Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc.

2007 WI 97, 735 N.W.2d 418, 303 Wis. 2d 94, 2007 Wisc. LEXIS 427

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: July 12, 2007
• Docket: 2004AP2655
• Status: Published

Opinions

DAVID T. PROSSER, J.

¶ 1. The issue presented in this review is whether plaintiffs may reopen their case and amend their complaint after the circuit court has dismissed the complaint in its entirety on the merits and the dismissal has been affirmed on appeal. The court of appeals reversed the circuit court's determination that it could not reopen the case to amend the complaint on these facts without a clear directive from the court deciding the appeal. Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Tietsworth III), 2006 WI App 5, 288 Wis. 2d 680, 709 N.W.2d 901. After carefully reviewing the facts, the statutory and case law, and the policy embodied in the procedural code, we agree with the circuit court. Consequently, we reverse the court of appeals.

¶ 2. We hold that in the absence of a remand order in the mandate line or some other clear directive from the appellate court ultimately deciding the appeal, a circuit court has no authority to reopen the case for an amended complaint after an appellate court has affirmed the dismissal of the complaint in its entirety on the merits.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 3. This case has a lengthy history, including a previous decision by this court. Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Tietsworth II), 2004 WI 32, 270 Wis. 2d 146, 677 N.W.2d 233. In Tietsworth II, this court addressed the merits of plaintiffs' tort-based complaint against the defendants. Now we are called upon to address the procedural ramifications of Tietsworth II. This requires us to set out the procedural history of the case.

¶ 4. On June 28, 2001, Steven C. Tietsworth, a resident of California, filed a complaint in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court on behalf of himself and a class consisting of all persons and entities in the United States who have owned, own, leased, lease, or acquired 1999 and early 2000 model Harley-Davidson motorcycles equipped with Twin Cam 88 or Twin Cam 88B engines. Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Tietsworth 2001), No. 2001CV6928 (Mil. Cty. Cir. Ct. June 28, 2001).¹ The complaint alleged that defendants, Harley-Davidson, Inc. and Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley), had designed, manufactured, marketed, and sold motorcycles with defective engines because of cam bearings that were faulty, inferior, and prone to sudden failure. The complaint asserted four tort-based causes of action: (1) negligence; (2) strict products liability; (3) fraudulent concealment; and (4) fraudulent misrepresentation and deceptive trade practices in violation of Wis. Stat. § 100.18(1) and (ll)(b).

¶ 5. On September 27, 2001, Tietsworth amended his complaint, adding four Wisconsin residents as named plaintiffs (collectively, Tietsworth).

¶ 6. The factual basis for the complaint is discussed in Tietsworth II, 270 Wis. 2d 146, ¶¶ 5-6. In essence, Harley-Davidson, the only major American-based motorcycle manufacturer, redesigned its motorcycle engines in the late 1990s, developing the Twin Cam 88 and Twin Cam 88B engines for the 1999 and early 2000 models. A problem cropped up. On January 22, 2001, Harley sent a letter to Tietsworth and approximately 140,000 other owners of the subject motorcycles, explaining that "the rear cam bearing in a small number of Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 88 engines has failed." While the letter assured Harley owners that they would probably never have to worry about this problem, it reported that Harley was extending the standard one-year/unlimited mileage warranty to a five-year/50,000 mile warranty on the rear cam bearing. For owners who wanted to repair their engines immediately, Harley made available cam bearing repair kits for $495.00.

¶ 7. Tietsworth's complaint alleged that Harley motorcycles with the Twin Cam 88 or 88B engines are inherently defective and have an unreasonably dangerous propensity to suffer premature cam bearing failure, resulting in engine failure. Although Tietsworth did not identify any specific engine failures, especially in motorcycles owned by the named plaintiffs, he asserted that the "inherent cam bearing defect" posed safety risks and diminished the value of all Harley motorcycles with Twin Cam 88 engines. This led to his four tort-based claims.

¶ 8. On November 1, 2001, Harley filed motions to dismiss the complaint and to stay discovery. On December 3, 2001, Tietsworth filed a cross-motion to compel discovery. The circuit court, William J. Haese, Judge, granted Harley's motion to stay discovery; and on February 27, 2002, it dismissed the entire complaint for failure to state a claim.² The court dismissed the negligence and strict products liability claims because the plaintiffs failed to allege any actual damages and because the economic loss doctrine barred the claims. The court dismissed the two fraud claims because the plaintiffs did not allege any actual damages.

¶ 9. On April 12, 2002, Tietsworth filed a notice to appeal the dismissal of his common law fraud and statutory fraudulent misrepresentation/deceptive trade practices claims.

¶ 10. On that same day — April 12 — Tietsworth's counsel filed a separate class action lawsuit against Harley on behalf of Wilton Jones and Richard Kempen (collectively, Jones). The Jones suit made contract claims, namely, breach of warranty and unjust enrichment, based on the same facts involving the Twin Cam 88 and 88B Harley engines. Jones v. Harley-Davidson, Inc., No. 2002CV3629 (Mil. Cty. Cir. Ct. Apr. 12, 2002).

¶ 11. On September 23, 2002, the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Jeffrey A. Kremers, Judge, dismissed the entire Jones complaint for failure to state a claim because Jones did not allege a cognizable injury. The court stated that to recover under a breach of warranty, Jones was required to allege an actual failure of the engine and Harley's refusal or inability to fix the failure. A mere allegation of a defect was not sufficient. Likewise, to recover under unjust enrichment, Jones must have alleged actual engine failure. Jones did not appeal.

¶ 12. On March 4, 2003, the court of appeals decided Tietsworth's appeal. Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (Tietsworth I), 2003 WI App 75, 261 Wis. 2d 755, 661 N.W.2d 450. The court of appeals reinstated both the common law fraud and statutory fraudulent misrepresentation/deceptive trade practices claims on the theory that plaintiffs had suffered actual damages under the "benefit of the bargain" rule and under the standard enunciated in Pritzlaff v. Archdiocese of Milwaukee, 194 Wis. 2d 302, 315, 533 N.W.2d 780 (1995). Tietsworth I, 261 Wis. 2d 755, ¶¶ 11-16.

