Court Opinion

ID: 9704754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 00:45:21.354884+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:05.049620
License: Public Domain

LaROCQUE, J.
(dissenting) I believe State v. Peterson, 98 Wis.2d 487, 495, 297 N.W.2d 52, 55 (Ct. App. 1980), to be in error in its conclusion that the trial court has jurisdiction if proven only by a preponderance of the evidence. The “reasonableness and necessity” of a regulation against Indian fishers is an element of the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Id. The test for burden of proof, simply stated, is to weigh the value society places on the right in controversy, and the greater the *435value, the greater the burden. See Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418 (1979). The right in controversy here is the Indians’ right to be free of discrimination as an element of reasonableness of the regulation. The burden is on the state in the first place because the Chippewas ceded their Wisconsin lands to the United States government in exchange for these fishing rights. See State v. Gurnoe, 53 Wis.2d 390, 396, 192 N.W.2d 892, 894-95 (1972).
Neither the case relied upon in Peterson nor the one cited by the majority here supporting a lesser burden concerns an interest of comparable magnitude. Both Afram v. Balfour, Maclaine, Inc., 63 Wis.2d 702, 218 N.W.2d 288 (1974), relied upon in Peterson, and McNutt v. GMAC, 298 U.S. 178 (1936), relied upon here, involved, ultimately, only the proper choice of forum. In Afram, the issue was whether Wisconsin had personal jurisdiction under its “longarm” statute. Regardless of an adverse decision, the plaintiff could enforce his rights in another jurisdiction. In McNutt, the issue was whether GMAC had properly pleaded that the matter in controversy exceeded the sum of $3,000 so as to give the federal court jurisdiction. The only right in controversy was whether GMAC could sue in a federal court rather than a state court.
I would reverse and remand to the trial court for the purpose of determining the reasonableness and necessity of the DNR regulation, and thus absence of discrimination, under a clear, satisfactory, and convincing burden of proof.