C. Unpublished Opinions

Sheboygan County DH & HS v. A.P., 2023AP1382, 2/7/24, District 2 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity Faced with the department’s motion for summary judgment on grounds of abandonment, counsel for A.P filed a brief in opposition and attached two exhibits, but failed to file any affidavits. Postdisposition and on appeal, A.P. argues that… Read more

Waukesha County v. G.M.M., 2023AP1359, 3/13/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In an appeal presenting a straightforward D.J.W. claim, COA affirms while also giving credence to harmless error arguments. This is an appeal from G.M.M.’s second 51 extension order. (¶2). The circuit court granted the County’s petition after a contested hearing, finding that… Read more

Portage County v. D.P.W.O., 2023AP1975, 3/7/24, District IV (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In yet another appeal challenging the use of hearsay statements contained within an examiner’s report, COA rejects D.P.W.O.’s attempt to use the plain error doctrine to prove that this unpreserved error merits reversal of the extension order. At D.P.W.O.’s extension… Read more

Winnebago County v. T.S., 2023AP1267, 3/6/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In yet another 51 appeal attacking the sufficiency of the circuit court’s findings, COA rejects the County’s arguments and reverses. “Terry” was originally placed in DHS custody following an NGI verdict in his 2018 criminal case. (¶3). Shortly before his… Read more

Winnebago County v. C.J.H., 2023AP1263, 3/6/24, District II (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity In a 51 appeal presenting several commonly litigated issues, COA finds no error and affirms. This is an appeal from an initial commitment order involving “Carly,” who allegedly became suicidal after being detained at the Winnebago County Jail. (¶3). Following… Read more

State v. H.C., 2023AP1950, 3/5/24, District I (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); petition for review granted 9/11/24 case activity In an interesting decision that seems almost guaranteed to invite review by SCOW, COA departs from the plain language of the statute and reads a burden of proof requirement into the TPR dispositional procedure. Before we get… Read more

State v. I.A.A., 2023AP1723-24, 2/28/24, District 2 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity Long story short, the court of appeals affirms the orders terminating I.A.A.’s (“Ivy’s”) parental rights despite the circuit court’s admitted failure to comply with Wis. Stat. § 48.422(3)’s mandate to take testimony related to grounds at Ivy’s no contest plea hearing… Read more