- H
- C
Help Libby Stadler: A Young Caregiver Facing Unfair Restitution
From the Friends and Family of Elizabeth “Libby” Stadler
Libby Stadler, a 20-year-old caregiver from Burnett County, Wisconsin, is facing a devastating financial crisis after a winter car accident and a court ruling that ignored the facts. Despite her hard work caring for developmentally disabled adults for just $18/hour, she’s now being forced to pay $5,000 in restitution and a $375 fine—all while dealing with serious health challenges.
A Caregiver With an Incredible Spirit:
Libby lives independently and works full-time supporting vulnerable adults. In 2023, she was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease, almost lost her life, and underwent emergency surgery to remove 80% of her large intestines. Despite pain, fatigue, and high medical costs (over $4,100/year in medication alone), she returned to work—never complaining, never giving up.
The Accident:
On December 20, 2024, Libby slid on an untreated icy road at an intersection in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, and collided with a county snowplow. She was driving slowly and tried to stop, but the road and intersection had not been salted or sanded. Her car was totaled, and she was seriously injured. With no insurance coverage due to a recent hardship, she received no compensation.
A Court That Ignored the Facts:
Libby asked the Burnett County Judge if she could reschedule court to give her time to get an attorney, but her request was denied. Libby tried to explain the road conditions, but Judge Mogan ruled against her, claiming she was still “too fast for conditions” and then ordered her to pay:
- $5,000 restitution for the backup snowplow truck already scheduled for retirement
- $375 in fines
- $500 monthly to be taken out of her check.
The Burnett County Judge not only dismissed the fact that Libby pays $340 a month for just one of her life-sustaining medications, but then suggested her parents should cover her other monthly bills—just so the county could collect $500 a month from her, regardless of the toll it takes on her financial stability.
The Truth About the Snowplow Truck — And the Questions No One’s Answering:
The $5,000 restitution Libby has been ordered to pay is supposedly for damage to Burnett County’s 2013 International dump truck—the snowplow involved in the accident. But there are serious questions about how those numbers were calculated and whether the restitution is even justified.
Here’s what we know:
- The truck was not “critical equipment” as the Burnett County Administrator, Nate Ehart, stated.
- The truck was a backup vehicle, temporarily in use because another plow was undergoing steering repair.
- It was already scheduled for retirement from the county fleet in 2026.
- County officials say it was valued at $30,000—not because of a formal appraisal, but because they hoped to get that amount as a trade-in.
- It was not new, not essential, and not unique. In fact, Polk County offered to loan a plow truck, which Burnett County declined—meaning no real emergency or shortage of equipment existed.
Here’s what we don’t know—and what no one from the county has publicly answered:
- What did the county’s insurance actually pay out?
- How much was the deductible?
- Did the county receive full value, partial value, or nothing at all?
- Was the truck scrapped, repaired, or sold off?
- If insurance covered the damages, why is Libby being forced to pay $5,000 in restitution on top of that?
These questions matter because they speak directly to whether Libby is being asked to reimburse legitimate damages—or if she’s being penalized simply because she was the easier party to target.
The public deserves answers. And Libby deserves fairness.
Libby didn’t recklessly cause an accident. She slid on untreated ice, a failure of public safety—not personal negligence. Now she’s being punished for something that wasn’t her fault.
How You Can Help:
We’re raising $5,375 to pay the restitution and fine. Every dollar goes directly to Libby and any money above the $5,375 will go towards her monthly medications.
Please consider donating and sharing her story.
Libby deserves better. She’s a survivor, a caregiver, and a fighter. Now, she needs her community to join together and support her fight.
Thank you for your support!!!
—Libby’s friends and family
#JusticeForLibby
#DOGE
#StandWithLibby
Organizer
