Apollo Properties, LLC, owned real property in the City of Franklin, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. It had rented the property to another company, DKCLM, Ltd., which used it as a site for the sale and servicing of boats and related marine equipment. The company kept boats, motors, parts, tools, and business records there, and also subleased a portion of the property to Dale Kreil, an officer of DKCLM, who lived in a house on his leased part of the property and kept all sorts of personal possessions there, including family memorabilia, household goods, and vehicles. The parties treat DKCLM and its officer Kreil as a unit, and we'll do the same, referring to them jointly as Kreil.

In 2005, according to Apollo, Kreil defaulted on his obligation topay rent, and in response Apollo initiated eviction proceedings in Milwaukee County's small claims court. Before the suit was far advanced, however, the parties entered into a stipulation whereby Apollo agreed to dismiss the case and in exchange Kreil both promised to pay the rent due and agreed that in the event of a future default Apollo would be entitled to ask a court for a writ of restitution (meaning repossession of the property and thus eviction of the tenant) without notice to Kreil. Apollo asked a Wisconsin court for that relief on August 15, 2005, Kreil having defaulted, and nine days later the court issued the writ, but stayed enforcement until September 26. The execution of the writ began on October 5, Kreil was evicted, and later