| Securities Fraud, § 551.41(2) – Promissory Note |
| State v. Kevin F. McGuire, 2007 WI App 139, PFR filed 6/4/07 |
| For McGuire: Timothy A. Provis |
| Issue: Whether a promissory note is a “security” within the meaning of § 551.02(13(a). |
|
Holding: The 4-factor test
of
In Reves v. Ernst
& Young, 494 U.S. 56, 66-67 (1990) applies: “1) the
motivations of a reasonable seller and buyer; (2) the note’s ‘plan of
distribution’; (3) the reasonable expectations of the investing public; and
(4) whether other risk-reducing factors exist, making unnecessary the
application of the securities laws to protect the public,” ¶11. “The bottom
line is that McGuire’s motivation was to raise money for his NASCAR venture
and DeLuisa’s motive was to make a profit. This factor weighs against a
family resemblance to a nonsecurity.” “(T)he fact that this transaction
involved only DeLuisa as an investor [8] is not fatal, because a
debt instrument may be distributed to but one investor, yet be a security.”
“…McGuire convinced DeLuisa that since NASCAR was “up and coming,” his
venture had a promising future and she would realize a return significantly
better than likely could have been achieved at a local bank. A reasonable
investor would have considered the transaction with its
higher-than-commercial interest rate to be an investment. We conclude this
factor weighs against a resemblance to the family of non-securities.” “There
also is no evidence to indicate that the note was covered by any …
regulatory scheme to protect DeLuisa. … We conclude this factor also weighs
against resemblance to the family of nonsecurities.” ¶23 On balance, then, the first, third and fourth factors weigh against any resemblance to the family of nonsecurities; only the second factor weighs in favor. The factors are considered as a whole, and failure to satisfy one of the factors is not dispositive. J.T. Wallenbrock & Assocs., 313 F.3d at 537. McGuire’s fraud consisted of his failure to inform DeLuisa of his undischarged bankruptcy, the terms and conditions of the bankruptcy plan which significantly limited McGuire’s ability to incur debt, and his felony conviction and prison time for theft by conversion. The trial court found these omissions and McGuire’s affirmative statements that this was a good, safe investment to be material facts which would influence a reasonable investor’s investing decision. These findings are not clearly erroneous. See Schnuth v. Harrison, 44 Wis. 2d 326, 335, 171 N.W.2d 370 (1969). ¶24 We conclude that McGuire’s note qualifies as a “security” within the meaning of Wis. Stat. § 551.02 and thus his conduct qualified for prosecution pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 551.41. |
| Securities Fraud, § 551.41(2) – Elements |
| State v. Louis H. LaCount, 2008 WI 59, affirming 2007 WI App 116 |
| For LaCount: T. Christopher Kelly |
Issue:
Issue/Holding:
¶29 The State was required to prove three elements beyond a reasonable doubt to convict LaCount of securities fraud. First, the prosecution had to establish that LaCount sold Wills a security, here, an investment contract. Wis. Stat. § 551.41. Second, the prosecution had to prove that LaCount made an "untrue statement of a material fact or [omitted] to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they [were] made, not misleading . . . ." Wis. Stat. § 551.41(2). Third, the prosecution was required to prove that LaCount acted willfully. Wis. Stat. § 551.41. ... |
| Securities Fraud, § 551.41(2) – Sufficiency of Evidence – Element of Investment Contract |
| State v. Louis H. LaCount, 2008 WI 59, affirming 2007 WI App 116 |
| For LaCount: T. Christopher Kelly |
Issue/Holding:
¶30 We are satisfied that the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that LaCount sold Wills a security, here, an investment contract. We are not persuaded by LaCount's argument, which relied on the United States Supreme Court decision of SEC v. Edwards, 540 U.S. 389, 393 (2004), that Wills had to depend solely on LaCount's efforts to realize a profit for the transaction to be an investment contract. In Edwards, the Court defined an investment contract for purposes of federal securities law. Id. LaCount's argument fails because Wisconsin securities law is far broader in its definition of an investment contract than is federal law. Wisconsin courts have held that managerial efforts need not come only from the efforts of a person other than the investor. See Fore Way Express, Inc. v. Bast, 178 Wis. 2d 693, 505 N.W.2d 408 (Ct. App. 1993). Specifically, Fore Way Express cited the relevant section of the Wisconsin Administrative Code in holding that an investment contract was any "'investment in a common enterprise with the expectation of profit to be derived through the essential managerial efforts of someone other than the investor.'" Id. at 712, citing Wis. Admin. Code § DFI 1.02(6)(a) (Dec. 2004). |
