103 N.W.2d 544
Supreme Court of Wisconsin.May 2, 1960 —
June 7, 1960.
APPEAL from a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county: MICHAEL T. SULLIVAN, Circuit judge. Reversed, and new trial granted.
This is a companion case to Giemza v. Allied American Mut. Fire Ins. Co., ante, p. 555, 103 N.W.2d 538. Doris Sweet, wife of Lee Sweet who was killed in the accident, brought suit individually and as special administratrix of her husband’s estate against the defendants, Jesse T. Egly, Jr., and his insurer, the Farmers Insurance Exchange. These cases were consolidated for the purpose of trial and for the purpose of appeal to this court. The jury found damages in the total amount of $19,816.46. Because the jury also
Page 566
found Sweet’s negligence equal to Egly’s negligence. Judgment was entered dismissing the complaint with costs. The plaintiff appealed.
For the appellant there was a brief and oral argument b Irving D. Gaines of Milwaukee.
For the respondents there was a brief by Bender, Trump, Davidson Godfrey of Milwaukee, and Schlotthauer Jenswold of Madison, attorneys, and Kneeland A. Godfrey
of Milwaukee, and John T. Jenswold of Madison, both of counsel, and oral argument by Max D. Davidson.
HALLOWS, J.
The issues of negligence involved in this action are so intertwined with those in Giemza v. Allied America Mut. Fire Ins. Co., ante, p. 555, 103 N.W.2d 538, that a new trial is necessarily required for the reasons set forth therein. The damages may be in excess of the statutory amount. The record is not clear on this point. If they are, the trial court can reduce them and avoid the expense of relitigating the damages issue. Therefore, in the new trial the issues should be confined to the various questions of negligence involved.
By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and new trial granted on all issues except damages.
Page 567