SB 505

2011 Wisconsin Act 61

(Act 61) changed the rules governing venue in a civil

action in which the sole defendant is the state, a state board or commission, or certain

state officers (action), and in appeals of a judgment or order in such an action. Before

the enactment of Act 61, all such actions, with certain exceptions, were required to

be brought in Dane County, and appeals of an order or decision in the action were

required to be brought in the court of appeals district containing the court from which

the judgment or order was appealed. Act 61 provides that an action may be brought

in the county designated by the plaintiff, and an appeal of a judgment or order in the

action may be brought in a court of appeals district selected by the party appealing

the decision or order, but not in the court of appeals district containing the court from

which the judgment or order is appealed.

This bill changes the rules governing venue in an action so that an action may

be brought in Dane County, the plaintiff's county of residence, or the county in which

the plaintiff's principal place of business or registered agent is located, as designated

by the plaintiff. The bill also provides that an appeal of a judgment or order in an

action must be heard in the court of appeals district which contains the court from

which the action was appealed.