¶ 13. Harley sought review of the decision to reinstate the two fraud claims; and on March 26, 2004, we reversed. Tietsworth II, 270 Wis. 2d 146. With regard to the fraudulent misrepresentation/deceptive trade practices claim, we held that the plaintiff did not allege facts to meet the elements of the statutory claim. See id., ¶ 40. Specifically, we held that non-disclosure did not constitute an assertion, representation, or statement of fact under Wis. Stat. § 100.18(1). Id., ¶ 40. In addition, we stated that to the extent any affirmative assertions were made, they were mere commercial puffery. Id., ¶ 41.

¶ 14. We dispatched the common law fraud claim by holding that it was barred by the economic loss doctrine. Id., ¶ 37. Our discussion of the economic loss doctrine included the following passages in paragraphs 36 and 37:

As such, the plaintiffs have warranty remedies for the alleged defects in their motorcycles. In addition, there are contract remedies at law and in equity to the extent that the plaintiffs were fraudulently induced to purchase their motorcycles. A contract fraudulently induced is void or voidable; a party fraudulently induced to enter a contract may affirm the contract and seek damages for breach or pursue the equitable remedy of rescission and seek restitutionary damages .... The economic loss doctrine does not bar these contract remedies for fraudulently induced contracts. ...

In short, we see no reason to recognize an exception to the economic loss doctrine to allow this consumer contract dispute to be remedied as an intentional misrepresentation tort. The economic loss doctrine bars the plaintiffs' common-law fraud claim. The plaintiffs may have contract remedies — breach of contract/warranty or rescission and restitution — but may not pursue a tort claim for misrepresentation premised on having purchased allegedly defective motorcycles.

Tietsworth II, 270 Wis. 2d 146, ¶¶ 36-37.

¶ 15. After discussing both fraud claims, we reversed the court of appeals. Our mandate stated: "The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed." Id. at 172. There was no mention of "remand" in the mandate or in the decision.

¶ 16. Following the release of Tietsworth II, Tietsworth filed a completely new lawsuit against Harley alleging (1) breach of warranty; (2) restitution; and (3) fraudulent inducement to contract. Tietsworth v. Harley Davidson, Inc. (Tietsworth 2004), No. 2004CV3305 (Mil. Cty. Cir. Ct. Apr. 12, 2004). This new case was assigned to Circuit Judge Francis Wasielewski. Tietsworth soon decided, however, that he had made a procedural error by filing a new complaint, that instead he wanted to reopen Tietsworth 2001. He asked Harley to stipulate to the voluntary dismissal of Tietsworth 2004. Harley refused. Harley filed a motion to dismiss Tietsworth 2004 on May 26, 2004, under the theory of claim preclusion.

¶ 17. On June 17, 2004, while Tietsworth 2004 was pending, Tietsworth asked Circuit Judge Michael Guolee, who had inherited the original case from Judge Haese, for leave to reopen Tietsworth 2001 to amend the complaint. Tietsworth asserted three new claims: (1) breach of warranty; (2) fraudulent inducement to contract; and (3) unjust enrichment. Id.

¶ 18. Before Judge Guolee ruled on Tietsworth's motion, Judge Wasielewski granted Harley's motion to dismiss Tietsworth 2004.³ Judge Wasielewski reasoned that the new claims were barred by claim preclusion based on this court's decision in Tietsworth II.4 He also considered whether the new claims were barred under claim preclusion by the circuit court's decision in Jones. Although he noted that the parties in the two cases were not identical, Judge Wasielewski pondered whether the parties shared a unity of interest sufficient that claim preclusion barred the claims in Tietsworth 2004. The court reached no conclusion on that question. The parties agreed, however, that the dismissal of Tietsworth 2004 would not in itself preclude Judge Guolee from reopening the original Tietsworth 2001 case on grounds of claim preclusion.

¶ 19. On August 23, 2004, Judge Guolee ruled that Tietsworth could not amend his original complaint to introduce contract and warranty claims. The court held that it did not have authority under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) to reopen the case. It found that the decision of this court was final and that "[a] trial court may not allow amendments of pleadings when the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment [of dismissal]." The court found that the language in paragraphs 36 and 37 of the supreme court opinion, when read in context, did not grant or allow the court to reopen the case.

¶ 20. Again Tietsworth appealed. On December 13, 2005, the court of appeals reversed, concluding that the circuit court "erred in denying the plaintiffs' motion to reopen and amend the complaint." Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 9. The court of appeals said that Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) allowed the circuit court to reopen the case. Id., ¶¶ 13-18. It reasoned that this court reversed the court of appeals but did not "affirm a judgment of dismissal or direct that a judgment of dismissal be entered." Id., ¶ 14. The court cited State ex. rel. J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. v. Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, 2000 WI 30, ¶ 25, 233 Wis. 2d 428, 608 N.W.2d 679, for the proposition that the trial court often has some discretion "on remand" to resolve matters left open, provided that its action is not inconsistent with the order of the higher court. The court of appeals said that the "mandate [of this court] left open the opportunity for the plaintiffs to pursue contract and warranty claims[;]" therefore, amending the complaint would not be inconsistent with the supreme court's order. Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 15. The court distinguished the present case from Sutter v. State, 69 Wis. 2d 709, 233 N.W.2d 391 (1975), where the controversy went to trial and was fully tried upon the merits. Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 19. The court of appeals further concluded that justice requires an amendment of the pleadings because the law was unclear as to the viability of Tietsworth's claims when Tietsworth first filed the complaint. Id., ¶ 22. The court also said that justice requires an amendment because this court acknowledged that Tietsworth was entitled to pursue contract and warranty claims in paragraphs 36 and 37 of its decision. Id., ¶ 18.

