My father loved the sea. By extension he also loved all sea-related tchotchkes, i.e., model sailing vessels, fake shark’s teeth, lighthouses big and small, cute little fishermen in bright yellow rain slickers. You name it, he had one. How did he explain this passion? Growing up in western Wisconsin, he was far from the sea. In a former life he believed he was … a whale. Many years ago, he wandered into an antique store in Florida on the
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The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homestead Exemption Asset Protection
What is the single biggest benefit of the Florida Homestead Exemption? If you ask the average homeowner in Boca Raton or Sunny Isles Beach, they will tell you about property tax savings. While saving money is great, they are missing the most critical “superpower” of Florida law.
Beyond the yearly tax breaks, Florida Homestead Exemption asset protection provides an unlimited shield for your primary residence, protecting it from forced sale by most judgment creditors. In a litigious…
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UW System Launches Free AI Literacy Series: The AI Skills Access Passport
The Universities of Wisconsin recently launched ASAP: AI Skills Access Passport, a free, seven-episode video series designed to help the general public build foundational AI literacy. I thought it was well done. Each episode runs about two minutes. The series is sponsored by UW Credit Union.
Although ASAP is aimed at a general audience, it’s worth a look for legal professionals — and worth passing along to clients. The seven episodes cover:
- What AI Actually Does — how
…
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When Work Becomes Impossible: A Guide to Navigating Long-Term Disability While Living with Cancer
There’s a quiet moment in many people’s cancer journeys when you realize that pushing through at work isn’t sustainable. You may still get out of bed, still attend appointments, but your energy, focus, and endurance are no longer what they used to be. Fatigue sets in earlier than expected, mental fog lingers after treatment, and even small tasks feel overwhelming. And then the practical question arises: Can I continue working under these conditions?
For many, that question quickly leads…
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Do You Need a Lawyer for a Divorce in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, you are not required to hire an attorney to file for divorce. However, whether you should depends on your situation. Even when a divorce seems straightforward, decisions made during the process can have long-term consequences for your finances, your children, and your daily life moving forward. Understanding what is involved can help you make a more informed decision.
In short, you may not need full representation from a family lawyer for a simple, fully agreed-upon divorce.
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CMS Releases FFY 2027 IPPS Proposed Rule; Wage Index Deadlines
The FFY 2027 IPPS Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”) was released on April 10, 2026, and CMS published the associated tables on its Proposed Rule homepage. The Proposed Rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register on April 14.
The release of the Proposed Rule and the accompanying tables triggers the start of several deadlines for hospitals, including the unofficial start of the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board (“MGCRB”) application process. Hospitals should conduct a preliminary review…
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Infringers Infringe – Not Internet Service Providers
Under the Copyright Act, anyone who violates any of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner is an infringer of the copyright. On top of that, the Supreme Court has also recognized two categories of secondary liability. Secondary liability happens when a party is liable for the copyright infringement of another. Those two categories are “contributory” liability and “vicarious” liability.
Contributory liability has been in the news lately as the Supreme Court provided its decision on Cox Communications, …
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Evers’ judges: Owen Piotrowski
”Evers’ judges” is our effort to present information about Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees to the bench. The information is taken from the appointees’ own judgeship applications.
Italics indicate direct quotes from the application. Typos, including punctuation errors, come from the original application even though we have not inserted “(sic)” after each one. WJI has left them as is.
Name: Owen Piotrowski
Appointed to: Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Appointment date: Jan. 7, 2026, (effective Feb. 1, 2026) to term ending…
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Second Chances Under Wisconsin Law – How Mays Law Used Sentence Adjustment To Open the Door to Early Release
Understanding Wisconsin’s Sentence Adjustment Law
Wisconsin’s sentence adjustment statute (§ 973.195) offers a narrow but meaningful opportunity for certain incarcerated individuals to request a reduction in the confinement portion of their sentence after serving a significant amount of time.
Despite often being described as “early release,” that label isn’t quite accurate. A sentence adjustment usually does not shorten the total sentence. Instead, it allows a judge to convert remaining prison time into extended supervision, meaning the individual serves…
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Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing: TN Considers CON Reform | Children’s Hospitals Make Headlines | ASC Leasing Activity Increases 145% | New Free-Standing ED Projects in FL and VA
Wallpaper contest winner for Xubuntu 26.04
TagsCanada, Quetico, wallpaper
A photo I took when paddling and portage through Quetico in September 2023 is a winner for the Xubuntu 26.04 wallpaper contest.
I will be getting some stickers.
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Addresses Miranda Protections in School Settings
The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently clarified student questioning conducted by school resource officers in schools may constitute “custodial interrogation” requiring Miranda warnings, even when no arrest occurs. In State v. K.R.C., the Court held that a 12-year-old student was in custody for Miranda purposes when the student was questioned by two police officers in the SRO office. One officer was the school resource officer, and the other officer was not affiliated with the school.
The K.R.C. decision provides…
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Permitless Carry: Observations on a National Trend
Earlier this year, Wisconsin legislators began holding public hearings on Wisconsin Assembly Bill 609. This bill, sponsored by State Rep. Chanz J. Green and a number of other state lawmakers, proposes to make changes to Wisconsin’s concealed carry laws by eliminating the need for a permit to carry a weapon concealed.
Matthew Kline, Ohio State 2021, is an assistant attorney general with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in Columbus, Ohio.
Concealed carry is a requirement that any individual…
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DOL Proposes Higher Prevailing Wage Requirements for Foreign Workers: Key Impacts for Employers
The U.S. Department of Labor issued a Proposed Rule that would significantly change prevailing wage calculations for foreign workers under the permanent labor certification, H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 visa programs. At the center of the proposal is an increase in the prevailing wage levels based more heavily on statistically derived wage percentiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. Specifically, the Proposed Rule would raise the current wage levels, set at approximately the 17th,…
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Trump Overhauls Section 232 Tariffs on Patented Pharmaceutical Products
ArticleAmundsen Davis International Trade AlertApril 9, 2026On April 2, 2026, President Trump issued a proclamation under section 232 tariff authority imposing sweeping new tariffs on patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients imported into the U.S., with rates reaching up to 100 percent and taking effect as early as July 2026 for certain companies.
The implementation timelines and rates vary depending on the importing company’s size, product country of origin, and trade deals with partners. Companies identified in Annex III will…
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Establishing Parental Rights for LGBTQ+ Parents in Wisconsin ART Cases
Will my parental rights be fully recognized and protected?
The answer depends on how your family is formed and what legal steps are taken along the way. Planning ahead can make a meaningful difference in how secure your rights are from the moment your child is born.
LGBTQ+ parents in Wisconsin who use assisted reproduction need additional legal steps, such as parentage orders, adoption, or carefully drafted agreements, to ensure both parents are fully recognized in all states and…
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