Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 814 - Court costs, fees, and surcharges.
814.036 - Omnibus costs provision.

814.036 Omnibus costs provision. If a situation arises in which the allowance of costs is not covered by ss. 814.01 to 814.035, the allowance shall be in the discretion of the court.
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 780 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 814.036.
A prevailing plaintiff in a habeas corpus proceeding may not be awarded costs. State ex rel. Korne v. Wolke, 79 Wis. 2d 22, 255 N.W.2d 446 (1977).
Circuit courts have authority to impose costs on an attorney whose actions have resulted in a mistrial. Schulz v. Darlington Mutual Insurance Co., 181 Wis. 2d 646, 511 N.W.2d 879 (1994).
Photocopy and facsimile expenses may be taxed under this section. Wausau Medical Center v. Asplund, 182 Wis. 2d 274, 514 N.W.2d 34 (Ct. App. 1994).
This section only gives a court discretion as to when it may allow costs and not as to what costs may be allowed. Neither this section or s. 814.02 grants the trial court the power to allow costs that are not explicitly authorized by statute. Kleinke v. Farmers Coop. Supply & Shipping, 202 Wis. 2d 138, 549 N.W.2d 714 (1996), 95-0856.
An award of statutory costs after arbitration is not explicitly authorized by statute and is not within the court's discretion under this section. Lane v. Williams, 2000 WI App 263, 240 Wis. 2d 255, 621 N.W.2d 922, 00-0852.
Kleinke addressed what costs may be taxed when this section or s. 814.04 are relied upon; it did not consider what costs may be recovered as a component of damages in a bad faith claim. As with attorney fees, a prevailing plaintiff may recover, as compensatory damages, all reasonable expenses incurred in litigating the bad faith claim. Allied Processors, Inc. v. Western National Mutual Insurance Co., 2001 WI App 129, 246 Wis. 2d 579, 629 N.W.2d 329, 00-1490.

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