¶ 21. Harley petitioned for review, which this court granted on February 27, 2006.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶ 22. Whether a circuit court has statutory authority to reopen a case is a question of statutory interpretation that we review de novo as a question of law. Robin K. v. Lamanda M., 2006 WI 68, ¶ 5, 291 Wis. 2d 333, 718 N.W.2d 38. Whether a circuit court has non-statutory authority to reopen a case also presents a question of law. Harvest Sav. Bank v. ROI Invs., 228 Wis. 2d 733, 737-38, 598 N.W.2d 571 (Ct. App. 1999); see Breier v. E.C., 130 Wis. 2d 376, 381, 387 N.W.2d 72, 74 (1986). This court is the final arbiter of the meaning of its own mandates, which we review as questions of law.

ANALYSIS

¶ 23. This case requires the court to determine whether the circuit court had authority to reopen the case and grant leave to amend the complaint after the circuit court had dismissed the original complaint in its entirety on the merits and the dismissal was affirmed on appeal. The court of appeals determined that the circuit court erred when it denied Tietsworth's motion to reopen the case under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) and when it denied his motion to file an amended complaint under Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1). Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 25. On these grounds, the court of appeals reversed and directed the circuit court to enter an order allowing Tietsworth to file an amended complaint. Id.

¶ 24. We reverse the court of appeals because the circuit court did not have authority under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) to reopen this case for an amended complaint without a remand or order and therefore did not have authority to grant leave to amend Tietsworth's complaint under Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1).

A. Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1)

¶ 25. We look first at Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1) and acknowledge that Wisconsin embraces a policy in favor of liberal amendment of pleadings.⁵ Wisconsin Stat. § 802.09(1) allows a party to amend the pleading "once as a matter of course at any time within 6 months after the summons and complaint are filed or within the time set in a scheduling order under s. 802.10." Under other circumstances, "a party may amend the pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party." Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1). However, Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1) provides that "leave shall be freely given at any stage of the action when justice so requires." Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1) (emphasis added); see Jay E. Grenig, Wisconsin Practice Series: Civil Procedure § 209.2, at 355 (3d ed. 2003) (stating, "The court has wide discretion in determining whether to permit the amendment of pleadings at any stage of the proceedings if justice so requires.").

¶ 26. The liberal policy embodied in Wis. Stat. § 802.09(1) does have limitations. The presumption in favor of amendment, which is grounded in a statute whose chapter is entitled "Pleadings, Motions and Pretrial Practice," applies logically only before judgment has been entered in the case. See Wis. Stat. ch. 802 (emphasis added); Piaskoski & Assocs. v. Ricciardi, 2004 WI App 152, ¶ 31, 275 Wis. 2d 650, 686 N.W.2d 675; Mach v. Allison, 2003 WI App 11, ¶ 27, 259 Wis. 2d 686, 656 N.W.2d 766. Once judgment has been entered, the presumption in favor of amendment disappears in order to protect the countervailing interests of the need for finality.

¶ 27. The present case does not implicate, or alter the interpretation of, Wis. Stat. § 802.09 and the policy in favor of liberal amendment of pleadings. Rather, the present case turns on whether the circuit court had authority to grant leave to amend Tietsworth's complaint after the circuit court had dismissed Tietsworth's claim in its entirety on the merits and Tietsworth appealed. Once the circuit court issued an order dismissing Tietsworth's complaint in its entirety and Tietsworth appealed that final order, the circuit court no longer had jurisdiction over the case.

¶ 28. If the court of appeals had affirmed the circuit court's dismissal of the complaint in Tietsworth I, the court of appeals could have directed the circuit court to grant leave to amend Tietsworth's complaint. The court of appeals, however, reversed the circuit court's dismissal of the complaint. The decision to reverse and remand would have restored the circuit court's jurisdiction if the decision had not been appealed. But when Harley petitioned this court and this court granted review, the court of appeals also lost jurisdiction over the case.

¶ 29. When this court decided in Tietsworth II to reverse the court of appeals and thereby affirm the circuit court's dismissal of Tietsworth's complaint, this court's decision became the law of the case. At that point, neither the circuit court nor the court of appeals had authority to grant leave to amend Tietsworth's complaint without a clear directive from this court.

B. Wis. Stat. §§ 808.08 and 808.09

¶ 30. Whether this court granted the circuit court authority to reopen the case is thus an issue. To resolve this issue, we examine Wis. Stat. §§ 808.08 and 808.09, and the relevant language in Tietsworth II.

¶ 31. Wisconsin Stat. § 808.09 provides an appellate court with several options on appeal: (1) the appellate court may reverse, affirm, or modify the judgment or order; (2) it may order a new trial; or (3) if the appeal is from a part of the judgment or order, it may reverse, affirm, or modify that part of the judgment or order. Wis. Stat. § 808.09. "In all cases an appellate court shall remit its judgment or decision to the court below and thereupon the court below shall proceed in accordance with the judgment or decision." Id.

¶ 32. The last sentence of Wis. Stat. § 808.09 is an explicit directive to "the court below" to "proceed" to implement the "judgment or decision." Thus, the circuit court has clear authority to carry out the mandate, whether the appellate court has affirmed or reversed the circuit court. The circuit court also has authority, without explicit direction, to address collateral matters "left open" in the case, such as costs, preparation and entry of necessary documents, and correction of clerical or computational errors, so long as these actions do not undo the decision of the appellate court. However, there can be no amendments in the trial court that conflict with the expressed or implied mandate of the appellate court. See 6A Callaghan's Wisconsin Pleading & Practice § 55.81 (4th ed. 2005) (citing State ex rel. Kurath v. Ludwig, 146 Wis. 385, 132 N.W 130 (1911); Smith v. Armstrong, 25 Wis. 517, 1870 WL 4034 (1870)).

