Opinion ID: 1924343
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: liability of co-defendants for misrepresentations made to frost

Text: [3] The jury was not asked to determine whether the co-defendants should be liable to Frost for the misrepresentations they made to Frost. The trial court refused Frost's request for the supplemental verdicts because it felt the Pierringer releases completely removed the Cazes and the Rozgas from the case. The court of appeals reversed and remanded on this issue. Frost was damaged in the amount of $4,000 plus taxable costs as a result of the judgment entered against it. It is apparent that if Frost was so harmed through the fault of another, it should be able to recoup its losses to the extent it did not itself cause them. The Pierringer releases obtained from the Gauerkes by Gudim and the Rozgas do not preclude Frost from recovering such amounts. A Pierringer release permits some defendants to settle out of court while reserving the plaintiff's right against nonsettling tortfeasors. Pierringer v. Hoger, 21 Wis. 2d 182, 124 N.W.2d 106 (1963). The Gauerkes assumed the released defendants' share of liability arising out of the sale of the property, including liability for contribution or indemnity, in return for a stated sum. Thus, any damages due Frost from the Rozgas and Gudim for their separate torts of misrepresentation should be removed from the judgment due the Gauerkes because the Gauerkes have assumed this liability by releasing the co-defendants. Therefore, as the court of appeals stated: Even though not all of the defendants were parties at trial, it is necessary to determine the amount that would satisfy their obligation, if any, to indemnify Frost. This amount is deemed satisfied by the Pierringer releases, and Frost should be required to pay only the remaining amount. The trial court's failure to submit the requested special verdict questions prevented this amount from being subtracted from Frost's liability for misrepresentation. The court of appeals was correct in remanding this matter to the trial court for a determination of whether Frost is entitled to recover for any misrepresentation by Gudim and the Rozgas concerning the amount of acreage and frontage. Accordingly, we affirm the court of appeals decision. By the Court. The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed.