Court Opinion

ID: 9689723
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:44:20.19476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:51.738081
License: Public Domain

ANN WALSH BRADLEY, J.
¶ 19. (concurring). Wisconsin Stat. § 194.02 declares the legislative intent that ch. 194 should be liberally interpreted to achieve the twin goals of a safe and competitive transportation industry. Yet, in this case of statutory interpretation, the majority fails to articulate how its construction of "negligent operation" under Wis. Stat. § 194.41 promotes the goal of a competitive transportation industry. By focusing exclusively on the goal of safety while ignoring the goal of a competitive industry, the majority fails to address the economic concerns expressed by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in its certified question and by the district court in its memorandum decision.
¶ 20. In addition to its failure to address an integral legislative purpose, the majority also weakens its analysis by citing to Continental Casualty Co. v. Transport Indemnity Co., 16 Wis. 2d 189, 114 N.W.2d 137 (1962). Majority Op. at ¶ 17. The Continental court construed the term "operator" in light of the expression of legislative intent under the former Wis. Stat. § 194.02, the same statute addressed in Kroske v. Anaconda American Brass Co., 70 Wis. 2d 632, 235 N.W.2d 283 (1975). Here, the majority dismisses Kroske yet maintains its reliance on Continental, using the former statute both as a sword and a shield. This reference to *780Continental undercuts the majority's dismissal of Kroske's precedential value.
¶ 21. Because the majority neglects to address an essential concern expressed by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in its certified question and also relies upon precedent that is of limited usefulness to the present analysis, I concur.
¶ 22. I am authorized to state that Chief Justice SHIRLEY S. ABRAHAMSON joins this concurring opinion.