Wisconsin High Court: Passenger Not Liable for Damages in Fatal Crash

The Wisconsin Supreme Court says a passenger in a vehicle that caused a fatal drunken driving crash does not have to pay another $250,000.

The decision means Badger Mutual Insurance Co., which insured David Schrimpf, will not pay more damages to the widow of Chris Richards.

Richards was killed when a vehicle driven by Schrimpf’s friend, Robert Zimmerlee, crashed into his car in the Milwaukee area.

Zimmerlee and Schrimpf were teenagers and had been drinking beer bought by one of Schrimpf’s co-workers.

They agreed to pay Richards’ widow more than $1.5 million in settlements.

But the court says Schrimpf is not responsible for his co-worker’s actions, and therefore Badger Mutual does not have to pay more.