2009AP2104 Woelfel, et al. v. Homestead Mutual Insurance Company

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Insurance
Bad faith

Homestead Mutual Insurance Company appeals from a jury’s verdict that a silo on the dairy farm operated by Kris and Julie Woelfel and City View Dairy, LLC (collectively the Woelfels), collapsed due to an explosion and awarding the Woelfels bad faith and punitive damages because of Homestead’s denial of coverage for the damages caused by the collapse. Homestead raises five issues on appeal: whether the jury instruction defining “explosion” was proper, whether the trial court properly exercised its discretion in admitting into evidence burned barn boards produced just one week before trial, whether a mistrial should have been granted due to improper closing argument, and whether bad faith and punitive damages claims should have been submitted to the jury. We affirm the judgment. This opinion will not be published.

2009AP2104 Woelfel, et al. v. Homestead Mutual Insurance Company

Dist II, Calumet County, Poppy, J., Per Curiam

Attorneys: For Appellant: Terwilliger, W. Thomas, Wausau; Pless, Erik J., Green Bay; For Respondent: Cook, Gregory J., Milwaukee; Lawrence, Scott, St. Nazianz

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