Wisconsin Towns
Can't Join Lawsuit Over DP Benefits

Eight public municipalities will be barred from intervening in a lawsuit over domestic-partner benefits for state employees' partners, the Wisconsin supreme court ruled. The parties failed to show direct interest in the suit, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The municipalities -- consisting of cities, towns, villages, and school districts, according to court documents -- wanted a role in the case because they believed they would have to start paying increased health care costs.

Larry Dupuis, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, told the University of Wisconsin Daily Cardinal that he believes the decision will allow the case to move promptly.

"Now the parties ... to the case can litigate the case the way that they need to litigate it, without other people bringing a bunch of motions and doing things that could delay the case for years and years," Dupuis told the Cardinal.

The lawsuit was filed by a group of six current and former state employees and their partners against the Wisconsin government. The court's ruling upholds two lower court rulings against the municipalities. (The Advocate)