Wisconsin

quick facts

The Wisconsin Immunity Statute

Under Wisconsin law, liability against government entities is largely governed by the State’s immunity statute. ¹ It immunizes government entities from lawsuits based on, among other things, its officers’ intentional torts and discretionary acts. ² , ³ The immunity statute does not provide causes of action; it only limits them. This statute, along with courts’ adoption of an immunity doctrine, leaves public employees liable only for (1) the negligent performance of a ministerial duty and (2) conduct that is malicious, willful, and intentional. ⁴

Don’t Count on Claims Directly Under the Constitution

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has not said whether provisions of the State constitution are self-executing. So, whether the constitution, alone, provides a private cause of action for damages is not settled. But the Court of Appeals has recognized a due-process claim directly under the state constitution, and that decision remains undisturbed. ⁵ Because the availability of claims directly under the constitution is unclear, litigants bring common-law tort claims: negligence in cases against the government (when performing a purely ministerial duty), and malicious, willful, and intentional torts in cases against a government employee.