Family Drops Claim in Wrongful Death Lawsuit

After two years of court action, the family of Wisconsin murder victim Brittany Zimmermann has dropped one claim from their lawsuit against Dane County and dispatcher Rita Gahagan, but continues to pursue other claims that a 911 call was mishandled. Zimmermann was murdered in her apartment in April 2008, and police say she managed to dial 911 at some point in the attack. Gahagan fielded the call, which ended abruptly. Through a series of circumstances, Gahagan did not call the number back as required by the comm center’s policy, and no officer was dispatched to investigate. Zimmermann’s body was found later by her boyfriend, Jordan Gonnering. In the latest court move, Zimmermann’s family decided to drop the specific “wrongful death” claim in their lawsuit against the county, apparently due to lack of evidence. However, they continue to pursue an emotional distress claim against the county and Gahagan, and a liability claim against the apartment house owners where Zimmermann lived. Yesterday a state appeals court ruled that Gonnering cannot pursue his lawsuit against the county because of plaintiff limitations in state law. Read more about the case here.