¶ 33. Wisconsin Stat. § 808.08 is different from Wis. Stat. § 808.09. Entitled "Further proceedings in trial court," it governs situations in which the appellate court has provided the circuit court with explicit orders or directions for further proceedings. These situations fall into three categories. Wisconsin Stat. § 808.08 reads:

Further Proceedings in trial court.

When the record and remittitur are received in the trial court:

(1) If the trial judge is ordered to take specific action, the judge shall do so as soon as possible.

(2) If a new trial is ordered, the trial court, upon receipt of the remitted record, shall place the matter on the trial calendar.

(3) If action or proceedings other than those mentioned in sub. (1) or (2) is ordered, any party may, within one year after receipt of the remitted record by the clerk of the trial court, make appropriate motion for further proceedings. If further proceedings are not so initiated, the action shall be dismissed except that an extension of the one-year period may be granted, on notice, by the trial court, if the order for extension is entered during the one-year period.

¶ 34. The issue in this case requires us to interpret subsection (3) of Wis. Stat. § 808.08 to determine whether the trial court had statutory authority to reopen the case for further proceedings. Subsection (1) of § 808.08 does not apply because Tietsworth II did not order "specific action" — that is, Tietsworth II did not order the trial court to perform a "purely ministerial duty." See Findorff, 233 Wis. 2d 428, ¶ 20. Subsection (2) of § 808.08 does not apply because Tietsworth II did not order "a new trial."

¶ 35. To determine whether the circuit court had authority under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) to reopen the case for further proceedings, we engage in statutory interpretation. "[Statutory interpretation 'begins with the language of the statute. If the meaning of the statute is plain, we ordinarily stop the inquiry.'" State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2004 WI 58, ¶ 45, 271 Wis. 2d 633, 681 N.W.2d 110 (quoting Seider v. O'Connell, 2000 WI 76, ¶ 43, 236 Wis. 2d 211, 612 N.W.2d 659). Except for technical or specially defined words, "statutory language is given its common, ordinary, and accepted meaning." Id.

¶ 36. Examining the language of Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3), we see that the statute expressly provides that "action" or "proceedings" be "ordered." The common meaning of the noun "order" is an "authoritative direction" or "command." Webster's Dictionary 372 (Albert & Loy Morehead eds., 1981). The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 1273 (3d ed. 1992), indicates that in law, an "order" is "a direction or command delivered by a court or other adjudicative body and entered into the record;" the verb "order" means to "issue a command or instruction." Therefore, under the plain language of the statute, subsection (3) is triggered if and when the appellate court directs, commands, or instructs (i.e., "orders") the circuit court to take "action" or proceedings other than the "specific action" or new trial described in subsections (1) and (2).

¶ 37. This court had occasion to interpret subsection (3) in Findorff. The court explained that Wis. Stat. § 808.08 and Wis. Stat. § 801.58 have often been read together. Findorff, 233 Wis. 2d 428, ¶ 15.⁶ The court was required to decide whether Findorff was entitled to a substitution of judge after "the court of appeals reversed and remanded a circuit court decision" in Findorffs favor. Id., ¶ 2. The decision turned on whether the court's instructions on remand directed "further proceedings" under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3) or a purely ministerial duty under § 808.08(1).

¶ 38. The court correctly ruled that subsection (3) — ordering "further proceedings" — "required the circuit court to exercise its discretion," thereby giving Findorff a right of substitution. In the course of the decision, the Findorff court said:

[0]ur decision today comports with the traditional view that a circuit court often has some discretion on remand to resolve matters not addressed by a mandate in a manner consistent with that mandate. Fullerton [Lumber Co. v. Torborg, 274 Wis. 478, 483, 80 N.W.2d 461 (1957)]. In Fullerton, this court specifically stated that:

Where a mandate directs the entry of a particular judgment, it is the duty of the trial court to proceed as directed. The trial court may, however, determine any matters left open, and in the absence of specific directions, is generally vested with a legal discretion to take such action, not inconsistent with the order of the upper court, as seems wise and proper under the circumstances.

Id. "Specific action" is limited to purely ministerial duties to reflect this court's preference for providing a circuit court with discretion on remand.

Findorff, 233 Wis. 2d 428, ¶ 25.

¶ 39. In the present case, the court of appeals incorrectly took the above-quoted language from Findorff and Fullerton and applied it in a different context. The court of appeals stated: "The mandate by the supreme court in this case simply 'reversed the decision of the court of appeals' and remanded the matter to the trial court." Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 14 (emphasis added). However, Tietsworth II did not "remand" the case to the circuit court. The court of appeals added: "The mandate left open the opportunity for the plaintiffs to pursue contract and warranty claims." Tietsworth III, 288 Wis. 2d 680, ¶ 15. "[W]e conclude the trial court retained authority to grant Tietsworth's motion and, in fact, should have granted the motion to reopen." Id., ¶ 20 (emphasis added).

¶ 40. What is especially startling about the court of appeals' decision is that it misstated the mandate of this court, construed the mandate as giving the circuit court "discretion" to reopen a case dismissed on the merits, and implicitly gave Tietsworth a right of substitution as well. In sum, the court of appeals turned Tietsworth II into little more than an advisory opinion. To vindicate such action would be "to recognize. . . power to set at naught the judgments of this court." Kurath, 146 Wis. at 388.

¶ 41. When appellate courts intend to remand the case for action or proceedings under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(3), they normally issue mandates like the following:⁷

"We therefore reverse the decision of the court of appeals and remand the cause to the circuit court for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion." Brown County v. Shannon R., 2005 WI 160, 286 Wis. 2d 278, 324, 706 N.W.2d 269. "The decision of the court of appeals is reversed and the cause remanded." Id.

"The decision of the court of appeals is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." Mitchell Bank v. Schanke, 2004 WI 13, 268 Wis. 2d 571, 619, 676 N.W.2d 849.

"The judgment of the Jackson County Circuit Court is reversed and the cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." State v. Fisher, 2006 WI 44, 290 Wis. 2d 121, 149, 714 N.W.2d 495.

