Uncategorized

RSS Link
http-www-laviniagoodell-com-wp-content-uploads-2022-06-lappin-building-1880-640x442-jpeg

“Went to a temperance drama at Lappin’s Hall.”

Lavinia Goodell, February 10, 1874

Janesville, Wisconsin has a wealth of historical buildings remaining, including some frequented by Lavinia Goodell when she lived in the city in the 1870s. One such building is the Lappin-Hayes Block located at the corner of Main and Milwaukee Streets, in the heart of the city’s downtown.

Lappin Block, c. 1880

Janesville is named after Henry James, who built a timber house on the Rock River,…
Continue Reading “Went to a temperance drama at Lappin’s Hall.”

Executive coach and author Alonzo Kelly (center) gave a presentation on the power of diversity and inclusion. Visit the
State Bar’s Facebook page for more photos of this event. June 22, 2022 – For the first time in three years, judges, lawyers, and other legal professionals gathered in person last week in Lake Geneva for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s
Annual Meeting and Conference (AMC). The State Bar’s Board of Governors kicked off the three-day event on June 15…
Continue Reading AMC Round-up: In-Person Gathering for the First Time Since 2019

Judge Randy Koschnick, Director of Wisconsin State Courts, gives an update on the state court system, including how the courts are dealing with large pandemic-related backlogs.​June 16, 2022 – “We are heading in the right direction.”That was Judge Randy R. Koschnick, Director of State Courts, describing the state of Wisconsin’s judicial system in remarks given to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Board of Governors during its meeting on June 15 in Lake Geneva.It was the second consecutive board meeting…
Continue Reading State Bar Board Finalizes Business at Annual Meeting & Conference

Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Annette Ziegler (right)​ administers the oath of office to Margaret Hickey, incoming president of the State Bar of Wisconsin. HIckey’s term starts July 1.June 15, 2022 – For Margaret Hickey, who’s spent her legal career practicing family and elder law, service to the profession has been a passion. Hickey has chaired the Elder Law (1998-99) and the Family Law (2002-03) sections and the Board of Governors (2006-07), as well as serving a State Bar…
Continue Reading Change Agent: Margaret Hickey Sworn in as 67th State Bar President

http-www-laviniagoodell-com-wp-content-uploads-2022-06-lucy-stone-1-jpg

“The extent to which wives flatter the vanity and humor the weaknesses of their husbands is humiliating to both men and women, and degrading to matrimony.”

Lavinia Goodell, October 1876

Lucy Stone, a lifelong advocate for women’s rights, was one of Lavinia Goodell’s mentors.

Lucy Stone

In 1870, Lucy and her husband, Henry Blackwell, launched the Woman’s Journal, a paper promoting suffrage and women’s rights. Lavinia Goodell wrote numerous articles for the paper and shortly before her death…
Continue Reading “The extent to which wives flatter the vanity and humor the weaknesses of their husbands is humiliating to both men and women, and degrading to matrimony.”

The family of new Wisconsin lawyer Erica Young (second from right) point to her name on the list of new lawyers, graduates of U.W. Law School, on June 1. With Erica are her husband, Marquis Young Sr. (left), Amaya Young (age 12), and Marquis Young Jr. ​​(age 7).Visit the
State Bar’s Facebook page for more photos of this event, or
click here.June 3, 2022 – The six ceremonies were a return to the Wisconsin Supreme Court Hearing Room, after…
Continue Reading U.W. Law School Admissions: Welcome to 170 New Wisconsin Lawyers

For over 68 years, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has recognized the right of employers and unions to hold captive audience speeches. NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo has made it clear she intends to ask the Board to no longer allow captive audience meetings, effectively changing how employers have addressed union campaigns for the last 6+ decades.
Captive Audience Rule
The captive audience rule has been in place since 1953, when the NLRB issued its decision in Peerless Plywood…
Continue Reading Another One Bites the Dust

Recently, we have been fielding calls from clients regarding “remote” Form I-9 verification. The current rule is that employers can ONLY verify I-9 forms remotely for employees who are remote due to COVID -19. For the curious, read our FAQ below:

1. What was the rule pre-COVID?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ALWAYS required an employer to verify Form I-9 documents in-person. Even for that salesperson you hired out in California—either they had to fly to headquarters…
Continue Reading Are You Keeping an Eye on Your Form I-9?

