Court Opinion

ID: 9686502
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 15:51:37.31324+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:19.454321
License: Public Domain

*947SUNDBY, J.
(dissenting in part). Plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action raises important issues of statutory interpretation and public policy which can best be decided upon an evidentiary record. See Scarpaci v. Milwaukee County, 96 Wis. 2d 663, 702, 292 N.W.2d 816, 834 (1980) (whether medical examiner has absolute immunity or qualified immunity is better made initially upon an evidentiary record and not at the pleading stage); Coffey v. Milwaukee, 74 Wis. 2d 526, 543, 247 N.W.2d 132, 140-41 (1976) (complex issue of municipal tort liability arising out of alleged negligence of a building inspector in carrying out fire inspections better determined after a full trial).
Plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action raises these issues: (1) Whether sec. 893.80, Stats., imposes a duty upon the governing body of the local government corporation, subdivision, or agency with whom a claim is filed to evaluate that claim. (2) Whether failure of the governing body to evaluate a claim filed under sec. 893.80 deprives the claimant of due process of law under the federal and state constitutions. (3) Whether a conspiracy between the local governmental entity and its insurer to deny claims filed under sec. 893.80 without consideration is actionable.
I believe we can better address these issues upon a full record. For these reasons, I would not dismiss the plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action.