"The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed, and the case is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings in accord with this opinion." State v. Mark, 2006 WI 78, 292 Wis. 2d 1, 28, 718 N.W.2d 90.

"The decision of the court of appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." State v. Brown, 2006 WI 100, 293 Wis. 2d 594, 636, 716 N.W.2d 906.

"The decision of the court of appeals is affirmed in part; reversed in part, and the cause is remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." Megal v. Green Bay Area Visitor & Convention Bureau, 2004 WI 98, 274 Wis. 2d 162, 181-82, 682 N.W.2d 857.

"Reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion." Johnson v. Rogers Mem'l Hosp., Inc., 2005 WI 114, 283 Wis. 2d 384, 421, 700 N.W.2d 27.

C. Relevant Language in Tietsworth II

¶ 42. Our mandate line in Tietsworth II read nothing like the mandate line in the above-cited cases. It did not read like the mandate line at issue in Fullerton: "Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion." Fullerton, 274 Wis. at 488. It did not read like the September 16, 1997, mandate line at issue in Findorff: "Judgment reversed and cause remanded with directions" (preceded by a lengthy, detailed final paragraph). See Findorff, 233 Wis. 2d 428, ¶ 37.

¶ 43. The mandate in Tietsworth II states, "The decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed." Tietsworth II, 270 Wis. 2d at 172. This mandate is clear: the decision of the court of appeals is reversed, thus affirming the circuit court's dismissal of the entire action. The mandate does not order or direct or instruct the trial court to take further action or proceedings. There is no reference to a remand.

¶ 44. If we had wanted to allow the trial court to take further action, we would have specified as much in the mandate or by clear directive in the text of the opinion.

¶ 45. If we search the opinion for aid in construing the mandate, we find further evidence that this court intended that, upon reversing the court of appeals, this case would be ended. In paragraph 2 of Tietsworth II, we stated that "[t]he circuit court dismissed the entire action for failure to state a claim." Tietsworth II, 270 Wis. 2d 146, ¶ 2 (emphasis added). In paragraph 10, we stated again, "The Milwaukee County Circuit Court.. . granted Harley's motion, dismissing the complaint in its entirety for failure to state a claim." Id., ¶ 10 (emphasis added). These statements reflect this court's understanding that the circuit court dismissed the entire action on the merits. Therefore, when this court reversed the court of appeals without remand, it affirmed the circuit court's judgment dismissing the entire action.

¶ 46. In her dissent in Tietsworth II, Chief Justice Abrahamson acknowledged as much. After stating that "[t]his case comes to us on a motion to dismiss a complaint," id., ¶ 48, the Chief Justice added that "[t]he majority opinion dismisses the plaintiffs' complaint," id., ¶ 94; see also ¶ 48 ("The majority opinion dismisses this claimand ¶ 49 ("The majority dismisses the second claim . . . .")•

¶ 47. Paragraphs 36 and 37 in Tietsworth II, which Tietsworth claims "explicitly recognize" his contract claims, must be read in the context in which they appear. These paragraphs are near the end of a 15-paragraph discussion of the economic loss doctrine and describe a specific part of this court's version of the doctrine. See id., ¶¶ 23-37. They are fairly interpreted as this court's explanation of the application of the economic loss doctrine to fraud claims.⁸ In effect, the court simply recognized that, although the economic loss doctrine bars tort claims, plaintiffs may have a remedy in contract claims.⁹

D. Option To Clarify Mandate

¶ 48. Tietsworth contends that he believes paragraphs 36 and 37 of Tietsworth II invited the circuit court to allow amendment of his complaint. This contention is implausible because Tietsworth's initial action after appeal was to file an entirely new lawsuit, e.g., Tietsworth 2004, instead of seeking to amend the original complaint. If Tietsworth believed the mandate favored reopening the case, he should have filed a motion under Wis. Stat. § (Rule) 809.14 to clarify the effect of our mandate or a motion for reconsideration under Wis. Stat. § (Rule) 809.64.¹⁰ See Johann v. Milwaukee Elec. Tool Corp., 270 Wis. 573, 579, 72 N.W.2d 401 (1955) (finding that where party finds any ambiguity in the opinion or the mandate the proper place to raise the issue is before the court that issued the mandate and not before the trial court); State ex rel. Lisbon Town Fire Ins. Co. v. Crosby, 240 Wis. 157, 159, 2 N.W.2d 700 (1942); State ex rel. Blackdeer v. Township of Levis, 176 Wis. 2d 252, 260, 500 N.W.2d 339 (Ct. App. 1993).¹¹

¶ 49. Parties should follow this procedure because it promotes finality and protects scarce judicial resources by permitting the court that issued the mandate to resolve any ambiguity. Cf. Blackdeer, 176 Wis. 2d at 260 n.4.

E. General Rule

¶ 50. From this discussion, it is possible to state a general rule. In the absence of a remand order in the mandate line or some other clear directive from the appellate court ultimately deciding the appeal, a trial court whose judgment or final order has been affirmed by the appellate court on the merits has no authority to reopen the case for an amended complaint. This general rule is designed to assure compliance with the appellate court's decision. It conforms to the long-established principle that "a judgment of a trial court when affirmed by this court becomes in legal effect the judgment of this court and the trial court has no power to vacate or set it aside." Hoan v. Journal Co., 241 Wis. 483, 485, 6 N.W.2d 185 (1942).¹²

F. Policy Interests

¶ 51. Our holding today furthers the interests in finality, fairness, and efficiency by holding parties responsible for their deliberate choice of strategy and by preventing piecemeal litigation. It also enforces compliance within the judicial system. See Ins. Corp. of Am. v. Barker, 628 A.2d 38, 41 (Del. 1993). The holding protects the interest in finality by preventing Tietsworth from having another "kick at the cat." See Sutter, 69 Wis. 2d at 715.

