Another day, another misuse of ChatGPT. A Colorado attorney was fired from his job after using, and suspended last month for one year and one day (with all but 90 days stayed, subject to probation) because he used, ChatGPT to prepare a motion. As with other lawyers who’ve gotten into trouble for misusing AI, Zachariah Crabill filed the motion without verifying that case citations were accurate. Lo and behold, they were not.
According to the Colorado Supreme Court decision
Continue Reading The First Rule Of Messing-Stuff-Up Club: Don’t Blame the Intern
Go Goals, Go!
First, read my article about goals published by the State Bar of Wisconsin. Back already? Great! I’ve convinced you that goals matter. They help guide priorities. They provide freedom, catalysts, and momentum. So, let’s get started.
What makes a good goal? I’m sure you’ve heard of SMART goals, but I encourage you to take SMARTIES.
S – Specific
M – Measurable
A – Actionable
R – Relevant
T – Time Bound
I – Intrinsic
E – Extra
S –
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Do OWI Arrests Increase During the Holidays in Wisconsin?
The holiday season is a time for celebration and spending quality time with loved ones. However, it is also a time when alcohol consumption tends to increase at parties and gatherings and in other situations. With this increase in drinking, more people may attempt to drive when they are intoxicated. Because of this, the number of arrests for OWI (operating while intoxicated) tends to increase during the holidays. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, an experienced attorney
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Planning for Minor Children in Your Estate Plan
Planning for your minor children in your estate plan is a crucial aspect of parenthood that ensures their well-being and security, even in your absence. It involves thoughtful considerations and strategic decision-making. Here are the key steps to take when planning for minor children, ensuring a secure and prosperous future for them.
Planning for Minor Children in Your Estate Plan
Appoint a Guardian for Your Child
The decision to name a guardian for your child is one of the
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IRS Announces Changes to Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions for 2024
The IRS allowed amounts of the federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions will materially increase in 2024. With exemptions reaching historically high levels, this presents a golden opportunity for strategic and tax-free gifting. In this post, we’ll explore the key changes and opportunities you should consider for your financial planning.
Exemption Amount Increase:
Starting in 2024, the gift and estate tax exemptions will increase to $13,610,000, allowing individuals to transfer significant assets during their lifetime or at
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How to Perform a Business Valuation During the Divorce Process
A divorce can involve a variety of complex financial issues, including determining how a couple’s marital assets will be divided. These concerns can be especially consequential for business owners, and some of the most important aspects of this process will be related to determining the value of business interests. A proper business valuation is crucial for ensuring that marital property can be divided fairly and equitably. To address this issue correctly, a business owner or their spouse can work
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Capitol Connection, November 2023
The ever-changing landscape of state government requires businesses across all industries to stay informed on the happenings in Madison. Welcome to the November issue of the Capitol Connection.
Inside this issue
Legislature Stands Adjourned Until Mid-January
On Tuesday, both the Assembly and Senate concluded the legislature’s business until after the holidays. Three major proposals will now move on to Governor Evers’ desk for a signature or veto.
TOP THREE ISSUES OF INTEREST
1. American Family Field
The Senate amended
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Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings
A proceeding to terminate the parental rights (TPR) of one or both parents is initiated by preparing and filing a petition, summons and a notice. The petition is the document that identifies the people involved, including the child, and the grounds to terminate the right of one or both of the parents. Think of “grounds” as the reason for filing the petition. The summons and notice are the documents in which the parents and other parties are notified of
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The Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law Enters Its 50th Year: Situated in Wisconsin
In an earlier post, we discussed when the relationship between two parties qualifies as a protected dealership under the Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law and how the statute may apply to an eclectic mix of commercial arrangements. For a WFDL-protected dealership to exist, the purported dealer must demonstrate that its dealership is “situated in” the state. Wis. Stat. § 135.02(2). The statute offers no definition or test for when a dealership is situated in Wisconsin. While it is fairly simple
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Divide and Conquer Your Time Sinks
We have to treat our time like a precious resource. It has to be used effectively.
First, let’s look at what we are doing right now, and which of those things we shouldn’t be. Welcome to the Eisenhower Matrix or the 4 Ds. Which things are Do, Delay, Delete, or Dump? Put another way, divide your tasks into: Urgent/Important, Not Urgent/Important, Urgent/Unimportant, and Not Urgent/Unimportant.
Urgent/Important = DO
Not Urgent/Important = DELAY (Distractions)
Urgent/Unimportant = DELEGATE
Not Urgent/Unimportant =
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‘I have been the bluest and lonesomest dog you ever saw’
“I have been the bluest and lonesomest dog you ever saw.”
Lavinia Goodell, November 20, 1879
November 1879 was not a happy time for Lavinia Goodell. After eight years in Janesville, Wisconsin, she rather abruptly made the decision to move to Madison, Wisconsin’s capitol city, and set up her law practice there. She arrived in Madison by train on Saturday, November 15. On the 20th she wrote a long letter to her cousin Sarah Thomas in which she laid
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If You Want To Say ‘Ain’t No Party Like An Ex Parte’ in a Brief, You Can Cite It To 6 Wis. Law. 31-33 (November 2023)
(I do not recommend saying ‘Ain’t No Party Like An Ex Parte” in a brief, but you do you, I guess.)
I know I owe this blog some actual content (and heaven knows there hasn’t been a shortage of source material, just a shortage of time), but in the meantime: My latest column for the Wisconsin Lawyer magazine is out. This month, I discuss what do do when people are wrong on the Internet.
And people are wrong a
Continue Reading If You Want To Say ‘Ain’t No Party Like An Ex Parte’ in a Brief, You Can Cite It To 6 Wis. Law. 31-33 (November 2023)
How Can a Financial Advisor Assist with the Divorce Process?
If you have made the decision to file for divorce, you will need to address a variety of financial issues. The divorce process involves the division of assets and debts, as well as concerns related to financial support, retirement planning, and other issues that can affect your short-term and long-term finances. In addition to legal representation from a divorce attorney, it is often beneficial to seek guidance from a financial advisor as you work to legally
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Wisconsin Supreme Court Update: November 2023
Redistricting takes center stage at the Wisconsin Supreme Court this November as the court’s sole case set for oral argument is an original action addressing the constitutionality of the current state legislative maps. Let’s dive right in.
Cases Decided
No merits decisions were issued in the last month. However, the court did issue a series of published orders pertaining to the redistricting litigation discussed below. On October 6, the court released a Memorandum Decision and Order of Justice Janet
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Common Estate Planning Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
These common estate planning mistakes happen more often than you may think. Many don’t realize that estate plans aren’t only for the wealthy or unhealthy. Your will is more than just a piece of paper—it’s a roadmap for your assets, guardianship, and debts after you’re gone, or in emergency situations. There are many common estate planning mistakes that could lead to legal and financial headaches for your loved ones. Let’s break down these estate planning mistakes and learn how
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Court of Appeals Punts
Occasionally in the law, the irresistible force meets the unmovable object.
This occurs when two public policies, with close to if not equal merits, conflict. While frustrating because one valid interest has to yield, it can lead to a fascinating examination of the relative merits of each policy. Little, if anything, is more absorbing in legal practice.
Unfortunately, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, facing such an opportunity, chose to punt, and it wasn’t even fourth down. Put another
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