Trial Magazine

Sharon Haste, 73, was assisting her son as he left the Lutheran Medical Center in a wheelchair. As she followed the hospital employee pushing the ­wheelchair through an exit door, Haste fell on an area mat that had bunched up near the door. She suffered a fractured left shoulder and a fractured right knee. She required inpatient rehabilitation and two shoulder surgeries, including a shoulder replacement. Her medical expenses were $240,000.

Haste sued the hospital, alleging the mat constituted a dangerous condition in that it was too lightweight and lacked sufficient backing, causing it to bunch up near the doorway.

The jury awarded more than $1 million, including interest.

Citation: Haste v. SCL Health-Front Range, No. 2016-CV-030971 (Colo. Dist. Ct. Jefferson Cnty. June 7, 2017).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members Ross Ziev and Daniel Caplis, both of Denver.

Plaintiff experts: Anne Stodola, engineering, Boulder, Colo.; and Nimesh Patel, orthopedics, Golden, Colo.