| § 125.075(1), Procuring Alcohol for Minor Resulting in Death – Element of Scienter |
| State v. Ronald L. Wille, 2007 WI App 27, PFR filed 2/28/07 |
| For Wille: Jerome A. Maeder, Benjamin Welch |
| Issue: Whether the scienter element of § 125.075(1) requires proof that the defendant know that a particular individual is under the legal drinking age. |
Holding:
¶11 Wille makes much of the fact that Wis. Stat. § 125.075(1) refers several times to the victim in the singular: “to a person under 18 years of age”; “the underage person was”; “[t]he underage person dies.” Id. We conclude, however, that the reference to a single minor or underage person in the statute does not preclude its application to a defendant who procures alcohol beverages for a group of persons that the defendant knew or should have known were underage persons.Also mentioned in passing by the court: “although the victim of the crime must be under eighteen, it is not necessary that the defendant knew or should have known that the persons for whom alcohol beverages were procured were ‘under 18 years of age’; the required knowledge is that the persons were ‘under the legal drinking age,’ i.e., under the age of twenty-one,” ¶12 n. 3. The court also recognizes that liability doesn’t attach where the underage person is “accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or spouse who ahs attained the legal drinking age,” ¶17 n. 4. |
| § 125.075(1), Procuring Alcohol for Minor Resulting in Death – Sufficiency of Evidence |
| State v. Ronald L. Wille, 2007 WI App 27, PFR filed 2/28/07 |
| For Wille: Jerome A. Maeder, Benjamin Welch |
| Issue: Whether the evidence was sufficient under § 125.075(1) to show that the defendant had the underage victim had consumed alcohol provided by the defendant at a party for which the defendant supplied beer and sold red cups for the purpose of obtaining the beer (the victim became intoxicated and later died in a traffic accident after leaving the party). |
Holding:
¶17 Wille admitted on cross-examination that he knew when he purchased and arranged for the delivery of the barrels of beer to the party site that “an underage drinking party” was to occur and that party attendees would include “people … under the legal drinking age.” … |
| § 125.075(1), Procuring Alcohol for Minor Resulting in Death – Jury Instructions: Causation |
| State v. Ronald L. Wille, 2007 WI App 27, PFR filed 2/28/07 |
| For Wille: Jerome A. Maeder, Benjamin Welch |
Issue/Holding:
¶24 Wille claims the trial court erred in instructing jurors that, to find Wille guilty of the charged crime, Meshak’s consumption of alcohol provided by Wille was required to be “a” substantial factor in causing Meshak’s death, instead of “the” substantial factor, as Wille requested. Alternatively, he contends the court should have also instructed jurors that, to be “a substantial factor,” the death had to be “a natural and probable consequence” of Wille’s conduct. [6] We are not persuaded that the trial court erred in instructing jurors that Wille could be found guilty if Meshak’s consumption of alcohol provided by Wille was “a substantial factor” in causing Meshak’s death, or that it erroneously exercised its discretion by refusing to insert the additional language Wille requested. |
| § 125.075(1), Procuring Alcohol for Minor Resulting in Death – Elements – State Need not Prove Victim’s Level of Intoxication |
| State v. Ronald L. Wille, 2007 WI App 27, PFR filed 2/28/07 |
| For Wille: Jerome A. Maeder, Benjamin Welch |
Issue/Holding:
¶31 … The State was under no obligation to establish the level of alcohol in Meshak’s blood at the time of the accident, or even to prove that he was intoxicated to the degree required for a conviction under Wis. Stat. § 346.63 (“Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug”). The absence of other drugs in Meshak’s system also was not an element of the State’s case. As we have discussed, the State needed to prove only that Meshak’s consumption of alcohol beverages procured by Wille was “a substantial factor” in causing Meshak’s death. We conclude there was more than sufficient evidence presented at trial to show that Meshak drove away from the party in a highly intoxicated state. We therefore harbor no reasonable doubt that jurors would have found that the State established the necessary causal link between Meshak’s consumption of alcohol and his death even if they had not heard the test result evidence. |
| Compulsory School Attendance, § 118.15(5)(b)2 |
| State v. Gwendolyn McGee, 2005 WI App 97 |
| For McGee: Amelia L. Bizarro |
| Issue/Holding: The disobedient-child defense to a compulsory-attendance charge is an affirmative defense issue to be presented to the fact-finder at trial for resolution (as opposed to disposition by pretrial motion). |