¶ 52. The record indicates that Tietsworth has had many kicks so far. Tietsworth commenced litigation in June 2001. Since that time, his action has been heard two times in the circuit court, two times in the court of appeals, and now two times in this court. Tietsworth also filed a second action, Tietsworth 2004, in the circuit court that was barred by claim preclusion. His counsel, representing overlapping plaintiffs, filed another class action, Jones, that was dismissed for failure to state a claim, but not appealed. To allow Tietsworth to continue with new claims would have the same effect as allowing a party to file a claim after the statute of limitations has expired: finality and predictability would be jeopardized, and the evidence might be stale. As we stated in Sutter, "It is desirable that litigation come to an end." Sutter, 69 Wis. 2d at 716.

¶ 53. As noted above, our holding is not at odds with the sensible principle stated in Fullerton that a trial court may determine any matters left open by the higher court as long as the determination is not inconsistent with the higher court's mandate.¹³ Fullerton, 274 Wis. at 483. In Fullerton, the plaintiff business was seeking an injunction and damages against the defendant, its former employee, for violating a restrictive covenant not to compete. The trial court held that the covenant was invalid. This court reversed, remanding the case to the trial court to determine the appropriate duration of the covenant. The opinion instructed the lower court as follows: "The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for a determination by the trial court of the extent of time as to which the restrictive covenant with respect to defendant's operations in Clintonville is reasonable and necessary for plaintiffs protection, and for judgment enjoining defendant from a breach thereof." Id. at 480.

¶ 54. Upon remand, the trial court judge refused to establish the amount of damages, stating, "If [the supreme court] wanted me to also establish damages and take testimony I suppose [it] would have said a new trial is granted for the purpose of determining damages." Id. at 481. This court reversed, holding that the trial court should have established damages because the plaintiffs motion was not inconsistent with this court's mandate and directions. This court stated, "The trial court may, however, determine any matters left open, and in the absence of specific directions, is generally vested with a legal discretion to take such action, not inconsistent with the order of the upper court, as seems wise and proper under the circumstances." Id. at 483.

¶ 55. Fullerton may be distinguished from this case as one where the higher court did not resolve all issues pertaining to the claim and specifically remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings. In Fullerton, this court had issued the following mandate in the first appeal: "Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion." Fullerton Lumber Co. v. Torborg, 270 Wis. 133, 148, 70 N.W.2d 585 (1955) (emphasis added). The mandate was clear, therefore, that this court intended to vest authority in the trial court to take further proceedings. This court could have mandated further proceedings in this case, but it chose not to do so.

¶ 56. In addition, this court's reversal in Tietsworth II did not leave open any unresolved issues as in Fullerton. Tietsworth argues that his contract-based claims remain unresolved. However, these claims do not remain unresolved because he chose not to allege them in his original pleadings or to amend the pleadings while the case was still in the trial court. Therefore, these claims were not part of this action.

¶ 57. Tietsworth also argues that the trial court should have authority to reopen the case and allow the amendment of the pleadings because this court's reversal in Tietsworth II, which affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the complaint, did not constitute a final judgment on the merits. In Sutter, we stated that "[a]fter final judgment has been rendered or directed on appeal, ordinarily the trial court has no power to allow the amendment of the pleadings." See Sutter, 69 Wis. 2d at 717.

¶ 58. Tietsworth seeks a ruling that the Sutter finality principle does not apply in this case because this court's reversal does not equal a final judgment on the merits. However, a dismissal for failure to state a claim is a judgment on the merits. See Juneau Square Corp. v. First Wis. Nat'l Bank, 122 Wis. 2d 673, 686, 364 N.W.2d 164 (Ct. App. 1985) (citing Federated Dep't Stores, Inc. v. Moitie, 452 U.S. 394, 399 n.3 (1981)); cf. Medved v. Baird, 58 Wis. 2d 563, 567, 207 N.W.2d 70 (1973).

¶ 59. It is suggested that the circuit court's failure to state whether its dismissal was "with prejudice" created confusion as to the finality of the judgment. Of course, the circuit court may have been willing to consider an amendment of the complaint in February or March 2002. However, when Tietsworth appealed, he forced the issue and resolved any ambiguity, if there were any, as to whether the circuit court's dismissal was with or without prejudice: Tietsworth deemed it to be with prejudice. Tietsworth would not have been able to appeal his claim to the court of appeals without permission if the circuit court had not dismissed his claim with prejudice, thus constituting a final judgment on the merits. See Wis. Stat. § 808.03(1) (stating that "[a] final judgment or a final order of a circuit court may be appealed as a matter of right to the court of appeals"); Plourde ex rel. State v. Habhegger, 2006 WI App 147, ¶ 1 n.2, 294 Wis. 2d 746, 720 N.W.2d 130 (stating that party could not appeal order denying motion for summary judgment without permission because order was a nonfinal order).

¶ 60. Accordingly, when this court reversed the court of appeals in Tietsworth II, it affirmed the circuit court's dismissal as a final judgment. See Juneau Square, 122 Wis. 2d at 686. Without an "order" for further proceedings by this court in the mandate line or in some other clear directive, the circuit court lacked statutory authority to grant Tietsworth leave to amend his complaint. See Hoan, 241 Wis. at 485.¹⁴

¶ 61. Our decision in this matter promotes finality and fairness by holding parties responsible for the consequences of their deliberate choices of strategy. As stated in Sutter, "Justice does not require that plaintiffs be twice afforded their day in court." Sutter, 69 Wis. 2d at 719. If Tietsworth had wanted to amend his complaint to add or substitute the contract-based claims, he should have sought leave to amend the complaint with Judge Haese in 2001 or early 2002. Tietsworth, however, chose a different strategy — he chose to appeal the dismissal of his tort claims. At that point, he waived his opportunity to amend his complaint in the trial court and to assert a new cause of action absent permission from a reviewing court. See State ex rel. Freeman Printing Co. v. Luebke, 36 Wis. 2d 298, 304, 152 N.W.2d 861 (1967) (stating, "An appeal from a final judgment would normally remove the complete case from the trial court at the time the appeal was perfected.").

