Opinion ID: 537268
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Release or Assignment

Text: 19 When it settled the underlying action, Dow did not obtain any release or assignment of the grain workers' claims against Research Products. For this reason, Research Products contends that Dow merely settled the claims against itself, and did not acquire any subrogation rights. 20 Equitable subrogation  'depend[s] upon no contract or privity.'  3 Kennedy-Ingalls Corp. v. Meissner, 5 Wis.2d 100, 92 N.W.2d 247, 250 (1958) (quoting Stroh v. O'Hearn, 176 Mich. 164, 142 N.W. 865, 869 (1913)). The right to equitable subrogation arises from the payment of another's debt, whether or not the claim has been assigned or released. [T]here is 'no distinction in principle between the case of where a third party discharges the liability of another by payment and one where such liability is discharged through a release of a valid claim.'  D'Angelo v. Cornell Paperboard Prods. Co., 19 Wis.2d 390, 120 N.W.2d 70, 76 (1963) (quoting Kennedy-Ingalls Corp. v. Meissner, 92 N.W.2d at 250). The trial court correctly determined that a claim for equitable subrogation does not require an assignment or release of the underlying obligation. See Perkins v. Utnehmer, 122 Wis.2d 497, 361 N.W.2d 739, 740-41 (Ct.App.1984).