PREMISES LIABILITY COMPLAINT — WISCONSIN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Caption
- Parties
- Jurisdiction and Venue
- Factual Allegations
- Dangerous Condition and Notice
- Duty of Care
- Count I — Negligence / Premises Liability
- Count II — Negligent Maintenance
- Comparative Fault
- Damages
- Jury Demand
- Prayer for Relief
CAPTION
STATE OF WISCONSIN
CIRCUIT COURT
[COUNTY] COUNTY
| [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], | Case No. [____________] |
| Plaintiff, | |
| v. | |
| [DEFENDANT FULL NAME], | COMPLAINT |
| Defendant. | (Premises Liability) |
PARTIES
-
Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Wisconsin [ZIP CODE].
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Defendant [DEFENDANT FULL NAME] is [an individual residing at / a corporation organized under the laws of [STATE], with its principal place of business at] [DEFENDANT ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Wisconsin [ZIP CODE].
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At all times relevant hereto, Defendant owned, operated, managed, maintained, and/or controlled the real property located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] ("the Premises").
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 753.03, as this is a civil action within the original jurisdiction of the Circuit Court.
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Venue is proper in [COUNTY] County pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 801.50, as the cause of action arose in this county.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
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On or about [DATE OF INCIDENT], Plaintiff was lawfully present on the Premises located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS], [CITY], Wisconsin, for the purpose of [PURPOSE OF VISIT, e.g., shopping, conducting business, visiting as a guest].
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At the time of the incident, Plaintiff was a lawful entrant on the Premises.
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While on the Premises, Plaintiff [DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT, e.g., slipped and fell on a wet floor, tripped over a damaged section of flooring, was struck by a falling display].
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As a direct and proximate result of the incident, Plaintiff suffered serious bodily injuries, including but not limited to [DESCRIBE INJURIES].
DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NOTICE
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At the time of Plaintiff's injury, there existed a dangerous condition on the Premises, specifically [DESCRIBE DANGEROUS CONDITION IN DETAIL].
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The dangerous condition had existed for [DURATION OR DESCRIPTION OF TIME PERIOD], which was sufficient time for Defendant, in the exercise of ordinary care, to discover and remedy the condition.
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Defendant had actual notice of the dangerous condition because [DESCRIBE BASIS FOR ACTUAL NOTICE].
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Alternatively, Defendant had constructive notice of the dangerous condition because the hazard existed for a sufficient length of time that Defendant, in the exercise of ordinary care, should have discovered and remedied it.
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Despite having actual and/or constructive notice of the dangerous condition, Defendant failed to repair, remedy, guard, barricade, or warn of the dangerous condition.
DUTY OF CARE
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As the owner, operator, and/or controller of the Premises, Defendant owed Plaintiff a duty of ordinary care under the circumstances to maintain the Premises in a reasonably safe condition for all lawful entrants.
-
Defendant's duty included, but was not limited to:
- ☐ Regularly inspecting the Premises to discover dangerous conditions;
- ☐ Repairing known hazards in a timely manner;
- ☐ Warning of dangerous conditions that could not be immediately remedied;
- ☐ Maintaining the Premises in a reasonably safe condition for all lawful entrants;
- ☐ Removing unnatural accumulations of snow and ice from walkways and entrances.
COUNT I — NEGLIGENCE / PREMISES LIABILITY
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Plaintiff incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.
-
Defendant breached the duty of care owed to Plaintiff by one or more of the following acts or omissions:
- ☐ Failing to maintain the Premises in a reasonably safe condition;
- ☐ Failing to inspect the Premises to discover the dangerous condition;
- ☐ Failing to repair or remedy the dangerous condition within a reasonable time;
- ☐ Failing to warn Plaintiff of the dangerous condition;
- ☐ Failing to barricade or guard the dangerous condition;
- ☐ [OTHER SPECIFIC ACTS OF NEGLIGENCE]. -
As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff suffered the injuries and damages described herein.
COUNT II — NEGLIGENT MAINTENANCE
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Plaintiff incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.
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Defendant negligently maintained the Premises by [DESCRIBE SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE FAILURES].
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Defendant's negligent maintenance of the Premises was a direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.
COMPARATIVE FAULT
- Plaintiff was not at fault for the incident described herein, or alternatively, any fault attributable to Plaintiff was not greater than the negligence of Defendant.
DAMAGES
- As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer the following damages:
Economic Damages:
- ☐ Past medical expenses in the amount of $[AMOUNT];
- ☐ Future medical expenses estimated at $[AMOUNT];
- ☐ Lost wages and earning capacity in the amount of $[AMOUNT];
- ☐ Future lost wages and diminished earning capacity estimated at $[AMOUNT];
- ☐ Property damage in the amount of $[AMOUNT];
- ☐ Other economic losses: [DESCRIBE].
Non-Economic Damages:
- ☐ Physical pain and suffering, past and future;
- ☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress;
- ☐ Loss of enjoyment of life;
- ☐ Permanent impairment and/or disfigurement;
- ☐ Loss of consortium (if applicable).
JURY DEMAND
- Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable as a matter of right.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant as follows:
- Compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial;
- Economic damages including medical expenses, lost wages, and future care costs;
- Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life;
- Punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish and deter Defendant's conduct;
- Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
- Costs and disbursements of this action;
- Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
[LAW FIRM NAME]
By: [________________________________]
[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.
[STATE BAR NUMBER]
[FIRM ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]
[TELEPHONE]
[EMAIL]
Attorney for Plaintiff
Date: [__/__/____]
VERIFICATION
STATE OF WISCONSIN
COUNTY OF [COUNTY NAME]
I, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], being duly sworn, state that I have read the foregoing Complaint, and the facts stated therein are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.
[________________________________]
[PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]
Subscribed and sworn to before me this [____] day of [________], [____].
[________________________________]
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]
STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES — WISCONSIN
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Statute of Limitations | 3 years (Wis. Stat. § 893.54) |
| Comparative Fault | Modified — 51% bar; plaintiff barred if negligence is "greater than" defendant's (Wis. Stat. § 895.045) |
| Duty Standard | Ordinary care to all lawful entrants; invitee/licensee distinction abolished (Antoniewicz v. Reszczynski) |
| Notice Requirement | Actual or constructive notice required; transient-substance cases require showing duration/appearance of hazard |
| Open & Obvious | Recognized; landowner may owe no duty if danger is so apparent a reasonable person would see and avoid it |
| Snow/Ice Rule | Natural accumulation rule — no liability for natural snow/ice; liability only for unnatural accumulations; Wis. Stat. § 893.83 for public ways |
| Damages Caps | Punitive damages capped at 2x compensatory or $200,000, whichever is greater (Wis. Stat. § 895.043); no general non-economic cap |
| Filing Court | Circuit Court |
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Last updated: April 2026