justice william hood
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Colorado Supreme Court approves new rules for child welfare cases, with tweaks to jury trial right
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The Colorado Supreme Court adopted on Monday a package of revisions to the rules governing child welfare cases, while modifying one section that governs when a parent surrenders their right to have a jury decide if their child is neglected. Earlier this month, the justices held a hearing to evaluate the long-running group effort to…
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Colorado Supreme Court rejects attempt to blur lines in construction industry lawsuit
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The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday reiterated that breach of contract lawsuits are distinct from negligence lawsuits, and an insurance company had chosen the wrong path when it attempted to recover nearly $483,000 from an allegedly negligent construction company. For decades, the court has recognized that some civil liability claims like negligence are meant to…
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Colorado justices weigh rights of accusers, accused in campus sexual misconduct inquiries
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Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered on Wednesday whether alleged victims of campus sexual misconduct can be sued for statements they make during a school’s investigation, especially if the inquiry lacks safeguards protecting an accused student’s rights. Generally, what someone says during the course of judicial proceedings has “absolute privilege,” meaning their statements cannot…
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Colorado justices hear about broad support for juvenile rules package, with one legal hitch
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Members of the Colorado Supreme Court heard on Wednesday that a long-running group effort to revise the rules of juvenile procedure has culminated in an acceptable package of changes — including a proposed answer to one disputed legal question pending before the justices. During a public comment hearing and in written remarks submitted beforehand, members of the court…
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Colorado Supreme Court weighs Xcel’s liability for man’s electrocution
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The Colorado Supreme Court appeared hesitant on Tuesday to endorse the idea that the state’s utility regulator could use a rate-setting document to broadly immunize a company from liability against electrocutions. Francisco Cuevas, the owner of Outdoor Design Landscaping, was hanging Christmas lights at a Lakewood woman’s home in late 2017 when he received a debilitating…
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Colorado justices consider how much evidence is necessary when suing the government for injuries
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The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act broadly shields public employees and entities for injuries they cause, with a goal of protecting taxpayer dollars and preventing disruption to government services. However, there are exceptions to the immunity, one of which involves injuries due to the “dangerous condition” of a public building. To get into court, a plaintiff needs…
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Colorado Supreme Court tells Weld County to follow state redistricting law
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Weld County must comply with the state law governing how boards of county commissioners are to draw their districts, and the county needs to adopt new maps by next year’s election, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday. Following the 2020 census, it was undisputed that Weld County did not follow the procedures for how…
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Appeals court once again denies immunity to Olathe officer for deadly crash
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Exactly one year after the Colorado Supreme Court found the state’s second-highest court applied the incorrect standard when evaluating a deadly crash involving an Olathe police officer, the Court of Appeals once again determined the officer and the town are not immune from being sued. The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act generally shields government entities and public…
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Colorado Supreme Court hears plea to open up path for construction defects lawsuits
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For decades, the Colorado Supreme Court has recognized that some civil liability claims like negligence are meant to protect all citizens from harm without the need for an agreement or contract. On the other hand, parties can enter into contracts and litigate breach of contract lawsuits when someone fails to respect the bargain. To reinforce…