Court Opinion

ID: 9710455
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:10:15.601967+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:57.045950
License: Public Domain

WILLIAM A. BABLITCH, J.
(dissenting). Bobby Felder, a black citizen of Milwaukee, was arrested on Independence Day, July 4,1981, for a crime he did not commit. During the course of the arrest, witnessed by his neighbors and family, he was allegedly beaten by five Milwaukee police officers and thrown partially *633unconscious into the back of a paddy wagon. Within hours, an alderman from the City was on the scene. Also within hours, the Milwaukee Police Department had other officers on the scene investigating the incident and taking statements from witnesses, a process that continued for two days. By July 7, the Chief of Police was informed of the incident by letter from the alderman who was at the scene. I dissent.
One can scarcely conceive of facts more ripe for resolution under sec. 1983.
Yet the majority today denies Bobby Felder access to the state courts to litigate his sec. 1983 claim. The majority concludes that his failure to formally file a "Notice of Claim” with the Milwaukee City Clerk within the 120 days set by Wisconsin statutes, sec. 893.80, Stats., denies him access to the state courts. Although that statute also allows actual notice in lieu of formal written notice, the majority concludes that no actual notice of this incident was given to the City.
In Perrote v. Percy, 452 F. Supp. 604 (E.D. Wis. 1978) the court ruled the notice provision of sec. 895.45(1), Stats. 1975, (actions against state officials) did not apply to a sec. 1983 action because
"[acceptance of the defendant’s position would unacceptably elevate subtleties of state procedural law above the avenue of relief created by Congress for the protection of federal constitutional rights from deprivations by persons acting with state authority.” Id. at 605.
The majority attempts to distinguish Perrote by pointing out that Perrote was brought in federal court, while this claim was brought in state court. Apparently, the majority perceives that although it is inappropriate to elevate subtleties of state procedural law *634above the relief Congress intended in federal court, it is appropriate to do so in state court.
I conclude that a 120 day notice requirement is a subtlety of state procedural law that must give way to the vindication of federal rights in state courts.
The failure to do so by the majority is made more egregious by their conclusion that there was no actual notice by the City, notwithstanding the facts that the alleged acts were done by five agents of the City, a City alderman came to the scene within hours, an investigation was begun within hours by other police officers, further investigation by police supervisory officers took place within 48 hours, and direct communication was given within three days to the Chief of Police of the City. One of the primary purposes of the notice statute is to allow the government unit an opportunity to promptly investigate such incidents. As this court said in Nielsen v. Town of Silver Cliff, 112 Wis. 2d 574, 580, 334 N.W.2d 242:
"The purpose of sec. 895.43(1) is to avoid prejudice to governmental units resulting from the late filing of claims. Specifically, the notice requirements are designed to ensure that governmental units have a sufficient opportunity to investigate all incidents giving rise to tort claims. Thorough investigations guard against specious claims and may help prevent similar accidents in the future.”
That purpose was' more than fulfilled in this case. If these facts and circumstances do not constitute actual notice under the statute, "actual notice” has become meaningless.