Case Examples
Hynes v. Energy West, Inc.
211 F.3d 1193 (10th Cir. 2000)
The firm was co-counsel for a young couple who suffered devastating burns following a natural gas explosion and ensuing fire in their apartment building. The case was taken to trial where a jury found Energy West, Inc., negligent and awarded the plaintiffs $5,316,086 for their injuries. The matter was appealed to the Tenth Circuit where the appellate court affirmed the jury's finding of negligence and affirmed the award of damages to the plaintiffs.
Hollett v. Banner Health System, Community Hospital of Torrington and Pioneer Medical Clinic, and Karen E. Brungardt, D.O.
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Case No. 01-CV-159
The firm was involved in the representation of a 39-year old woman who was the victim of medical malpractice. Allegations centered on an emergency room physician's failure to diagnose an infection. As a result of the alleged malpractice the client sustained catastrophic injuries including bilateral below knee amputations, loss of fingers on both hands, facial disfigurement and scarring, brain damage and neurologic injury, scarring and disfigurement of her extremities, and other physical and mental disabilities.
Rose v. Exxon Mobil Corporation
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 02-CV-226D
Our client worked for an oil field service company in Douglas, Wyoming. Defendant Exxon hired plaintiff's employer to work at its oil field site. While on site, plaintiff was required to climb to the top of a tank to gauge the level of oil in the tank. On his way down from the tank, plaintiff fell and severely injured his back as a result of conditions of defendant's staircase, which plaintiff claimed was unsafe.
Coordes v. Zenith Freight Lines, LLC, and Ronda Winebarger
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 04-CV-0021-D
The firm represented the surviving spouse of a tow-truck driver who was fatally struck by a semi-truck while attempting to extract a disabled vehicle on Interstate 80 in Albany County, Wyoming. The case presented extensive issues on accident reconstruction and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), including logbook evaluations and hours of service compliance.
Tony Kim v. Jolliff Transportation, Inc., Burlington Motor Carriers, Inc., and Larry M. Maloney
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 02-CV-120-B
The firm represented a young Air Force officer who sustained severe injuries, including serious head injuries, when his vehicle was struck head on by a semi-truck. The case presented complicated issues of corporate structure and parent/subsidiary liability.
Swackhammer v. Allwire, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 05-CV-022B
The firm represents the surviving family of a man who was killed while operating an industrial take up or spooling machine. In order to operate the machine the deceased was required, because of the machine's design and function, to stand in an area dangerously exposed to a rotating reel as the bottom wraps of conduit were aligned on the reel. The complaint alleges the machine is defective because it lacked basic safety guarding mechanisms to protect the life of the operator, among other defects. The matter is currently in litigation.
LaFave v. Subaru of America, Inc., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., and Fuji Heavy Industries U.S.A., Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 03-CV-010B
The firm represented the owner of a 1989 Subaru. We alleged the vehicle was defective because it was not equipped with a clutch ignition interlock device. Plaintiff was backed over while putting items in her trunk. The vehicle would start and run without depression of the clutch and while in forward or reverse gear.
Estate of Denise Timothy v. Shine, M.D., et al.
Second Judicial District Court, Wyoming, Docket No. 24714
The firm successfully represented the surviving spouse of a 38-year-old woman who died after undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Allegations of negligence included failure to timely diagnose and treat a post operative infection resulting from bowel injury.
Petrossi v. Casper Medical Imaging, P.C.
Seventh Judicial District Court, Wyoming, Docket No. 79265-A
The firm successfully represented a young woman who claimed a delay in diagnosis of breast cancer resulted from a series of annual mammograms that were misread.
Steffens and Jordal, v. Tracy Brown and Alliant Foodservice, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 02-CV-11-J
The firm was co-counsel in the representation of a young woman and her mother's estate as a result of an accident on Interstate 80 wherein their vehicle was struck from behind by a semi-truck operated by a fatigued driver. The matter was confidentially resolved prior to trial.
Hill v. Mad River Boat Trips, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming, Civil Action No. 02-CV-177-J
U.S. District Court for the Central Division of Utah, Civil No. 2:03 CV1130 DAK
The firm assisted in the representation of the surviving family of a young husband who died while on a recreational rafting trip in Jackson Hole. The matter was confidentially resolved prior to trial. In addition, part of the case involved an insurance coverage dispute. Plaintiff claimed the policy of insurance provided limits of $500,000 while the insurer claimed the policy only had a $250,000 per person limit. A later case was resolved in plaintiffs' favor.
Stegman v. United States of America
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
We represented a woman vacationing in Grand Teton National Park injured in a collision with a Bureau of Land Management vehicle resulting in one of the largest judgments ever granted in a trial on a federal tort claim in Wyoming. The federal judge awarded a total verdict of $843,000.
Schwartz v. RAG Coal West, Inc.
Sixth Judicial District Court, Wyoming, Docket No. 23079
The firm was co-counsel in litigation resulting in a confidential settlement for a Campbell County worker severely injured in an industrial accident at a mine near Gillette, Wyoming.
Romanyszyn v. Jolliff Transportation
This case involved the wrongful death of a semi-driver whose truck was hit head on by another semi-truck in Lincoln County, Wyoming. A substantial recovery was obtained for the surviving spouse and family of the driver.
