Opinion ID: 1230640
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: [1-3] ¶ 11. Statutory interpretation presents a question of law that this court reviews de novo. State v. Busch, 217 Wis. 2d 429, 441, 576 N.W.2d 904 (1998). The primary goal of statutory interpretation is to discern the legislature's intent. Miller v. Wal-Mart Stores, 219 Wis. 2d 250, 271, 580 N.W.2d 233 (1998). A `literal reading of a statute may be rejected if it would lead to an absurd or unreasonable result that does not reflect the legislature's intent.' State ex rel. Szymanski v. Gamble, 2001 WI App 118, ¶ 12, 244 Wis. 2d 272, 630 N.W.2d 570 (quoting Logterman v. Dawson, 190 Wis. 2d 90, 104, 526 N.W.2d 768 (Ct. App. 1994)). This court has determined that [w]hen a literal interpretation produces absurd or unreasonable results, or results that are clearly at odds with the legislature's intent, `[o]ur task is to give some alternative meaning' to the words. Alberte v. Anew Health Care Serv., Inc., 2000 WI 7, ¶ 10, 232 Wis. 2d 587, 605 N.W.2d 515 (quoting Green v. Bock Laundry Machine Co., 490 U.S. 504, 527 (1989) (Scalia, J., concurring)).