PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court will not hear the appeal of a lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died by suicide after taking guns from his employer, leaving a lower court’s ruling in the company’s favor stand.
In December, 2020, Ryan Ames stole a handgun and ammunition from the Fleet Farm he worked at before returning home and shooting himself with the gun. Bruce and Bambi Ames say that while Ryan was employed at Fleet Farm, he was given “unfettered, unsupervised, and unmonitored access to firearms and ammunition.”
In the Waupaca County lawsuit, the family claimed that the Midwest retailer negligently caused the death of their son by not properly securing or monitoring the guns. Fleet Farm argued the store knew nothing of Ames’ plans, and couldn’t be held responsible for the gun theft or subsequent acts.
A circuit court judge dismissed the suit, then the parents appealed. The appeals court ruled against them, so they appealed again, this time to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
In a decision Thursday, the high court said the petition for review was denied, court records show. No reason was cited, and typically no explanation is given.
That means the appeals court ruling dismissing then case stands.
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