Wisconsin State Law Library

Serving the Wisconsin Supreme Court and State of Wisconsin

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WSLL @ Your Service August 2014

 

What's New - Carol Hassler

New Milwaukee Legal Resource Center Location

We are excited to announce that our branch library, the Milwaukee Legal Resource Center (MLRC), has moved into a beautiful new space in the County Courthouse. The MLRC is now adjacent to the Milwaukee Justice Center in room G9. Lynne and her staff are busy getting the new space arranged and the books on the shelves but they are open for business. Stay tuned for more photos of the new space and an announcement about our grand reopening celebration in the fall.

Shelving books in MLRC Book trucks in library

Left: Library Associate Travis Baptist shelves books
Right: Book trucks in MLRC's new space

Staff News

Julie Tessmer, State Law Librarian, attended the American Association of Law Libraries' (AALL) Annual Meeting in mid-July. Julie was fortunate to receive a grant from the Law Librarians Association of Wisconsin chapter of AALL to attend the meeting in San Antonio, Texas. A few highlights from her trip included meeting with fellow State Law Librarians for an informal breakfast, attending an informative program titled Access to Justice: Crossing Borders Together, and going to an evening reception at the Institute of Texan Culture.

Web Services Librarian Carol Hassler's article, "How we did this: Oops! Quick-fixing links," was published in the July/August issue of Computers in Libraries. The article provides tips to webmasters on how to successfully redirect and repair incorrect links to their websites.

CLE icon

Upcoming Classes

Space is still available in two of our August CLE classes.

  • Don't miss Apps for Lawyers, a lecture-style overview of iPad and Android apps on August 7th.
  • Can't make it to Madison? Sign up for our Index to Legal Periodicals webinar, offered at the end of the month.

Get more information and sign up on our Classes page.

Libraries Closed on Labor Day

All three libraries will be closed on Monday, September 1st in observance of the Labor Day state holiday. To send us a question while we are closed, call (608) 267-9696, email wsll.ref@wicourts.gov, or Ask a Librarian online. Library staff will respond to questions and requests on Tuesday, September 2nd.

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This Just In - Pete Boll

New Edition! Law of Damages in Wisconsin, 6th edition (2013-2014 revision)
State Bar of Wisconsin, 2014
WSLL Call Number: KFW 2490 .D3 L46

All new content is featured in this three volume new edition. Instead of a practice manual of forms, pointers, or checklists, this set is more of a "black letter" authoritative reference resource. As such, virtually every statement regarding Wisconsin law is followed by a citation to the case law, statue, or authority.

Highlights of the new edition include:

  • A 2013 case in which the Wisconsin Court of Appeals stated whether punitive damages may be awarded for breach of contract or implied warranty
  • A Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that stated what a plaintiff must show before evidence of a defendant's wealth can be introduced to the jury
  • A 2012 opinion of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals citing with approval the testimony of laypersons as to the pain and suffering of a deceased person
  • Recent cases discussing intentional infliction of emotional distress claims
  • A recent decision from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals stating whether "mathematical certainty" is required in determining future loss of earning capacity or future health care expenses
  • The discussion of whether domestic partners can recover for loss of society and companionship under wrongful death claims pursuant to section 895.04(2) and claims based on medical malpractice under chapter 655

Updated! Immigration Fundamentals: A Guide to Law and Practice, 4th edition, June 2014 update, by Austin T. Fragomen, Jr. and Steven C. Bell
Practising Law Institute, 2014
WSLL Call Number: KF 4819 .F72 I5

This convenient one volume treatise on immigration law is helpful for both the new attorney and experienced practitioner. The latest developments include discussion of:

  • Comprehensive immigration reform: Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, Senate bill 744 passed on June 27, 2013
  • Concept of admission: In 2013 the Bureau of Immigration Appeals held that a grant of asylum did not constitute admission to the United States
  • Deportation for aggravated felony involving drug trafficking: The Supreme Court held in 2013 that the social sharing of a small amount of marijuana does not constitute an aggravated felony

New Titles RSS Feed
See our latest New Titles list for a list of new books and other resources.

For assistance in accessing these or other resources, please contact our Reference Desk.

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Tech Tip in Brief - Heidi Yelk

Wikipedia requires disclosure of paid editing

Wikipedia logo

In June, Wikipedia made a welcome change to its Terms of Use. Participation rules now require disclosure of paid editing.

This change comes less than a year after Wikipedia investigated more than 250 accounts for deceptive practices. Following the investigation, a group of PR firms publicly pledged to stop the practice of clandestine editing on behalf of clients.

However, paid editing on Wikipedia will not go away and according to some observers, it shouldn't. Professor Dariusz Jemielniak argues that Wikipedia needs paid editing. He notes that Wikipedia is all about verifiability, not truth.

This statement underscores what librarians have been saying about Wikipedia for years. A Wikipedia article is only as good as the sources it cites. Before relying on information from Wikipedia, be sure the facts are supported with cited references. Then, follow the cited reference to the source and evaluate the source. Ask questions such as: Who is the owner of this website? Does the author provide his/her credentials and can they be verified? Does this source have a particular bias? How current is this information and when was the site last updated? When the source is good, the researcher may decide to cite the reference, rather than the Wikipedia article.

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WSLL Recommends: Wisconsin Trust Code

The new Wisconsin Trust Code took full effect on July 1st, 2014. If you're still wrapping your mind around the impact of 2013 Act 92, you'll want to use the State Bar of Wisconsin's 2014 Wisconsin Trust Code: with Legislative Reference Bureau Analysis. With the major overhaul to Wisconsin Statute chapter 701, this slender code book brings together all the text of the relevant statutes, previous code, and legislative changes in one convenient reprinted reference. It also includes the Legislative Reference Bureau's analysis of 2013 SB 384 and the Legislative Council's Amendment Memo for 2013 SB 384.

For a discussion of these new laws, we recommend the article "Estate Planning Metamorphosis: Wisconsin's New Trust Code", 87 Wis. Lawyer 6 (2014).

WI Trust Code cover

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Odds 'n' Endings - Amy Crowder

Did you know that Wisconsin residents can access thousands of full-text magazines, journals, and newspapers from the convenience of their laptop or smartphone? Yes, we can access these resources - and for free!

BadgerLink is Wisconsin's online library to licensed content that is not available through regular search engines like Google. Genealogy sources, royalty-free songs, images and photographs, test preparation materials, and encyclopedias are also available. Visit BadgerLink's All Resources page to see all of the searchable databases.

If you would like to learn more, plan on attending the next weekly webinar training session. There is no need to register in advance. Find upcoming training opportunities and archived sessions on BadgerLink's Videos, Webinars, and Documentation page.

BadgerLink is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Badgerlink logos

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