Verdicts & Settlements
As one of Southern Colorado's oldest personal injury law firms, the Colorado Springs law office of Melat, Pressman & Higbie, LLP has established a track record of success on behalf of people who have been injured or families who have lost loved ones due to the negligence or wrongful conduct of others. Since 1982, our lawyers have successfully concluded cases involving virtually every type of injury, achieving verdicts and settlements totaling in the millions of dollars. Some of the results we have obtained for our clients can be found below. If you or someone you love has been harmed in an accident due to the fault of another, contact Melat, Pressman & Higbie, LLP today for a free consultation about your potential claim.
Woman awarded $880,000 from Chapel Hills Mall for injury caused by faulty staircase
An El Paso County jury awarded $550,000 to a woman who was injured while walking down service stairs at the Chapel Hills Mall in Colorado Springs. The defense argued that her injuries were a result of pre-existing emotional problems; the jury rejected this contention when it awarded damages for physical impairment, non-economic damages, and loss of earnings and future earning capacity. After the addition of pre-judgment interest and court costs, the eventual judgment was more than $880,000. The defendant did not appeal the judgment.
$850,000 awarded in claim against city to victim of electric shock causing burns and brain injury due to contact with overhead power line
A 17-year-old boy received an electric shock injury when an irrigation pipe he was handling unintentionally came in contact with an overhead power line carrying 7200 volts. The jury held the city-owned electric utility responsible for 60% of the damages caused to the boy. His injuries included organic brain damage, significant burns, and permanent damage to one of his knees. The defendant appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals; the case was eventually decided by the Colorado Supreme Court which ruled in favor of the plaintiff, holding that an electric utility has a duty to raise its lines so as to not interfere with known activities on the ground below.
