893.93 Annotation
Discovery occurs when the plaintiff has information that would constitute the basis for an objective belief as to the plaintiff's injury and its cause. The degree of certainty that constitutes sufficient knowledge is variable, depending on the particular facts and circumstances of the plaintiff. With corporate players, a different quantum of expertise and knowledge is in play. Wisconsin courts have recognized that ignorance is a less compelling excuse for corporate enterprises in the context of the discovery rule. KDC Foods, Inc. v. Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett, P.A.,
763 F.3d 743 (2014).
893.93 Annotation
Wisconsin courts have applied the two-year limitations period under sub. (2) (a) to actions that principally benefit the public at large, a “statute penalty," and the six-year limitations period under sub. (1) (a) to actions that principally benefit the plaintiff at issue. Because a claim under s. 146.83 (3f) (b) is primarily private in nature and does not result in a statute penalty for the public's benefit, the six-year limitations period of sub. (1) (a) applies. Although s. 146.84 (1) (b) and (bm) authorize exemplary damages, what matters is who, on balance, the cause of action benefits—the private individual or the general public. Smith v. RecordQuest, LLC,
989 F.3d 513 (2021).
893.93 Annotation
Section 551.59 (5) applies to actions arising out of sales of securities under federal Securities and Exchange Commission rules, rather than s. 893.19 (7) [now sub. (1m) (b)]. Kramer v. Loewi & Co.,
357 F. Supp. 83 (1973).
893.93 Annotation
Section 893.21 (1) [now sub. (2) (a)] did not control an action by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charging discrimination in employment when the statute limited only acts brought by a “private party" and the commission is a federal agency enforcing public policy. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Laacke & Joys Co.,
375 F. Supp. 852 (1974).
893.93 Annotation
Section 893.19 (4) [now sub. (1m) (a)] governs civil rights actions. Minor v. Lakeview Hospital,
421 F. Supp. 485 (1976).
893.93 Annotation
Section 893.19 (4) [now sub. (1m) (a)] governed an action under federal law against an oil refiner for compensatory damages for alleged overcharges. Section 893.21 (1) [now sub. (2) (a)] governed an action for treble damages. U.S. Oil Co. v. Koch Refining Co.,
497 F. Supp. 1125 (1980).
893.93 Annotation
The defendant in a civil rights action was estopped from pleading the statute of limitations when its own fraudulent conduct prevented the plaintiff from timely filing suit. Bell v. City of Milwaukee,
498 F. Supp. 1339 (1980).
893.93 Annotation
At a minimum, actions for contractual rescission based on negligent or strict responsibility misrepresentation sound in contract, not tort, at least under Wisconsin law, and are not actions “on the ground of fraud" under sub. (1) (b) [now sub. (1m) (b)]. If all misrepresentations—intentional, negligent, and strict responsibility—were “fraudulent," there would be no need for the second category of “material" misrepresentations. CMFG Life Insurance Co. v. UBS Securities,
30 F. Supp. 3d 822 (2014).
893.94
893.94
Organized crime control; civil remedies. Any civil action arising under ss.
946.80 to
946.88 is subject to the limitations under s.
946.88 (1).
893.94 History
History: 1981 c. 280;
1989 a. 121.
893.95
893.95
Unclaimed property; civil remedies. Any civil action to enforce ch.
177 is subject to the limitations under s.
177.0610.
893.95 History
History: 1983 a. 408;
2021 a. 87.
893.96 History
History: 1987 a. 287.
893.965 History
History: 2015 a. 345.
893.97 History
History: 1989 a. 44.
893.98 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
893.99 History
History: 2005 a. 197.
893.99 Note
NOTE: Statutes not contained in this chapter that relate to or impose time restrictions on asserting a claim or a cause of action include, but are not limited to, the following:
Bank deposits and collections
s.
404.111
Bridge, lien for damages related to
s.
31.26
Business closing notification, claims and actions
s.
109.07 (4)
Campaign finance, actions against registrants
s.
11.1305 (5)
Child, rehearing on status
s.
48.46
Construction lien, bond, notice
s.
779.036
Construction lien, notice
s.
779.02
Construction lien, notice and claim
s.
779.06
Consumer transactions, customer remedies
s.
425.307
Contract for sale, breach
s.
402.725
Cooperatives, articles of amendment, contesting validity
s.
185.53 (4)
Cooperatives, dissolution, effect on remedy
s.
185.76
Cooperatives, dissolution, unlawful distributions
s.
185.71 (6)
Corporations, directors' liability, proceedings against
s.
180.0833 (3)
Corporations, dissolution, nonstock, remedies
s.
181.1407
Corporations, take-over, recovery of security
s.
552.21 (3)
Dam, lien for damages related to
s.
31.26
Death, effect on cause of action
s.
859.15
Decedent's estate:
Claim to recover real property
s.
705.15
Election of surviving spouse
s.
861.11
Discrimination in employment, complaint
s.
111.39 (1)
Drainage proceedings, appeals
s.
88.09
Election, contesting, notice
s.
13.23
Employment relations commission orders, action to enforce
s.
230.44 (3)
Execution, after death of debtor
s.
815.14
Extradition of persons of unsound mind
s.
51.84
Family and Medical Leave Act, violations
s.
103.10 (13)
Flood damage from milldam, action for
s.
31.33 (1)
Franchise investment, action to enforce
s.
553.51 (4)
Gambling, recovery of wagers
s.
895.056
Garnishment, reinstatement of employment
s.
425.110
General relief, recovery
s.
49.08
Hazardous substance cleanup, cost recovery by local governments
s.
292.33 (7)
Health care benefits cessation, failure of employer to notify
s.
109.075 (4)
Highways, alleys, defect in deed
s.
66.1033
Home inspectors, actions against
s.
440.977
Income tax, collection actions
s.
71.77
Insurance, action on policy
s.
631.83
Insurance policy, absent insured
s.
813.22
Insurance securities, recovery of insider profits
s.
611.31 (4)
Insurer rehabilitation
s.
645.34
Letters of credit, actions on
s.
405.115
Limited liability company, wrongful distribution
s.
183.0406 (5)