| Contempt -- Remedial, Sanction Supported for Past Contempt |
| Milton J. Christensen, et al. v. Sullivan, et al., 2008 WI App 18 |
| For Christensen: Peter M. Koneazny |
| Issue: Whether remedial contempt supports monetary sanction for past acts (here: intentional violations of jail-overcrowding consent decree) where the sanctionable conduct has terminated. |
Holding:
¶11 Here, we are concerned only with the remedial sanctions for which the legislature has provided, in Wis. Stat. §§ 785.01(2), (3) and 785.04 …Background: The county indisputably intentionally violated a consent decree meant to remedy unlawful jail conditions, racking up a total of 16,662 transgressions, ¶5. Jail inmates are seeking monetary fro the violations. Note that, mirabile dictu, the violations ceased immediately upon Plaintiffs’ motion to enforce the decree. And just what were the transgressions? The court’s summary of same (¶23) is based on the trial judge’s findings (¶5): Among the conditions described by some of the Plaintiffs (and not directly contradicted by the Affidavits submitted by Milwaukee County) include: overly crowded conditions, inmates who were forced to sit or sleep on the floor next to urinals, inmates who had to sit-up for hours and hours, lack of hygiene, unsanitary conditions, inmates who were not given pillows or blankets to sleep on, cells that were infested with bugs, cold temperatures, bodily fluids on the floor and bad odors.… [B]etween November of 2001 and April of 2004, 4811 inmates were kept in this environment for longer than two days, and 719 inmates were held there for more than three (3) days. Some of these inmates were held in booking in excess of 100 hours….Mr. Koneazny puts it a bit more colorfully: “The human beings subjected to these conditions were treated like cattle,” said Peter Koneazny, the Legal Aid Society’s litigation director. “They describe lying on the concrete floor next to the toilet trying to get some sleep, being packed into small holding cells with up to 12 or more other prisoners, and having their pleas for medical attention ignored.”More details, here: http://www.aclu-wi.org/wisconsin/police_prisons/Milw_County_Contempt/jailbrief.pdf (Plaintiffs’ pleadings/brief). How much is at stake, Milwaukee tax-payers want to know? The exact amount won’t be determined until remand, so we’ll have to wait and see. Initial reports in the local media, though, place the potential figure in the millions. Many millions. As Everett Dirksen might have said, “A million here, a million there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.” |
| Contempt -- Remedial vs. Punitive, Generally |
| Milton J. Christensen, et al. v. Sullivan, et al., 2008 WI App 18 |
| For Christensen: Peter M. Koneazny |
B>Issue/Holding:
¶10 Wisconsin statutes permit a court to enforce its orders by imposing either remedial or punitive sanctions. See Wis. Stat. § 785.04. Punitive sanctions focus on upholding the authority of the court, must be pursued by the district attorney or other prosecuting authority unless the contempt occurs in the presence of the court, and are conducted under the rules of criminal procedure. See Wis. Stat. § 785.03(1)(b); Frisch, 736 N.W.2d 85, ¶34; Diane K.J. v. James L.J., 196 Wis. 2d 964, 969, 539 N.W.2d 703 (Ct. App. 1995) (Punitive contempt is not concerned with private interests of a litigant.); State v. Chinavare, 185 Wis. 2d 528, 529-30, 518 N.W.2d 772 (Ct. App. 1994) (“A complaint issued under [Wis. Stat.] § 785.03(1) … ‘shall be processed under [Wis. Stat.] chs. 967 to 973.’”). Remedial sanctions, however, focus on the rights of the victim of the disobedience to the court order. Section 785.03(1)(a). Such sanctions may be requested by any victim of contumacious conduct, and the statutes provide remedies for the contempt which are aimed at ending the harm to the victim resulting from noncompliance with the order. See § 785.03(1)(b); Frisch, 736 N.W.2d 85, ¶35; State v. King, 82 Wis. 2d 124, 130, 262 N.W.2d 80 (1978); Diane K.J., 196 Wis. 2d at 968. The harm of noncompliance, in some circumstances, may not be remedied merely by a belated compliance with the order sought to be enforced. See Frisch, 736 N.W.2d 85, ¶¶42, 43 & 47. |
| Contempt -- Remedial, § 785.04(1) – Basis for Tuberculosis-Treatment Confinement |
| City of Milwaukee v. Ruby Washington, 2007 WI 104, affirming, 2006 WI App 99 |
|
For Washington: Wm. Tyroler, SPD,
Milwaukee
Appellate; Karl Otto Rohlich, SPD,
Milwaukee Mental Health Amicus: Colleen Ball, ACLU |
