Title: Michael S. Polsky v. Daniel E. Virnich

State: wisconsin

Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Document:

2009 WI 66 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
2007AP203 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
Michael S. Polsky, as receiver for 
Communications Products Corporation, 
          Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross-Appellant, 
     v. 
Daniel E. Virnich and Jack M. Moores, 
          Defendants-Appellants-Cross-
Respondents. 
 
 
 
 
ON CERTIFICATION FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
July 7, 2009   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
January 7, 2009   
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
Circuit   
 
COUNTY: 
Grant   
 
JUDGE: 
Michael Kirchman   
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING: ROGGENSACK, J., did not participate.   
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
For the plaintiff-respondent-cross appellant there were 
briefs by Robert J. Kasieta, Andrew J. Parrish, and the Kasieta 
Legal Group, LLC, Madison, and oral argument by Robert J. 
Kasieta. 
 
For the defendants-appellants-cross respondents there were 
briefs by Donald K. Schott, Valerie L. Bailey-Rihn, James 
Richgels, and Quarles & Brady LLP, Madison, and Jeffrey O. Davis 
and Quarles & Brady LLP, Milwaukee, and oral argument by Donald 
K. Schott. 
 
An amicus curiae brief was filed (in the court of appeals) 
by Thomas J. Arenz and Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC, Milwaukee, on 
behalf of Risk Management Association. 
 
An amicus curiae brief was filed by John E. Knight, James 
E. Bartzen, Kirsten E. Spira, and Boardman, Suhr, Curry & Field 
LLP, Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, 
and oral argument by John E. Knight. 
 
 
 
2 
An amicus curiae brief was filed by William Haus and Haus, 
Roman and Banks, LLP, Madison, on behalf of the Sheet Metal 
Workers International Local Union No. 565. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2009 WI 66
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The final 
version will appear in the bound 
volume of the official reports.   
No.  2007AP203  
(L.C. No. 
2004CV285) 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
Michael S. Polsky, as receiver for 
Communications Products Corporation, 
 
          Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross-Appellant, 
 
     v. 
 
Daniel E. Virnich and Jack M. Moores, 
 
          Defendants-Appellants-Cross-
 
Respondents. 
 
 
 
FILED 
 
JUL 7, 2009 
 
David R. Schanker 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
APPEAL from a judgment of the Circuit Court for Grant 
County, Michael Kirchman, Judge.  Certification vacated.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   The court is equally divided on whether 
to affirm or reverse the judgment of the circuit court.  Chief 
Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and 
Justice N. Patrick Crooks would affirm.  Justice David T. 
Prosser, Jr., Justice Annette Kingsland Ziegler, and Justice 
Michael J. Gableman would reverse.  Justice Patience Drake 
Roggensack did not participate.   
No. 
2007AP203   
 
2 
 
¶2 
When a certification or bypass results in a tie vote 
by this court, the better course of action is to vacate our 
decision to accept certification or bypass and remand the cause 
to the court of appeals.  State v. Richard Knutson, Inc., 191 
Wis. 2d 395, 396-97, 528 N.W.2d 430 (1995) (remanding to court 
of appeals on a tie vote on certification); State v. Elam, 195 
Wis. 2d 683, 684-85, 538 N.W.2d 249 (1995) (restating rule but 
declining to remand to court of appeals on a tie vote on bypass 
because court of appeals had previously decided issue).  
¶3 
Accordingly, 
we 
vacate 
our 
order 
granting 
certification and remand to the court of appeals.  
By the Court.—The order granting certification is vacated 
and the cause is remanded to the court of appeals.   
 
 
No. 
2007AP203   
 
 
 
1