Opinion ID: 2226867
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: waiver of bond

Text: Sec. 775.01, Stats., states that a claimant may commence an action against the state by service as provided in sec. 801.11(3) and by filing with the clerk of court a bond, not exceeding $1,000. . . . In the present case the trial court judge, the Hon. Michael Torphy, initially ruled that the plaintiff was not required to post bond in spite of sec. 775.01. Subsequently, Judge William D. Byrne ruled that a bond of $100 must be posted before the entry of judgment. The state argues on this review that the posting of bond is jurisdictional and therefore the trial court had no authority to proceed until bond was posted. [2, 3] This court has previously stated that posting a bond is jurisdictional in nature and is a condition precedent to commencing an action against the state. State ex rel. Martin v. Reis, 230 Wis. 683, 284 N.W. 580 (1939). This rule applies, however, only if a bond is required under the law. Sec. 814.29, Stats., allows a trial court to permit the commencement of a suit without the giving of security provided that the party files and the court approves of an affidavit stating that the party, due to poverty, is unable to post security. [4] There is no indication in this statute, in sec. 775.01 or elsewhere, that this waiver of bond does not apply to the bond requirement of sec. 775.01. Accordingly, we conclude that the bond requirement in actions against the state may be waived under the procedures described in sec. 814.29. In the present case a motion for leave to proceed without posting of bond and a supporting affidavit were filed by Boldt with the trial court pursuant to sec. 814.29. The trial court was thus within its authority in allowing the commencement of the action without bond and the present case was validly commenced.