Over $75 million in verdicts and settlements in 18 years.
CASES AND TRIALS IN THE NEWS
Husband who saw wife die after tree crashes into house sues neighbors for $3.1M
June 10, 2016
The Oregonian | Written by Aimee Green
Dennis Elleson's lawsuit states that less than a year before his wife's death, he'd text messaged the neighbors asking that they remove the tree that grew on the edge of the neighbors' property because he feared it would fall onto his house.
The suit also states that Elleson spoke with the neighbors at least four times in the months leading up to the fatal incident, telling them the tree was lopsided and they needed to cut it down. [...]
Cyclist sues after Uber, private insurance fail to cover crash.
October 15, 2015
The Oregonian | Written by Elliot Njus
Pavenko was cited for improper opening of a door. [...] Police recorded Pavenko's personal auto insurance information, but Root's attorney, Michael Colbach, said Pavenko's insurer wouldn't cover the liability because Pavenko was driving for hire at the time.
Cyclist vs. New Seasons A horrific crash and a potential mayoral candidate's company.
May 18, 2011
Willamette Week Newspaper | Written by James Pitikin
On Thursday, May 12, a Multnomah County jury ruled against New Seasons and awarded $667,742 to Genevieve Luikart, a 26-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a New Seasons truck. [...] The impact smashed Luikart's upper jaw, broke her left shoulder, fractured her right wrist and left her with severe dental injuries. But Luikart's attorney, Michael Colbach, says New Seasons' insurer refused to pay.
Instead, Colbach says, New Seasons blamed the accident on Luikart, who has no memory of the crash. The lone eyewitness of the crash said Luikart was not at fault, and the jury agreed. "They tried to take advantage of a girl who had amnesia and was very badly injured," Colbach says. "Taking care of her would have been the right thing to do, and it would have been a great way to spread some goodwill. But at the end of the day, the bottom line always comes first."
New Seasons offered to settle the case for $130,000, Colbach says, the approximate amount the jury eventually found would only have covered her medical expenses. Colbach refused, and the case went to trial. "They were just hoping they'd get lucky because she couldn't remember," Colbach says. "They just continued to blame her for the accident and hoped the jury would fall for it."
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Portland Twilight Criterium rescued for this year, but could be on final lap
The Oregonian
August 6, 2009
"Normally lawyers in the same field are each other's competitors and don't team up on anything," he said. "But I figured, maybe we could come up with a non-traditional collection of people who thought the race was important." Of the attorneys he called, half responded with support. They are part of the reason the Twilight Criterium -- the only bike race staged downtown each year and one of the most popular for spectators anywhere in the state -- will happen Friday night. [...] In Mike Colbach of BicycleAttorney.com, Mark Ginsberg of Berkshire Ginsberg and Bob Mionske of BicycleLaw.com, Thomas thought he might have willing partners. Colbach is a former racer who sponsors a team that shares his practice's name.
Bicyclist hit by test driver wins $550,000 jury award
4/27/2006
The Oregonian | Written by Anne Saker
Colbach said Wednesday that the insurer had offered Boyd a settlement of $10,000. Last week, the offer was upped to $30,000
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Council to vote on settlement with ex-cadet: Portland police - The $200,000 would include the cost of a prosthesis for Erin Berry's finger
5/17/2006
The Oregonian | Written by Boaz Herzog
City documents recommending the settlement describe how an investigation into Berry's claim by the risk management office indicates a risk the city may be found liable. "Therefore, in order to avoid the risk of a large jury award, we feel it is prudent to compromise the lawsuit at this time," according to the documents.
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US: Bicycle lawyers finding new clients in injured cyclists
August 11, 2007
AP article
Mike is quoted:
It's almost never the cyclist's fault, and they tend to get pretty significantly injured [...]
No longer available from AP nor Wheels of Justice which seems to be defunct and the domain for sale http://ww38.woj.com.au/2007/08/12/us-bicycle-lawyers-finding-new-clients-in-injured-cyclists/