¶ 62. Tietsworth cannot argue that he was not aware of the contract-based claims at the time he filed the complaint in the trial court. On June 28, 2001, when Tietsworth first filed his complaint, the law was well established as to the viability of contract-based claims.¹⁵

¶ 63. In addition, by his own admission at the oral argument for Tietsworth II on November 5, 2003, Tietsworth's counsel recognized that contract causes of action were available. In response to a question why he did not pursue contract claims, Tietsworth's counsel explained that he was not obligated to have one cause of action from one set of facts, that he could have tort and contract causes of action at the same time.¹⁶ When asked why he did not sue for breach of warranty, Tietsworth's counsel replied that he had sued Harley for breach of warranty in a separate action {Jones) shortly after the circuit court dismissed Tietsworth 2001 but that the circuit court had dismissed Jones for failure to state a claim.¹⁷

¶ 64. Tietsworth cannot assert, however, that the decision in Jones deterred him from amending his complaint to add contract-based claims. Tietsworth's counsel filed his notice to appeal the dismissal of Tietsworth's tort claims the same day he filed the Jones contract complaint. This shows that Tietsworth's decision to appeal, rather than to amend his complaint, was not affected by the subsequent Jones decision.

¶ 65. Adso during oral argument, Tietsworth's counsel revealed the reason why Tietsworth did not pursue contract claims: Tietsworth wanted punitive damages. As Tietsworth's counsel was explaining the limitations of a warranty claim, he stated that one of the limitations was that "it [would] wipe out the ability to seek punitive damages."¹⁸ When asked whether Tietsworth was seeking punitive damages, counsel replied that he was.¹⁹

¶ 66. It appears then that Tietsworth deliberately chose a strategy to pursue tort claims for the opportunity to recover punitive damages. When a member of the court observed that Tietsworth had a heavy burden to establish tort claims, Tietsworth's counsel replied, "We've got a tough case to prove. We think we can prove it." Tietsworth knew, therefore, that he had chosen a tough strategy. Tietsworth had every right to choose that strategy, but by doing so, he risked losing the opportunity to pursue other causes of action, and he must now accept the consequences.

CONCLUSION

¶ 67. We reverse the court of appeals and affirm the circuit court's judgment denying Tietsworth's motion to reopen the case. When this litigation came before this court in Tietsworth II, both the circuit court and the court of appeals were divested of any authority to grant leave to amend Tietsworth's complaint without permission from this court. Our decision in Tietsworth II, which affirmed the circuit court's dismissal of Tietsworth's complaint in its entirety, became the law of the case. In the absence of a remand order in the mandate line or some other clear directive from this court in Tietsworth II, the circuit court had no authority to reopen the case for an amended complaint after this court had affirmed the dismissal of the complaint in its entirety on the merits.

By the Court. — The decision of the court of appeals is reversed.

¶ 68. (dissenting). The parties, the circuit court, and the court of appeals ask just what did this court mean in Tietsworth v. Harley-Davidson, Inc., 2004 WI 32, 270 Wis. 2d 146, 677 N.W.2d 233 (Tietsworth IT), when this court announced that it reversed the decision of the court of appeals.¹ More specifically they ask, may the plaintiffs reopen the case and amend their complaint or are they barred from pursuing these actions?

1 Tietsworth 2001 is a nonlegal denomination that distinguishes this case from a second Tietsworth case filed in 2004 (Tietsworth 2004). The appellate decisions heretofore published in this case are denominated Tietsworth I, Tietsworth II, and Tietsworth III. Hence, this decision will become Tietsworth IV.

2 The circuit court dismissed the complaint approximately eight months after the complaint was filed.

3 The case was dismissed on July 26, 2004.

4 It also dismissed Tietsworth's claim for breach of warranty for failure to state a claim.

5 All references to the Wisconsin Statutes are to the 2005-06 version unless otherwise noted.

6 Wisconsin Stat. § 801.58(7) reads:

If upon an appeal from a judgment or order or upon a writ of error the appellate court orders a new trial [e.g., § 808.08(2)] or modifies the judgment or order as to any or all of the parties in a manner such that further proceedings in the trial court are necessary [e.g., § 808.08(3)], any party may file a request under sub. (1) [for substitution of judge] within 20 days after the filing of the remittitur in the trial court whether or not another request was filed prior to the time the appeal or writ of error was taken.

Wis. Stat. § 808.58(7) (emphasis added).

7 These mandate lines could also he used when appellate courts are ordering "specific action" under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(1) or "a new trial" under Wis. Stat. § 808.08(2). Cf. State ex. rel. J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc. v. Circuit Court for Milwaukee County, 2000 WI 30, ¶¶ 20-21, 233 Wis. 2d 428, 608 N.W.2d 679.

8 Tietsworth relies on the following language to assert that this court allowed Tietsworth to pursue any potential contract-based claims:

As such, the plaintiffs have warranty remedies for the alleged defects in their motorcycles. In addition, there are contract remedies at law and in equity to the extent that the plaintiffs were fraudulently induced to purchase their motorcycles... .

In short, we see no reason to recognize an exception to the economic loss doctrine to allow this consumer contract dispute to he remedied as an intentional misrepresentation tort. ... The plaintiffs may have contract remedies — breach of contract/warranty or rescission and restitution — but may not pursue a tort claim for misrepresentation premised on having purchased allegedly defective motorcycles.

9 We agree with Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Guolee's statements:

Now, I think it is very clear here when I read the totality of the decision by Judge Sykes that this language was not a grant to allow these claims or amendment of these claims. When we look at her decision, the paragraph that included the warranty remedy language was preceded by discussion of the Huron Tool exception to the Economic Loss Doctrine.

This is a major issue that has been before the Supreme Court and there's been some controversy on this, the economic loss doctrine. That was what she was really talking about. The Court noted that the [Huron Tooll exception did not apply to this case, because the fraud alleged pertained to the character and quality of the goods that were the subject of the matter of the contract. The following paragraph stated as such. The plaintiffs have warranty remedies.

