Case Name: Michael Ives and Tammy Ives, Plaintiffs-Respondents, Rhinelander Paper Co. Group Health Plan for Hourly Employees Sponsored by Rhinelander Paper Company, Inc., Plaintiff-Appellant-Petitioner, v. Coopertools, a Division of Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 1; Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 2; Berns Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Rhinelander Hardware; The Aetna Casualty & Surety Company; McGraw-Edison Company; and Alias Insurance Company No. 4, Defendants
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1997-02-28
Citations: 208 Wis. 2d 55
Docket Number: No. 95-0932
Parties: Michael Ives and Tammy Ives, Plaintiffs-Respondents, Rhinelander Paper Co. Group Health Plan for Hourly Employees Sponsored by Rhinelander Paper Company, Inc., Plaintiff-Appellant-Petitioner, v. Coopertools, a Division of Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 1; Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 2; Berns Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Rhinelander Hardware; The Aetna Casualty & Surety Company; McGraw-Edison Company; and Alias Insurance Company No. 4, Defendants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports Second
Volume: 208
Pages: 55–94

Head Matter:
Michael Ives and Tammy Ives, Plaintiffs-Respondents, Rhinelander Paper Co. Group Health Plan for Hourly Employees Sponsored by Rhinelander Paper Company, Inc., Plaintiff-Appellant-Petitioner, v. Coopertools, a Division of Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 1; Cooper Industries, Inc.; Alias Insurance Company No. 2; Berns Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Rhinelander Hardware; The Aetna Casualty & Surety Company; McGraw-Edison Company; and Alias Insurance Company No. 4, Defendants.
Supreme Court
No. 95-0932.
Oral argument September 5, 1996. —
Decided February 28, 1997.
(Also reported in 559 N.W.2d 571.)
For the plaintiff-appellant-petitioner there were briefs by Matthew E. Yde and Ruder, Ware & Michler, S.C., Wausau and oral argument by Matthew E. Yde.
For the plaintiffs-respondents there was a brief by D.J. Weis and Habush, Habush, Davis & Rottier, S.C., Rhinelander and oral argument by D.J. Weis.
Amicus curiae brief was filed by Mark L. Thomsen and Cannon & Dunphy, S.C., Brookfield for the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Amicus curiae brief was filed by Terry J. Booth and Fellows, Piper & Schmidt, Milwaukee for the Wisconsin Health Insurers.
Motion for reconsideration denied April 16,1997.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
¶ 1. This is a review of a published decision of the court of appeals, vacating the order of the Circuit Court for Oneida County, Robert E. Kinney, Judge. The question in this case is whether a subrogated insurer is entitled to reimbursement on its lien when the injured plaintiffs settle with the alleged tortfeasors before trial for an amount less than their total damages. We unanimously conclude that the court of appeals erred in its holding that there must be a determination of Michael Ives' contributory negligence, if any, before the question of reimbursement to Rhinelander can be considered. However, we are evenly divided on the reasons for this conclusion.
¶ 2. The published opinion of the court of appeals here should not stand when we unanimously agree that it does not state the law in Wisconsin. The court in State v. Gustafson, 121 Wis. 2d 459, 462, 359 N.W.2d 920, cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1056 (1985), affirmed a con viction where a majority of the court concluded there was prejudicial error, but no majority agreed on a particular error. There, a reversal would have sent the matter back for a new trial, but without providing adequate guidance to the circuit court. Id. at 462, citing Will of McNaughton, 138 Wis. 179, 118 N.W. 997, 120 N.W. 288 (1909). Here, however, we are in agreement as to the proper resolution of the contributory negligence question. Thus, despite our even division on the rationale for our decision, we affirm the order of the circuit court.
¶ 3. The situation at hand is unlike the case of a tie vote on a certification or bypass. In such instance, if we allow the circuit court's decision to stand the parties have in effect been denied a full appellate review and opinion. State v. Richard Knutson, Inc., 191 Wis. 2d 395, 396, 528 N.W.2d 430 (1995). Here, the parties have had the opportunity of full review by both this court and the court of appeals. Our division on reasoning simply means that the analyses of the two concurrences have no precedential value. State ex rel. Thompson v. Jackson, 199 Wis. 2d 714, 719, 546 N.W.2d 140 (1996) (citing State v. Elam, 195 Wis. 2d 683, 685, 538 N.W.2d 249 (1995) (a majority of justices must have agreed on a particular point for it to be considered the opinion of the court).
¶ 4. Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson, Justice William A. Bablitch and Justice Janine P. Geske would vote to reaffirm the made whole rule enunciated in Garrity v. Rural Mutual Ins. Co., 11 Wis. 2d 537, 253 N.W.2d 512 (1977) and Rimes v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 106 Wis. 2d 263, 316 N.W.2d 348 (1982), but would overrule Sorge v. National Car Rental System, Inc., 182 Wis. 2d 52, 57, 512 N.W.2d 505 (1994). This rule focuses on what an injured plaintiff has lost, and not on what an injured plaintiff can legally receive. Justices Donald W. Steinmetz, Jon P. Wilcox and N. Patrick Crooks would conclude that, in the case of a settlement before trial, the circuit court should assess the subrogated insurer's rights of recovery at a rate equal to the percentage of the plaintiffs recovery in relation to his or her gross damages. Attorney's fees and costs may be handled on a pro rata basis as well, if the insurer is not represented by counsel. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley did not participate.
¶ 5. By the Court. — For the reasons set forth, the decision of the court of appeals is reversed, and the order of the circuit court denying Rhinelander's claim for reimbursement is affirmed.
Ives v. Coopertools, 197 Wis. 2d 937, 541 N.W.2d 247 (Ct. App. 1995).
See attached concurrence written by Justice Geske. This concurrence also sets out the facts of this case.
See attached concurrence written by Justice Steinmetz.