State v. Elizabeth A. White, 2008 WI App 96
For White: T Christopher Kelly
Issue/Holding:
¶8 To prevail on a motion for reconsideration, a party must either present newly discovered evidence or establish a manifest error of law or fact. Koepsell’s Olde Popcorn Wagons, Inc. v. Koepsell’s Festival Popcorn Wagons, Ltd., 2004 WI App 129, ¶44, 275 Wis. 2d 397, 685 N.W.2d 853. A manifest error of law occurs when the circuit court disregards, misapplies, or fails to recognize controlling precedent. Id.¶9 We review a circuit court’s denial of a motion for reconsideration to determine if the court properly exercised its discretion. Id., ¶6. A circuit court erroneously exercises its discretion if that exercise is based on an error of law,State v. Davis, 2001 WI 136, ¶28, 248 Wis. 2d 986, 637 N.W.2d 62, and we review questions of law de novo. See State v. Kramer, 2001 WI 132, ¶17, 248 Wis. 2d 1009, 637 N.W.2d 35. The issue of the correct legal standard presents a question of law. Id. Thus we review de novo whether the court’s denial of the motion for reconsideration was based on an error of law in that it did not apply controlling precedent.
