Abuse of Discretion Sufficiency of Evidence.

Byline: Derek Hawkins

WI Court of Appeals District III

Case Name: Eland Fisheree LLC, et al., v. Jennifer Brennan, et al.,

Case No.: 2020AP45

Officials: HRUZ, J.

Focus: Abuse of Discretion Sufficiency of Evidence

Jennifer Brennan, Allen Osterbrink, and Eland Fisheree (collectively, the defendants) appeal from a $10,690.90 small claims judgment in favor of Eland Fisheree LLC (the LLC), James Stoltz, Cynthia VanLanen, and Denise Larson (collectively with the LLC, the plaintiffs). This dispute arose after the plaintiffs took control of an informal organization that coordinated an annual fishing event in Eland, Wisconsin. After taking control, the plaintiffs filed this small claims action to recover funds from the former leaders of the informal groupthe defendants. The circuit court found that the plaintiffs successfully created a successor organization to coordinate the fishing event, and that they were entitled to their requested damages along with costs.

On appeal, the defendants argue that the circuit court lacked sufficient evidence to find the defendants liable; that it erroneously exercised its...