State ex rel Darrell W. Griffin v. Litscher, 2003 WI App 60
Issue/Holding:
¶5. Mandamus is an extraordinary writ which may be used to compel a public officer to perform a duty which he or she is legally bound to perform. Karow v. Milwaukee County Civil Serv. Comm., 82 Wis. 2d 565, 568 n.2, 263 N.W.2d 214 (1978). There are four prerequisites for issuance of a writ of mandamus: (1) a clear legal right; (2) a positive and plain duty; (3) substantial damages; and (4) no other adequate remedy at law. Pasko v. City of Milwaukee, 2002 WI 33, ¶24, 252 Wis.2d 1, 643 N.W.2d 72 (citation omitted).¶6. A motion to quash a writ of mandamus is treated the same as a motion to dismiss a complaint in a civil action. Wis. Stat. § 783.01. The facts pleaded and all reasonable inferences from the pleading must be taken as true. State ex rel. Dalton v. Mundy, 80 Wis. 2d 190, 195 n.5, 257 N.W.2d 877 (1977). The petition will be dismissed only when it is quite clear that under no conditions can the plaintiff recover. See State v. American TV & Appliance of Madison, Inc., 146 Wis. 2d 292, 300, 430 N.W.2d 709 (1988). Whether a complaint states a claim for which relief may be granted is a question of law which we review de novo. Bartley v. Thompson, 198 Wis. 2d 323, 331, 542 N.W.2d 227 (Ct. App. 1995).
