Wosinski v. Advance Cast Stone Co.

• Citation: 2017 WI App 51,377 Wis.2d 596,901 N.W.2d 797
• Decision Date: 11 July 2017
• Docket Number: Appeal Nos. 2014AP1961, 2014AP2213, 2014AP2274, 2014AP2660, 2015AP1212.
• Parties: Amy J. WOSINSKI, Eric Wosinski, a minor and Steven J. Wosinski, Sr., Plaintiffs-Respondents, Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff, v. ADVANCE CAST STONE CO. and Milwaukee County, Defendants-Respondents, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants. Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. Milwaukee County and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants. Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants. Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Guhring, Inc., Plaintiffs, v. Milwaukee County, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants. Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Milwaukee County, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents. Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants. Amy J. Wosinski, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Eric Wosinski, a minor, Plaintiffs-Respondents-Cross-Appellants, Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent, Milwaukee County, Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants. Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Appellant, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Milwaukee County and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants. Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff, v. Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Advance Cast Stone Co. and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants. Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr., Plaintiffs-Respondents-Cross-Appellants, Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff, v. Milwaukee County, Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendant-Appellant, Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent-Cross-Respondent, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent. Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents, v. Milwaukee County and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants. Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants. Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Guhring, Inc., Plaintiffs, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants, Milwaukee County, Defendant. Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants, Milwaukee County, Defendant. Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff, v. Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.
• Court: Court of Appeals of Wisconsin

377 Wis.2d 596

901 N.W.2d 797

2017 WI App 51

Amy J. WOSINSKI, Eric Wosinski, a minor and Steven J. Wosinski, Sr., Plaintiffs-Respondents,

Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff,

v.ADVANCE CAST STONE CO. and Milwaukee County, Defendants-Respondents,^† Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents,

v.Milwaukee County and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents,Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Guhring, Inc., Plaintiffs,

v.Milwaukee County, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants.^†

Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Appellants,

v.Milwaukee County, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents.^†

Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants.^†

Amy J. Wosinski, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Eric Wosinski, a minor, Plaintiffs-Respondents-Cross-Appellants,

Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent,^†

Milwaukee County, Defendant-Respondent,

Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc. and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants.^†

Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Appellant,^†

Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Milwaukee County and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants.^†

Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff,

v.Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Advance Cast Stone Co. and Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendants.^†

Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr., Plaintiffs-Respondents-Cross-Appellants,

Guhring, Inc., Plaintiff,

v.Milwaukee County, Defendant-Respondent,Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation, Defendant-Appellant,^†

Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent-Cross-Respondent,^†

Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Respondent.^†

Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs-Respondents,

v.Milwaukee County and Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendants-Respondents,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski, a minor, Steven J. Wosinski, Sr. and Guhring, Inc., Plaintiffs,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants,^†

Milwaukee County, Defendant.

Estate of Jared C. Kellner, by his Special Administrator and Dawn Kellner, Plaintiffs,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants,^†

Milwaukee County, Defendant.

Christopher Kellner, Plaintiff,

v.Advance Cast Stone Co., Defendant-Respondent,^†

Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.^†

Appeal Nos. 2014AP1961, 2014AP2213, 2014AP2274, 2014AP2660, 2015AP1212.

Court of Appeals of Wisconsin.

Oral Argument Jan. 31, 2017

Opinion filed July 11, 2017

On behalf of the appellant-cross-respondents Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters, Inc., the cause was submitted on the briefs of Mark D. Malloy, Pamela J. Tillman, and Joshua J. Bryant of Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols S.C. of Milwaukee, and Michael B. Apfeld of Godfrey & Kahn S.C. of Milwaukee. There was oral argument by Mark D. Malloy and Pamela J. Tillman.

On behalf of the defendant-appellant-cross-respondents Advance Cast Stone Co., the cause was submitted on the briefs of Matthew R. McClean and Elizabeth K. Miles of Davis & Kuelthau, S.C. of Milwaukee, and Laura E. O'Gorman of Schloemer Law Firm, S.C. of West Bend. There was oral argument by Laura E. O'Gorman.

On behalf of the respondent Milwaukee County, the cause was submitted on the brief of Ross A. Anderson, Anthony J. Anzelmo, and Kurt M. Simatic of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. of Milwaukee. There was oral argument by Michael B. Brennan.

On behalf of the plaintiff-respondents-cross-appellants Amy J. Wosinski, Eric Wosinski and Steven J. Wosinski, Sr., the cause was submitted on the briefs of Timothy Andringa and Matthew M. Fernholz of Cramer, Multhauf & Hammes, LLP of Waukesha. There was oral argument by Timothy Andringa.

