Greg Schaefer v. American Family Mutual

EICH, C.J. Donald and Marilyn Schaefer were killed in an automobile accident in May 1990. Their six adult children, the plaintiffs in this case (the heirs), brought a wrongful death action against several defendants, including the other driver involved in the accident and the driver's insurer. The heirs also sued their parents' insurer, American Family Mutual Insurance Company, for ""loss of inheritance,"" claiming that, as a result of their parents' untimely deaths, the size of their expected inheritances had been diminished. Prior to the accident, Donald Schaefer had purchased a $500,000 life insurance policy listing his wife, Marilyn, as the sole beneficiary. When the Schaefers were killed in the accident, the policy proceeds became part of their estates and passed to the heirs.