Issue/Holding:¶66 Moreover, we agree with Washington that remedial contempt was not an appropriate sanction in this case. A contemnor may be imprisoned "only so long as the person is committing the contempt of court." Wis. Stat. § 785.04(1)(b). Once a contemnor complies with the prior court order, or "purges" the contempt, the person must be released. "The purge provision must clearly spell out what the contemnor must do to be purged, and that action must be within the power of the person." State ex rel. N.A. v. G.S., 156 Wis. 2d 338, 342, 456 N.W.2d 867 (Ct. App. 1990) (citing Schroeder v. Schroeder, 100 Wis. 2d 625, 638, 302 N.W.2d 475, 482 (1981)). "Thus, it is often said that contemnors 'hold the keys to their own jails.'" Id. (quoting State v. King, 82 Wis. 2d 124, 137, 262 N.W.2d 80 (1978)). |
| Contempt -- General Procedure, Remedial vs. Punitive Evans v. Luebke, 2003 WI App 207, PFR filed 10/23/03 Issue/Holding: Contempt is an inherent judicial power, but is legislatively regulated, such that its exercise outside the statutory scheme is proscribed. ¶17. The required statutory procedure is determined by whether the contempt is remedial or punitive. The latter punishes past conduct for the purpose of upholding authority of the court, § 785.01(2) it may be brought only by a prosecutor (DA, AG, or special prosecutor appointed by court) with a complaint under criminal procedure statutes, § 785.03(1)(b). In contrast, a remedial sanction aims to terminate a continuing contempt of court, § 785.01(3), and falls under the procedure for nonsummary sanctions set by §§ 785.03(1)(a) and 785.04(1). ¶¶21-22. |
| Contempt -- Remedial – Requirements: Evidentiary Hearing and Findings Evans v. Luebke, 2003 WI App 207, PFR filed 10/23/03 Issue/Holding: ¶24. Upon the filing of a motion seeking remedial sanctions for contempt, an on-the-record hearing must be held "for due process purposes." See Mercury Records Prods., Inc. v. Economic Consultants, Inc., 91 Wis. 2d 482, 504, 283 N.W.2d 613 (Ct. App. 1979). The evidence adduced at the hearing must support resultant findings of fact that the contemnor engaged in "intentional ... [d]isobedience, resistance or obstruction of the authority, process or order of a court." Wis. Stat. § 785.01(1)(b). No evidentiary proceedings were conducted in this case, nor were facts stipulated to on the record that would support the necessary findings. We conclude that the lack of evidentiary proceedings, as well as the absence of proper findings to support the imposition of sanctions, violate both the requirements of ch. 785 and of due process. See Wis. Stat. § 785.03(1)(a) ("The court, after notice and hearing, may impose a remedial sanction ...." (emphasis added)); Dennis v. State, 117 Wis. 2d 249, 261, 344 N.W.2d 128 (1984) ("[S]tatutory requirements and due process require that the defendant be aware of what he must answer to so that he can be prepared to offer proof and explanation showing his good faith efforts to comply with the court's orders.").(Footnotes omitted, in which court underscores principle that trial court factual findings are essential; and also declines to find waiver.) (SPD authority in this area is limited: it’s probably fair to say that punitive contempt generally supports SPD rep, § 977.05(4)(i)(3), while remedial contempt generally doesn’t, but may. As with all matters involving high policy, consult your FA first.) |
| Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse Reporting, § 48.981(7) -- “Disclosure” Element State v. David C. Polashek, 2002 WI 74, affirming in part and reversing in part, 2001 WI App 130 For Polashek: Nila J. Robinson Issue: Whether the element of "disclosure" in § 48.981(7) requires that the recipient not previously have been aware of the confidential information. Holding: Given the plain meaning of "disclosure," as defined by various dictionaries, as well as construciton of the term under the Federal Privacy Act: ¶23. We conclude, then, that to "disclose" information under § 48.981(7), the recipient must have been previously unaware of the information at the time of the communication. Because the disclosure of the confidential information is an element of the crime, the State has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the disclosure took place. In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 363 (1970). We thus reverse the court of appeals on this issue. |
| Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse Reporting, § 48.981(7) -- Strict Liability State v. David C. Polashek, 2002 WI 74, affirming in part and reversing in part, 2001 WI App 130 For Polashek: Nila J. Robinson Issue: Whether § 48.981(7) is a strict liability offense. Holding: Where the statute makes no reference to mental state -- and none is made here -- it is often deemed strict liability. Factors such as seriousness and nature of the offense and legislative history may lead the court to impose a scienter requirement. Those factors make this offense strict liability: intent is included in one section but not the pertinent one; the statute is regulatory in nature and aims at imposing a high standard of care; though the penalty (six months incarceration) is relatively harsh, strict liability has been found for much harsher punishments. ¶¶28-34. |
