Paralyzed teenager awarded $12.4 million after falling from Colorado resort chairlift in landmark case
Colorado jury awards $12.4 million to woman paralyzed from ski lift fall
- A Colorado jury awarded Annie Miller $12.4 million in damages after she fell 30 feet from a ski lift at Vail Resorts' Crested Butte Mountain Resort in March 2022, leaving her paralyzed.
- Miller, then 16, sued Vail Resorts, alleging negligence by operators who failed to stop the lift when she did not load properly.
- The case became a landmark legal battle after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in 2024 that liability waivers do not protect ski resorts when they violate state safety laws.
- This ruling overturned previous dismissals, allowing the case to proceed and setting a significant precedent for the outdoor recreation industry.
- Vail Resorts disagrees with the jury's decision, stating it was inconsistent with state law, despite recognizing the personal toll on Miller.