895.441 Sexual exploitation by a therapist; action for.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Physician" has the meaning designated in s. 448.01 (5).
(b) “Psychologist" means a person who practices psychology, as described in s. 455.01 (5).
(c) “Psychotherapy" has the meaning designated in s. 455.01 (6).
(d) “Sexual contact" has the meaning designated in s. 940.225 (5) (b).
(e) “Therapist" means a physician, psychologist, social worker, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, nurse, chemical dependency counselor, member of the clergy or other person, whether or not licensed or certified by the state, who performs or purports to perform psychotherapy.
(2) Cause of action.
(a) Any person who suffers, directly or indirectly, a physical, mental or emotional injury caused by, resulting from or arising out of sexual contact with a therapist who is rendering or has rendered to that person psychotherapy, counseling or other assessment or treatment of or involving any mental or emotional illness, symptom or condition has a civil cause of action against the psychotherapist for all damages resulting from, arising out of or caused by that sexual contact. Consent is not an issue in an action under this section, unless the sexual contact that is the subject of the action occurred more than 6 months after the psychotherapy, counseling, assessment or treatment ended.
(b) Notwithstanding ss. 801.09 (1), 801.095, 802.04 (1) and 815.05 (1g) (a), in an action brought under this section, the plaintiff may substitute his or her initials, or fictitious initials, and his or her age and county of residence for his or her name and address on the summons and complaint. The plaintiff's attorney shall supply the court the name and other necessary identifying information of the plaintiff. The court shall maintain the name and other identifying information, and supply the information to other parties to the action, in a manner that reasonably protects the information from being disclosed to the public.
(c) Upon motion by the plaintiff, and for good cause shown, or upon its own motion, the court may make any order that justice requires to protect:
1. A plaintiff who is using initials in an action under this section from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression or undue burden that would arise if any information identifying the plaintiff were made public.
2. A plaintiff in an action under this section from unreasonably long, repetitive or burdensome physical or mental examinations.
3. The confidentiality of information which under law is confidential, until the information is provided in open court in an action under this section.
(3) Punitive damages. A court or jury may award punitive damages to a person bringing an action under this section.
(4) Calculation of statute of limitations. An action under this section is subject to s. 893.585.
(5) Silence agreements. Any provision in a contract or agreement relating to the settlement of any claim by a patient against a therapist that limits or eliminates the right of the patient to disclose sexual contact by the therapist to a subsequent therapist, the department of safety and professional services, the department of health services, the injured patients and families compensation fund peer review council, or a district attorney is void.
History: 1985 a. 275; 1987 a. 352; 1991 a. 160, 217; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1999 a. 85; 2003 a. 111; 2005 a. 155 s. 62; Stats. 2005 s. 895.441; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2011 a. 32.
Under sub. (2), consent is not an issue and, as such, an instruction regarding the victim's contributory negligence was improper. Block v. Gomez, 201 Wis. 2d 795, 549 N.W.2d 783 (Ct. App. 1996), 94-1085.
This section grants no cause of action against a therapist's employer. L.L.N. v. Clauder, 203 Wis. 2d 570, 552 N.W.2d 879 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-2084.
Reversed on other grounds. 209 Wis. 2d 674, 704, 563 N.W.2d 434 (1997), 95-2084.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 895 - Damages, liability, and miscellaneous provisions regarding actions in courts.
895.01 - What actions survive; actions not to abate.
895.02 - Measure of damages against personal representative.
895.03 - Recovery for death by wrongful act.
895.031 - Recovery from estate of wrongdoer.
895.035 - Parental liability for acts of minor child.
895.037 - Abortions on or for a minor without parental consent or judicial waiver.
895.038 - Partial-birth abortions; liability.
895.04 - Plaintiff in wrongful death action.
895.044 - Damages for maintaining certain claims and counterclaims.
895.045 - Contributory negligence.
895.046 - Remedies against manufacturers, distributors, sellers, and promoters of products.
895.048 - Recovery by auto or motorboat owner limited.
895.05 - Damages in actions for libel.
895.052 - Defamation by radio and television.
895.055 - Gaming contracts void.
895.056 - Recovery of money wagered.
895.057 - Action against judicial officer for loss caused by misconduct.
895.06 - Recovery of divisible personalty.
895.065 - Radioactive waste emergencies.
895.07 - Claims against contractors and suppliers.
