Mews v. Wisconsin Department of Commerce

¶ 1. James Mews and Mews Companies, Inc. (together, Mews) appeal an order sustaining a Wisconsin Department of Commerce (DOC) decision limiting Mews's reimbursement for site clean-up expenses associated with contamination from three underground storage tanks. The crux of the dispute is whether the contamination emanating from these tanks constituted one "occurrence" under the Wisconsin Petroleum Environmental Cleanup Fund Act (PECFA), Wis. Stat. § 101.143 (2001-02), Wis. Admin. Code § Comm 47.01. Mews argues that the circuit court erred when it affirmed the DOC's determination that the…