Opinion ID: 1868013
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Public Policy Factors

Text: ¶ 19 When liability for negligence is established, we may preclude liability based on public policy factors. Coffey v. City of Milwaukee, 74 Wis.2d 526, 541, 247 N.W.2d 132 (1976). We do so as a matter of law. See Alvarado v. Sersch, 2003 WI 55, ¶¶ 16-17, 262 Wis.2d 74, 662 N.W.2d 350 (citing Bowen v. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 183 Wis.2d 627, 644, 517 N.W.2d 432 (1994); A.E. Inv. Corp. v. Link Builders, 62 Wis.2d 479, 484-85, 214 N.W.2d 764 (1974)). The six public policy factors we have employed are: (1) [t]he injury is too remote from the negligence; ... (2) the injury is too wholly out of proportion to the culpability of the negligent tort-feasor; ... (3) in retrospect it appears too highly extraordinary that the negligence should have brought about the harm; ... (4) ... allowance of recovery would place too unreasonable a burden on the negligent tort-feasor; ... (5) [to allow recovery] would open the way for fraudulent claims; or (6) to allow recovery would enter a field that has no sensible or just stopping point. Coffey, 74 Wis.2d at 541, 247 N.W.2d 132. ¶ 20 We have cautioned against applying public policy factors to preclude liability where the facts are too complicated and warrant development of the factual basis for the negligence claim. Alvarado, 262 Wis.2d 74, ¶¶ 18, 20-26, 662 N.W.2d 350 (citations omitted). However, we have also said that a reviewing court may preclude liability even when liability for negligent conduct has not been fully developed, e.g., on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. Stephenson v. Universal Metrics, Inc., 2002 WI 30, ¶ 42, 251 Wis.2d 171, 641 N.W.2d 158 (citing Miller v. Wal-Mart Stores, 219 Wis.2d 250, 265, 580 N.W.2d 233 (1998)); see also Coffey, 74 Wis.2d at 541-42, 247 N.W.2d 132. When we do so, we assume for purposes of our decision that the defendant is liable for negligent conduct, but for reasons of public policy, we prevent the claim from proceeding. Cole, 272 Wis.2d 539, ¶ 7, 681 N.W.2d 147 (citing Gould v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 198 Wis.2d 450, 460, 543 N.W.2d 282 (1996)); see also Smaxwell v. Bayard, 2004 WI 101, ¶ 39, 274 Wis.2d 278, 682 N.W.2d 923; Gritzner, 235 Wis.2d 781, ¶ 26, 611 N.W.2d 906.