Insurance Claim – Liability

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WI Court of Appeals – District III

Case Name: Jodi Zeichert, et al. v. Adam J. Riehl, et al.

Case No.: 2017AP80

Officials: Stark, P.J., Hruz and Seidl, JJ.

Focus: Insurance Claim – Liability

This case arises out of a motor vehicle accident in which Lorraine Zeichert and Matthew Zeichert sustained injuries, and Ryan Zeichert was killed. The Zeicherts appeal a judgment and order granting summary judgment to Todd Gruetzmacher and his insurers, Ellington Mutual Insurance Company (Ellington Mutual), Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company (together, Liberty Mutual), and granting Progressive Casualty Insurance Company’s (Progressive) motion to terminate its defense of Gruetzmacher. The Zeicherts argue the circuit court erred by concluding that Gruetzmacher was not vicariously liable for Adam Riehl’s negligence because a master-servant relationship did not exist between Gruetzmacher and Riehl at the time of the accident. They also contend the court erred in granting Progressive’s motion to terminate its defense. We reject the Zeicherts’ argument and affirm.

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Attorney Derek A. Hawkins is the managing partner at Hawkins Law Offices LLC, where he heads up the firm’s startup law practice. He specializes in business formation, corporate governance, intellectual property protection, private equity and venture capital funding and mergers & acquisitions. Check out the website at www.hawkins-lawoffices.com or contact them at 262-737-8825.