895.08 - Sport shooting ranges; actions related to safety.
895.09 - Scrap metal or plastic bulk merchandise container theft; civil liability.
895.10 - Tort actions in residential real estate transactions.
895.14 - Tenders of money and property.
895.33 - Limitation of surety's liability.
895.34 - Renewal of sureties upon becoming insufficient and effects thereof.
895.345 - Justification of individual sureties.
895.346 - Bail, deposit in lieu of bond.
895.35 - Expenses in actions against municipal and other officers.
895.36 - Process against corporation or limited liability company officer.
895.37 - Abrogation of defenses in employee personal injury actions.
895.375 - Abrogation of defense that contract was champertous.
895.42 - Deposit of undistributed money and property by personal representatives and others.
895.43 - Intentional killing by beneficiary of contract.
895.435 - Intentional killing by beneficiary of certain death benefits.
895.441 - Sexual exploitation by a therapist; action for.
895.442 - Sexual exploitation by a member of the clergy; action for.
895.444 - Injury caused by criminal gang activity; action for.
895.445 - Damage to certain machines; action for.
895.446 - Property damage or loss caused by crime; action for.
895.447 - Certain agreements to limit or eliminate tort liability void.
895.448 - Safety devices on farm equipment, ordinary negligence.
895.449 - Action for loss caused by failure to pay for gasoline or diesel fuel.
895.45 - Service representatives for adult abusive conduct complainants.
895.453 - Payments of chiropractic services from attorney contingency fees.
895.455 - Limits on recovery by prisoners.
895.457 - Limiting felon's right to damages.
895.46 - State and political subdivisions thereof to pay judgments taken against officers.
895.472 - Indemnification of a financial institution.
895.475 - Exemption from civil liability for furnishing safety inspection or advisory services.
895.476 - Civil liability exemption; exposure to the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.
895.478 - Civil liability exemption; opioid antagonists.
895.48 - Civil liability exemption; emergency medical care.
895.4801 - Immunity for health care providers during COVID-19 emergency.
895.4802 - Civil liability exemption; hazardous materials.
895.4803 - Civil liability exemption; information concerning paternity.
895.481 - Civil liability exemption; equine activities.
895.482 - Civil liability exemption; ski patrol members.
895.484 - Civil liability exemption; entering a vehicle to render assistance.
895.485 - Civil liability exemption; out-of-home care providers and child-placing agencies.
895.486 - Civil immunity exemption; reports of insurance fraud.
895.487 - Civil liability exemption; employment references.
895.488 - Civil liability exemption; owner or person in lawful possession of the premises.
895.489 - Civil liability exemption; tenancy references.
895.492 - Civil liability exemption; certificate of qualification for employment.
895.501 - Civil liability exemption; credit card reencoders and scanning devices.
895.506 - Civil liability exemption; weight gain and obesity claims.
895.508 - Liability exemption; provision of previously owned eyeglasses.
895.512 - Civil liability exemption; access to toilet facility.
895.514 - Civil liability exemption; Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan and Authority.
895.515 - Civil liability exemption; equipment or technology donation.
895.517 - Civil liability exemption: solid waste donation or sale.
895.519 - Civil liability exemption; private campgrounds.
895.52 - Recreational activities; limitation of property owners' liability.
895.526 - Participation in an alpine sport; restrictions on civil liability, assumption of risk.
895.5265 - Civil liability exemption; placement of certain structures in waterways.
895.527 - Sport shooting range activities; limitations on liability and restrictions on operation.
895.528 - Civil liability exemption; placement of markers in waterways.
895.529 - Civil liability limitation; duty of care owed to trespassers.
895.53 - Civil and criminal liability exemption; tests for intoxication.
895.535 - Civil and criminal liability exemption; body cavity search.
895.537 - Liability exemption; sexual assault evidence collection.
895.54 - Liability exemption; notification of release.
895.55 - Liability exemption; oil discharge control.
895.555 - Civil liability exemption; anhydrous ammonia.
895.57 - Damages and immunity; unauthorized release of animals.
895.58 - Liability exemption; use of special waste under public works contracts.
895.61 - Asbestos successor corporation; limitation on liability.
895.66 - Mandatory disclosures.
895.67 - Approval of transfers of structured settlement payment rights.
895.68 - Effects of transfer of structured settlement payment rights.