lawyer

The Illinois General Assembly recently enacted HB 3392, which amends several provisions of the Illinois Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act (“Act”). The legislation imposes new assessment requirements, modifies qualifications for assisted living directors, updates medication administration provisions, revises dementia care requirements and strengthens enforcement authority for repeated compliance deficiencies. The law took effect immediately upon becoming law on July 24, 2026. HB 3392 continues Illinois’ recent efforts to modernize the Act, following 2025 reforms addressing resident rights,…
Continue Reading Illinois Assisted Living Update: New Assessment, Dementia Care and Enforcement Requirements

On October 1, 2026, Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“NFED” or the “Fraud Division”), issued a memorandum (the “Memo”) announcing key priorities of the Fraud Division’s Corporate Enforcement Section. The Memo follows significant changes to internal U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) workflows for criminal fraud enforcement and the creation of a standalone NFED earlier in 2026.
Corporate misconduct, including health care, was among the five enforcement priorities previously announced for the NFED.
Continue Reading DOJ Memo Sharpens Its Corporate Fraud Focus: Insights from the National Fraud Enforcement Division on Its Corporate Enforcement Priorities

Milwaukee recently hosted the 2026 G20 Trade Ministerial, bringing trade officials from the world’s largest economies to Wisconsin. Although the meeting did not produce a new trade agreement, it offered a useful glimpse into the priorities increasingly driving trade policy around the world.Four themes emerged from the discussions: the growing connection between trade policy and geopolitical risk; the importance of supply-chain resilience; the increasingly strategic role of trade compliance; and a heightened focus on the practices behind global trade…
Continue Reading 4 International Trade Trends Wisconsin Businesses Should Watch Following
the G20 Trade Ministerial

Construction, remodeling, and repair work are among the most important trades in our economy. Contractors take plans and specifications and transform them into tangible results through skill and craftsmanship that improve homes, businesses, and communities. In return for that work, contractors are entitled to be paid fairly and on time. Unfortunately, delayed, disputed, or unpaid invoices are an increasingly common reality in the construction industry. For that reason, contractors should understand the legal rights and remedies available to protect…
Continue Reading Construction Liens: the Tool Every Construction Company or Contractor Needs to Have in Their Belt

Wisconsin voters will encounter three constitutional amendment referendum questions on the Nov. 3 ballot. In a series of posts, Wisconsin Justice Initiative will help you understand constitutional amendment referendum questions generally, and the Nov. 3 election questions specifically. This is part four in the series. Find parts one, two, and three here, here, and here. ​ By Margo KirchnerWisconsin legislators are asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment purportedly about religious liberty, but which many religiously…
Continue Reading November ballot question 2: Banning closure of places of worship during an emergency

One of the most common disputes arising from residential real estate transactions is a seller misrepresentation claim. These lawsuits are often based on allegations that the seller failed to disclose a known defect or provided inaccurate information about the property’s condition.
Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, a failure-to-disclose claim is generally one type of seller misrepresentation claim. A buyer may allege that a seller failed to disclose a known defect, provided an inaccurate answer on a Real…
Continue Reading Seller Misrepresentation Claims: What Homeowners Need to Know

Employers are regularly part of the collection process when an employee is ordered to pay child support or maintenance. Based on state law, a court order for child support shall constitute an assignment of all income, including commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, and other money due.  Wisconsin employers may receive an Income Withholding for Support notice that directs a specified amount be deducted from an employee’s earnings and sent to the appropriate governmental disbursement unit. Although income withholding …
Continue Reading A Compliance Guide to Child Support Income Withholding

In revisions released earlier this year to its General Questions Regarding Certain Fraud and Abuse Authorities, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) emphasized that compliance with the physician self-referral law (“Stark Law”) does not automatically resolve risk under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”). Furthermore, OIG clarified that fair market value (“FMV”) compensation, by itself, does not preclude potential AKS liability.
Hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities should note this guidance to ensure AKS compliance when entering…
Continue Reading OIG Clarifies That Stark Law Compliance and Fair Market Value Alone Do Not Resolve Anti-Kickback Statute Risk

The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently revised its Justice Manual to strengthen its approach to False Claims Act (“FCA”) enforcement. The revisions address two issues particularly relevant to FCA defendants: the use of sub-regulatory guidance and DOJ’s consideration of dismissing declined qui tam actions.
DOJ Reinforces Limits on Sub-Regulatory Guidance
The revised Justice Manual builds on an older policy, reintroduced in 2025, providing that sub-regulatory guidance cannot create legal obligations or serve as the sole basis for…
Continue Reading DOJ Revises Justice Manual to Strengthen False Claims Act Enforcement

Indiana Wage Law Update: Seventh Circuit Finds Vacation-Buy Program Is Not an Unlawful Wage AssignmentIndiana employers received favorable guidance from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on two common workplace benefits issues: voluntary “vacation buy” programs and the treatment of unused rollover paid time off. In a June 2026 decision of first impression under Indiana law, Clayton Creason v. Elanco US Inc., the court held that an employee’s election to accept reduced compensation in exchange…
Continue Reading Indiana Wage Law Update: Seventh Circuit Finds Vacation-Buy Program Is Not
an Unlawful Wage Assignment

What is a trademark specimen?A specimen is an example of use of the trademark in commerce in connection with the goods or services identified in the trademark application. More simply, it shows what consumers encounter when they consider purchasing those goods or services. An acceptable specimen differs by whether you are offering goods or services under your trademark.For goods/products, a specimen shows your trademark the way it is being used with the goods you are providing in…
Continue Reading Trademark Specimens: Acceptable vs. Unacceptable

On September 18, 2026, President Trump issued two related measures affecting the H-1B program—a Proclamation extending the $100,000 H-1B fee to certain H-1B workers and an Executive Order directing federal agencies to strengthen H-1B oversight, including by considering employers’ recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated U.S. workers.
The $100,000 fee, which applies to certain H-1B beneficiaries outside of the United States without a valid H-1B visa, was set to expire on September 21, 2026. The new Proclamation extends…
Continue Reading Increased H-1B Scrutiny: $100,000 Fee Extended and New Employer Layoff Considerations Announced