Paul Florsheim, professor emeritus at the Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health, recently won a legal challenge centered on public access to the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Florsheim received a trespassing citation in 2025 after walking along the shoreline beyond Shorewood’s Atwater Beach. He challenged the citation, arguing that Wisconsin’s public trust doctrine protects the public’s right to use the shoreline below the ordinary high water mark. A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge agreed, overturning an earlier municipal court ruling and finding that Florsheim’s walk was a protected recreational activity.
The decision marks a significant victory for Florsheim and contributes to a broader conversation about public access rights along Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline. While the ruling applies specifically to his citation, the case could influence how similar shoreline access disputes are considered in the future.