A Los Angeles jury has delivered what some experts are calling “a rare verdict against a California ski area operator,” awarding $4 million to a skier who was paralyzed in a 2012 crash.
Leslie McLaughlin, who was a veterinarian before she was hurt, might have received more. The jury, however, determined that she was 82 percent responsible for the accident, which dramatically reduced a $22 million award.
The incident occurred when McLaughlin was skiing at the Mountain High Ski Resort. On a trail, she encountered what she claimed she thought was a rolling hill with a gradual descent on the other side. However, it was actually an “unmarked table top jump,” according to the complaint. She became airborne and landed on her back, causing the devastating injury.
McLaughlin sued for negligence, alleging that there were no warning signs for a terrain change, according to her court papers. The defense lawyers — Patrick Kelly and Steven Parminter –countered that the terrain feature had been there for eight years, and no other incident had been reported. They also reportedly argued that McLaughlin was traveling more than 30 mph at the time.
McLaughlin, who was represented by attorney Bruce Broillet, had told the jury that her life was near-perfect before the accident.
“I felt I’d gotten to the point in my career I’d always dreamed about,” McLaughlin reportedly said. “I could finally take two days a week off, do outdoor activities with friends, spend my leisure time the way I wanted to.”
She added that she immediately knew something was wrong: “I knew this was very serious and that I could very well be paralyzed. I tried to remain calm.”
