Chapter 102

102.85(2) (2) An employer who is required to provide worker’s compensation insurance coverage under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 if the employer does any of the following:

102.85(2)(a) (a) Gives false information about the coverage to his or her employees, the department or any other person who contracts with the employer and who requests evidence of worker’s compensation coverage in relation to that contract.

102.85(2)(b) (b) Fails to notify a person who contracts with the employer that the coverage has been canceled in relation to that contract.

102.85(2m) (2m) The court may waive a forfeiture imposed under sub. (1) or (2) if the court finds that the employer is subject to this chapter only because the employer elected to become subject to this chapter under s. 102.05 (2) or 102.28 (2).

102.85(2p) (2p) The court may waive a forfeiture imposed under sub. (1) or (2) if the court finds that the sole reason for the uninsured employer’s failure to comply with s. 102.82 (2) is that the uninsured employer was a victim of fraud, misrepresentation or gross negligence by an insurance agent or insurance broker or by a person whom a reasonable person would believe is an insurance agent or insurance broker.

102.85(3) (3) An employer who violates an order to cease operations under s. 102.28 (4) is guilty of a Class I felony.

102.85(4) (4) 

102.85(4)(a) (a) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture under subs. (1) to (3), the court shall impose under ch. 814 an uninsured employer surcharge equal to 75 percent of the amount of the fine or forfeiture.

102.85(4)(b) (b) If a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the uninsured employer surcharge shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.

102.85(4)(c) (c) If any deposit is made for an offense to which this section applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the uninsured employer surcharge under this section. If the deposit is forfeited, the amount of the uninsured employer surcharge shall be transmitted to the secretary of administration under par. (d). If the deposit is returned, the uninsured employer surcharge shall also be returned.

102.85(4)(d) (d) The clerk of the court shall collect and transmit to the county treasurer the uninsured employer surcharge and other amounts required under s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then make payment to the secretary of administration as provided in s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2. The secretary of administration shall deposit the amount of the uninsured employer surcharge, together with any interest thereon, in the uninsured employers fund as provided in s. 102.80 (1).

102.85(5) (5) 

102.85(5)(a) (a) The payment of any judgment under this section may be suspended or deferred for not more than 90 days in the discretion of the court. The court shall suspend a judgment under this section upon the motion of the department, if the department is satisfied that the employer’s violation of s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2) was beyond the employer’s control and that the employer no longer violates s. 102.16 (3) or 102.28 (2). In cases where a deposit has been made, any forfeitures, surcharges, fees, and costs imposed under ch. 814 shall be taken out of the deposit and the balance, if any, returned to the employer.

102.85(5)(b) (b) In addition to any monetary penalties, the court may order an employer to perform or refrain from performing such acts as may be necessary to fully protect and effectuate the public interest, including ceasing business operations.

102.85(5)(c) (c) All civil remedies are available in order to enforce the judgment of the court, including the power of contempt under ch. 785.

102.85 History History: 1989 a. 64; 1993 a. 81; 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33, 139, 326.

102.87 102.87 Citation procedure.

102.87(1) (1) 

102.87(1)(a) (a) The citation procedures established by this section shall be used only in an action to recover a forfeiture under s. 102.85 (1) or (2). The citation form provided by this section may serve as the initial pleading for the action and is adequate process to give a court jurisdiction over the person if the citation is filed with the circuit court.

102.87(1)(b) (b) The citation may be served on the defendant by registered mail with a return receipt requested.

102.87(2) (2) A citation under this section shall be signed by a department deputy, or by an officer who has authority to make arrests for the violation, and shall contain substantially the following information:

102.87(2)(a) (a) The name, address and date of birth of the defendant.

102.87(2)(b) (b) The name and department of the issuing department deputy or officer.

102.87(2)(c) (c) The violation alleged, the time and place of occurrence, a statement that the defendant committed the violation, the statute or rule violated and a designation of the violation in language which can be readily understood by a person making a reasonable effort to do so.

102.87(2)(d) (d) A date, time and place for the court appearance, and a notice to appear.

102.87(2)(e) (e) The maximum forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, for which the defendant is liable.

102.87(2)(f) (f) Provisions for deposit and stipulation in lieu of a court appearance.

102.87(2)(g) (g) Notice that if the defendant makes a deposit and fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation, the failure to appear will be considered tender of a plea of no contest and submission to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. The notice shall also state that the court, instead of accepting the deposit and plea, may decide to summon the defendant or may issue an arrest warrant for the defendant upon failure to respond to a summons.

102.87(2)(h) (h) Notice that if the defendant makes a deposit and signs the stipulation the stipulation will be treated as a plea of no contest and submission to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. The notice shall also state that the court, instead of accepting the deposit and stipulation, may decide to summon the defendant or issue an arrest warrant for the defendant upon failure to respond to a summons, and that the defendant may, at any time before or at the time of the court appearance date, move the court for relief from the effect of the stipulation.

102.87(2)(i) (i) Notice that the defendant may, by mail before the court appearance, enter a plea of not guilty and request another date for a court appearance.

102.87(2)(j) (j) Notice that if the defendant does not make a deposit and fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation, the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant.

102.87(3) (3) A defendant issued a citation under this section may deposit the amount of money that the issuing department deputy or officer directs by mailing or delivering the deposit and a copy of the citation before the court appearance date to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the violation occurred, to the department, or to the sheriff’s office or police headquarters of the officer who issued the citation. The basic amount of the deposit shall be determined under a deposit schedule established by the judicial conference. The judicial conference shall annually review and revise the schedule. In addition to the basic amount determined by the schedule, the deposit shall include the costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814.

