Sauer v. Reliance Insurance Company

This is an action for wrongful death brought by the estate of Randal Sauer and other claimants (the estate). Randal drowned in the waters of the East Twin River in Manitowoc county. The principal issue on this appeal is whether the state of Wisconsin is the "owner" of the river bed within the meaning of the "recreational immunity" statute, sec. 895.52, Stats. The trial court ruled on a motion to dismiss that the state was not an "owner" under the statute, thereby precluding application of the statute's immunity protection to the individual appellants, all of whom are state employees of the…