Perishable property, held for carriage or storage, how disposed of

Wis. Stat. § 171.04
in effect
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(1) If any property delivered to any forwarding merchant, wharfinger or warehouse keeper, for carriage or storage, is in a state of decay or manifestly liable to immediate damage and decay, the person in whose custody the property is, the person’s agent or attorney, may make an affidavit of this fact, and present the affidavit to a circuit judge or supplemental court commissioner for the county in which the property is located, and the circuit judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately make an order requiring the sheriff or any constable of the county to immediately inspect the property, and directing him or her, if it is found to be in a state of decay or manifestly liable to immediate damage or decay, to summarily sell the property without notice. (2) If the sheriff or constable, upon inspection, finds the property to be in a state of decay, or manifestly liable to immediate damage or decay, the sheriff or constable shall attach to the order his or her affidavit stating such fact, and shall make an inventory of the property, and shall summarily sell the property without notice, and shall make full return of the sheriff’s or constable’s execution of the order to the judge or supplemental court commissioner who issued the same, together with the sheriff’s or constable’s affidavit, inventory and the proceeds of said sale, after deducting the sheriff’s or constable’s fees therefrom. (3) From the proceeds of such sale, the judge or supplemental court commissioner shall pay all legal charges that have been incurred in relation to the property, or a ratable proportion of each charge if the proceeds of the sale are not sufficient to pay all the charges; and the balance, if any, the judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately pay over to the treasurer of the judge’s or commissioner’s county, with a copy of all the proceedings in the matter. The county treasurer shall file the copy in his or her office. (4) The person in whose custody such property shall be when any such proceeding for the sale thereof shall be commenced, shall immediately notify the consignor and consignee of such sale, which notice shall be in writing, and shall be served by leaving a copy thereof with the consignor and consignee, personally or by mail.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/171.04Fetched: 10/7/2026