Colorado Supreme Court upholds $18 exemplary award for telephone company’s failure to inspect poles, causing employee’s death
Qwest Services Corp. v. Blood (Colo. May 23, 2011)
Decision: official; Colorado Bar Ass’n; Findlaw. Background: Denver Post; Matthew Spengler
Opinion by Justice Alex Martinez; dissent by Justice Allison H. Eid, joined by Justice Nancy E. Rice
Award on top of $21.6 million in compensatory damages.
William L. Keating, Michael O’Brien Keating, Richard A. Westfall and Peter J. Krumholz for plaintiffs.
Gregory J. Kerwin, Robert C. Marshall, Frederick R. Yarger, Thomas N. Alfrey, Robert J. Zavaglia, Jr., for defendants.
John W. Suthers, Daniel D. Domenico, and Megan Paris Rundlet for amicus curiae State of Colorado
Andre Mura and Thomas D. Neville for amicus curiae American Association for Justice
Malcolm E. Wheeler and Evan M. Tager for amicus curaie Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America
James D. Johnson for amicus curiae Colorado Defense Lawyers Association