April 18, 2013
In any civil matter heard by the court system, such as a Wisconsin personal injury lawsuit, whether or not an individual has legal representation could have a drastic effect on the decision that is reached in the case. Unfortunately though, many citizens cannot afford to hire an attorney.
Several years ago, Wisconsin eliminated funding for civil legal services for those with low incomes, such as the disabled, the elderly, and those who have been victims of domestic violence.
In 2008, the state legislature sat aside a total of $ 1 million for these purposes. The following year, the number almost doubled when the fund topped out at $1.9 million. Funding significantly grew again in 2010 when $2.5 million was allocated to the fund; however, state lawmakers completely eliminated the program in 2011 despite significant growth.
With a $420 million dollar surplus for the next several fiscal years, the State Bar of Wisconsin has called for the state to readopt the funding. The organization believes doing so would help the court system to more effectively hand down justice.
At Sigman, Janssen, Sewall, Pitz & Burkham, our Green Bay personal injury attorneys acknowledge that every citizen has a right to a fair trial in any civil matter and firmly believe that affordable legal representation is an integral part of achieving that.