Title: S.J.A.J. v. First Things First, Ltd.
Citation: 2001 WI 118
Docket Number: 1999AP002037
State: Wisconsin
Issuer: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Date: November 6, 2001

2001 WI 118 
 
 
 
SUPREME COURT OF WISCONSIN 
 
 
 
 
 
CASE NO.: 
99-2037 
 
 
COMPLETE TITLE: 
 
 
S.J.A.J.,  
 
Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross-Appellant- 
 
Petitioner, 
 
v. 
First Things First, Ltd. and Frontier  
Insurance Company,  
 
Defendants-Appellants-Cross-Respondents, 
The Travelers Insurance,  
 
Defendant-Respondent, 
David B. Hatch, Chicago Insurance Company, Aetna 
Life Insurance Company and Blue Cross & Blue 
Shield United of Wisconsin,  
 
Defendants. 
 
 
 
 
REVIEW OF A DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS 
Reported at:  239 Wis. 2d 233, 619 N.W.2d 307 
(Ct. App.-Unpublished) 
 
 
OPINION FILED: 
November 6, 2001   
SUBMITTED ON BRIEFS: 
        
ORAL ARGUMENT: 
September 13, 2001   
 
 
SOURCE OF APPEAL: 
 
 
COURT: 
Circuit   
 
COUNTY: 
Eau Claire   
 
JUDGE: 
Eugene D. Harrington   
 
 
 
JUSTICES: 
 
 
CONCURRED: 
        
 
DISSENTED: 
        
 
NOT PARTICIPATING: BABLITCH, J., did not participate.   
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS: 
 
For 
the 
plaintiff-respondent-cross 
appellant-petitioner 
there were briefs by Phillip M. Steans and Phillip M. Steans, 
S.C., Menomonie, and Matthew A. Biegert and Doar, Drill & Skow, 
S.C., New Richmond, and oral argument by Phillip M. Steans. 
 
For the defendants-appellants-cross respondents there was a 
brief by James A. Pelish and Thrasher, Doyle, Pelish & Franti, 
Ltd., Rice Lake, and oral argument by James A. Pelish. 
 
 
 
2
An amicus curiae brief was filed by Mary Dianne Greenley, 
Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy, Ins. 
 
 
2001 WI 118 
 
NOTICE 
This opinion is subject to further 
editing and modification.  The 
final version will appear in the 
bound volume of the official 
reports.   
No.  99-2037  
(L.C. No. 
97 CV 254) 
STATE OF WISCONSIN  
 
 
   : 
IN SUPREME COURT 
 
 
S.J.A.J.,  
 
          Plaintiff-Respondent-Cross- 
          Appellant-Petitioner, 
 
     v. 
 
First Things First, Ltd. and Frontier  
Insurance Company,  
 
          Defendants-Appellants-Cross- 
          Respondents, 
 
The Travelers Insurance,  
 
          Defendant-Respondent, 
 
David B. Hatch, Chicago Insurance  
Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company and  
Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of  
Wisconsin,  
 
          Defendants. 
 
FILED 
 
NOV 6, 2001 
 
Cornelia G. Clark 
Clerk of Supreme Court 
 
 
 
 
 
REVIEW of a decision of the Court of Appeals.  Affirmed.   
 
¶1 
PER CURIAM.   The court is equally divided on whether 
to affirm or reverse the decision of the court of appeals.  
No. 
99-2037   
 
2 
 
Justice Jon P. Wilcox, Justice N. Patrick Crooks, and Justice 
Diane 
S. 
Sykes 
would 
affirm; 
Chief 
Justice 
Shirley 
S. 
Abrahamson, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, and Justice David T. 
Prosser would reverse.  Justice William A. Bablitch did not 
participate. 
¶2 
Accordingly, the decision of the court of appeals is 
affirmed. 
 
 
 
No. 
99-2037   
 
 
 
1