Maggie McLoone and Ali Mohammed Mahmood make a heart around their names on the list that welcomes them as new Wisconsin Lawyers. Visit the State Bar’s Facebook page for more photos of this event, or click here.May 25, 2022 – Before the Supreme Court, in five separate ceremonies, 156 new Wisconsin lawyers – new alumni of Marquette University Law School – took the Attorney’s Oath and signed the Attorney’s Roll book, becoming new Wisconsin lawyers.

They also received…
Continue Reading Marquette Admissions: Welcome to 156 New Wisconsin Lawyers

Although employers may be automatically liable for supervisors or administrative personnel harassing subordinate employees under certain federal laws, they may also be held liable if another employee (even one subordinate to the harassed employee) or a third-party such as a customer or vendor harasses an employee based on their race.
What Will Courts Consider When Reviewing Claims?
Current federal law prohibits race-based harassment in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 42 U.S.C.
Continue Reading Employers Can Face Liability for Employee-to-Employee or Third-Party Racial Harassment

https-www-laviniagoodell-com-wp-content-uploads-2022-05-maria-goodell-frost-sister-jpg

“Miss Goodell is a person of rather a singular character.”

Written by a friend of Lavinia Goodell, May 9, 1866

When she died in 1880, Lavinia Goodell left behind hundreds of letters, multiple diaries, and many published articles which provide insight into her character and personality, but how did the people closest to her view her? Fortunately the William Goodell Family Papers in the Special Collections and Archives at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky provide firsthand descriptions of Lavinia…
Continue Reading “Miss Goodell is a person of rather a singular character.”

https-www-ruderware-com-wp-content-uploads-2019-08-cropped-86-jpg

In a perfect world, business owners could spend all of their time and money focusing on a singular task:  running their business.  Despite the best laid plans, however, at some point ancillary concerns will arise and require—at least to some extent—that a business divert its resources to address and correct an issue.  One area of concern that is likely all too familiar is dispute resolution.  Business disputes may be either internal (i.e., shareholder disputes) or external (i.e., contract disputes). …
Continue Reading Resolving Business Disputes

Congratulations to the Class of 2021 Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. See more photos of the event on the
State Bar of Wisconsin Facebook page.May 10, 2022 – It was a night of celebration and speeches – and the first gathering since 2019 for the Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. After two years of COVID-19 pandemic cancellations, nearly 200 lawyers and their friends and family members gathered to celebrate two years of new Fellows at a…
Continue Reading 45 New Fellows Inducted into the Wisconsin Law Foundation

http-www-laviniagoodell-com-wp-content-uploads-2022-04-bloomer-costume-jpg

“If a woman can’t dress in a rational and decent way, I shouldn’t like to live among such barbarians.”

Lavinia Goodell, December 8, 1853

In 1853, fourteen year old Lavinia Goodell tried unsuccessfully to encourage her twenty-six year old sister Maria to try a new fashion trend: bloomers.

A bloomer dress

In the mid 1800s, women wore corsets and multiple petticoats weighing as much as fifteen pounds in order to fill out their skirts. These voluminous undergarments made movement…
Continue Reading “If a woman can’t dress in a rational and decent way, I shouldn’t like to live among such barbarians.”

https-www-wisbar-org-amc-2022-publishingimages-speakers-laura%20coates%20headshot%202021-jpg

If you’re like me, you probably found networking challenging and not your top priority during these last two pandemic-driven years. After a full day of virtual meetings (and the inevitable technology glitches), the last thing I wanted was to attend a virtual networking event. I suspect that I’m not alone. Research shows that professional and personal networks have shrunk during the pandemic as we refocused our priorities to family, friends, neighbors, and perhaps some very close professional colleagues. As…
Continue Reading Don’t Miss the NRLD Networking Opportunity of the Year

Wisconsin is one of many states that limits the use of arrest and conviction records when hiring employees. The key exception to the use of a criminal conviction record is whether it substantially relates to the circumstances of the particular job. The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently addressed the issue in a case where an applicant engaged in extreme domestic violence. The court exonerated the employer for revoking an offer of employment.
Facts
In 2013, Derrick Palmer was convicted of…
Continue Reading Wisconsin Supreme Court Weighs in on State’s Criminal Conviction Law