Colorado jury awards $12.4 million to woman paralyzed from ski lift fall

5 Sep 2025 • 7:48 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • 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.

IN FULL