Opinion
No. 2013AP1818.
2014-03-13
Quincy NERI, Plaintiff–Appellant, Rodney Rigsby and Q's Art Factory LLC, Plaintiffs, v. Timothy M. BARBER, Lori M. Lubinsky, Axley Brynelson LLP, Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company, Anthony Anzelmo, Peterson, Johnson and Murray, Rural Insurance Company, Cathleen A. Dettman, Kevin Palmersheim, Haley Palmersheim S.C., Carley Peich–Deisling, Barrett J. Cornielle, David J. Pliner, Cornielle Law Group LLC, General Casualty Company of Wisconsin, Architectural Building Arts, Inc., Melinda Monroe, Steve Larson, Lesley Sager, Sager Designs, Amy Radspinner, Amy Radspinner Design LLC, Eric Ferguson and White School Studios, Defendants–Respondents.
Ladd v. Uecker, 2010 WI App 28, ¶ 8, 323 Wis.2d 798, 780 N.W.2d 216. Thus, to state a claim for defamation, a complaint must set forth an unprivileged statement by the defendant. Williamson v. Hi–Liter Graphics, LLC, 2012 WI App 37, ¶ 13, 340 Wis.2d 485, 811 N.W.2d 866 n.6, 340 Wis.2d 485, 811 N.W.2d 866. Additionally, “[i]n all averments of fraud or mistake, the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake shall be stated with particularity.” See Wis. Stat. § 802.03(2). Thus, a plaintiff must plead “the ‘who, what, when, where and how’ ” of a fraud claim. Friends of Kenwood v. Green, 2000 WI App 217, ¶ 14, 239 Wis.2d 78, 619 N.W.2d 271 (quoted source omitted).