On behalf of the plaintiff-respondents-cross-appellants Estate of Jared Kellner and Dawn Kellner, the cause was submitted on the briefs of Allan M. Foeckler, Brett A. Eckstein, and Sarah F. Kaas of Canon & Dunphy, S.C. of Brookfield. There was oral argument by Allan M. Foeckler.

Before Brennan, P.J., Kessler and Brash, JJ.

BRASH, J.

¶1 Advanced Cast Stone (ACS) and its insurer, Liberty Surplus Insurance Corporation and Liberty Insurance Underwriters Inc. (collectively, "Liberty"), appeal the judgments as entered by the trial court on July 11, 2014, regarding the liability for and damages resulting from the collapse of a concrete panel at the O'Donnell Park Parking Structure (O'Donnell Park). ACS was found to be primarily negligent for the failure of the panel, and relief was granted to the Estate of Jared Kellner and Dawn Kellner (collectively, "Kellner Plaintiffs"), to Steven J. Wosinski, Amy J. Wosinski, and Eric Wosinski (collectively, "Wosinski Plaintiffs"), and to Milwaukee County, as follows:

• Various compensatory damages to the Kellner Plaintiffs relating to the death of Jared Kellner, amounting to over $6.8 million;

• Various compensatory damages to each of the Wosinski Plaintiffs for their injuries, totaling over $11.4 million;

• Punitive damages to both the Kellner Plaintiffs and the Wosinski Plaintiffs in the amount of $15 million; and

• Compensatory damages to Milwaukee County for repairs to O'Donnell Park in the amount of $6 million.

The total damages award was over $39 million.

¶2 On appeal, ACS argues (1) that the claims were barred based on time limitations as set forth in WIS. STATS. §§ 893.89 and 893.43 (2015-16)¹ ; (2) that there were several erroneous evidentiary rulings made during the course of the trial that prejudiced ACS; and (3) that certain damages are not sufficiently supported by the evidence and should therefore be dismissed or reduced, including the punitive damages award, the damages to the Estate of Jared Kellner for pre-death pain and suffering, and the damages to Milwaukee County.

¶3 Furthermore, Liberty appeals the trial court's finding rendered post-verdict with regard to insurance coverage issues: that there was coverage as a matter of law. Moreover, Liberty appeals the trial court's finding that Liberty had breached its duty to defend and duty of good faith and fair dealing, and was therefore responsible for the entire amount of the damages awarded in the verdict.

¶4 Additionally, the Kellner Plaintiffs and the Wosinski Plaintiffs filed cross-appeals on several issues: (1) that the pre-trial offer of settlement made by the Kellner Plaintiffs was valid; (2) that the Wosinski Plaintiffs are entitled to statutory interest on the entire judgment, including costs; and (3) that the statute of repose does not apply as a matter of law and, as such, summary judgment should have been granted.

¶5 Upon review, we reverse the trial court's finding that Liberty breached its duty to defend ACS. As a result, Liberty is responsible for coverage only to the extent provided in ACS's policy. Additionally, we conclude that there was no claim by ACS for breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing before the trial court; thus, its award of damages based on its finding that Liberty breached that duty is unsupported, and we therefore reverse that ruling as well.

¶6 We also reverse and remand on the issue of coverage for the damages awarded to Milwaukee County, as they are subject to the "your work" exclusion of the policy, and therefore further findings are necessary to itemize and categorize the damages. The jury verdict and all other rulings are affirmed.

BACKGROUND

¶7 This case stems from the tragic accident that occurred on June 24, 2010, at the O'Donnell Park parking garage in Milwaukee, where a large concrete panel fell from the structure, killing Jared Kellner and injuring Steven, Amy, and Eric Wosinski.

¶8 On that afternoon, Steven Wosinski, together with his wife, Amy, their son, Eric, and Eric's friend, Jared Kellner, had parked their vehicle at O'Donnell Park to spend the evening at Summerfest. They were exiting the parking garage when one of the decorative concrete panels—specifically, the panel designated as 56AL, weighing approximately 13.5 tons and measuring over thirty-three feet long—fell from the structure. It crushed Jared Kellner, killing him. It also caught Amy Wosinski in the back of the left heel, which ultimately led to her lower left leg being amputated below the knee. Eric Wosinski suffered a broken right leg in his escape from the falling panel. All of this was witnessed by Steven Wosinski.

¶9 Milwaukee County, which owns O'Donnell Park, closed it immediately after the accident, and began an investigation to determine the reason that Panel 56AL had fallen. The investigation focused on the manner in which Panel 56AL, as well as the all of the other concrete panels in the structure, had been...