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Product Liability
Defective Design

Norma Ravnsborg; Cathy Yarmey v. Learjet, Inc.

Published: Jan. 24, 1998 | Result Date: Sep. 9, 1995 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: CIV930455 –  $0

Judge

Roger Strand

Court

D AZ


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Richard Schaden

Bruce Lampert


Defendant

Edwin Green

Manuel Saldana


Experts

Plaintiff

Donald Sommers
(technical)

Defendant

William Barnhouse
(technical)

David Kohlman
(technical)

Richard W. Taylor
(technical)

Carl Snow
(technical)

Facts

On Feb. 13, 1991, a Learjet Model 35a crashed while on approach to the Aspen Airport, in Aspen, Colo. As a result of the accident, the pilots were fatally injured. The plaintiffs, the decedents' spouses, instituted this wrongful death action against Learjet Inc., the overall manufacturer of the aircraft.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiffs made a settlement demand for $750,000. The defendant made an offer of $100,000.

Damages

The plaintiffs requested $2 million for loss of income and other economic damages, plus non-economic damages which were capped at $250,000 per decedent.

Other Information

The verdict was reached approximately 2+ years after the case was filed. The court applied Colorado law which prohibited punitive damages and placed a cap on non-economic damages at $250,000.

Deliberation

six hours

Poll

6-2

Length

four weeks


#87173

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