Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 618.48

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.

In an action against an unauthorized person upon a contract of insurance issued in violation of this chapter, if the unauthorized person fails to make payment in accordance with the contract for 30 days after the payment is due and demand is made, and it appears to the court that the refusal was without reasonable cause, the court may allow the plaintiff a reasonable attorney fee and include the fee in any judgment that may be rendered in the action. Failure of the unauthorized person to defend any such action is prima facie evidence that the failure to pay was without reasonable cause. If the unauthorized person knew or should have known that the contract was in violation of this chapter, the court may also award punitive damages.