Now, by saying this, these warranty remedies were never brought up by the plaintiff or addressed by the Court. The Court was simply implying that economic loss doctrine would not bar these claims .. . not that the plaintiff would be allowed to bring them.

10 Wisconsin Stat. § (Rule) 809.14 (Motions) provides, "A party seeking an order or other relief in a case shall file a motion for the order or other relief... ."

Wisconsin Stat. § (Rule) 809.64 (Reconsideration) provides, "A party may seek reconsideration of the judgment or opinion of the supreme court by filing a motion under s. 809.14 for reconsideration within 20 days after the date of the decision of the supreme court."

11 Parties often file these motions to clarify a mandate. For example, in Kenosha Hospital & Medical Center v. Garcia, 2004 WI 137, 276 Wis. 2d 359, 688 N.W.2d 462, plaintiffs filed a motion in this court asking us to clarify "the directions upon remand as to whether Kenosha Hospital should be allowed to conduct further discovery to support its claim." In Metropolitan Ventures, LLC v. GEA Associates, 2007 WI 23, 299 Wis. 2d 174, 727 N.W.2d 502, plaintiffs asked this court to clarify the issues on remand to eliminate any needless arguments about this court's holdings in Metropolitan Ventures, LLC v. GEA Associates, 2006 WI 71, 291 Wis. 2d 393, 717 N.W.2d 58. In Hardware Mutual Casualty Co. v. Mayer, 11 Wis. 2d 58, 69, 105 N.W.2d 322 (1960), the parties asked this court to clarify its mandate because the parties differed as to the meaning of this court's language near the end of the opinion.

12 This holding is consistent with the rule in other jurisdictions. See, e.g., Madeksho v. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, & Friend, 112 S.W.3d 679, 695-96 (Tex. App. 2003) (holding that where "the judgment of the trial court is simply affirmed, there is no reinvestiture of any 'jurisdiction' (limited or otherwise) in the trial court"); Griset v. Fair Political Practices Comm'n, 23 P.3d 43, 51 (Cal. 2001) (holding unqualified affirmance ordinarily sustains judgment and ends litigation; therefore, trial court did not have jurisdiction to reopen case once supreme court's decision became final); Waterhouse v. Iowa Dist. Ct. for Linn County, 593 N.W.2d 141, 142 (Iowa 1999) (holding that in absence of remand directing further proceedings in trial court, jurisdiction of district court terminates both as to parties and subject matter when district court judgment has been affirmed); see also State ex rel. Frazier & Oxley, L.C. v. Cummings, 591 S.E.2d 728 (W.Va. 2003); Ins. Corp. of Am. v. Barker, 628 A.2d 38 (Del. 1993).

13 In Fullerton Lumber Co. v. Torborg, 274 Wis. 478, 482, 80 N.W.2d 461 (1957), the court cited Wis. Stat. § 274.35(1) (1955), as the source of authority for the trial court to act on matters "left open." This statute is the predecessor of Wis. Stat. § 808.09, not Wis. Stat. § 808.08.

14 The circuit court's dismissal of Tietsworth 2004 under the theory of claim preclusion supports this conclusion. The court in that case recognized that this court's dismissal of Tietsworth's claims in Tietsworth II operated as a final judgment and therefore precluded subsequent claims. If the court in Tietsworth 2004 did not think our dismissal was a final judgment, it would have allowed Tietsworth to proceed,

15 See First Nat'l Bank & Trust Co. of Racine v. Notte, 97 Wis. 2d 207, 225, 293 N.W.2d 530 (1980) (stating that a contract fraudulently induced is void or voidable and a party fraudulently induced to enter into a contract "has the election of either rescission or affirming the contract and seeking damages").

16 The dialogue occurred as follows:

COURT: So why shouldn't they then abide by their contract causes of action and not a tort cause of action?

ATTORNEY: That's a very good question and part of the answer here is .. . that you're not obligated to only have one cause of action. As this court has recognized, it's often the case that the same set of facts will give rise to multiple causes of action. I think Your Honors' opinion just this year recognized that it's often the case that you can have a contract claim as well as a tort claim arising from the same set of facts. There's nothing novel about that.

¹⁷

COURT: Counselor, even if there wasn't back and forth negotiation, can't your client still sue for breach of warranty? I mean, you have to negotiate for it to he able to use it, do you?

ATTORNEY: You would think we would he able to sue for breach of warranty, and after this case was dismissed at the trial court level, we brought a lawsuit for breach of warranty, and Harley-Davidson stood up and made precisely the same arguments with regard to our warranty claims that they made with regard to these claims. They said, "Ah, until your motorcycle fails; until you're stranded in the middle of nowhere, you don't have a cause of action under warranty," and they prevailed upon that.

¹⁸

COURT: Why, why would the manufacturer immunize itself by giving a warranty.. . ? Don't they just provide an overt cause of action that otherwise you'd have to argue is implied?

ATTORNEY: They would provide an overt cause of action under a warranty that they have unilaterally issued and whose terms they've decided with limitations, with limitations on what you can recover and how you can recover, they can wipe out your common law claims; they can wipe out your right to pursue claims based on all of their fraud that proceeded the sale simply by giving you a contract claim. And, for example, it would wipe out the ability to seek punitive damages.

COURT: Well, that's because contracts don't have punitive damages in Wisconsin, but.. .

ATTORNEY: Right

¹⁹

COURT: Are you seeking punitive damages in this case?

ATTORNEY: We are not seeking punitive damages in this case.

COURT: You were seeking punitive damages?

ATTORNEY: Well, I'm sorry, I misspoke, Your Honor. We are under the fraud, the common law claim, we are seeking punitive damages, Your Honor. I apologize; I misspoke.

1 The majority opinion identifies this decision as Tietsworth II, and for ease of reading I will use the same designation.