102.87(4) (4) A defendant may make a stipulation of no contest by submitting a deposit and a stipulation in the manner provided by sub. (3) before the court appearance date. The signed stipulation is a plea of no contest and submission to a forfeiture, plus the costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit.

102.87(5) (5) Except as provided by sub. (6), a person receiving a deposit shall prepare a receipt in triplicate showing the purpose for which the deposit is made, stating that the defendant may inquire at the office of the clerk of the circuit court regarding the disposition of the deposit, and notifying the defendant that if he or she fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation he or she shall be considered to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit and that the court may accept the plea. The original of the receipt shall be delivered to the defendant in person or by mail. If the defendant pays by check, the canceled check is the receipt.

102.87(6) (6) The person receiving a deposit and stipulation of no contest shall prepare a receipt in triplicate showing the purpose for which the deposit is made, stating that the defendant may inquire at the office of the clerk of the circuit court regarding the disposition of the deposit, and notifying the defendant that if the stipulation of no contest is accepted by the court the defendant will be considered to have submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. Delivery of the receipt shall be made in the same manner as provided in sub. (5).

102.87(7) (7) If a defendant issued a citation under this section fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation or by subsequent postponement, the following procedure applies:

102.87(7)(a) (a) If the defendant has not made a deposit, the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant.

102.87(7)(b) (b) If the defendant has made a deposit, the citation may serve as the initial pleading and the defendant shall be considered to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. The court may either accept the plea of no contest and enter judgment accordingly, or reject the plea and issue a summons. If the defendant fails to appear in response to the summons, the court shall issue an arrest warrant. If the court accepts the plea of no contest, the defendant may, within 90 days after the date set for appearance, move to withdraw the plea of no contest, open the judgment, and enter a plea of not guilty if the defendant shows to the satisfaction of the court that failure to appear was due to mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. If a defendant is relieved from the plea of no contest, the court may order a written complaint or petition to be filed. If on reopening the defendant is found not guilty, the court shall delete the record of conviction and shall order the defendant’s deposit returned.

102.87(7)(c) (c) If the defendant has made a deposit and stipulation of no contest, the citation serves as the initial pleading and the defendant shall be considered to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. The court may either accept the plea of no contest and enter judgment accordingly, or reject the plea and issue a summons or an arrest warrant. After signing a stipulation of no contest, the defendant may, at any time before or at the time of the court appearance date, move the court for relief from the effect of the stipulation. The court may act on the motion, with or without notice, for cause shown by affidavit and upon just terms, and relieve the defendant from the stipulation and the effects of the stipulation.

102.87(8) (8) If a citation or summons is issued to a defendant under this section and he or she is unable to appear in court on the day specified, the defendant may enter a plea of not guilty by mailing a letter stating that inability to the judge at the address indicated on the citation. The letter must show the defendant’s return address. The letter may include a request for trial during normal daytime business hours. Upon receipt of the letter, the judge shall reply by letter to the defendant’s address setting a time and place for trial. The time shall be during normal business hours if so requested. The date of the trial shall be at least 10 days from the date on which the letter was mailed by the judge. Nothing in this subsection forbids the setting of the trial at any time convenient to all parties concerned.

102.87(9) (9) A department deputy or an officer who collects a forfeiture and costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814 under this section shall pay the money to the county treasurer within 20 days after its receipt. If the department deputy or officer fails to make timely payment, the county treasurer may collect the payment from the department deputy or officer by an action in the treasurer’s name of office and upon the official bond of the department deputy or officer, with interest at the rate of 12 percent per year from the time when it should have been paid.

102.87 History History: 1989 a. 64; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 14; 2003 a. 139; 2005 a. 172.

102.88 102.88 Penalties; repeaters.

102.88(1) (1) When a person is convicted of any violation of this chapter or of any department rule or order, and it is alleged in the indictment, information or complaint, and proved or admitted on trial or ascertained by the court after conviction that the person was previously subjected to a fine or forfeiture within a period of 5 years under s. 102.85, the person may be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both.

102.88(2) (2) When any person is convicted and it is alleged in the indictment, information or complaint and proved or admitted on trial or ascertained by the court after conviction that such person had been before subjected to a fine or forfeiture 3 times within a period of 3 years under s. 102.85 and that those convictions remain of record and unreversed, the person may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.

102.88 History History: 1989 a. 64; 1991 a. 85.

102.89 102.89 Parties to a violation.

102.89(1) (1) Whoever is concerned in the commission of a violation of this chapter or of any department rule or order under this chapter for which a forfeiture is imposed is a principal and may be charged with and convicted of the violation although he or she did not directly commit it and although the person who directly committed it has not been convicted of the violation.

102.89(2) (2) A person is concerned in the commission of the violation if the person does any of the following:

102.89(2)(a) (a) Directly commits the violation.

102.89(2)(b) (b) Aids and abets the commission of the violation.

102.89(2)(c) (c) Is a party to a conspiracy with another to commit the violation or advises, hires or counsels or otherwise procures another to commit it.

102.89(3) (3) No penalty for any violation of this chapter or rule or order of this chapter may be reduced or diminished by reason of this section.

102.89 History History: 1989 a. 64.