(The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published the following story by Rick Romell on its website on September 16.)
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. –The president of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. and his son have settled a bitter legal dispute that arose over the now-defunct Northern Rail Car Co.
William E. Gardner and his son, Daniel, agreed several weeks ago to a settlement dismissing the federal court case brought by Daniel against his father and related parties in 2002.
Daniel had accused William of reneging on a deal to transfer ownership of Northern and a large piece of industrial real estate. William had denied there was such a deal and accused his son of trying to take the company and real estate by fraud.
Northern, which ran into financial trouble and eventually saw its assets liquidated in a receivership action, had restored and repaired rail cars. William Gardner owned Northern, and Daniel at one point was the firm’s president.
A document filed in federal court shows the two sides agreed to dismiss the lawsuit “for valuable consideration and the exchange of mutual promises” laid down in a confidential settlement agreement.
Contacted Tuesday, William Gardner said neither he nor the Wisconsin & Southern, a regional railroad, had paid anything to settle the case.
Daniel Gardner said his father’s statement was “absolutely incorrect” and that his father had violated the confidentiality agreement.