Agricultural Law & Rural Practice | Solo Small Firm & General Practice Section
The Agricultural Law & Rural Practice blog, published by the State Bar of Wisconsin, addresses legal issues relevant to agricultural businesses and rural communities. It covers topics such as intellectual property challenges in agriculture, regulatory compliance including OSHA inspections, legislative developments affecting rural legal practice, and employment law matters like workers' compensation, ADA accommodations, and FMLA in the context of agricultural and rural workplaces. The blog also discusses litigation funding transparency and government speech issues as they pertain to rural legal concerns. It serves as a resource for solo practitioners and small firms handling general practice matters in agricultural and rural settings.
Latest from Agricultural Law & Rural Practice | Solo Small Firm & General Practice Section - Page 4
Fifth Circuit Vacates OSHA Mental Health Recordkeeping Rule and Signals Closer Scrutiny of OSHA Authority
By Matthew Horn
The Fifth Circuit recently issued a decision that could affect how courts evaluate Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and enforcement actions moving forward.
On July 21, 2026, in Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission,
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Victim’s story leads to Iron County Circuit Court stonewall on public records
For privacy protection we will refer to a sexual assault victim as Jane Doe. This story briefly recounts a sexual assault.
Iron County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Stella Jr. is refusing to release records of what he and a prosecutor
Iron County Circuit Court Judge Anthony Stella Jr. is refusing to release records of what he and a prosecutor
…
CMS Final Rule and OIG and DOJ Referrals Signal Heightened Focus on Pediatric Gender-Affirming Care
By Hall Render
Last week saw two major federal policy actions related to the provision of gender-affirming care to minors. On August 11, 2026, CMS issued a final rule entitled “Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex Rejecting…
The Second Job Question: When Should Employers Care?
By Amber Larson
More than five percent of employed Americans hold more than one job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For employers, outside employment may raise concerns related to employee performance, competition, and confidential information. A carefully drafted outside-employment policy…
Pay Transparency 2.0: Key Employer Takeaways on the Shift in PayTransparency Compliance
By Milt Castro
Compliance with pay transparency laws is no longer as simple as adding a salary range to a job posting and moving on. As state pay transparency requirements and compliance obligations continue to expand nationwide, regulators are increasingly focused on whether…
How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Wisconsin: Notice Deadlines, What the Employer Must Do, and When to Get Help
To file a workers’ compensation claim in Wisconsin, start with notice: tell your employer within 30 days under Wis. Stat. § 102.12. Your employer then files the WKC-12, and the insurer pays or denies. If it denies, you file a…
When Food Is Medicine: OIG Clears the Way for FQHC Produce Benefits
By Hall Render
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued a favorable opinion, AO 26-16, regarding a federally qualified health center’s (“FQHC’s”) provision of produce boxes and vouchers to patients diagnosed with certain health conditions (the…
Court by Court: Observing Wisconsin’s Municipal Justice System
By Erik Reinthaler, WJI Intern
On a Thursday morning in July, people trickled into Racine Municipal Court for a docket made up mostly of traffic and ordinance violations. Some seemed to know where to go and what to do. Others
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Indiana Court of Appeals Affirms Temporary Commitment Despite Voluntary Participation in Treatment
By Hall Render
The Indiana Court of Appeals (the “Court”) affirmed a trial court’s temporary commitment order, holding that a patient’s voluntary participation in treatment did not render involuntary commitment inappropriate. The Court concluded that clear and convincing evidence supported the commitment where…