Bryan House and Eric Pearson Author Article on Important Case for Wisconsin CPAs

Foley & Lardner LLP Partners Bryan House and Eric Pearson authored the article, “Wisconsin Court Affirms Validity of Statute of Repose for CPAS,” describing a recent court decision of interest to Wisconsin CPAs.

The decision, in 2022, affirmed the clear importance to CPAs of Wisconsin State Statute § 893.66, which creates a six-year statute of repose for claims against licensed CPAs engaged in the provision of “professional accounting services.”

The authors explore the history of the legislation and then examine the impact of the case (Van Sickle v. Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, Case No. 21-CV-1624), wherein the statue of repose was put to an equal protections test. In its decision, the Dane County Circuit Court upheld the statute of repose for CPAs.

“Having survived a rare constitutional challenge, § 893.66 remains an invaluable tool for CPAs who might otherwise have to defend against stale lawsuits under Wisconsin’s broad liability standards. And the Van Sickle decision, in particular, is a good reminder of the importance of the WICPA’s legislative efforts on behalf of the profession,” the authors conclude.