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LRB-1339/1
SWB:kjf
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
March 7, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Tusler, C. Taylor, Born,
Brandtjen, Brooks, Goyke, Hebl, Horlacher, Kerkman, Kulp, Murphy,
Ramthun, Spiros, Spreitzer and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators Risser,
Stroebel, Kooyenga, Marklein, Olsen and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee
on Judiciary.
AB59,1,3 1An Act to amend 801.14 (2), 801.15 (5) (b), 801.18 (12) (c) and 802.05 (1) of the
2statutes; relating to: service of certain pleadings and other papers by
3electronic mail.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows service of certain pleadings and other papers to be served by
e-mail. Under current law, when service of pleadings and other papers is required
or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney, a party must serve
the attorney unless a court orders service upon the party in person. Current law also
provides for service in certain cases and counties via an electronic filing system. In
cases where users have registered to use the electronic filing system, the notice of
activity generated by the system constitutes valid and effective service on other users
for documents that do not require personal service. For documents other than
initiating documents that do require personal service, the documents must be served
by traditional methods unless the responding party has consented in writing to
accept electronic service or service by some other method.
With respect to traditional means of service, current law permits service to be
made by delivering a copy or by mailing it to the last-known address, or, if no address
is known, by leaving it with the clerk of the court. Delivery of a copy means 1)
handing it to the attorney or to the party; 2) transmitting a copy of the paper by
facsimile machine to his or her office; or 3) leaving it at his or her office with a clerk
or other person in charge thereof; or, if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a
conspicuous place therein; or, if the office is closed or the person to be served has no

office, leaving it at his or her dwelling house or usual place of abode with someone
residing at that location that is “of suitable age and discretion.” Under the bill, if an
attorney, or a party if appropriate, has consented in writing to accept service by
e-mail, service may be made via e-mail to that person's primary or other designated
e-mail address. The bill requires documents submitted to the court to contain an
e-mail address as part of the required signature information. The bill further
requires an attorney or party signing a paper for submission, by use of the electronic
filing system or otherwise, to keep the e-mail information provided to the court up
to date. Under the bill, e-mail service is complete upon transmission, except if the
sender receives notification or indication that the message was not delivered.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB59,1 1Section 1. 801.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB59,3,52 801.14 (2) Whenever under these statutes, service of pleadings and other
3papers is required or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney,
4the service shall be made upon the attorney unless service upon the party in person
5is ordered by the court. Service upon the attorney or upon a party shall be made by
6delivering a copy or by mailing it to the last-known address, or, if no address is
7known, by leaving it with the clerk of the court. Delivery of a copy within this section
8means: handing it to the attorney or to the party; transmitting a copy of the paper
9by facsimile machine to his or her office; or leaving it at his or her office with a clerk
10or other person in charge thereof; or, if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a
11conspicuous place therein; or, if the office is closed or the person to be served has no
12office, leaving it at his or her dwelling house or usual place of abode with some person
13of suitable age and discretion then residing therein. Except as otherwise provided
14in s. 801.18 (6) (a) and (b), if an attorney, or a party if appropriate, has consented in
15writing to accept service by electronic mail, delivery of a copy within this section may
16also include transmitting a copy of the paper by electronic mail to his or her primary
17or other designated electronic mail address.
Service by mail is complete upon

1mailing. Service by facsimile is complete upon transmission. Service by electronic
2mail is complete upon transmission, except if the sender receives notification or
3indication that the message was not delivered.
The first sentence of this subsection
4shall not apply to service of a summons or of any process of court or of any paper to
5bring a party into contempt of court.
AB59,2 6Section 2 . 801.15 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB59,3,107 801.15 (5) (b) If the notice or paper is served by facsimile transmission,
8electronic mail,
or by the electronic filing system under s. 801.18 and such
9transmission is completed between 5 p.m. and midnight, 1 one day shall be added
10to the prescribed period.
AB59,3 11Section 3 . 801.18 (12) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB59,3,1512 801.18 (12) (c) Each electronically filed document shall bear that person's
13name, mailing address, electronic mail address, telephone number, and state bar
14number if applicable. Users shall notify the electronic filing system of any change
15in this information, consistent with sub. (3) (f).
AB59,4 16Section 4 . 802.05 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB59,4,217 802.05 (1) Signature. Every pleading, written motion, and other paper shall
18be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name, or, if
19the party is not represented by an attorney, shall be signed by the party. Each paper
20shall state the signer's address and telephone number, electronic mail address, and
21state bar number, if any. Any attorney or party signing a paper under this section
22shall designate and provide the court with a primary electronic mail address and
23shall be responsible for the accuracy of and any necessary changes to the electronic
24mail address provided to the court.
Except when otherwise specifically provided by
25rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. An

1unsigned paper shall be stricken unless omission of the signature is corrected
2promptly after being called to the attention of the attorney or party.
AB59,4,33 (End)
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