| Drug Tax Stamp, §§ 139.87-139.96 -- Constitutionality State v. Glover B. Jones, 2002 WI App 196, PFR filed 8/22/02 For Jones: Mark D. Richards Issue1: Whether the drug tax stamp law, §§ 139.87-139.96, violates the privilege against compelled self-incrimination. Holding: The statute, amended to address State v. Hall, 207 Wis. 2d 54, 557 N.W.2d 778 (1997), prohibits use in a criminal proceeding against a dealer of tax stamps affixed to illegal drugs, and thereby removed the constitutional infirmity. ¶33-36. Issue2: Whether the drug tax stamp law,
§§ 139.87-139.96, violates double jeopardy. |
| Prevailing Wage Law -- § 66.293 -- Federal Preemption, ERISA |
| State v. Bruce Phillips, 2000 WI App 184, 238 Wis.2d 279, 617 N.W.2d 522 |
| For Phillips: Jorge A. Gomez; Mitchell W. Quick |
| Issue: Whether the prevailing wage law, § 66.293, is preempted by federal ERISA legislation. |
| Holding:: Though ERISA preempts any state laws that "relate to" employee benefit plans, the prevailing wage law does not fall in that category, largely because it requires only payment of wages, not fringe benefits, and is "indifferent" to ERISA coverage. More particularly, § 66.293 "neither singles out ERISA plans for special treatment nor depends on their existence as an essential part of its operation." ¶30. |
|
|
| Domestic Abuse, § 813.12(1) -- "Household Member" |
| Annette Petrowsky v. Brad Krause, 223 Wis. 2d 32, 588 N.W.2d 318 (Ct. App. 1998) |
| For Krause: Russell D. Bohach For Petrowsky: Thomas McAdams, Pro Bono Project |
Issue/Holding: The issue on appeal is who constitutes a "household member" under the domestic abuse statute. This involves the construction of a statute. Interpretation of a statute is a question of law that appellate courts review without deference to the trial court. See State ex rel. Reimann v. Circuit Court, 214 Wis.2d 604, 613, 571 N.W.2d 385, 387 (1997). The relevant statute here is § 813.12(1)(c), Stats., which defines a "household member" for the purposes of domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctions. The domestic abuse statute only applies to abuse by adult family members or adult household members. See § 813.12(1)(a). As stated above, the statute defines a household member as "a person currently or formerly residing in a place of abode with another person." Section 813.12(1)(c). |
| Harassment Injunction (§ 813.125(4)): Not Lesser Offense of Harassment (§ 947.013(1r)) |
| State v. Michael A. Sveum, 2002 WI App 105, PFR filed 5/10/02 |
| For Sveum: Ian A.J. Pit |
| Issue/Holding: Violation of harassment injunction isn't lesser offense of harassment, each requiring proof of distinct element. ¶¶23-28. (Court stressing, in particular, that for harassment defendant need only be "subject" to injunction but not actually violate it. ¶25.) |
| Harassment Injunction, § 813.125 -- Travel Restrictions -- "Banishment" from Victim's County |
| Predick v. O'Connor, 2003 WI App 46 |
Issue/Holding: Banishment from victims' county, under harassment injunction, § 813.125, upheld:
¶18 Thus, banishment is not a per se constitutional violation. As the previous discussion demonstrates, there is no exact formula for determining whether a geographic restriction is narrowly tailored. Each case must be analyzed on its own facts, circumstances and total atmosphere to determine whether the geographic restriction is narrowly drawn. |
|
|
| Representations Depicting Nudity, § 942.09 – Element of “Reasonable Expectation of Privacy,” Construction |
| State v. Mark E. Nelson, 2006 WI App 124, PFR filed 6/22/06 |
| For Nelson: Robert R. Henak; Amelia L. Bizzaro |
Issue/Holding:¶19 The phrase “reasonable expectation of privacy” is not defined in Wis. Stat. § 942.09, nor are the individual words. However, the words “expectation of privacy” have a common meaning that can be ascertained with reference to a standard dictionary. …The court goes on to reject on both policy grounds, ¶¶22-25, and also as a matter of legislative history, ¶¶26-33, Nelson’s argument that fourth amendment case law construction of “reasonable expectation of privacy” is relevant to this statutory phrasing. |
|
|
| Representations Depicting Nudity, § 942.09 – Sufficiency of Notice of Element of “Reasonable Expectation of Privacy” |
| State v. Mark E. Nelson, 2006 WI App 124, PFR filed 6/22/06 |
| For Nelson: Robert R. Henak; Amelia L. Bizzaro |
Issue:
Whether the phrase “reasonable expectation
of privacy” in § 942.09 is unconstitutionally vague, where the conduct involved
videotaping women in a second-floor bathroom in their own
house.
