State v. David Allen Bruski, 2007 WI 25, affirming 2006 WI App 53
For Bruski: Margaret A. Maroney, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue/Holding:
¶23 Whether an individual had a reasonable expectation of privacy in an area subjected to a search depends on two prongs. Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 740 (1979); Dixon, 177 Wis. 2d at 468. First, whether the individual’s conduct exhibited an actual (i.e., subjective) expectation of privacy in the area searched and the item seized. Then, if the individual had the requisite expectation of privacy, courts determine whether such an expectation of privacy was legitimate or justifiable (i.e., one that society is willing to recognize as reasonable).
¶24 In considering whether an individual’s expectation of privacy constitutes a legitimate or justifiable one, our court has stated that the following factors may be relevant:
(1) whether the accused had a property interest in the premises; (2) whether the accused is legitimately (lawfully) on the premises; (3) whether the accused had complete dominion and control and the right to exclude others; (4) whether the accused took precautions customarily taken by those seeking privacy; (5) whether the property was put to some private use; (6) whether the claim of privacy is consistent with historical notions of privacy.
Id. at 469 (citing State v. Fillyaw, 104 Wis. 2d 700, 711 n. 6, 312 N.W.2d 795 (1981)). The list is neither controlling nor exclusive. Rather, courts consider the totality of the circumstances when evaluating the latter prong of the reasonable expectation test.
