The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association awarded Brian Aleinikoff and Bruce Braley of Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. with the 2024 Case of the Year Award for their work on Annalea Miller v. Crested Butte, LLC d/b/a Crested Butte Mountain Resort at the annual CTLA Spring Dinner on May 29.
The Case of the Year Award acknowledges the positive impact that a single case can have on correcting injustices, advancing fairness under the law, changing attitudes or providing economic incentives to protect public safety.
“It’s a huge honor to receive this award, and I couldn’t be prouder to have the privilege of representing Annie,” said Aleinikoff in a press release. “[Annie Miller’s] courage in bringing this lawsuit and appeal opens the door for others who have been injured at ski resorts to seek accountability and justice when they could not before.”
“You always hope that the clients you represent will have the opportunity to make the world a better and safer place,” said Braley in a press release. “Annie Miller had that opportunity and every skier who comes to Colorado will benefit from this decision.”
This case began when Miller struggled to board a chairlift at Crested Butte. Despite the clear danger, lift operators neglected to stop the lift and Miller fell 30 feet to the ground. She suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury that left her permanently paralyzed.
When her family sought legal action, Crested Butte pointed to the fine print on her lift ticket and claimed total legal immunity. A trial court dismissed key claims, but Miller’s legal team, backed by CTLA’s amicus committee, took the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. In a landmark decision, the court ruled that ski resorts cannot use waivers to escape liability for breaking safety laws.
The decision allows injured skiers to pursue liability claims where they once could not and may encourage resorts to improve safety practices.
“This case exemplifies what our profession is all about — standing up for those who have been wronged and driving systemic change,” CTLA President Sam Cannon said in a press release. “The bravery of Annie Miller, combined with the extraordinary legal work by Brian Aleinikoff and Bruce Braley, helped achieve a precedent-setting decision that will safeguard countless skiers in Colorado and beyond. CTLA is proud to honor a case that truly advances justice and public safety.”
“The Case of the Year Award reflects our commitment to promoting accountability and protecting the rights of all Coloradans,” said CTLA Executive Director Julie Whitacre in a press release. “This year’s winner shows that when the legal community comes together — clients, attorneys and our amicus committee — we can challenge deeply entrenched injustices and create lasting change. This victory is a testament to that collaboration and to the courage of Annie Miller.”
There were two other finalists for the 2024 Case of the Year Award: Rios v. Platteville, et al. and Midgett, et al. v. Denver C.A.R.E.S., et al.
Rios v. Platteville, et al. – Paul Wilkinson, Nelson Boyle, Christopher Ponce and Jonathan Stine of The Paul Wilkinson Law Firm, LLC
Law enforcement officials handcuffed Yareni Rios and locked her in a police car parked on active train tracks. When a freight train hit the cruiser, she survived with a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures. The legal team overcame significant hurdles and achieved a settlement for Rios in a case that tackled police accountability and garnered widespread national and international attention.
Midgett, et al. v. Denver C.A.R.E.S., et al – Brad Levin, Robyn Levin and Gideon Irving of Levin Sitcoff PC; and Lisi Owen of Vanguard Justice LLC
This case challenged a troubling reality inside Denver C.A.R.E.S. — a facility meant to help people with substance abuse. Denver C.A.R.E.S. is meant to provide short-term withdrawal services, but the facility detained people against their will, denying them due process and charging them hundreds of dollars. The legal team fought for years to secure a verdict that constitutional rights can still be violated even if the violation is only happening for a few hours.