Richard A. Mueller v. TL90108, LLC, 2022AP001440

This case concerns the ownership of a rare Talbot Lago automobile that disappeared in 2001 and was later purchased by TL90108, LLC (TL) in 2015, triggering a dispute with Richard A. Mueller and Joseph L. Ford III, who claimed rightful ownership.
Mueller and Ford sued TL for replevin and a declaration of ownership after TL attempted to title the car, which alerted authorities due to its reported stolen status.
The matter was initially dismissed by the circuit court, but this was reversed by the Court of Appeals and Wisconsin Supreme Court, remanding the case for further proceedings.
During mediation, the parties signed a Settlement-in-Principal Term Sheet (SIP) that outlined key terms, including future negotiation of a final agreement with mutual confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions, to be enforced with the mediator resolving disputes.
After further mediation, Mueller and Ford refused to sign the finalized documents; TL moved to enforce the SIP, arguing it was binding, but the circuit court found the SIP indefinite and unenforceable due to vague material terms.

Issue	Plaintiffs' Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Enforceability of SIP with indefinite terms	SIP is unenforceable because confidentiality and non-disparagement terms are vague/indefinite	SIP is enforceable as material terms are sufficiently definite	SIP is unenforceable due to indefiniteness of material terms
Mediator's authority to impose settlement	Mediator had no authority to finalize terms if SIP is unenforceable	Mediator empowered to prepare and bind parties to final agreement	Mediator lacked authority to finalize terms absent enforceable SIP

Mueller v. TL90108, LLC, 383 Wis. 2d 740 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018) (explaining the procedural history and prior decisions on the dispute over the Talbot Lago automobile)
Paul R. Ponfil Tr. v. Charmoli Holdings, LLC, 389 Wis. 2d 88 (Wis. Ct. App. 2019) (settlement agreement unenforceable where material terms are too indefinite)