Judge Says State Went Too Far with ‘No Call’ Fines

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi threw out parts of Wisconsin’s ‘no call’ list, ruling that the state overstepped its authority by increasing fines for violations and giving private citizens the ability to sue companies who break the rules, according to an Associated Press report.

But Sumi upheld other provisions of the rules, including the fees the state charges businesses to obtain the list of those who sign up to stop getting telephone solicitations from telemarketers.

Mike Wittenwyler, an attorney who represented a coalition that filed the suit, told AP the decision makes the regulations “more reasonable” and eliminates businesses’ fears that they would face frivolous lawsuits.

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach told AP he was happy the decision upheld the majority of the rules. But he feared the decision to reduce the maximum fine per violation from $10,000 to $100 would weaken the law and encourage larger telemarketing firms to violate the list because of the lower penalties.