Case Results

The Case: On December 17, 2009, at approximately 8:58 p.m., Allstate Sweeping, LLC was operating a street sweeper on E-470 as it passed over Parker Road. The sweeper protruded halfway out into the far left lane of travel while travelling 3 – 5 m.p.h. The sweeper lacked a number of required traffic control and safety devices designed to make the sweeper visible to approaching traffic. The initial investigation by the Colorado State Patrol concluded that all of the fault for the collision was on Mr. Johnson. At trial, on behalf of the Johnson family, the firm successfully argued that Allstate had the majority of responsibility for the death, because there were inadequate warnings for oncoming drivers.

The Result: Colette Johnson, the wife of 39-year-old information technology professional Mark Johnson, and their five surviving children prevailed in a suit against Allstate Sweeping, LLC. The jury awarded the family $9 million in damages in Douglas County District Court.

The Case: The O’Melia family, including the parents of 12-year-old Drennan O’Melia, sued Southglenn Country Club over Drennan's death at the facility’s pool. At trial, shareholders Mike Keating and Deirdre Ostrowski were able to show that due to the lifeguards' lack of training and the lack of attention to safety by the Country Club and the pool’s manager, Drennan drowned.

The Result: An Arapahoe County jury awarded $3.8 million to Drennan’s parents after concluding that the Country Club and its employees failed to conduct the operations at the pool in a safe manner and failed to provide adequately trained and supervised lifeguards at the pool.

The Case: Timothy Beene, a firefighter, had his legs crushed and broken when a Ford Expedition seemingly placed in 'park' rolled downhill and pinned the unsuspecting 50-year-old between the Expedition and his own truck. Timothy was changing out of his fire gear and sitting on his tailgate. Permanently impaired and disfigured, Timothy had completed 7 of the 11 surgeries he will undergo, including a knee replacement and ankle fusion, when we successfully tried his case.

The Result: A jury verdict of $3,565,000.

The Case: The case centered around a 2012 accident that killed a father as his daughter was driving at highway speeds on I-70 near Limon, Colorado, when their vehicle suffered a tire tread separation on a rear tire. The family was driving a 2000 Ford Ranger pickup with two recently purchased tires on the front wheels. The tire dealership that installed the new tires neglected to recommend that the family also replace the rear tires, which were 14 years old.

The Result: Shareholder Christina Habas, along with co-counsel, were able to secure a $3.2 million settlement from the defendants in the case.

The Case: Our client was injured in a horrific head-on crash that involved 4 people in two cars, including a drunk driver who was subsequently imprisoned. American Family Insurance refused to reach a settlement within the minimum limits on the grounds that one of the occupants, who never sought medical treatment but was negotiating a property damage claim, did not participate in the division of the proceeds.

The Result: Our client received a six-figure settlement in a bad faith insurance case that stemmed from a drunk driving collision.

The Case: Keating Wagner's client was injured while touring an apartment when he fell into a crawlspace that had been dug out by one of the defendants. His injuries shattered his ankle and necessitated two orthopedic surgeries. At trial, Mike Keating and Melissa Hailey were able to show that due to the defendants' had a duty to make the premises safe.

The Result: A Denver District Court jury found all defendants jointly and severally liable. It awarded the plaintiff $116,000 in economic damages, $250,000 in noneconomic damages, and $200,000 in permanent impairment.