Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Bucyrus-Erie Co.

HEFFERNAN, CHIEF JUSTICE.

This is a review of a decision of the court of appeals 1 which reversed a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county, Michael D. Goulee, circuit judge, awarding Phillips Petroleum Company, Norway, in excess of $1,600,000 in a breach of contract and negligence action against Bucyrus-Erie Company. We reverse the decision of the court of appeals and reinstate the judgment of the circuit court.

Phillips is an oil company operating drilling platforms in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. In the early 1970's Phillips invited several crane manufacturers, including…