Holding:¶39 However, this court and the supreme court have already concluded in several different contexts that the term “reasonable” does not render a statute unconstitutionally vague. …The court notes that “what is reasonable in the circumstances of a particular case is the type of common-sense determination that juries routinely make,” ¶47 and id., n. 9 (string-citing various examples). It ought not be forgotten that this principle applies defensively as well as offensively: self-defense, for example – see, e.g., State v. Jones, 147 Wis.2d 806, 816, 434 N.W.2d 380 (1989) (“This court has recognized that the determination of reasonableness is ‘peculiarly within the province of the jury,’” quoting State v. Mendoza, 80 Wis.2d 122, 156, 258 N.W.2d 260 (1977)). Further, Nelson’s challenge is limited to “only the facts in this case,” ¶45 n. 8—and taping into someone’s bathroom probably doesn’t present a sympathetic claim for lack of notice that your invading their privacy. |
|
|
| Representations Depicting Nudity, § 942.09 – Sufficiency of Evidence |
| State v. Mark E. Nelson, 2006 WI App 124, PFR filed 6/22/06 |
| For Nelson: Robert R. Henak; Amelia L. Bizzaro |
Issue/Holding:
The evidence was
sufficient to sustain conviction under § 942.09 for videotaping into a bathroom
notwithstanding that the window was open, under the following
circumstances:¶53 Applying this standard, we conclude the evidence was sufficient for the jury to find Nelson guilty of violating Wis. Stat. § 942.09 beyond a reasonable doubt, and, specifically, that the women videotaped had a reasonable expectation of privacy. If a jury accepted the testimony of the women and the investigating officers, there was evidence that the bathroom was on the second floor of the building; Nelson’s house appeared vacant and actually was generally vacant that summer; there was a tree, located between Nelson’s house and their own house, that blocked the view of the bathroom window from the ground during the summer; over ten feet separated Nelson’s house from the women’s house, and the women were located four or five feet from the window when Nelson videotaped them. In addition, given the detail visible on the videotapes, a reasonable jury could infer that Nelson was using a zoom feature to see the women and that he would not have been able to see them in any significant detail otherwise. Considering this evidence together, we conclude it is sufficient for a jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that, despite opening the window, the women had a reasonable expectation of privacy when they were videotaped. |
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| Gambling, § 945.03(5) -- Constitutionality -- Vagueness Challenge |
| State v. Lester E. Hahn, 221 Wis. 2d 670, 586 N.W.2d 5 (Ct. App. 1998) |
| For Hahn: Bruce Elbert |
| Issue/Holding: The meaning of "gambling machine" is sufficiently well-understood as to survive a vagueness challenge. (The court reserves whether "contrivance" might be vague when applied to facts not raised by this case.) |
|
|
| Gambling, § 945.03(5) -- Sufficiency of Evidence -- Expert Testimony Unnecessary |
| State v. Lester E. Hahn, 221 Wis. 2d 670, 586 N.W.2d 5 (Ct. App. 1998) |
| For Hahn: Bruce Elbert |
Issue/Holding: We reject Hahn's argument that expert testimony was necessary to establish that these video poker machines were gambling machines. Although Hahn refers to cases from other jurisdictions in which technical aspects of the machines' functions were at issue, he does not relate those cases to any disputed issue here. The two specific aspects of the definition that Hahn claims were not proved were that there was a reward and that chance predominated over skill. Expert testimony is necessary only when there are unusually complex or esoteric matters beyond the knowledge of the average juror. Weiss v. United Fire & Cas. Co., 197 Wis.2d 365, 382, 541 N.W.2d 753, 758-59 (1995). We are not persuaded that either of these contested issues as they present themselves in this case involve facts and circumstances beyond the common knowledge or ordinary experience of the average juror. |