Auto Defect
Defect to Shift Control System
Michael W. Blanton, was part of a team that obtained a $56,575,000 verdict against Ford Motor Company.
Michael W. Blanton, was part of a team that obtained a $56,575,000 verdict against Ford Motor Company in Colorado Springs Federal District Court. The case involved a Ford 1998 Exhibition that had a defect in the shift control system. The defect involved an improper bushing and shift tube that caused looseness in the shift system which allowed the vehicle to be placed into false park without the driver's knowledge.
Defective / Dangerous Product
Design Defect
Case involved a firefighter who was injured while using a safety harness manufactured by defendant. The client suffered a significant brain injury as a result of the defective product.
Gerash Steiner Blanton filed a lawsuit against the product manufacturer and retained experts in the areas of product design and biomechanics to establish causation. The case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement.
Defective / Dangerous Product
Design Defect, Failure to Warn
Case involved injury to a small child burned on glass front fireplace.
Gerash Steiner Blanton filed a lawsuit against the fireplace manufacturer and retained a fireplace expert to address the claim of design defect and failure to warn. The case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement.
Civil / Constitutional Rights
Failure to Monitor Health and Safety
Case involved a client who suffered a catastrophic brain injury while being held in a county jail. automobile accident while their son is driving deceased father to visit relative in prison ...
Gerash Steiner Blanton filed a lawsuit seeking damages for catastrophic injury that client sustained while in custody of the county sheriff. The trial court dismissed certain claims, and Gerash Steiner Blanton pursued an interlocutory appeal to revive those claims. The appellate court revived all claims, and the case then settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement. The appeal in this case established new law that serves to protect other individuals who may be injured in the custody of local authorities. The reported appellate opinion is Hernandez v. City & Cty. of Denver, 439 P.3d 57 (Co. App. 2018).
Civil / Constitutional Rights
Unreasonable Use of Force
Case involved injuries that a police officer caused to client during a routine traffic stop.
Gerash Steiner Blanton filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the injuries the client sustained at the hands of the officer. The case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement.
Dog Attack on Bicycle
General Negligence
Case involved injuries that client sustained when a dog ran into the path of his bicycle while he was riding in a public area.
The client sustained serious injuries that required surgery. Gerash Steiner Blanton filed a lawsuit, alleging that the dog’s owner, who was present, did not take adequate steps to restrain or control the dog. The case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement.
Failure to Maintain Elevator
Premises Liability
Case involved injuries that client sustained when she tripped while stepping off of an elevator that had failed to come into a level position with the adjoining floor.
Gerash Steiner Blanton pursued the matter in a lawsuit and retained an expert in the area of elevator maintenance. The case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement.
Insurance
Denial of Coverage
Case involved an insurance company’s denial of coverage under a one million dollar policy after the client sustained severe injuries in a workplace accident.
The lawsuit was filed by a different law firm, and the trial court granted summary judgment for the insurer, holding that there was no coverage available under the policy. Gerash Steiner Blanton then handled the matter on appeal, and obtained an opinion from the Court of Appeals that reversed the trial court’s ruling, and held that the one million in coverage was available. Gerash Steiner Blanton thereafter pursued the matter upon remand to the trial court and the case settled prior to trial for a substantial sum subject to confidentiality agreement. The appeal in this case established new law the helped workers recover under their own insurance when injured in a work-place accident. The reported appellate opinion is Am. Fam. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Ashour, 410 P.3d 753 (Co. App. 2017).